Final post for Shanghai is about my last night there. After all the press activities circulating the HSBC-Men’s Champions, I wanted to have 1 night out to experience the Shanghai nightlife.
Adrian was spinning at Monkey Lounge/Bar so he asked me to drop by and check it out. Another friend forewarned that the crowd is quite ABC, but is was worth a visit nonetheless. He gave me the address and also mentioned that it’s a bit hard to find. And Good luck!
Monkey Bar was introduced as a “secret” bar, just because it’s so hard to find and hidden in some dark alley with no signage. That must have been such a great marketing ploy, because the whole elusiveness just made you want to try hunt it down. And that, I did.
I hopped into the cab and got dropped off on Donghu Lu, and I must have walked up and down that stretch 3 times. So much for blending in, you might as well stamped a ‘LOST’ across my forehead. Finally I succumbed, and asked a group of girls where this elusive Monkey lounge was. They pointed towards a dark alley and said I’d had to walk further in to find the main door.
The only indication you have that you’re at the right place is by the black door with a cryptic etched-print of a monkey-philosopher.
As you pass the heavy velvet curtains and Roman columns, the room suddenly opens up to a high ceiling, lush warm and cozy lounge. Monkey lounge isn’t catering to the beer drinking frat boys, the crowd were well-dressed and sipped delicious but expensive cocktails. They either popped champagne as easily as opening a can of soda, or swirled their glasses of premium whiskies pretending that actually like that throat-burning shit. It was a tad pretentious to be honest.
But oh since I was here, “Excuse me, can I have a Lavender 75 please!” which was a cocktail which consists of Bombay sapphire, prosecco, fresh lemon and lavender syrup.
Feeling a bit hungry? You can order small plates of “atas” food like caviar, foie gras terrine or crispy frog legs. Or if you want to be a bit more adventurous, go outside to the roadside yakitori stall and sit on the tiny stools by the side of the road. If I were you, choose the vegetables, you never know what kind of meat they are skewering there 
.
Next stop, an underground club called Shelter and back to my hotel. Got back just in time to pack my bags and leave for the airport. Goodbye Shanghai!
Monkey Bar
Address: No 22, Lane 56 Donghu Lu,
near Xinle Lu
肇嘉浜路807号2楼（近高安路）
Xuhui, Shanghai, China
