Garage Project opened April 18, tucked not behind a bookshelf or a freezer door, but down in the underground parking of the The Peninsula Shanghai. Yes, the garage. Forget Bund rooftops for a second they're betting you'd rather be beneath it.

The entry process is half the point. You don't just walk in. You go to the main entrance, find a staffer in a plaid shirt, buy a ticket, and wait. Then a green Mini Cooper rolls up and takes you on a short detour before you even see the bar. The route loops around the Bund and the Bund Source, with a running commentary thrown in part sightseeing, part scene-setting. It's a bit theatrical, but that's clearly the idea.

Eventually, you land where you started heading: B1 of the Peninsula, inside an industrial-style space dressed up with car parts and garage ephemera. It's less speakeasy, more staged experience the kind of place designed to be talked about as much as drunk in.

Drinks come from a team that's aiming for clever over classic. Expect some experimentation, a bit of flair, and pricing to match the hotel address. Service, at least, should be dialed in. Peninsula doesn't really do casual.

Why go:
It's a full package scavenger hunt entry, chauffeured mini-tour, and a bar that commits to its theme harder than most. It's also a limited-time pop-up, which means it'll likely be busy for exactly as long as people are curious.

Check the Instagram of The Peninsula Shanghai for a guest shift. Last weekend, Ryo Segawa from Pendulum Clock, a highly rated bar in Osaka, brought his signature creations.

Garage Project
B1 Garage, The Peninsula Shanghai, 32 Zhongshan East Road