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Hong Kong's Go-To Cocktail and Sports Bar Lands in Shanghai!

ShanghaiWOWeng 2018-11-28



Hong Kong’s nightlife buzzes to say the least and competition can heat up fast when trying to be the ‘it’ place for patrons to spend a night out. While Lan Kwai Fong is renowned as being party central, Arena Bar settled in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, and made it up the list fast as a cool spot to go when you’re looking for both an ice cold beer and a competitive game of beer pong. 


Now, this ‘it’ spot has landed in Shanghai! A hidden gem by nature, this new venture is located on Dagu Lu and comes as a rather surprising new concept.



Following their entry into Shanghai, the owners behind the bar have not only tailored their brand to the market here, they’ve also taken on a new name: Arena Luxe. 



Accompanying this shift, you’ll find a different concept to that in Hong Kong too. Split into three parts, this is not going to be your average cocktail bar or nightclub, it’s going to be your next stylish all-day destination with tons of goodies for you to uncover.



Ready to see what’s inside this hidden gem? Then keep reading.



Behind door number one: the café!

For all your caffeinated needs



First appearances are never what they seem. Step through the steel sliding doors and you’ll enter a cozy little space decked out in leafy greens, beautiful floral arrangements and a delightful smell of freshly ground coffee.



The menu here is concise, offering up the classic caffeine-fuelled beverages like Latte (RMB 30), Americano (RMB 25), Cappuccino (RMB 30 and Hot Chocolate (RMB 30), as well as iced versions of said beverages for those sweaty Shanghai summers.



With small space inside, they’ve opened up a great little patio for you to enjoy your drinks on where you can seek shade from surrounding trees, or perch on one of their tall bar stools at the window to the café.



Ready to move on to the liquor?


Behind door number two: a magical speakeasy

Beautiful cocktails await



Finding the button to the next room is just one part of the fun. As the doors slide open to reveal the next section of the venue, you’ll feel as if you’ve just cracked part of a puzzle at one of Mr. X’s escape rooms. As the doors slide open you’ll uncover the next hidden gem to this tri-concept location – a speakeasy-style cocktail bar.


Note: Do watch yourselves on those sliding doors – there are two sets you’ll need to pass through and if you’re not paying attention – or have had a few too many – they can sneak up on you.



This cocktail bar oozes a retro European charm, where marble countertops and dark wooden features deck the entire room. 



Blue walls and seats add a regal touch, lights are dimmed and golden accents from the mirrors and tables finish the room off in a romantic way.


In this bar, the star of the show is the bartender Match Chan who, with such youthful looks, will surprise you with a wealth of knowledge from his 10+ years of experience in renowned establishments such as The Ritz-Carlton, The Peninsula and Marriott Hotels in Hong Kong.


With a mission to create cocktails with a twist, we tried some of the signature cocktails that they have to offer right now.


The Funeral of Rose (RMB 138)


While the name - Funeral of Rose - seems to reflect a certain sadness, this cocktail is anything but. Erecting a single rose in an elegant glass, it’s a beautiful-looking cocktail that's sure to please.



You won’t want to rush to drink this straight away, wait for the added touch of Chan’s magical spray to finish the drink off perfectly.



Made with vodka, a lychee liquor and some Japanese sake, the drink is sweet without being overpoweringly so. It’s finished with rose flower water, a rose syrup and some lemon juice. 



For dramatic effect, Chan adds Liquid Nitrogen to the drink and the cocktail transforms into a mesmerizing floral showcase.


Bubble Pom (RMB 128)


If you’ve ever felt the notion that beauty is fleeting, you’ll feel this even more so with the Bubble Pom cocktail. With this intriguing cocktail, Chan brings an air of magic to the scene by creating an ever-so delicate bubble ball that sits atop the glass. 


If you’re anything like us, it’ll be like a giant red button being placed in front of you that you’re not allowed to touch. All we wanted to do was poke it!



In an instant the bubble vanishes, leaving behind a trail of smoke. You might need a couple of takes if you’re trying to capture this on camera. The cocktail itself is refreshing as it is intriguing – a gin based drink mixed with a pomegranate liquor and sweet vermouth.


Gashapon (RMB 138)


For RMB 138 you’ll be presented with six eggs – each of which has a delightful cocktail shot to enjoy - the Gashapon! Dark rum fuels this drink and is mixed with egg, double cream, crème de cacao, frangelico – all of which gives it a creamy smooth and silky finish. 



Finished with a sprinkling of chocolate powder, this is the one you want to get if you love a hazelnut-chocolate flavor to your drinks.


Spring Rain (RMB 188)


Using molecular techniques in his bar, Chan likes to achieve an innovative twist to all of his beverages – be it through appearance or flavor, and we’ve certainly seen that in the last few creations. However, Spring Rain hits the top of our list when it comes to creative display.



Using gin, mint tea infused vermouth bianco, green chartreuse, shiso leaves and a shiso syrup lime juice, Chan turns this drink into a little bubble that you can simply pop into your mouth. With the slightest amount of pressure, the bubble pops and the light and refreshing mixture floods your palatte to leave a refreshing aftertaste.



If you’re feeling a little bit peckish, Arena Luxe also offer a range of bar snacks for you to indulge in too – some commonly found in bars across the city, others…not so much. They’re serving up your usual finds such as French Fries (RMB 37) and an alternative Seaweed Fries (RMB 42) for added flavor.  



They’ve drummed up the Salty Egg Yolk Chicken Wings (RMB 52) for a unique twist and a nod to Asian influences. However, what really caught our attention were the shanghai-style noodles (RMB 45) that featured on the menu – we haven’t really seen that being served in a cocktail bar before!


There’s certainly something for everyone in this tri-concept menu. That’s right, tri-concept. Did you notice the stairs?


Behind door number three: beer pong!

Get ready to compete.



Heading back out to the first area – the café – you might notice that there’s a staircase leading up to a mysterious second floor completely decked out in all kinds of sports paraphernalia – colorful skateboards, boxing gloves and more. 



Reminiscent of their Hong Kong location, this is where you want to go for a late night evening of drinks and games!



Within this third and final room sits a beer pong table, a pool table and a dart board where we envisage ourselves playing many a game of beer pong on their vibrantly decorated table.



Arena Luxe

Address: 426 Dagu Lu

Tel: 186 1673 7091 / 176 2193 8773





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