This week's Shanghai pub news
HAMILTON HOUSE: Hamilton House Restaurant and Bar (137 Fuzhou Road 福州路137号) opened last week and is located at the corner of Fuzhou and Jiangxi Roads, opposite the Metropole Hotel and a couple of blocks back from the Bund. Hamilton House is a 1930s art deco building with nice high ceilings and reminds me of many bars in Melbourne. On the ground floor (i.e. first floor for you North American readers) there's a large bar (horse-shoe-style), a spacious dining area and the kitchen. Upstairs is a lounge area with seating for 20+ people, plus the bathrooms. Staff are dressed in professional, black uniforms, with the expat managers in suits. Even though this establishment is new, it was very busy when we visited about 10pm on Saturday night. A good sign for the owners.
The restaurant and bar are both open from 9am. The bar has no happy hour and no draft beer. Prices are okay as far as Bund venues go, but still a tad high compared to many other middle level Shanghai venues. Beers include Asahi, Heineken and Hoegaarden (RMB45); Chimay Blue and Duvel (RMB60). An extensive wine list of almost 50 wines will please wine drinkers, with 12 wines (6 reds and 6 whites) available by the glass starting from RMB50. Cheaper labels by the glass include Robert Skalli, Wolf Blass and Brown Brothers. There's also something called 'Hamilton House' at RMB30 which is likely to be a nasty Nelly. House pours are RMB45, with several martinis available at RMB60, including the rather nice Breakfast Martini (Bombay sapphire gin, Grand Marnier, New Zealand marmalade and lemon peel twist). Other liquors noticed include some 42 Below vodkas, Tanqueray Ten gin (RMB80) and Hendrick's gin (RMB60). Champagne drinkers will be pleased with a decent range of bubbly ranging from Laurent Perrier, all the way up to a premium Krug at RMB2480. The staff will ask you to pay for each drink after the drink is delivered. There's also a cheese platter at RMB100. For further information,including full menu details and some photos, visit see their website at www.hamiltonhouse.com.cn.
DUTCH NIGHT AT JOY BAR AND CAFE: Joy Bar and Cafe (345 Wuning South Rd, just north of Kangding Rd 武宁南路345弄，靠近康定路) will hold a Dutch night next Friday (Nov 16th) from 6.30 to 10.30. They're offering all-you-can-drink Heineken and Dutch vodka mixed drinks, plus all-you-can-eat Dutch food for RMB180. Everyone is invited. If you haven't been to Joy's Bar before, it's probably one of the friendliest and cosiest bars in all of Jing An. Don't worry, it's not a 'talking bar,' and it already attracts many expats from several residential complexes nearby.
THE JUST BEER STORY: Some readers may be familiar with Just Beer, a beer importer set up in Shanghai early this year by two Aussie blokes, one an ex-brewer from Fosters, and one previously in the wine game. They decided that after Fosters pulled out of the market, the market was ripe for some great tasting Australian beers, especially as there were also some quality issues with the locally brewed beers. This led to the establishment of Just Beer. In addition to an exclusive range of imported Australian beers for F&B outlets and home delivery (including Crown Lager - Winopete's favourite), the recently expanded product range also includes Aussie meat pies, wine and coffee, so in fact, they're not just about beer at all.
The Just Beer fellas occasionally organise functions, usually focusing on major Australian sports events such as Grand Final Day and the Melbourne Cup. There's also The Shed, a small and homely, true blue Aussie 'hangabout' place where special customers are welcome. For details of all products and events, check out www.justbeer.cn.
For the benefit of all you thirsty readers out there, Just Beer is extending a special offer to all readers of this column (and aren't you glad you read this?). Sign up on their website and with your first order of ANYTHING, you will receive a case of Cascade Light beer FREE (value RMB180). A case contains 24 x 375ml bottles. Order 3 or more cases of beer on your first order, and they'll give you 2 free cases of Cascade Light. To qualify for this, you need to include the code "Peter's Pub News" in the comments section. Thanks very much to Mat and Frank at Just Beer.
TREAD CAUTIOUSLY ON TONGREN LU: Yet another mugging incident on Tongren Lu has been brought to our attention where the foreigner involved had a knife put to his throat and his valuables taken. If drinking by yourself, our advice is to leave the area as soon as you have a moderate buzz. Don't push yourself any further otherwise you may attract the attention of would-be muggers. If you do wish to frequent the Tongren Lu bar strip near Yan'an Xi Lu, we strongly recommend going with a few friends so you can look after each other. Ignore any taunts from locals. Prevent altercations over inflated bar bills at the 'talking bars' by paying for each round as you go and do not use credit cards. M-Zone, previously a safe, 'regular' bar, changed ownership in September and is already cheating customers with inflated, sky-high bills. Or so we heard.
UPCOMING WINE EVENTS: Lots of events for Shanghai's wine lovers coming up. Over the next week the main events are:
Nov 14: Wine Australia Day at the F&B Expo, Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre in Pudong, Go to Hall E1, booths 1ABO1 - BB22.
Nov 14: Vega-Sicilia (Spain) wine dinner (includes 6 wines), 7pm at the Gui Hua Lou restaurant, Shangri-La Hotel, Pudong. Cost RMB1088 (ouch!). RSVP to events@torres.com.cn
Nov 15: E.Guigal Rhone Valley tasting (5 wines), 7pm at Roosevelt Prime Steak House (160 Taiyuan Rd - Marshall Mansions). Cost RMB188.
Reservations: e-mail: susanchen@asc-wines.com
Nov 15: Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Nouveau party, 8-10pm at Barbarossa
(231 Nanjing West Rd, inside People's Park). RMB98 for free flow Beaujolais, plus finger food and DJ.
Nov 16: Summergate Cross-Cultural Wine Dinner, 7-11pm. Start with appetizers and wine at Ambrosia (150 Fenyang Rd), then have some beer next door at Paulaner. Afterwards be taken by limo to The Binjiang One on the Pudong waterfront for a posh dinner and more wine. Cost is RMB838. E-mail reservations to: bl123@bln.com.cn
HAPPY DRINKING!
Photo from Hamilton House
Winopete is Shanghaiist's resident drunkard. Email tips, recommendations, news and gossip about Shanghai's bar scene to drink at shanghaiist dot com.
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Posted
Nov 13 2007, 03:10 AM
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Shanghaiist