Shanghai's best winter drinks
So-called scientific research claims that the warming effects of alcohol are illusory, and the legendary St. Bernard dog bringing brandy to stranded Alpine skiers was a misguided enabler.
But local denizens know there’s only one sure way to warm up from the inside in Shanghai's damp winter, and the following watering holes will make certain you get the better of Mr. Frost this season.
1. Hot yellow wine
Where: Dongbei Four Seasons Dumpling King (东北四季饺子王)
Price: RMB 38
What you’re drinking: Warm huangjiu (yellow wine)
If anybody knows how to beat the cold, it’s the folk from northeast China -- the dongbeiren. Parts of the region jut into Russia north of Vladivostok.
While the Dongbei chain is better known for serving up steaming dumplings and donkey meat charcuterie, when the weather gets cold they will happily heat up a bottle of huangjiu and pour it out of an old teapot to wash down their heavy fare.
It's a Chinese tradition to drink warm yellow wine in winter in order to get rid of internal coldness. Shanghai drinkers are more familiar with the rice and wheat-brewed Shaoxing yellow wine while northern-style yellow wine is usually maize-based.
Dongbei Four Seasons Dumpling King (Huaihai Zhong Lu chain), 1791 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Wanping Lu 淮海中路1791号, 近宛平路, +86 21 6433 0349, 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
2. Love Coffee
Where: Madrid Cafeteria y Bar
Price: RMB 45
What you’re drinking: Coffee, Kahlua, whipped cream, and sprinkles
Full of Iberian kitsch and with an aquarium that runs the width of the premises (including under the ground-floor tables), Madrid Café is no trendy nightspot. But it is a charming venue for a lighthearted intimate encounter.
Madrid offers a rather typical range of boozy coffees of various provenances (Irish, French, Mexican and so forth), but the Love Coffee may be the only drink in Shanghai which comes with candy sprinkles on top.
Madrid Cafeteria y Bar, 146 Maoming Nan Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu 茂名南路146号, 近复兴中路, +86 21 6472 1531, Monday-Friday: 3 p.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m.-1 a.m.
3. Hot whiskey
Where: KABB
Price: RMB 50
What you’re drinking: Whiskey, hot water and lemon
KABB appeals to the homesick Westerner by providing the straightforward food and drink which reminds him of home.
Like their burgers and wraps, KABB’s Hot Whiskey couldn’t be any simpler, but that’s no criticism.
Enjoying a hot glass of booze while surrounded by kindred spirits is all that’s required to hold off the winter doldrums. Why complicate things?
Kabb, Unit 1, Building 5, Xintiandi North Block, Lane 181 Taicang Lu, near Huangpi Bei Lu 太仓路181弄5号楼1室, 近黄陂北路, +86 21 3307 0798, Sunday-Thursday: 7 a.m.-2 a.m.; Friday-Saturday: 7 a.m.-3 a.m.
4. German glühwein
Where: Cotton’s
Price: RMB 58
What you're drinking: Red wine, cloves, cinnamon and a “mystery shot”
Perhaps the best venue to enjoy a warm beverage, Cotton’s fireplace gives the place a ski lodge vibe.
The secret “mystery shot” provides much needed heat to this Teutonic winter evergreen.
The bar has a large selection of board games -- this mulled wine is the perfect complement to those long games of "Risk".
Cotton's (Anting Lu branch), 132 Anting Lu, near Jiangguo Xi Lu 安亭路132号, 近建国西路 +86 21 6433 7995, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
5. Irish coffee
Where: The Chalet
Price: RMB 40
What you're drinking: Hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar and cream
Given the establishment’s name, it’s only fitting that Shanghai-native Denis Ni’s bar serves an entire menu of cold weather relief.
This straightforward Irish Coffee provides a nice jolt for those not willing to hibernate through the upcoming months. But there’s no rush once comfortably settled in this low-key lounge.
Dip into The Chalet's fabulously gooey cheese fondue (RMB 120 serves two; RMB 200 serves four) while taking in a flick during the Sunday afternoon movie sessions starting at 3:30 p.m.
The Chalet, 385 Yongjia Lu, near Taiyuan Lu 永嘉路385号, 近太原路, +86 21 3401 0958, 3 p.m.-2 a.m.
6. Hot rum
Where: Constellation 2
Price: RMB 60
What you're drinking: Myers's dark rum, lemon juice, honey, clove and cinnamon stick
No surprise that Shanghai’s top bar served the best warmer of the bunch.
Bartender Andy Liu says that “in winter, so many people come in here wanting warm drinks” and he's happy to deliver his prescription to cure the winter cold.
Perfectly balanced, the lemon juice cuts through the honey to counter the sweetness that befouls so many seasonally festive cocktails.
Sidle up to the bar, take two and call us in the morning.
Constellation 2, 33 Yongjia Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu 永嘉路33号, 近茂名南路, +86 21 5465 5993, 7 p.m.-2 a.m. (or later)
