The Barn & The Bunker

FLASKGroup and GREEN & SAFE have joined forces and unveiled a new food and beverage project in Shanghai’s Xintiandi. The concept for this collaboration came about when GREEN & SAFE took notice of FLASKGroup’s previous cocktail project, Botanist, which introduced the idea of “farm-to-bar” to Shanghai, a twist on the “farm-to-table” concept that GREEN & SAFE is rather well-known for. The new space that houses both brands is split into two distinctively different areas. The first area is The Barn, which is operated by GREEN & SAFE and offers a rich selection of delicious organic food. Hidden within The Barn is The Bunker, a military-themed speakeasy bar operated by FLASKGroup.

The Barn and The Bunker dramatically contrasts each other in terms of aesthetics and ambience. The Barn is a large open space, warm and inviting, illuminated with a combination of natural light and amber artificial lighting. The Bunker, on the other hand, has a darker feel and can only be reached through a hidden entrance from the dining area. Like many bars, The Bunker opts for dimly lit, atmospheric lighting. Many tools and items (like ammunition crates) are used to decorate the space, which adds to the feeling of being in an actual bunker. Paying homage to FLASK, their first speakeasy bar, this new space uses infusion bottles and actual flasks as part of the decor.

The Barn is a gigantic industrial-style space with an open kitchen and a second floor. Much like the other GREEN & SAFE locations, there’s a marketplace offering fresh organic produce and a deli counter. Directly above the dining area, large cuts of aged Iberico ham dangle overhead from the raised ceiling. These hams would almost appear to act as part of the decor, but they’re actually available to order from the menu. One of the new and most interesting offerings of this new space are their cones, which comes in four different flavors. One of the cones is made with wild mushrooms, truffles, and cheese; another uses caviar, smoked salmon, and onions; the third variety uses the aforementioned Iberico ham, which is paired up with quail egg and chili; and lastly, there’s a cone made with wild prawn, egg salad, and seaweed. More filling and heartier dishes like grilled Boston lobster and different cuts of M6 Wagyu beef can also be found on the menu. And of course, many classic dishes from the other GREEN & SAFE locations are also available here.

Combining the seasonal cocktails found at Botanist, along with the prohibition style drinks and classic cocktails from FLASK, and a selection of all new drinks inspired by GREEN & SAFE, The Bunker is described by FLASKGroup as an amalgamation of their best drinks from the last few years. In the “Seasonal” section, the cocktails were made by using the all-organic fruits from GREEN & SAFE’s own farm. The cocktails in this section tastes lighter and feels more refreshing, a flavor profile that perfectly complements many of GREEN & SAFE’s salads and finger foods. With their “FLASK signatures”, a selection of prohibition-style cocktails made with a local twist like the Far East Manhattan made with homemade longan jujube juice, their aim is to transport patrons back into the original FLASK off of Shanxi South Road from the initial sip. The “G&S Inspired” section is completely dedicated to this collaboration with GREEN & SAFE, with cocktails designed around some of GREEN & SAFE’s top-selling dishes. A few of the most noteworthy drinks from this section are: Carrot Cake Conquest, a drink that was created with GREEN & SAFE’s carrot cake in mind; Sourforce, a mouth-puckering drink that uses White Wine Balsama vinegar and Casanova Balsamico vinegar; and Licorice Tea Break, a cocktail made with Egyptian licorice tea syrup, plums, and pear juice. Of course, there are also mocktails made with the same fresh ingredients.

When creatives come together and collaborate, the result is often unexpected and impressive. This is no exception when it comes to the food and beverage industry. Kevin Yu, one of the founders of FLASKGroup, says, “FLASKGroup is experienced when it comes to beverages, and GREEN & SAFE is experienced when it comes to food. We definitely felt like this project was going to be a strong collaboration.” By playing off one another other’s strengths, this new collaboration is undoubtedly on the fast-track to becoming a force to be reckoned with in Shanghai’s food and beverage scene.

Address:
22 Taicang Road, 181 Alley
Huangpu District, Shanghai
People’s Republic of China

Phone:
＋86 021-63860140

Hours:
11am ~ 2am

Contributor: David Yen
Images Courtesy of The Barn & The Bunker