Luckymart
I first learned about Luckymart convenience store through a local Shanghai brand called Doe. After passing by the store a few times on Julu Road and Fumin Road, I decided to add it to my list of places to explore.
Amidst the numerous bars on Fumin Road and Julu Road, it’s easy to mistake Luckymart for an actual convenience store. From the outside, its blue and white signage bears a striking resemblance to the nearby FamilyMart.
Doe and Luckymart collaboration promotional photo
The store’s layout also follows the concept of a convenience store, selling snacks from Japan alongside alcoholic and soft drinks. Luckymart’s specialty is its fruit-flavored “Highballs.”
In addition to the regular flavors, they introduce a limited-edition fruit flavor each month, with lychee being this month’s special.
As someone unfamiliar with Highballs, I asked the bartender and learned that a “Highball” refers to a drink made by mixing whiskey and soda water.
When I inquired about the alcohol content, which was my primary concern, the bartender informed me that the alcohol content of this Highball was not low, with each glass containing up to 60ml of whiskey.
He specifically reminded me to drink slowly, as the presence of soda water causes carbon dioxide to be inhaled while drinking, which can easily lead to brain hypoxia, making it difficult to distinguish between being drunk or dizzy from lack of oxygen.
Store interior layout
Luckymart is not the only bar in Shanghai that incorporates different concepts. Paitou (Highway Store) on Maoming South Road combines a barbershop with a bar. During the day, it operates as a peaceful barbershop, but at night, it transforms into a lively venue where drunken revelry flows through the crowd.
Paitou and Highway Store’s new signboard
Shaoxing Road seems to be a hub for retro culture.
Apart from being the predecessor of the publishing street mentioned in a previous article, this street is also home to an interesting bar called Pop Corner, also known as the “Cat and Dog Ballroom.”
During the day, the “Cat and Dog Ballroom” functions as a coffee shop, while at night, it becomes a speakeasy. The entire store has a fitting retro vibe, complete with disco lights, classic game consoles, and band music.
One of the owners is a devoted fan of the band New Pants, so fans of the band might want to try their luck and chat with the owner.
Pop Corner interior layout
CAS BAR
CAS BAR, located on Wuding Road, was a place I stumbled upon while staying nearby. One evening, I went downstairs to find a random restaurant to grab a quick meal and ended up walking into CAS BAR.
When I entered the bar during dinner time, there weren’t many people. I casually ordered some food and noticed a daily drink menu, so I chose a hot mulled wine based on the menu. The mulled wine, infused with spices, had almost no alcoholic kick, leaving only the rich aroma of the spices and the sweetness of the wine, which was within my tolerance range as someone who didn’t drink alcohol at all back then. That glass of hot mulled wine left me with a good impression of CAS BAR.
Special thanks to a friend who happened to be on Wuding Road and helped me take photos
Arabian hookahs are also a specialty of this bar, but the environment can get a bit noisy later in the evening. As an Italian bar, football culture is definitely a big selling point.
The bar broadcasts live football matches in the evenings, making it an excellent spot to watch games if you crave the passionate atmosphere of a cheering crowd.
Apart from CAS BAR, there are many other bars on Wuding Road, most of which are frequented by foreigners and are worth exploring.
This period of exploring bars has been quite a fascinating experience for me.
I met quite a few people and learned a lot of things, which, in a sense, even helped improve my social anxiety.
However, during my visits, I also witnessed many people losing their composure due to drinking. Everyone, please drink responsibly and take care of your health.
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