Bar Review: Misael

By: Kyle Patrick Long

What: Cocktail bar with an artistic emphasis

Why: You like to sip while surrounded by beauty

How Much: Cocktails RMB 70-80, Draft beers RMB 50, Wine by the glass RMB 50

Where: 103 Wukang Lu, near Fuxing Lu. Tel: 6418 2972

The new cocktail lounge is bringing stimulation to all your senses in its cosy corner of the French Concession. Initially starting as a fashion, art and design firm, the Belgian/Shanghainese duo behind Misael recently branched out into the Shanghai drinks scene, but the initial artistic concept is still quite visible in their bar, what with the attention to architectural design in the odd-shaped space and walls brimming with abstract and modern paintings.

While pretty pictures on the wall are nice, bars sink or swim based on their drink selection. The owners made a smart decision by snagging Jacky Wong, previously one of the friendly local staff mixing up molecular cocktails at Alchemist. Well-trained, Wong’s cocktails are creative, well-balanced and, above all, delicious. He’s even making most of the syrups in-house. We tried a delightfully smoky-sweet tea variety, which balances out the Drunk Driver (don’t worry we walked home). The bourbon-based drink comes with a splash of orange triple sec and bitters that will leave you wanting another for the road. Wong’s long resume means he can easily create a bespoke cocktail, so don’t be afraid to go off menu here.

With all that effort, Misael is justifying its price tag of RMB 70 for mixed drinks – although that seems to be the going rate for a decently-mixed cocktail around town nowadays. On tap, Misael pours out two Belgian beers: Veddett Extra Blond and Maredsous Blonde. There’s also a selection of wines to choose from including a Misael label Italian import, as well as a large sampling from Argentina and France.

With a location less than two blocks from the Yongfu Lu strip, Misael separates itself from the raucous overflow of weekend warriors. Just one glance at the thought-provoking art on the walls, and you can see this is not the place to get rip-roaring drunk, but it is perfect for a quiet date or a quick session amongst friends.