‘One craft beer — and a snack to go along, please’
Print Edition
Fabulous bars that serve drinks paired with creative little bites are already dotting the city, and new ones seem to open every week. District is one of them, and comes with a certain twist — just that little extra something that will make it stand out.
Down on Yuyuan Road close to Wulumuqi Road, District offers craft beer small dishes in a cozy neighborhood vibe, sprinkled with a gentle dose of American nostalgia.
“In a city that is pulsating with energy, I wanted to create a space that can equally be a refuge and a release,” said Clara Elizabeth Davis, who conceived District. “It is an approachable, comfortable spot equally suited to post up with a pint on your own or settle in with a group of friends.”
Getting into the food and beverage service industry wasn’t necessarily what Davis expected to do with her double Masters from the London School of Economics and Fudan University. However, after working on an experimental dining project for half a year, she started to become more aware of the opportunities and the challenges that come with running a business here.
“The original concept for District was a space that would pull both styles and flavor inspiration by two places in America I feel particularly attached to — Kansas City, where my mother’s extended family hails from, and Brooklyn, where my family currently lives,” she said.
Davis also feels that Shanghai food and beverage scene is constantly expanding, leaving room for new concepts and idea. “So it wasn’t really about what I thought was lacking but rather about what could be added to the market in an authentic and personal way,” she continued.
“Creating District was effectively about creating my ideal of a bar that I or my friends would be drawn to. Everything about the place, from the essential concept to the food and drinks menu to the experience we try to create for guests in the bar is a reflection of that.”
The two-level space feels easy going and warm — more of a neighborhood hang-out place where one can meet people, drink beer and eat snacks without a pretense.
District’s concept centers around beer, and the food menu is designed to compliment that. “We definitely embrace the upward trend of craft beer culture,” Davis said.
When Duvel Moortgat Brewery group acquired Boulevard, an American craft brewery out of Kansas City, they were looking for a new way to showcase both the Belgian and American craft beers here, and found District a suitable partner.
“Getting the Boulevard beers into the local market has been exciting to watch. Boulevard as a brewery has quite a cult following, especially among people from that part of the United States,” Davis said. “So it’s fun to have guests come in hankering for a specific beer, like the Tank 7,” she said, describing the beer as an earthy, fruity farmhouse ale that packs a punch at 8.5 percent alcohol by volume.
“I love the feeling like we’ve built a place where customers can find not only great beer, but great beer at an amazing value,” she added.
The food menu itself is a nostalgic nod to the Midwest and childhood comfort foods, updated to fit local market demands. To consult on the menu, Davis brought in Mark Pierce from Doghouse, a gourmet hotdog shop.
Breaded chicken fingers, steak and cod sliders are on the menu as well. “I love the idea ... snacks that compliment the experience of drinking beer but are also ideal for sharing with friends, like our pickled quail eggs or drunken goat cheese,” Davis added.
District
Opening hours: 5pm-midnight (Sunday-Thursday); 5pm-2am (Friday, Saturday)
Address: 284 Yuyuan Rd
Average per person: 100 yuan
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