Babar is a fusion restaurant and wine bar located on the hip ‘n happening Donghu Lu strip. It’s a joint project between Simon Briens (partner at RAC and Blaz) and Guillaume Tu (founder of the now-closed Spread).
The Space
It’s a small space, one that maximizes seating with street-facing counter seats and high-top tables. There’s a long communal table that extends out into a bar counter. Design is sleek and trendy, modern and sultry.
On a side note, just to clear up some misinformation that’s flooding their Dianping page, Babar is not related to Blaz, except for one partner being involved in both venues.
The Food at Babar
Currently in soft opening Babar is only serving their full menu during dinner. Food is fusion with French accents and Asian influences, and most of them are snack-sized. It is open during the day, but only serving ice cream.
Ice cream flavors include dark chocolate, passion fruit, rum raisin, salted caramel, vanilla & apple, and coffee. During the day, it’s ¥28 for one scoop, ¥50 for two. At night (as dessert post-dinner) it’s ¥40.
Wines By The Glass
All wines are available by the glass, starting from ¥60. Essentially, if you go for the earlier seating, you’ll have a larger selection of wines by the glass, versus later in the evening, when some bottles are finished. Solid selection that rotates, curated by wine buff Simon Briens himself.
In Summary
The food is a tad pricey, but given its location, I guess it comes with the territory and a “street-facing tax.” Dishes I liked: onion soup, gyoza, snails, and razor clams.
Babar is currently in soft opening and will open for lunch with food sometime in March.
Babar
Address: 7 Donghu Lu 东湖路7号
Tel: 19121285642
Hours: 11:30am-3:30pm, 6pm-1am
