4 out of 5

Imagine stepping into a bar seething of the Orient—giant dragons, set on either side of the main entrance, leading into an interior richly overlaid with hand-collected artefacts and other eclectic pieces.

There is incense burning and a pianist playing music that could be Hogy Carmichael or Ella Fitzgerald. It’s a place where time itself might stop.

Could this be 1930s Shanghai? No this is Freemans Bay, Auckland—a place most of us know as The Birdcage. If we haven’t been there, we’ve heard of it (or seen it on Shortland Street).

Having served its time down at the Mainstage after-party site in Anzac Ave, Shanghai Lil’s Bar & Lounge has made a debut in Freemans Bay.

Taking the site to another dimension in style and ambience, it’s a great venue for those seeking a respite from the usual plush pub (without the sport).

The wine list is reasonably priced with house wine at $6 a glass and a good repertoire of mainly NZ wines with the odd Australian.

The Beer is a fairly standard affair with the usual mix of spirits. Though food is not the focus here, they do have platters at $22 for two. The service is friendly and swift with the staff clad in Cheung Sams and Chinese shirts.

This place definitely feels as if you should be passing an opium pipe. There is an intimate feel with subdued lighting and comfy seats set around in different nooks.

While the drinks are good, the best thing about this place is the feeling of being transported somewhere else—perhaps to a scene from a fu Manchu movie.

So if you fancy an escape from the mundane, a cheeky drink after work or maybe a late night rendezvous with an Oriental twist, Shanghai Lil’s is definitely worth a visit.

Just as a tip: Shanghai Lil’s Bar & Lounge is a concept, so don’t look for visible signage. It’s far too cool for that.

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