Shanghai is a really cool bar. It's different from most in Portland because it lies below street level. It has a funky vibe and low-key. Plus, drinks are cheap :-) However, the reason I cannot go back there is because of the smoke. I have barely walked in the main door upstairs, and I can already smell the cigarette smoke down below. By the time I've walked down stairs, my clothes, hair, skin is hopeless. I stopped going because of that. I realize that Oregon will be smoke-free in 2009, but it's not too early to start. Especially when competing bars in the area are smoke free, or have established and well-ventilated smoking areas that don't waft into the main bar. I look forward to visiting Shanghai again once it's smoke-free.
Pros: dive, ecclectic, downstairs, cheap beer
Cons: SMOKE SMOKE SMOKE
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