Area:
Xiangyang Nan Lu, just north of Yongkang Lu. From Tattoo Family's door you can see the murals of masked wrestlers inside el Luchador. If the wind is blowing in the right direction you can almost hear the drunk French people at Le Cafe des Stagiares.
What is it:
A partnership between tattoo artist Wang Haitao and barman Max Tang, two fellow dongbeiren from the same hometown in Liaoning who just happened to meet in Shanghai. As a one-man operation, Wang was seriously underutilizing the space in his shop. All he really needed was the small loft area upstairs to ply his trade. That left quite an oversized waiting room for his clients, but it just so happened to be the perfect size for a small bar and a few tables. Enter Max Tang. He's been in Shanghai since 2010. He heeded the clarion call of service sector jobs during the World Expo. He's worked the bar at Mr & Mrs Bund, the Jing'an Hilton and, most recently, was the lead bartender at Ginseng just around the corner.
The two have joined forces to create a tiny absinthe bar / tattoo parlor, the idea being the green liqueur has had a longtime connection to art and artists. Tattoos and tattooists fall in that category, right? Seems like a good fit to me.
Why it’s good:
Because it combines two things that are just inherently cool: Tattoos and booze. Why hasn't this happened sooner? The people are great, too. Max is passionate about spirits and is a super friendly guy. On my first visit, I was simply passing by on my way home when he dragged me in for a glass of absinth and a shot of Jaeger. It was his birthday, who was I to turn refuse him?
Here's another reason why it's good: they won't take advantage of your impaired, drunken judgment and try and sell you on a tat. For two reasons: 1. It's a total dick move. 2. Wang doesn't want have to deal with your profusely bleeding, stupid drunk ass. If you want a tattoo, make an appointment. He charges around 1500rmb per hour.
Tattoos and then booze, though? That works just fine. In fact it's encouraged. Once Wang leaves his permanent mark on you, a stiff drink is almost mandatory.
Atmosphere:
Small and cosy with a dusting of gothic aesthetics. Mildly haunting paintings are hung on brick walls. A deer antler chandelier hangs from the ceiling. Wang Haitao's works behind a pane of glass overhead like he's in a performance art installation. There is just enough room for about four tables and a just as many stools at the bar. Off to the side there is dark corridor with a few barstools as well. The place inevitably fills up quick, and Max is talking about putting some seats outside as well.
Prices:
They charge around the going rate for cocktails. Drinks in a high-ball glass are 38 or 48rmb. Beers are 40 or 50. Shots are 30 or 40. Max lumps the house wine in with non-alcoholic drinks and charges 40 a glass. Espresso and Americano are 28 and 35rmb respectively, which basically means you're paying 7 kuai for hot water. Soda water, juice and tea are 20, 25 and 35rmb respectively.
Ordering Recommendations:
Absinth is a good place to start. It's probably a good place to finish. Come to think of it, absinthe is good for a few drinks in the middle of your evening, too. Max carries the biggest selection of the stuff that I've seen in Shanghai, and I get the sense that he's nowhere near done adding to his collection. He's all about the ritual associated with the drink. He pours you a portion into a beveled glass through a sugar cube on a slotted spoon. Then, he sets the sugar cube ablaze with a kitchen torch. Finally, he unleashes the green fairy with a slow drizzle of orange zest and cucumber infused water from a fountain. They range in price from 48 to 78rmb. He's also working on a list of absinth cocktails, so be on the look out for that.
If green-tinted, anise-flavored hallucinations aren't your thing, there is also a list of signature cocktails. Max particularly likes to work with Scotch. He does a decent Old Fashioned with Macallan 12-year and "Smoky" Vesper with Laphroaig.
