Two Halloween resurrections
By Heather Millet
Right on cue, two of Shanghai's legacy bars have returned, in full flare and ready to resurrect the atmosphere of our drunken autumn folly of old.
First up...
My Place Cocktail Bar & Music
My Place Cocktail Bar logo. Photo Courtesy of My Place.
When Shanghai closes a door… it opens a dive bar.
This September Shang-heavy metal bar REAPER had its final musical breakdown and came to a bloody end.
The sudden closure was a decision from founder Martin Aamodt (previously of beloved metal bar Inferno), who informed the team, including co-founder Cassandra (also of multiple prior Inferno locations), that the business had to meet its hell-maker.
It's now safe to say "Don't fear the reaper."
Soft-Opening Weekend at revived and upgraded My Place Cocktail Bar & Music, Photo Courtesy of My Place.
But the echo of alcohol in this city will always offer us new life, in this case with the revival of My Place Cocktail Bar & Music—formerly called My Place Ruin Bar—in the vacated REAPER space.
To those who remember, the name My Place will spark many a memory—and even more lost memories—of late, late nights and early, early mornings.
Original co-founder of My Place Ruin Bar, Ryan Otmana. Photo Courtesy of My Place.
Back in the day, in its third-story location on Xinzha Lu, My Place was the spot to be for music jams, smoking cigarettes out of windows, lounging in a bathtub couch, and smashing out pool or darts.
It was an absolute mad-haven for artists, poets, miscreants and people of all nationalities racking up their country's track record for number of 'Weng-Weng' cocktails consumed.
Back then we didn't even know what was in a Weng-Weng… this was the ultimate speakeasy dive.
Weng-Weng (RMB78): Gin, Vodka, Rum, Tequila, Whisky, Triple-Sec, Lime, Orange, Pineapple, Beetroot. Photo Courtesy of My Place.
Well, the Weng-Weng (RMB78) is BACK, upgraded, and better than ever. Along with classics, and presumably innumerable shots, there are additional signature cocktails, much like cauldrons of booze.
Black Out (RMB78): Mezcal, Dark Rum, Bourbon, Ginger, Lime, Passionfruit, Ginger Beer. Photo Courtesy of My Place.
Take the Black Out (RMB78), which contains three different spirits disguised by a little ginger beer.
The Pearl (RMB70): Gin, Cherry Brandy, Lemon, Black Cherry, Syrup. Photo Courtesy of My Place.
Or The Pearl (RMB70), which is a cherry brandy and gin concoction.
For those seeking more hallowed creations, there is also a selection of mocktails.
Mural at the old My Place Ruin Bar. Photo Courtesy of My Place.
Co-founder Ryan Otmana is sparing no detail in replicating the graffiti bar that always left us greeting the birds.
Critical to the atmosphere is the famous mural of a blue-faced, dreamy-eyed woman, now repainted on the new venue's back wall.
Replicated mural at My Place Cocktail Bar & Music. Photo Courtesy of My Place.
A place of ruin, a place of kindred spirits, a place of heavily-spirited drinks—we can return to an age of un-innocence starting this Halloween.
Open Daily, 6pm-Late
363 Kangding Lu, by Shaanxi Bei Lu, Jing'an District 康定路363号, 近陕西北路
Follow us on WeChat for Part 2 of 'Back From the Dead' tomorrow...
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