This venue has closed.
Shanghai doesn’t want for places
to get a drink. Cocktail drinkers
are particularly well-served, which
can make getting their attention
somewhat difficult. In recent
years, a number of bars
have attempted to
tackle that issue
by going the
‘speakeasy’
route, but Tour
has a different
response:
they’re serving
drinks that
each come
accompanied
by a small
bite to eat. The
edible theme is
emphasised by a
menu that you can also
stuff into your mouth (though
before you sink your teeth into the
industrial chic walls or metallic
furniture, that’s as far as it goes).
The bar’s name is derived from
the ‘tours’ that they offer of their
expansive spirit selection; you
choose your poison (say, gin or rum)
and the staff put together a little
journey through their favourites.
Prices for these trips start from
around 100RMB, but naturally
escalate depending on how deep
you want to delve into the more
rarefied end of their collection.
Most visitors though are ordering
from that edible cocktail menu.
Before you tear off strips to wrap
around the dips provided, you’ll find
a selection of six drinks on offer,
taking in more familiar options
such as the whisky sour (85RMB)
featured in our cover feature and
negroni (80RMB, served with a
grilled cheese sandwich), and
intriguing concoctions such
as the Pata Negra
(95RMB), which
blends fat-washed
bourbon with
sugar and
angostura
bitters and is
joined by a roll
of Iberico ham.
Gimmicky?
Maybe a
touch, but
while your first
few orders will
have you and your
fellow drinkers sat in
silence for a few minutes
while you all upload images
to your WeChat moments, what
will keep you coming back is the
fact that the drinks are well-mixed,
the paired snacks are tasty and
the general feel is of a refreshingly
unpretentious place to enjoy a
quality drink.
By Jake Newby
