Nanjing Nightlife

popped into Finnegans Wake this week and had a pleasant surprise. I’m a BlueSky stalwart and will remain ever-devoted to their friendly staff and cold beer, which is somehow supplied via internet. However, Finnegans has definitely earned a weekly visit. It is the first genuinely western-style bar in Nanjing.

Here were the high points I noticed on my visit:

-good tap beers, at the right temperature, and poured professionaly.
-authentic British Isles-origin people runninng the place (if not Irish, a Scotsman is close enough for me).
-a food menu which would be tempting, if I was someone interested in food.
-live music that did not include a scantily-clad Phillipine-origin band or volume loud enough to drown out reasonable conversation.
-I can’t stand James Joyce but they let me stay anyway.

Looking around the place, I could really forget I was in China for awhile, something that is sometimes a valuable feeling. Danny’s is ok if you happen to be staying at the Sheraton. Otherwise, get thee to Finnegans.

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Wende Bridge and its surrounding markets etc is a bit like a fairyland with lots of dragons lit up, canals and a hive of activity particularly from the large crowds of people who seem to flock to this area for entertainment and eating.

One particularly restaurant had queues of people and was absolutely packed was a restaurant that specialised in a form of hotpot so there was lots of steam combined with exotic smells.

Was brought here by the two foreign players of the Jiangsu Dragons basketball team, so again, many of things we consumed were on the house. So I dont know how much the food or drinks were!

It claims to be a western style bar on its namecard which it passes off well as. It does all the little bits of food that you really crave when youve had enough of Chinese food.It was a Wednesday night when we went so a quiet one but apparently you cant move for foreigners during the weekends!

Dress Code: Again, like most bars and casual places to eat, anything goes!

The moment we walked in, even on a Tuesday night, the tunes were banging out from the loudspeakers and the trendy Chinese were 'bopping' away!!!!

I went there with two foreign basketball players who play for the China Basketball Association, equivalent to the NBA in the States, so everyone recognised them.It was a fun night with champagne flowing, B52's , gin and tonics, followed by a bottle of water to keep me from passing out!!!!

They say the place is mainly filled with foreigners, but thats mostly at the weekends. Its a two storey bar with western RnB music and a bit of Chinese Rock thrown in. It was a cool place.

Open till late with police lookalikes wearing hard helmets...a safe place to go? Hhmmm...I wonder?!

Dress Code: Dress code seems to be wear whatever you fancy! Or maybe that was just because we were with 'famous' people!!!!

A place where it hits people from all ages and also suits yr mood swings. U want Live music they have. U wanna dance they they have, U want KTV they also have. Just let yr mood do the swing.

Dress Code: just dress casually

Coming from the US, I felt, what would Nanjing know about setting up a happening club? To my surprise Scarlet's was packed and jumping. I really appreciated the range of music, as well as meeting Scarlet herself; the daughter of the club owner.

Dress Code: Dress code was relaxed. People were in jeans and sandals. Besides it was over 100 degress outside!

Have a cup of drink with a megazine in your hand, just relax.