Usually when I tell my friends about F Lounge the conversation goes something like this:

THEM: So is this a girlie bar?

ME: No, it’s not. It’s actually a good place to go and have a drink. It’s near all kinds of other bars, but NOBODY knows about it. I mean nobody. If you go in there, it’ll probably be empty, so you have to bring the party.

THEM: But there are girls in there, right?

ME: Waitresses.

THEM: Sure, that’s what they always say they are.

ME: Some of the wait-staff are dudes, too.

THEM: They’ve got to cover all preferences.

ME [rolling my eyes]: It’s not a girlie bar…

Getting to the place doesn’t make it seem any less sketchy, although it’s close to a number of other bars and restaurants that you’ve probably heard of.

F Lounge is located down a small dark alley off Xinhua Lu, directly across the street from an Alldays. You’ll know you’re walking down the right alley by the garish “Beer Bar” sign near the street, and one saying “F Lounge” closer to the bar’s entrance. Cotton’s on Xinhua is just down the road, and both C’s and the new Kaiba are about a block and a half away on Dingxi Lu.

The bar is owned by an ABC financier who spends a lot of time between SH and HK, so as a result, the drinks are up to par (decent beer, good mixed drinks) and despite the fact that the English level of its staff isn’t the highest, the service doesn’t suffer all that much.

The décor of the bar is tasteful, and not overly ostentatious, well not by Chinese standards anyway. To be fair, there are a few balloons bobbing beside the concrete walls of the two-story, vaulted room, but other than that your eyeballs won’t be assaulted. You’ll definitely want to head for the back of the room where the space below two lofted, KTV rooms has been fitted with long, comfortable couches, plushy rugs and tasteful, low tables.

It’s a great place to kick back with about 10 of your friends if you want a place to enjoy a drink and a conversation that doesn’t involve shouting over a giant sound-system. And trust me, you are guaranteed to get a spot. There’s almost never anyone there.

F Lounge, No. 5, Lane 448, Xinhua Lu, near Dingxi Lu. Tel: 5230 0368. Drinks RMB 30-50

 - Tom Mangione

(Photo by Stephen Yang)