HUNT

Formerly called 'Happiness 42', this bar changed its name last year to HUNT bar. I don't know whether at that time it was still gay or not. But now HUNT bar is closed, too. I found this notice in Chinese at the door saying that it has closed for renovation on April 6th, 2021, with a reopening date not set, yet. Maybe a new bar will open here sometime. Check twice before you go!

Walked by the other day and there is a new bar in the same location.

Happiness 42 is hard to find. It's just around the corner from Lucca, but you have to walk to the side of the building to see the entrance. Once inside you will find multiple rooms with lounge seating. In the middle is a huge bar with access from all sides. Bar staff was nice, and they have servers that come around to wait on the tables. The night I went they had a 100 RMB all you can drink option which is a decent deal if you plan on getting 3 or more drinks/beers. At night I went and it wasn't too busy, but most of the seats were full. The crowd was a mix of Westerners and Asians, but all gay. Drinks were average priced. Music was pop and remix, and mostly in English. No shows were going on when I was there on a Friday night. They had free HIV tests available and if you took the test you received a coupon for a free drink.

It’s reopened for a few month already. This venue is very close to Lucca390 (1min by walk) and full of foreigners. People usually go there to buy the 100RMB open bar and get tipsy first, then go to Lucca390 around 1:30. Very nice gay lounge, friendly crews and AWESOME music!

It is a depressing place with guys in packs obsessed with playing with their mobile phones. The bar staff are EXTREMELY rude, a bartender refused to bring me a beer as he was 'too busy' making cocktails. They seem to enjoy drinking alcohol themselves, usually not allowed amongst bar staff, and chatting to their favorites among the punters. A sad, depressing and superficial place. Bring back Eddie's - that was a wonderful, atmospheric venue.

I think I just happened to go on a bad night - there was a screening of a gay documentary/movie and then a questions/answer segment, so it was quiet the entire time and even once it was over it stayed quiet. Service was fine at first but one worker ended up being totally rude, saying they had no bathroom (despite having one). Just seemed really anti-foreigners/anti-English. Wasn't a fan.

Still THE gay place to be on a Friday night. Friendly staff and you are well looked after. Not easy to find at first - walk down the large alley to the left of the ICBC bank in Huaihai Lu, and after about 50 metres you will see a large well-lit doorway with stairs leading down to the bars. During the week, it is quiet and only one or two bars are open; and with the other bars closed with locked doors, the place seems really small. Come on Thursday for the 100 RMB drink-all-you-can night (Tsingtao, standard spirits and mixers) which is more enjoyable depending on the amount of crowd. Themed night on Friday, where all bars are open (one of which is non-smoking!), and the dance floor is also open (although relatively small). By midnight, the place is full of locals and expats. "Happy Hour" is offered every night before 10:30 - buy one get one free (you get a token to redeem when you want to). You may be charged an admission fee for special nights, but you will get drink tokens, so don't be discouraged to go (it only stops the money boys!). On the weekend, there are many taxis waiting outside to take you back home after a good night out. And if this isn't your scene, then Eddy's Bar is just a 2-minute walk away.