Shakespeare-inspired maximalist bar on Nanchang Lu with 8 signature cocktails (RMB108-128). Open 7:30pm-2am, closed Tuesday. Romantic, theatrical atmosphere with period decor and strong drinks.
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By Heather Millet
Entry to A Rose By Any Other Name. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
The latest addition to this street of beloved favorites is aptly named A Rose By Any Other Name, a unique vision brought to life by Crawford Su—of PAAL and Gallow’s Humor fame—co-founded with Derek Ling, formerly head bartender at PAAL.
A Rose By Any Other Name Co-Founder Derek Ling. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
Crawford Su's previous two bars—both co-founded with Aya Guan, who, like Su, hails from southern China—shared a distinctly minimalist sensibility.
PAAL felt like a late-night kitchen built for relaxed drinking...
READ MORE: Cantonese Cuisine-Inspired Cocktails at Nanchang Lu Bar PAAL
... while Gallows Humor conjured the eerie glow of a green-lit spacecraft.
READ MORE: Gallows Humor: Bold Cocktails & Dark Concepts
This new venture stands in opposition to those concepts, going all in on maximalism.
Interior of A Rose By Any Other Name. Photos by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
Two years ago, fellow Southerner Derek Ling was handpicked from his position at Hope & Sesame and agreed to join Su on this next venture.
As for why two Cantonese barmen would want to open a Shakespeare-inspired watering hole?
The answer goes no deeper than they simply wanted to. To drink, per chance to dream, one might say.
Elaborate décor begs the eye to wander. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
Stepping into A Rose By Any Other Name feels like setting foot on the stage of an elaborate theater—redolent of the immersive, vanishing world of Sleep No More, or the brooding pages of a vampiric romance novel.
Vaulted ceilings cast whispers across the front room, while antiquities and dark wooden trimmings beg the eye to linger and wander.
Wall Seating. Photo By Jimmy Jordan / That’s
Walls are worn like a ruin bar, revealing archaeological layers of mosaic painting or elaborate print.
Skeleton key décor. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
A plaque hangs studded with skeleton keys, while accents of green and blue velvet drip through the space—swathing curtains and fringed seat toppings.
A face reflects in an aged mirror. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
Lighting is too low to make out the colors of vases filled with dried flowers, or the details of faces reflected in the many aged mirrors. Candlelight stirs the imagination.
Back room table by candlelight. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
The vision for this bar—in planning since last December—is clear. It's meant to evoke a classic, rustic sensation: the scent of an old library, the quiet of an expectant crowd.
The back-room ceiling reflects the past within the present. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
Music weaves seamlessly into the atmosphere—choir voices, chanting, chirping birds and an overlay of electronica. We are caught between the present and a past centuries old.
A busy evening. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
Starting as an empty stage, the bar soon fills with curious patronage—people dressing for the occasion in corsets and lace, loose summer shirts, and Shanghai casual-cool.
Staff wearing brown tunics to mirror Shakespearian Renaissance. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
Staff uniforms mirror the bar's period inspiration, with brown patterned tunics evoking a bygone era, while air conditioning units are discreetly disguised behind fanciful wall carvings.
The Drinks
Menu quote. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
The menu currently features eight signature cocktails, each presented as a twist on a classic—but none too heavy-handed in its reinvention.
Moonlit Reverie (RMB108): Manzanilla/Chamomile, Bergamot, Earl Grey, Green Apple, Coconut Water. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
The Moonlit Reverie (RMB108) is a light, refreshing beverage—like a smooth iced tea made for these sweltering summer days, when all we want is to hide in the cool shade of Rose's rustic embrace.
Clouds in Bloom (128): Vanilla Cream Limoncello, Green Cardamom, Champagne. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
In creating the Clouds in Bloom (RMB128), Ling set out to craft a simpler twist on a Ramos Fizz.
By combining cream with limoncello, he found he could achieve a similar mouthfeel and flavor—while elevating the drink with Champagne.
Be warned: it goes down dangerously easy, but it's deceptively strong. Heavy is the head that drinks too much too fast!
Irish Coffee Impressions (RMB108): Irish Whiskey, Ruby Port, Coffee, Cacao, Miso Cream, Tonka Bean Powder. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
The closest to its classic inspiration is the Irish Coffee Impressions (RMB108)—served hot, just like the original. To thine own drink be true!
Thankfully, the bar's formidable air conditioning makes it palatable even in peak summer, and its magical cream stays fluffy and salty from the miso.
Mad Chaplin (RMB108): Sloe Gin, Apricot, Osmanthus, Yellow Cherry Tomato, Yellow Bell Pepper, Lemon. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
The Mad Chaplin (RMB108) is another crisp, refreshing choice—a tart yet light mix of summer ingredients, perfectly suited for the season.
Gibraltar (RMB128): Riesling, Spanish Gin, Peated Whisky. Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
Lastly, a favorite among the bar's already dedicated following is the Gibraltar (RMB128)—the strongest on the list.
A martini twist that leans heavily on Riesling (unless it was our imagination stirred by the atmosphere), it carries a mysterious post-aroma of rose…
Unique Spanish gin used in the Gibraltar cocktail. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s
The Spanish gin used in the Gibraltar is a fascination in itself—crafted with grape distillate for something unusual that pairs with the Riesling.
The Vibe
Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
A Rose By Any Other Name is a fantasy scene for lovers, a hidden haven for secrets shared among friends, and a wellspring of inspiration for intellectual debate.
Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
One might only wish—in such a romantically charged tavern—for a mead-like beverage to complete the immersion into days of old.
Photo by Jimmy Jordan / That’s
To bar or not to bar? That is the question.
7.30pm-2am
Closed Tuesday
A Rose By Any Other Name, 96 Nanchang Lu, Huangpu District 黄浦区南昌路96号
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