The Roof, Lola & Bar Rouge Revisited

Bar Rouge

What: La crème de la crème à Shanghai

Why: The red lady turns six years old

How much: Cocktails RMB 50 – 90, bottles of Champagne RMB 980 – 6,000

Where: 7F, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu. Tel: 6339 1199

New rule: if a nightlife venue survives six years in this town, institutional status is the reward. This month, Bund-trailblazer Bar Rouge achieves this milestone in style. Since the wild days of 2005, when mind-boggling amounts of money were beginning to pour into Shanghai’s nocturnal playground, Bar Rouge not only persevered within the city’s tumultuous market, but quickly grew into its premiere nightlife hotspot. As the pioneer of Champagne clubbing, Bar Rouge's Mathieu Brauer surmises, “We added a feminine touch and an international vision to the club scene – we were the first!”

Bar Rouge’s unqualified success is easy to pin down. Originally, it set the bar for F1 weekend parties in 2005 and then again for anniversary bashes, with their ‘F*** Me I’m Famous’ party with David Guetta on Bar Rouge's first birthday. Its creative team has also heavily pushed theme parties over the last few years – constant innovation is the club’s savoir-faire. Music has always been Franco-centric and often commercial, but Shanghai clubbers have readily embraced it. Additionally, Bar Rouge has correctly gambled twice by closing for several weeks to rush through quick renovations to keep the venue’s design fresh and contemporary. Lastly, any review would be remiss to not also credit its picture perfect view of Lujiazui’s ceaselessly changing skyline.

To the inevitable delight of Shanghai’s haut monde, the club shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. According to manager Antoine Pernet, “We want to be considered as one of the best bar/clubs in the world. We will continue to develop our brand worldwide with our Shanghai Music Society and BR music labels, and we have a few other surprises which are on the way.” No matter how you feel about this after-dark institution, Bar Rouge is worthy of respect for its remarkable accomplishment. With the ubiquitous flute of bubbly in hand, take a moment this month to raise your glass high in veneration of the indefatigable red lady.