[Radar]: Little Face

 

Area: Little Face Asian Kitchen & Bar is located on Donghu Lu right off of Central Huaihai Lu. It’s along the same street as the newly re-opened Dragonfly, Sichuan Citizen, and El Willy.

What is it: For those of you who have been mourning the loss of Face Bar on Ruijin Lu, the Face Bar Group has brought you a little something to hold you over until they find a new venue. Ever-stylish, ever-thirsty Shanghai glamazons, meet the aptly named Face Bar offspring -- "Little Face Asian Kitchen & Bar." Inheriting the antique wooden hand-crafted furniture, décor and Chinese pop art paintings from its predecessor, Little Face recreates the same 1920's stylish and decadent Shanghainese opium den feel of the original Face Bar Shanghai (albeit on a smaller scale and minus the garden). In terms of layout, Little Face has three floors: the first floor features a patisserie and chocolaterie similar to sister-café Visage in Xintiandi, the bar is on the second floor with its famed plush cushions and opium bed, and the restaurant on the third. Still a work-in-progress, only the bar is open for now, with the patisserie and restaurant opening next month.

Atmosphere The atmosphere is chic and stylish -- feels like a trendy Buddha Bar in New York or Paris. Ideal for those seeking a good ambience to accompany their drinks.

Impressed with The decor ... for now. With enough space between tables, there’s enough privacy for intimate drinks and sensitive conversations, but should that become unbearable, there is always distracting paintings and architecture to look at and snooker to be played. Similar to that of the original Face Bar Shanghai, customers are really going for the whole experience ... laying on an opium bed, sipping on cocktails and elongating vowels while languidly blowing smoke rings. Time to break out that long cigarette filter ... so posh, so posh.

Damage Once the whole Face Bar factory is fully functioning in its three-pronged glory, we can expect it to echo the prices of the old Face Bar. Thankfully for us, patience is not a foreign virtue in this land. Direct your attention right for the prices, and check out that happy hour special, which is what you'd be going to Little Face for at the moment.

Whose going Young professionals, old professionals, trendy professionals, one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish which roughly translates to anyone who prizes the quality of the atmosphere over the price of the drink. Once the restaurant opens up, I would imagine this would be a popular venue for business lunches and dinner dates.