Bar Reviews: Haven, Kaiba Tap House, Kartel, Stocchi

Haven

By Campbell Browne

What: Highly exclusive vampire themed club

Why: OMG! You’re, like, totally Team Edward

How much: RMB 500 entrance fee

Where: Dream Wharf, Building 3, 1029 Zhongshan Nan Lu, near Duojia Lu. Tel: 3331 0202

Theme club virgins beware – there’s new blood on the South Bund, and it doesn’t totally suck. For most of the month, Haven is closed to the public (we can only assume it’s harbouring the undead on these off-nights), but the vampire-themed club opens it doors to mere mortals brave enough to cross its threshold on the first Saturday of the month.

If the cloaked guards greeting the fragile humans with bowed heads didn’t give away the premise, the Dracula décor sure will. With candlelit marble staircases leading up to gothic ceilings and balconies offering perfect vantage points for stalking your prey on the dance floor, the entire place just seems to whisper of elicit acts that would make Anne Rice blush.

The cocktail menu lists more than your typical O Negative and Bloody Mary. Sponsored by Grey Goose, the staff is still a little fuzzy on what drinks will be making the rounds come hard opening, but expect tipples for hardest of Twi-hards served by barkeeps in ghoulish facepaint.

If you’ve made it this far without losing a pint or two, try to slink through the shadows past the guards to the VIP room. After you’re forgiven your trespasses, take a dip in the private pool while flames lick the deck surrounding the water. If nothing else, it’s the perfect place to mull over your immortality.

In the realm of theme bars, Haven goes just far enough to guarantee a bloody time. We didn’t necessarily say good. Crucifixes optional.