More good news for people who like bad news: following a slew of high profile closures including excellent eateries Pirata and Xixi Bistro in recent weeks, top-class cocktail lounge el Coctel has shuttered, along with fellow el Willy group venue Bikini, on Yongfu Lu. The loss of these outlets comes in the wake of news that Yongkang Lu is to be cleared of the majority of its drinking and eating establishments.
While many of the aforementioned closures have been due to the Xuhui district's push to 'preserve' the area's cultural and historical heritage, the deaths of el Coctel and Bikini appear to be due to a more retro Shanghai reason: a good old landlord dispute. el Coctel was one of the first venues allowed to open in the Yongfu 47 complex by the notoriously picky developers, but there has reportedly been a series of building management issues - despite high rents.
It was pricey and sometimes difficult to get in to, but el Coctel certainly served a fine cocktail. Instead now at the Yongfu 47 complex, we have Sense Cocktail Club on the ground floor. It's okay, but definitely no replacement for el Coctel. Instead, if you want to keep you quality cocktail drinking in the el Willy family, you can head over to el Ocho at Zhang Yuan.
More from Time Out Shanghai
Yongkang Lu bar street to close within weeks
There's a new ice cream pop-up on Wulumuqi Lu