Clandestine Cocktail Bar J.Boroski Comes to Shanghai

Hidden behind an unmarked metal door in the Former French Concession, cocktail bar J.Boroski’s third outpost in Asia was designed by multidisciplinary studio Atelier xy to reflect Joseph Boroski’s passions for mixology and entomology

Tucked away in Fumin Lu, a neighbourhood of Shanghai’s trendy Former French Concession,  and hidden between vibrant boutiques, quaint cafes and cool bars, is relative newcomer J. Boroski — the cocktail bar’s third location following outposts in Hong Kong and Bangkok.

According to Atelier xy co-founder Sophia Wang, she and her team were briefed to ‘extend the founder Joseph Boroski’s fondness for insects’. In line with the bar’s existing locations, Wang introduced the brand’s signature enigmatic energy with an unmarked black door that leads into a long, dark staircase, creating an atmospheric transition from the bustling streets of Fumin Lu to the moody, intimate interior. The reservations-only bar has been divided into four distinct spaces: the foyer, communal bar, lounge and mixology laboratory, all complete with glass shelves and drawers, meticulously arranged preserved beetles, butterflies and spiders, and a selection of mixology tools that make the space seem not a little like an ultra-chic laboratory.

A materials palette of solid Burmese teak (for the communal bar countertop), a wall of handmade glass bricks and furniture in walnut oak and handcrafted rattan works with dim lighting to accentuate the intimate ambience, and while functionality was the designers’ top priority, they’ve also succeeded in creating a bar where guests are encouraged to immerse themselves in the space and admire the art of mixology.

Text / Nicole Chim
Images / Hu Yanyun, Qi Xiaofeng and Su Sheng Liang