Settle in, this one's a doozy. First off, speakeasy news! Tailor's back. The concerns have also opened up another bar with a filthy name. And there's more! Ever more! But it's a secret. Not-so-secret speakeasy news is that Tour's shut. So is its downstairs scratch-n-sniff-card-menu-having-dangerously-low-ceilinged-speakeasy Magnolia Room. Bummer. But hey, Light & Salt have opened a new space! That's nice. In other news, it looks like ABInBev has taken over Cabra. They're sitting on about 50% of the world. And. What else? Oh nothing much just Camel Group's impending conquest of the other half. Details on correct procedure for hailing your new overlords, and more after the jump.

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Now Open

Okay, big ones up first! Tailor's is back, open in the lobby of a boutique hotel (hidden behind another hotel at the same address, so it's a bit speakeasy-ish). If you remember the original Tailor Bar which closed about six months or twelve million years ago, it was this kick-ass little glass-enclosed corner of an abandoned service corridor overlooking Jing'an Temple. This one isn't quite as scenic; it's basically the lobby bar. It's a nice bar, mind you, it's oaky, it's woody, very classic. If you went to Tailor Bar for the drinks, you'll get the same thing here. Give 'em a few weeks to get their full stock in. It's just a shame you no longer have that view.

We still miss you, original view from the dingy corner of that medical building

If a single Tailor Bar comeback isn't enough for you, there's another spot by the same people that's just opened up on Shaanxi Bei Lu, one with far more chutzpah. A second-floor cocktail lounge with a pretty trippy neon/wood/metal aesthetic. I dig it. It's called Gan Bar, written 幹 Bar. Mind your tones on that one, lest an invitation to drinks be misinterpreted as biblical. The Light & Salt group have opened up a new spot called Light & Salt Backstage. They describe it as "contemporary cuisine with a twist of Old Shanghai... the sleek modern 40 seats restaurant features a full bar & cellar and a contemporary menu inspired by the Jazz Age of Old Shanghai." Snazzy. The people behind Flask and Tiger Bites have opened a new wine bar and bistro called Kru. Wait. No wine barrel that swings open to reveal a champagne jacuzzi? Okay. Wine bar/bistros are nice, just they've kind of set my expectations for a twist ending with every place. Meanwhile, on Xiangyang Bei Lu, a laundromat opened up tha-- look it's a speakeasy okay? This week is speakeasy week. SPEAKEASIES ARE BACK BABY. It's called Laundry Co, it's by the people behind Barber Shop and it looks like a functioning goddamn laundromat like we're in Baby Driver instead of downtown Shanghai, except it also has a bar behind the incongruous elevator serving up, y'know, cocktails starting at 95rmb, I guess. Because of course it does.

Casualties

Here, quick trio of closures. Dandan has closed, now some place called Chuan Hu, Cafe Berber and Mo's. Boom. Don't need to dwell on it. Move on. Bigger news, yup, you heard right, Tour's and Magnolia Room are both closed. Which is a shame, because they were doing something new, something fresh. The memory of that edible menu and the shards of broken sugar glass in my drink will remain with me for a while. But, as has been reported elsewhere, Canadian cocktail man Mack will be joining Bund headline Nest where he will, hopefully, be able to continue doing his thing.

Word on the Street

Here, quick little bit of chef-spotting; Scott Melvin has confirmed via LinkedIn that he's the Head Chef at EDITION hotel, coming in 2018. Speaking of hotels, Astor House Hotel isn't accepting reservations after December 1. When we called to ask them what's up, there was a flurry of conversation, handing of phones back and forth, and then finally a tentative yes, Astor House Hotel will be closing after December 1. For "renovation." They wouldn't say what kind of renovation. They wouldn't say how long they'd be closed for. We asked politely, in multiple languages. We were told explicitly that we didn't need to speak to PR or marketing unless we wanted to buy something. Now, on to news of our new Camel overlords, may their humps be amply hydrated and their footpads free of small stones and branches. First off, they acquired Saucepan. Snapped it right up. Just like they snapped up SEL which, they've revealed, they're turning into a place called The Brewers' Lab. Expected to open later this year (how later, there's not much "later" left), it's in partnership with Australian craft brewers (and perennial The Hop Project residents) Little Creatures. Expect it to stock "fresh and flavoursome craft beers," their press release says, and...

"will feature a sensory station where patrons can pour their most loved Little Creatures beers directly into customized glassware exclusively designed by our Head Brewer Tom Champion... allowing hopheads to discover the unique personalities and flavors of the beer... a rich cultural and social experience for new and existing beer lovers, with frequent beer education sessions... full range of permanent Little Creatures beers, a variety of seasonal beers, and... our sister brewery White Rabbit's award-winning brews. A beer canning machine will allow beer loves to... take their favourite beers home and customize its labels for that special someone or occasion. Nothing says love more than the gift of beer."

Goddamn, Camel and Little Creatures. Goddamn. Giving Zapfler a run for its money down there in Shanghai's F&B Atlantis.

Somewhere, Nat Alexander is rubbing his hands and cackling maniacally

Wait! Wait! There's more news! There's more goddamn news Boxing Cat Brewery/Goose Island (hail Goose) have also acquired the shit out of Cabra which they plan to turn into a "neighborhood beer bar with some food offerings" rotating craft beers, beertails, nitro coffee, the works. ABInBev is coming for you Wuding Lu. They want to swallow you whole. They want to grind your indigenous culture under the boot of capitalism and wash your blood from the streets with a tide of mass-produced craft beer-- Morgan, give me back the keyboard. Shanghai's granddaddies of roast Cafe Del Volcan will be opening a take-away window downstairs from them as well. Joint opening is Dec 30. That's it. That's enough news. Please stop enjoy your belated Thanksgiving, Shanghai. Ignore all this F&BS and go massacre the turducken leftovers.