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

Kaiba Tap House

By Andrew James

What: Third branch of the beloved Belgian beer bar

Where: 202 Taikang Terrace, 169 Jianguo Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu

How much: Drafts from RMB 40 – 55, bottles from RMB 35 – 588

Why: You want the strongest pale ale in Shanghai

If Taikang Terrace hasn’t popped up on your radar, it’s likely due to an overabundance of art galleries and a concerning lack of booze. Belgian beer bar Kaiba is set to change this with their latest location situated on the second floor of the new development.

The dimly lit bar is Kaiba’s attempt to get off the bottle, deciding to focus on draft beers. Although it’s still early stages for the bar – they haven’t officially opened yet – they’ve already lined up seven unique beers on tap; including  Maredsous Blond, Vedett Extra White and Extra Blond, La Chouffe, Rogue Dead Guy Draft  Ale and Dead Guy Chocolate Stout and De Koninck Draft, with an eighth on the way.

The beer menu ranges from affordable (RMB 40-55 for draft) to ridiculous (RMB 588 for a 75cL bottle of Bush Prestige) and offers up all of the regular Kaiba specials including two-for-one ladies’ night and discounts on monthly beers. The high ceiling, cement and wood plank walls, baked brick floors and steel seating complete the relaxed atmosphere. Although it strays slightly towards a classy version of Road House with tin beer advertisements decorating the barn board walls, the music is decidedly un-Swayze and runs from hip-hop to hipster country (ie Johnny Cash).

The key attraction is the terrace that runs the length of the bar, and sits noise-complaint close to the neighboring apartments and draws the majority of the crowd. Service is as friendly as a Belgian beermaid (that’s a good thing), and they’ll walk you through the menu if too many Hoegaarden Forbidden Fruits have left you confused as to whether you want a Lindemans Faro, Pauvel Kwak or Abbaye Des Rocs Brune.