Oct 15 2010 Friday night in Shanghai
Shanghai Waldorf Astoria
Shanghai Long Bar
Ok Friday night review of Shanghai nightlife.
First stop was the new Waldorf Astoria Hotel
http://www.waldorfastoriashanghai.com/discover_shanghai
A distinguished new landmark hotel on The Bund, across Shanghai’s famous waterfront promenade. The hotel is not open yet. the bar was packed, the crowd in the 50′s and 60′s. The service was excellent.
No. 3 on the Bund. The Shanghai Club, built in 1909 for an English club which had been founded 1865. It was said that it had the longest bar in the world, or at least Asia. Reputedly it was 34 metres (111 ft) long. A part of the bar still remains in the Sea men’s Club upstairs. It is also known as the Dong Feng Hotel. The former bar was also the first Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant in Shanghai .
The club was a British men’s club and was the most exclusive club in Shanghai during the heyday of the 1920s and 1930s. The membership fee was $125 and monthly dues were $9.
United States President Ulysses S. Grant was hosted there when he visited Shanghai in 1879.
The second-floor was famous for the “Long Bar.” This was an unpolished mahogany, L-shaped bar that measured 110.7 feet by 39 feet. On one side of the bar was a smoking room and library, while on the other side was a billiards room. It was famous for being the world’s longest bar at one time.
There were also forty guest rooms on the second and third floors. It later became the Dongfeng Hotel, and even housed a KFC restaurant from 1990 to 1996.
This restored Hotel has the original bar and the elevators. The feel is so 1930′s.
Located at the center of The Bund, a city boulevard which runs alongside the Huangpu River and one of the most photographed postcard scenes of city, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund mixes the history and culture of the surrounding district with a taste for 21st century sophistication. The hotel comprises 269 guest rooms and suites across two buildings. A newly built modern tower connects to an all-suite heritage building – The Waldorf Astoria Club, once the legendary Shanghai Club and one of the few remaining heritage structures in Shanghai. This neo-classical architectural gem built in 1911, is painstakingly restored using archival photographs and records whilst equipping it with contemporary luxuries for modern-day travel experiences. This Shanghai luxury hotel can truly stake its claim as the place to be for the well-heeled global traveler.
Guest Rooms and Suites
The Waldorf Suites in The Waldorf Astoria Club are decorated in classical European style with plush amenities, clawfoot bathtubs, exquisite chandeliers and the signature Waldorf poster bed. All 269 rooms and suites are fitted with state of the art in-room entertainment, a walk-in closet, and a marble-finished bathroom featuring a double vanity area with bathtub and separate shower. The new tower also houses a Chairman Suite and a President Suite, each with two bedrooms laid out to impress. Many rooms overlook the scenic Bund while others feature views of the surrounding historic sites
Dine in Privilege and Style
The dining experience at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund mirrors that of the legendary Waldorf=Astoria New York. The Specialty Restaurant serves up New York favorites and modern American cuisine. The Salon is an ideal lounge for high tea, intimate gatherings or simply a quiet place to read a book. The Long Bar features an impressive 110 ft counter, built to the original specifications of the 1911 bar, at that time, celebrated as the longest in the Far East. The Chinese Restaurant, located in the attic of The Waldorf Astoria Club with a view of the Bund, is a marvel of treasures, from original antics to the cuisine itself. The Grand Brasserie connects the new tower with The Waldorf Astoria Club and features an impressive all-day menu that caters to various palates. The Peacock Alley on the mezzanine level overlooks the Grande Brasserie, and in the tradition of its New York namesake, is the place to be for Afternoon Tea as you watch the world go by.
Events That Take Your Breath Away
Within The Waldorf Astoria Club and directly facing The Bund, the stunning Ballroom opens into an alfresco balcony and has the unique advantage of having the city’s famous waterfront promenade as a backdrop, the most spectacular any high society event or wedding could ever have in Shanghai. It is indeed this Shanghai luxury hotel’s crown jewel. Eight other impressive functions spaces are available for events of various sizes.
Recreational Activities and Local Attractions
The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund hotel features an indoor heated swimming pool, fully-equipped health club, a pampering spa and library, and allows guests to rest, relax and rejuvenate in style. Right in front of this Shanghai Bund hotel is the Bund Promenade, the best vantage point for photographing the city’s river-side scene, the modern skyscrapers of Pudong across the Huangpu River and of course, the many iconic landmarks that line The Bund. At dawn, witness or join the legions of Chinese who practice tai chi or qigong and ballroom dancing enthusiasts who practice the tango. At night, be enthralled by the illuminating glows of the heritage structures on The Bund and spectacular lights from the Pudong skyscrapers. Quaint alleys and lanes are dotted with interesting shops as well as trendy restaurants and reinvented glamour bars – A perfect blend of the old and new. For art and culture, guests will find that the area’s most famous museums and galleries are just a stone’s throw away. For a taste of local delicacies, the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is within walking distance, while the beautiful Yu Garden is just around the corner. Right across the Huangpu River is the famous Oriental Pearl Tower, offering a bird’s eye view of the city. Of course, the hotel butlers can always offer suggestions, book reservations, or make arrangements for a cruise along the river.
A New, Landmark Choice Of Shanghai Luxury Hotels
Experience the impeccable style and chic sophistication of this new Shanghai Bund hotel, offering a prime location in the midst of the city’s most celebrated district.
The second stop 6 on the bund. The Dolce & Gabbana Martini Bar
1/F, Bund 6, 6 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu 中山东一路6号, 外滩六号1楼, 近广东路 +86 21 6339 1200
Sunday-Monday Noon-9pm; Tuesday-Saturday 11am-late
Why only snap up couture on The Bund when you can sip and shop as you go? Enter the exclusive Dolce & Gabbana Martini Bar.
低调…
奢华…
米兰的Dolce & Gabbana Martini Bar绝对是个吸引眼球的地方，上海的这个店的装修应该也是沿用了这个风格吧…
反正能把Dolce & Gabbana穿出style来的美妞型男，一个一个拉出来都是super super star！！！
The third stop was
Attached to the Dolce & Gabbana boutique in Bund 6, the Martini Bar is all Italian decadence, right down to the Murano glass chandelier and its so-small-it’s-has-to-be-chic venue.
While not a destination in itself, the convenience factor of the Dolce & Gabbana Martini Bar trumps all when looking to toast to your new US$1,200 purse or drown your buyer’s remorse sorrows in a mid-afternoon Gin Fizz.
I got to the D&G Martini bar at 12 on the dot and it looked like a ghost town. Not a single sole in Shanghai was at the bar.
We then headed upstairs to the top floor where Shanghai Prive is. Once the elevator doors open you get hit with loud blaring music. As I walked out into the darkness I also did not see a sole. Where did everyone go in Shanghai. The manger came over and said the would grand open the new club Oct 22,2010 at 9. I look forward to the opening since the club in Hong Kong does very well.
http://prive-shanghai.com/
The girls wanted to check out Lounge 18 at Shanghai 18 on the Bund. They chose to walk to the club. 34 blocks later we walked to 18 on the Bund. It looked like a good sign because we saw some people waiting for the elevator.
Located in the famous Bund 18, alongside the elegant Sens and Bund, this lounge bar is wonderfully well-designed. Open and airy inside with stunning views of the bund through its large windows, the space is peppered with eclectic tables and chairs. The drinks list is small but solid, though as with many venues in Shanghai prices are capable of making your eyes bleed. Probably best as a start-of-evening stop off to have a one drink and savour the space and the views before moving on.
I think the place is over rated. We arrived at about 12:15 and the place was empty expect for 3 tables. Where did everyone in Shanghai go. The had a live Brazilian band and Brazilian dancers. The show was nice for Shanghai. It was like having your own personal table dance since no one else was in the club by 1.
I went upstairs to have a peek at Shanghai Bar Rouge. http://bar-rouge-shanghai.com/index_en.php The were about 50% packed at 1 A.M. Everyone seemed to be on the the terrace. Most the tables inside were empty. Shanghai Club business is hard but I hear 3 more clubs to open by the end of the month.
By 1:15 A.M. we were the only ones in Shanghai Lounge 18. It’s like having your own club in Shanghai with 5 waiters tending to your needs. We finished drinking around 3:30 A.M. and called it a night!
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