[Radar]: Th' Rhumerie Bounty

 

Where it be: Th’ Rhumerie Bounty be land-locked at 550 Wuding Lu, near Xikang Lu -- that’s right in th' heart o' th' Jing’an District, down th' road from boutique fast food restaurant Munchies an' around th' corner from that strip o' bars at 528 Kangdin' Lu.

If ye be climbin' to th’ crow’s nest o’ Plaza 66, ye can see th’ Rhumerie from nigh Jing’an Temple.

What it be, yar: It’s a pirate-themed bar and a pirate’s life for thee. Everythin' at th’ Rhumerie be t' do wi' sea dogs, an' the'r alchohol o' choice: rum.

Th’ rum be Havana Club, an' 't’s macerated fer tides wi' fruit an' spices from exotic an' tropical ports. Ye buy 't t' sip on, yarrrr, an' thar be different flavours t' suit yer preference.

But if ye be a lily livered bilge rat, they be havin' other cocktails an' more grog as well. Th' owners be addled Frenchmen -- brothers of the coast, one and three -- an' they had another pirate-themed place in France as well.

Rum an' pirates be very popular in France, apparently, arr, ‘tis true.

Atmosphere: It’s like bein' below deck on th' Queen Ann’s Revenge. Barrels an' heavy wood everywhere. Pirate memorabilia on th' walls, tributin' famous sea dogs an' horn swogglin’ scallywags o' yore.

E'en th' draft taps be a ship’s wheel. ‘Tis fantastic to be sure, but...

When we were on deck at th’ Rhumerie, shanties on the radio were ‘90s alternative -- gaaaarrrrrr. Were it my craft we were sailin’, I would be placing the Black Spot on the DJ for spinnin’ tha bilge-sucking swill. Aye, kiss the gunner’s daughter ‘e would.

Damage: Prepare to be partin' wit’a handsome doubloon: 250ml bottles of th' specialty rum usually go for 125rmb (11 shots or so), but in th' month of July they’re slingin’ 'em for 100rmb even. Shots are 15rmb.

Who be going: Well, 't’s classier than ye might think from a buccanneer-themed place. Although Th’ Rhumerie would appeal t' true pirates an' real sea dogs alike, she also makes overtures t' th' Constellation-type crowd as well.

'Tis, o' course, nerewise t' underestimate th' power o' a good gimmick. Th' fact that thar’s nothin' else like 't in Shanghai will be havin' all sorts goin' at least once, e'en if th' rum turns ou' t' be somethin' o' an acquired taste.