The Shanghai Scoop – Food & Drink News (December 2019)

The Shanghai Scoop is a monthly column dedicated to the latest food and drink news happening in Shanghai. Here is a round-up of the newest restaurants and bars, hotel news, and upcoming projects.

Coming Soon

Team Cages is opening a massive mini-golf complex on Huaihai Lu! Cages—arguably the best sports bar where you can do actual sports like battle archery—is opening a 1,500sqm mini-golf course in the Huaihai International Plaza on Huaihai and Fenyang Lu. Food program will be as rigorous as their current one. Due to open May 2020.

Soif is a new wine bar on Wuding Lu due to open on January 19, 2020, operated by the same team at Vinism.

Egg is gearing up for a second location in Jing’an. This one will be different to that cozy neighborhood café vibe. It'll be three times bigger than the original Xiangyang Lu location, plus will serve food all day and night, along with dinner options and a full bar. It’ll be located in a new complex called MINI Living, a project by BMW on Xikang Lu near Haifang Lu. TBD on an opening date, but looks like mid 2020.

Egg cafe in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk

Egg

Yanping 98 — Food court on the second floor with a mix of Asian and Western options. Spaces are currently being signed for. Construction and move-in to start soon.

Now Open

CHARCOHOL

CHARCOHOL is a cocktail bar and restaurant located in Fengshengli. Cocktails are courtesy of mixologist Cross Yu, who just took home the coveted Founders Award and Bartender of the Year award at DMBA. Food is global cuisine with an emphasis on charcoal grilling, courtesy of chefs Mandela Zhu and Kevin Han.

Charcohol, cocktail bar and restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

It’s a gastrolounge with the cocktail bar taking center stage. Additionally, there’s a massive outdoor patio for al fresco seating, equipped with a coffee car and a chef’s table.

Charcohol, cocktail bar and restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Pickle Bramble (¥88 for all signature cocktails) - Citadelle gin, beetroot juice, pickle cucumber, Litsea Pungens oil.

Charcohol, cocktail bar and restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Maple & Applewood Smoked Chicken (¥139) served with celeriac purée

Charcohol, cocktail bar and restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Baby Napa Cabbage (¥49) with truffle cream and puffed buckwheat.

Chameleon

Chameleon is cocktail bar and restaurant by powerhouse team Carson Xie and Eddy Yang. These two are some of the best mixologists in the biz. Food is Western with Chinese influence.

Chameleon, cocktail bar and restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

They’ll be drastically changing the food and drink every six months, rotating themes inspired from their travels to Southeast Asia, the Americas, and beyond.

Chameleon, cocktail bar and restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Pickled Bloodless Mary (¥80) - Vodka infused with black pepper and xiangsha herb infusion, pickled cabbage and Bloody Mary spice, Sichuan peppercorn, aged vinegar.

Chameleon, cocktail bar and restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Five Spice Chicken (¥70) - Free-range chickem, cucumber, garlic crumbs, scallion and peppers.

Chameleon, cocktail bar and restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Foie Gras Char Siu (¥180) - Seared foie gras with mushroom and pork neck, served with crepes to wrap.

TêJU Bar

The concept of TêJU is based on Chinese tea. Their “teatails” use six types of tea, mixing them with house infusions and liquor. The tea-based signature cocktails start at ¥98. Food is simple, serving Taiwanese nibbles like braised meats, sausages, and deep-fried items. Images provided below.

Tea cocktails at Teju Bar, cocktail bar in Shanghai.

TêJU Bar

Tea cocktails at Teju Bar, cocktail bar in Shanghai.

Kyoto Geisha (¥98) – Shiso infused Citadelle gin with homemade matcha liquer, plum wine, mushroom extract, and grapefruit juice.

Tea cocktails at Teju Bar, cocktail bar in Shanghai.

Silver Needle Tea (¥98) - Silver needle, grape flower distillate, apple and gardenia, Tio Pepe sherry, and a whole bunch of bitters.

Havana Chino Latino Bar

It’s a tropical cocktail bar slinging cocktails fueled with Cuban rum, among other spirits. Food menu is by chef Hugo Rodriguez, which highlights the Chino-Latino (Asian-Latin) food culture. Pix below for the layout, photos provided.

One ITC

Another shopping mall at 1901 Huashan Lu, near Guangyuan Xi Lu. Within the mall is an outpost of Lokal, Peet’s Coffee, Guyi, Greybox, and Triple P (that gimmicky place that serves colored milk in clear bottles).

There’s also THE CUT Meatery, a branch of The Cut at iapm. Beef will be the star of the menu, alongside other meats, either braised, skewered, or charcoal-grilled. Everything made to share.

THE CUT Meatery, restaurant in Shanghai