One year later, Cotton's makes a comeback

The summer of 2005 just wasn't the same in Shanghai. Neither was the spring. Nor the fall. Why? No Cotton's. Cotton's, one of Shanghaiist's favorite bars -- thanks in large part to its great outdoor patio -- was forced to close by an unscrupulous landowner at the beginning of this year. (More on why you should boycott Shane's here and here.)

But we are happy to announce that Cotton's is coming back. Bar owner Cotton Ding is having a small party tonight on the second floor of Zapata's to celebrate closing on her new place (and no, she hasn't fallen into the fold of the Theme Pub Company, which owns Zapata's). Here are the details as we know them now. The new bar, once again to be called Cotton's, will be at 132 Anting Lu, by Jianguo Xi Lu. It will have the same vibe as the old Cotton's and will open December 31, pretty much a year to the day of the old Cotton's closing. We don't know yet if the new place has a patio -- but we hope so And Cotton confirmed the new place will have a (drinking) garden! Anting Lu is a small street that runs north and south between Yongjia Lu and Jianguo Lu, not too far from the Hengshan Lu metro station. A Google search in English for "Anting Lu" turns up almost nothing, save for the Noble House, a dim sum place at 46 Anting Lu. That will soon change.

Photo of Cotton Ding and man-about-town Luis Tapia, taken at the farewell party for the old Cotton's, courtesy of Shanghai Diaries.