Bars: DADA opening for real now

A new Changning district bar will be rounding out a trifecta of cool places to go on Xinfu lu (the other two being, of course, established indie outposts LOgO and Anar): it's called DADA and it's the pet project of Antidote dude Michael Ohlsson.

To be honest, the place has been open for a little while now, existing "in secret" until they could be granted a real "foreign toilet license." Now that the paperwork has finally arrived, they're hosting a grand opening party... tomorrow.

It's a wee place, but we liked it the last time we visited. The DJ, put near the back, was pumping out some pretty groovy tunes. Bartending staff were a little inexperienced, but super eager to learn. We're expecting that now that they are grand opening, whatever kinks we did come across have been adequately ironed out.

But anyway, straight from DADA's mouth:

Dada is a small space, holding under 200 people at maximum capacity. Dada's vision is "affordable quality" -- with a good sound system, good service, and furniture and decor that are casually stylish and comfortable but not pretentious. Cocktails are at lower mid-range prices but well-prepared (25 RMB gin&tonic, 35 RMB martini's) -- and a decent beer selection (20 RMB Tsingtao, 30 RMB Stella, and several sizes of Vedett and Tiger on draft at low prices). The kitchen will open before the winter months, with pizza, hamburgers, xiaolongbao, and empanadas on the menu...

The bar will be open 7 nights a week, from 9pm to late. Fridays and Saturdays will feature DJs playing a variety of new music -- deep house, techno, minimal, broken beat, indie, electro. Week nights will be more casual -- expect to hear everything from Tom Waits to New Order, James Brown to Radiohead. There will also be a series of movie nights with free popcorn.

Go there.

What: DADA Grand Opening Party
When: 9PM, Friday, August 28
Where: 115 Xingfu Lu, between Fahuazhen Lu and Pingwu Lu

Photo by Tim Franco