Bar P.J. on Shaanxi Nan Lu serves 11 signature cocktails at RMB98 with playful pineapple twists. Open Mon-Thu & Sun 6.30pm-1.30am, Fri-Sat till 2am. No weekend surcharge noted. Ideal for tropical drink lovers.
Tags:By Heather Millet
Let’s have some fun, shall we? No need to take ourselves too seriously—so why not name a few bars after juices.
First, Yifu Jiang opened Bar O.J.—Bar Orange Juice—on Shaanxi Nan Lu. That spot is stylish and minimal, with seating for just a handful.
READ MORE: Bar O.J. – An Evening Sip of Sunrise
Now, he's launched Bar P.J.—Bar Pineapple Juice—and the vibe is purely cheerful. Nestled upstairs next door to the first bar, it is a larger venue with plenty of juicy details to enjoy.
Bar P.J. Sign. Photo courtesy of Bar P.J.
The bar is housed inside the Golden Express trio of F&B spots, a space designed to resemble the interior of a vintage train car—climbing the stairwell to reach it already feels like the start of a journey.
The entry to the Golden Express. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s.
A yakitori spot occupies the ground floor, while upstairs, the hallway curves around to a members-only whiskey bar tucked on the same level.
Hallway between Bar P.J. and the Golden Express private whisky club. Photo by Heather Millet / That’s.
First, the Bar P.J. sign —cleverly designed as an unraveling pineapple—greets you at the door.
The sign outside Bar P.J.
A sliding entrance opens to reveal a direct view of the action inside. The bar shares a similar vintage-minimalist aesthetic with its sister spot, but while Bar O.J. evokes a 1970s living room, Bar P.J. leans into something with a bit more disco flair.
Bar P.J. interior.
Overhead, massive demi-globe lights pulse with occasional red, green, or blue flashes—growing more frequent as the night wears on.
Squeeze the day!
Real pineapples line one wall, while small nooks with rotating tables offer cozy corners for intimate conversation.
The remaining floor space accommodates larger groups with open seating.
The bar top, shaped like a boomerang.
The bar top is shaped like a boomerang, with bartenders stationed at the inner and outer corners of the elbow—as though they're poised for a frenzied face-off.
Owner Yifu Jiang tends the bar
Around them, olive green corduroy stools encircle the counter, while staff in pineapple-print tiki shirts circulate to hand out the libations.
Bar P.J.’s busy opening evening. Photo by Heather Millet.
The sense of train travel and motion lingers. The music is mainly house, with weekend DJs wedging into the corner to pump up the volume beyond what you'll hear downstairs.
Tracks like 'Friendz' by Blu Leopard—classic in beat—blend eras within the vintage setting.
The Drinks
The signatures menu at Bar P.J.
Yifu Jiang says that when crafting the menu of 11 signature cocktails—all priced at RMB98—he aimed to provide "familiar tastes with unfamiliar textures. These are well-known cocktails served in unknown ways."
Bar P.J.s perfectly clear mojito.
The Mojito is a perfect example. A classic mojito is served on crushed ice with muddled mint, leaving bits in every sip.
Bar P.J.'s take? Perfectly clear, clean, and just as refreshing for summer nights.
Refreshment is a key aim of this first menu—especially during August's record heat. Several cocktails come as in the form of a slushy or ice-cream.
Bar P.J.’s smoothie Pina Colada.
Naturally, there's a Pina Colada riff on the menu, crafted like a smoothie and served with a spoon.
Creamier than the usual holiday staple, something mysterious has been done that makes it feel like a miracle in your mouth for a coconut-lover.
Spoon definitely required.
This Bar P.J. signature cocktail is made with tequila, tortilla chips, tomato sorbet, and Tabasco.
The signature offerings venture even further from the familiar. Unnamed and identified only by line-work icons that express the flavors within.
One features a tortilla chip wearing a sombrero—a playful nod to its components: tortilla-infused tequila, Tabasco, and tomato sorbet.
Its presentation is striking—a perfect sorbet sphere resting in what resembles a tequila consommé.
Don't be fooled: this drink will jolt you right back into your corduroy chair.
On its own, the clear liquid hits with tequila and full corn tortilla flavor. Once mixed, the sorbet unleashes a wave of spice, and it suddenly becomes obvious that this is in fact a take on a Bloody Mary.
Gin cocktail made with lemon, tippy green tea, carbonation, and raspberry and cucumber granita.
For something a bit lighter—and more hydrating in the heat—there's a cocktail served with raspberry and cucumber granita as a garnish, perched over a carbonated lemony gin and light leaf-tip green tea.
Blended cocktail with tequila, mango, lime, cilantro, salted cream, and sea berries.
The mango-cilantro slushy is another bang-on sweet treat— thoroughly blended, perfectly smooth, and completely unexpected.
Salted cream balances the sweet mango base, while a sea berry garnish adds an extra pop of fun texture.
For one final classic, the mini-coconut Negroni is both adorable and delicious—tropical heaven in a glass for those who love a Negroni twist.
Made with rum as the base, along with vermouth and bitter liqueur, a medley of pineapple, coconut, banana, and sesame floods through.
The garnish? A truly mini-coconut.
The Vibe
Like its sister bar, P.J. is retro cool, with comfortable chairs and curious concoctions.
With a playful pineapple motif, a boomerang-shaped bar, and a menu that turns familiar classics into unexpected delights, this upstairs hideaway offers a welcome escape from the summer heat—and a whole lot of fun besides.
Whether sinking into a corduroy stool or sipping a spoonable Pina Colada, guests are sure to leave with a smile, a buzz, and perhaps a newfound appreciation for juice-named bars.
Reservations: +86 150 0066 0857
Mon-Thu & Sun, 6.30pm-1.30am
Fri & Sat, 6.30pm-2am
Bar P.J., 2/F, 76 Shanxi Nan Lu, by Julu Lu, Jing'an District 陕西南路76号, 近巨鹿路
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