"StrangeBrew" is a column about unusual places to drink in Shanghai -- places with a gimmick. Weekly, biweekly, monthly, or just whenever, we look at bars and clubs in which Shanghai proprietors have let their own personal obsessions and dementias find expression in shaky business ventures.

The Gimmick: Christmas at Ground Zero

On the banks of tranquil and serene Suzhou Creek is a military-themed bar called Area 51. Therein patrons enjoy a really involved decor dedicated to guns and military stuff, 20rmb beers, army men dioramas, mounted guns, a brand new pool and foosball table, and a really-quite-good laser shooting game.

And this fellow right here. They've got his "The Best of" on repeat. Rock it:


Yes. Yes, that's right. You are correct. It is fuckin' sweet.

"Area 51" is, of course, a reference to the secret military base in Nevada that supposedly houses downed UFO aircraft and alien bodies and whatnot. I don't really know why they called it that because there isn't any alien stuff at the bar. It's all straight-up military worship -- painstakingly recreated military dioramas, guns on the walls, stock military photography, model tanks and planes, lots of mannequins wearing various army uniforms, a stack of Chinese gun magazines if you fancy a read, and also a little mini sand-bagged bunker in the corner in which you can play the shooting game. (See picture below -- that's me dominating some shit like, blam! blam!)

It also looks like they're going to be celebrating Christmas year-round at Area 51. They've still got all the Christmas stuff up. I can dig it.

Remember when you were 12 -- and I guess I'm speaking mainly to the guys here -- guns and military stuff was just like the coolest shit ever? I'm pretty sure the owner of Area 51 never really grew out of that phase and now middle-aged and with a bit of cash, he’s built this place to express his love for army stuff. He did all the decorations himself. Walking around Area 51, I can't believe I grew out of that phase. It was the wrong thing to do. So now I’m 12 again and back into guns and cool military stuff.



Overall it feels like one of the guys who works at the shooting range on Huaihai Lu opened up a Chinese pub / bar and filled it with wicked awesome shit. I love those crazy bastards at that gun range on Huaihai Lu. I love this crazy bastard who opened this Area 51 bar. I feel like if I get him drunk enough he'll be like 'check this out', and he'll pull out a human skull and drop it on the bar. Then I'll be all, "Whoa! That’s turbo awesome!"

Yeah. Area 51 is turbo awesome. Beers are 20rmb. Pool and foos tables are brand spanking new. That target shooting game is pretty fun. Everyone who works there is super nice. Michael Bolton is all up in your face all night long. Military stuff is rad. Go there.

Here's the venue listing for Area 51.

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