Last year, Elite Bar's opening night festivities were extravagant. Indeed, the live drummers, DJs and models left clubgoers with an impeccable first impression.

Following an auspicious debut, Elite bucked the local trend by continuing to work hard, earning itself a spot in the hearts of Shanghai’s glitterati. But the party ended abruptly this summer, when EB suddenly closed for “renovation”. Recently reopened, the club’s facelift may be pronounced an unqualified success.

On entrance, one is enveloped by a shower of laser lights set in a huge room dotted with devil-red couches, black bar tables and medium-sized LCDs. The drinks, however, hit a sour note: the grasshopper (RMB 50) was terrible, with a bizarre, bittersweet aftertaste.

In short, EB needs some fine-tuning, but it will surely fill the void left by that low-brow local favorite, Armanni.

Elite Bar
Open: Daily 9pm-late.
Location: Building 16, 34 Yuyao Lu, by Xikang Lu
Tel: 021-52135568