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Big Bamboo

Big Bamboo is a great western style sports bar with dark wood décor with good old American posters (I particularly like the poster of Jack Daniels), and a menu that will satisfies the classic western sports bar experience.  Despite being a large two story bar, the space is divided int...

Big Bamboo is a great western style sports bar with dark wood décor with good old American posters (I particularly like the poster of Jack Daniels), and a menu that will satisfies the classic western sports bar experience.  Despite being a large two story bar, the space is divided into several small rooms that make the bar feel intimate. Big Bamboo is a perfect place to bring a bunch of friends and feel like you’re having your own party.

 
Head to Big Bamboo to catch the game of the night on TV. Those seeking some more physical entertainment should locate the the shuffle board table, darts, or the pool table.  Don’t miss out on the generous Happy Hour either which features 20RMB well drinks and beers from 2-8pm everyday.  Weekends tend to get pretty busy, but during the week it shouldn’t be too much trouble to pick up a game of pool or darts.
 
The manager is great and the waitresses are very attentive. There might even be too many waitresses, but they do their job well nonetheless. They’ll make sure you’ve always got a drink in hand.
 
Call ahead to make sure the game you want to watch is on TV.  They have should have all the big games. If not shown live, they will at least be re-broadcasted.  They even play ice hockey games once a week!
 
How to get there:  Take Metro Line 2 to Jingan Temple station.  Exit onto Nanjing Rd, and head east towards the Bund.  After about 10 minutes take a left on Tongren Lu.  Then take a right on Nanyang Lu, Big Bamboo is on the right side just down the block a bit. The bar is directly behind the Portman Ritz-Carlton, but it is not possible to walk through the Ritz to go to the bar.

Cotton Club

For those who prefer to listen to jazz in a notably relaxed atmosphere, Cotton Club is the place to be. The music is a bit more blues and soul than rival CJW, and the lighting is low and unpretentious. Musicians are foreigners, established within their own right and of an exceptionally high quality. The jazz is authentic and boy, it is loud. Don’t sit near the stage if you want to keep your ear drums intact.

Cocktails cost around 50RMB with bottles of beer around 30-40RMB. Cotton Club features a real wooden bar with delightfully stereotypical moody bartenders. I will honestly buy anyone a drink who can coax a smile out of the gal with glasses!! Cotton also has wooden booths.

Cotton Club emits the feeling that it’s totally cool to stop by wearing a jeans and a T-shirt and just enjoy some jazz. Those with tastes that are marginally more high brow than that should probably stick with CJW.

One the weekends be sure to reserve a table in advance, as the music commonly goes on well after 1am.

Vanca's Ribs & Bulgarian BBQ

The only Bulgarian restaurant in all China. Vanca's is actually the name of the Chef Ivan aka Vanka. He is a Blgarian native, very experienced and formally working at the Bulgarian embassy. The atmosphere is formal, expect good wines and cheeses from Bulgaria, loads of meat dishes on the menu to ...

The only Bulgarian restaurant in all China. Vanca's is actually the name of the Chef Ivan aka Vanka. He is a Blgarian native, very experienced and formally working at the Bulgarian embassy. The atmosphere is formal, expect good wines and cheeses from Bulgaria, loads of meat dishes on the menu to choose from. Try the Shopska salad, it a must. They got homemade yogurt as well, while yogurt and white cheese are the most characteristic and famous Bulgarian products, which represent our country around the world, other meals such as cheverme, bob chorba and shopska salad also deserve attention. Tarator is a Bulgarian cold soup consisted of yogurt, cucumbers, water and spices. The arguments about its origins are severe as the Greeks believe that we (Bulgarians) stole their salad (made of yogurt and cucumbers only) and just added some extra water in it. Bulgarian salad is prepared of chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, fresh parsley and grated white cheese. Season dressing vegetable oil(vegetable oil), wine or cider vinegar (if wanted) can be added. We decorate the salad with grated cheese and sprig with fresh parsley, black olives or little hot pepper. The dish is served mainly in the summer and combines very well with chilled traditional Bulgarian spirits such as rakia. The wines served at Vanca's restaurant are from Château Burgozone, one of the few Bulgarian wineries located in immediate proximity to their own vineyards. It is perched on the very bank of the Danube River, over the picturesque island of Esperanto, it bears the name and the spirit of the Roman fortress which was situated on the border of the vineyard complex and provided protection to the Roman Empire from the North. It is located in the vicinity of the town of Oryahovo on loess soils, with geographic coordinates similar to those of Tuscany, Côtes du Rhône and Bordeaux, with as ideal ecological conditions as those world-famous European wine producing regions. So give this place a try, and remember to mention where you found about this place.