Post-barmageddon: What's left on Yongkang Lu?

So what's left of Yongkang Lu after the deadline for the initial phase of the dreaded clean-up? A trip this week revealed a bar street that's a shadow of its former self - perhaps the most noticeable difference being the complete ban on all the outdoor seating that had previously made Yongkang Lu one of the city's most popular al fresco drinking destinations.

Xuhui governor Bao Bingzhang said last month that he wanted the bars on Yongkang Lu to be shuttered as part of the government’s attempt at 'demolishing [the] five major offences', consolidation and rehabilitation of the Xuhui district, and eradication of unlicensed businesses.

Here's what's left on Yongkang Lu:

On our Thursday evening trip there were only six establishments open for business: El Luchador, The Blarney Stone, Ron Champ, Tap House, The Rooster and Sliders.

Some of the bars, or rather the remnants of them, hung 'temporarily closed due to a change of business scope' signs outside their premises and promised they 'will be back very soon'. Le Café Des Stagiaires was one such venue, and were redirecting people to their Dagu Lu branch.

Bottled beer specialist Dean’s Bottle Shop seems to have bitten the dust despite their earlier confidence in obtaining a legitimate alcohol license. A red-chopped government notice on the exterior of the premises warns people to stop 'destroying the external façade of the residential homes'.

Unfortunately, some bars have clearly had to up roots and take their barrels elsewhere - Pitstop is moving to 986 Wuding Lu, and for those drinking for a greater revolutionary cause, Revolucion had the forethought to open a new branch at 98 Yanping Lu a couple of months ago. That area of Jingan looks set to get a little rowdier.

If coffee is your kind of 'drinks', then there's good news: you can still get your caffeine fix at Beautiful Concept Coffee, Cafe del Volcan and Griffin Coffee.

For the moment at least, a wide range of restaurants are also still operating on and around the stretch: Hungry Lung's Kitchen, Kebabs on the Grille, Lizzy's All Natural Smoothies, Sheng Sushi, Sushi'O and Topolino Pizza by Pizza Street. Bakery Pain Chaud will be shifting down the road into the space formerly occupied by Just Grapes and opening a new branch further south on Jiashan Lu, just past the entrance to Jiashan Market.

So what now? 'Is this the new YKL?' has been the popular refrain for weeks, with Dagu Lu among the early contenders. But increasingly it seems this honour might go to Datong Mill over on Julu Lu, with a whole slate of new openings lined up for the coming weeks. Head down, or avoid, as appropriate.