El Coctel: Cocktails and... Sandwiches Wednesday, 04 August 2010 08:35 Written by BEVERLY!

Beautiful and luxe, the semi-hidden (it's on the 2nd floor after stepping through a nondescript entrance and tiny steep staircase - watch your head!), El Coctel is owned by the famous Willy of El Willy restaurant. It's actually relatively empty early in the evening, until about 10 or 11PM when it really fills up (remember to make a reservation or the bouncer at the door will simply refuse you entry).

The staff are absolutely top-notch. Fluent in English, polite, extremely attentive, and prompt. One of the best service experiences I've had in Shanghai. I love the eclectic mix of plush couches and ottomans though it was curious they had some sort of Buddhist(?) offering in the middle of the room against the wall.

We were delighted that they served us complimentary filtered water, not boiled tap water, upon us being seated. We were also treated to a little bowl of fluffy popped corn that was slightly salted and slightly sweet. Very tasty and lovely to nibble on with our cocktails.

Complimentary popped corn

And that's what they're famous for - the cocktails. I was actually quite shocked at the prices (which are around 72RMB per cocktail). They are EXPENSIVE. Even pricier than cocktails you'd get in fancy places on The Bund! They're also the same size, and padded with a LOT of ice, so it's certainly not value for money. We thought they would serve very high-quality liquor , but the cocktail was simply made of "house whiskey". Not that the cocktails weren't good - they were just fine - just not worth the value.

But we weren't here for the cocktails ;) We were here for.......... THE SANDWICHES!!!! I'm normally not a sandwich person but I am totally SOLD on these babies. You get a Free Sandwich (hurray!!), worth 58RMB, for every 2 cocktails per person ordered, between 5 - 7:30PM. The sandwiches were made with thin pressed buttered toast, sandwiching thick slices delicious ham and smothered in melted guyere cheese. Heavenly. Who ever knew the simple ham & cheese sarnie could be so damn fantastic? For that reason alone, we'd go back to El Coctel. But we'd never go there outside of that promotion period because then, the prices are just not worth it.

Mustard, ham, Emmental cheese

Mozzarella, Italian ham, arugula, truffle oil

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#3 RE: El Coctel: Cocktails and... Sandwiches — Mirna 2010-08-30 12:34

I too loved the sandwiches! Bev, you're absolutely right; the drinks are astronomically expensive for what they are. They are also not very upfront about their prices, so what you see is not what you get. Totally disappointed in that aspect, but would def go back just for those little sandwiches too...

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#2 RE: El Coctel: Cocktails and... Sandwiches — elena 2010-08-13 15:17

Yes, it's french concession. All details are in directory and there is a link in the article as well shanghaidolls.org/directory/nightlife/lounge-and-chill-out/el-coctel

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#1 French concession? — CoffeeTeaMandarin 2010-08-11 12:59

is it in French concession?
where is it? how can we find it?

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