This venue has closed.
Last year, bartender Mack Ross gave a little shake to the over-saturated Shanghai bar scene with the inventive cocktail-snack pairings he started serving at Tour. Things get tasty from the moment you pull up a stool and use the edible paper menu to scoop up chopped nuts topped with sweet and savoury sauces. Each of Tour’s signature cocktails arrive with a surprise small bite that Ross has chosen based on the flavours of the drink, like the much-talked about Grilled Negroni served with a grilled cheese toasty and a bottle of Frank’s hot sauce.
All that in mind, we were psyched for the next concept from Ross and his team. Magnolia Room, a bar within a bar, opened mid-February below Tour. The new space, entered via an inconspicuous cement sliding door, is small and intimate with room for 16.
The Magnolia Room concept follows the same bites and booze route as Ross’ original venture, but with a twist. A scratch-and-win-lottery-style card menu that gives a chance at several prizes – a shot of Jameson, a grilled cheese, a bottle of Chivas 18. The group next to us get a free whiskey sour, but sadly, we’re out of luck. When the drinks arrive, our loss is forgotten… they are delicious AF.
The PBS (90RMB) is a smooth, sweet and salty blend of Blanco tequila, peanut butter, lime and a bit of sugar that’s finished off with a spicy kick of sriracha. On top rests a skewer with two salt and peppered boiled quail eggs, which pair well with the richness of the PBS. It’s gone much faster than we care to admit. The creamy Gambling Grasshopper (95RMB) with Mud Puddle Bitter Chocolate Vodka made from fair trade cacao nibs, comes paired with a hand embellished white chocolate mahjong tile. A definite crowd-pleaser, but for the price, you may be looking for a bit more edge.
We love La Ouchy Mouth (85RMB), both for flavour and presentation. Seeing maraschino cherry liquor on the list of ingredients, we half-expect a bright red, syrupy tipple, but on the contrary – it’s nearly clear, well-iced mix of white rum, lime, sugar and just a touch of the sweet and tangy liquor. There are shards of sugar ‘glass’ candy sticking out from the surface of the drink and a bottle cap resting on top, giving the impression that you’ve got a broken bottle in your cocktail. We finish things with The 12th Ward (90RMB), a tangy, pulpy mix of bourbon, citrus, walnut bitters and ginger that comes with two spoonfuls of a refreshing orange and feta salad. A true delight.
At the end of our evening, we’re delighted that Shanghai has another slightly quirky spot to enjoy seriously good cocktails served in a super chill environment by a team that genuinely cares. While we don’t love the basement locale, we do like being part of the super cool few who’re sipping drinks in secret below the busy bar above. Good snacks, great drinks, stellar vibes… Magnolia Room, you know us too well. Another clear win on the books for Ross.
By Elysia Bagley
