Bar Review: De Refter

What: A Belgian beer hall, straight up

Why: You crave beer from the land of beer

How Much: Imported Belgian bottles around RMB 60; bar snacks around RMB 30

Where: 181 Jinxian Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu. Tel: 3230 2595

We, the nightlife editors of the city, often like to play soothsayer after a couple of pints. And one nightlife vision that I’ve been seeing for ages in the bottom of my glass was the coming of a dedicated Belgian beer bar. That day has come. Bliss, the quirky lounge on Jinxian Lu that will undoubtedly go down in Shanghai nightlife history as the venue with the largest door, has undergone a gut renovation and been reborn as De Refter, a Belgian-themed establishment aimed at brewing up business amongst Shanghai’s growing class of beer-ati.

One of the owners has an interest in themed entertainment, so the idea behind the bar’s feel and décor is to bring patrons as close to the experience of hitting up a Belgian brasserie as possible, even employing a Belgian designer for authenticity’s sake. On the walls you’ll find pictures of Bruges behind window panes cleverly illuminated to give you the feeling that you’re looking out onto a street far far away. Even the name of the restaurant allegedly means ‘pub’ in a Flemish dialect.

In terms of food, you’ll find Belgian classics like waffles and French fries on the menu. I, shoe-string loving American that I am, found the authentic double-fried thick cut fries an artery-clogging revelation – crispy on the outside, oil-packed on the inside. As for the beer, the selection is quite good, including more well known Belgian brews like Delirium Tremens, but also lesser known varieties for beer connoisseurs. You’ll also find a selection of lambics (fruit flavored beers) and beer cocktails on the menu for those that don’t hop to hops. The bar will also feature daily happy hour with a rotating group of beers for around 25 per cent off as well as buy one get one free spotlight specials on select beers.