The Hai at 35 Yongjia Lu, that humble spot just outside Shanghai Culture Square, is closing its doors at the end of February with a final party. The place has been around for nearly two decades. You'd think the area would be full of nightlife spots, but usually it's just The Hai that keeps the street alive after dark.
I'm not a big bar goer, but I went to this place a lot when I lived nearby. It's small but always had a good vibe. You could grab some easy food and a beer, play a few rounds of pool with friends, simple stuff. They also have a solid vegan burger option, which is getting rarer in Shanghai's shrinking vegan burger scene.
So, it was a bit of a shock when I heard they were closing. It seemed like they had a loyal crowd. Turns out, the landlord wasn't playing nice so they had to look for a new spot, so let's hope we'll soon be able to say, "The Hai is back and better!"
