Sober Company

Sober Company comes from the same SG Group team that runs Speak Low, under the principal bartender Shingo Gokan. The original venue opened as a New York-inspired, multi-concept space on Yandang Road, mixing a café, a dining area and a bar. In October 2023 it moved a few doors along to the INS complex at 109 Yandang Road, beside Fuxing Park, where it now spreads over two floors and four concepts. It was ranked No. 92 in the extended Asia's 50 Best Bars list in 2024.

The ground floor is a relaxed coffee and cocktail bar with low-alcohol, easy-drinking options, which makes it a good choice for an early evening drink or for anyone who wants to pace themselves. At the back there is a sushi bar and izakaya serving hand rolls and elevated Japanese bar snacks. Upstairs, the main bar serves the signature cocktail menu, and Tipsy is the liveliest part of the venue. There is also outdoor seating.

The format makes Sober Company unusually flexible. You can start with a light drink and a few hand rolls downstairs, move upstairs for something stronger and finish late. It is open from midday to 2am every day, so it also works for an afternoon coffee or a late lunch.

It suits groups of friends, couples and anyone who wants food and drinks in one place. The wider INS building at 109 Yandang Road holds several floors of themed bars and entertainment, so the area stays lively late into the night.

The concept has always been built around New York, with spaces originally themed on the West Village, Chinatown and the East Village, and the idea of carrying guests from café to dinner to bar in one visit. The SG Group behind it also runs Swirl in the city. Tipsy has long been the place for customised cocktails, so tell the bartenders what you like and let them build something for you.

Yandang Road runs beside Fuxing Park in the former French Concession, and a taxi with the address is the easiest way to arrive. Speak Low, run by the same group, is on Middle Fuxing Road if you want to combine the two.