蘑菇云

AD ASTRA Bar, the Symbol of Whiskey Culture

From tiny grains to the amber liquid gold in your glass, the making of whiskey is like a magical adventure. With the double blessing of time and terroir, sipping whiskey is like opening a mystery box—each sip is full of surprises and flavor codes waiting to be unlocked.

As young people chase a high-quality lifestyle, whiskey has become a must-have for trendy gatherings and a “social magnet.” It’s everywhere—bars, nightclubs, and even social media feeds.

Although China’s domestic whiskey industry started late, it’s quickly rising thanks to its unique terroir, cultural blending, and innovative spirit. AA Whiskey Bar (AD ASTRA by Skyward) is located on Fumin Road in Shanghai’s Jing’an District. It’s the first offline “Real” bar of the “Skyward” brand, founded by Xiao Shu and his partner, Le Wei. For AA by Skyward, the night sky is the canvas, and whiskey is the stars. Like twinkling stars in the sky, the name “Skyward” embodies a sense of gazing up and exploring the night.

The design inspiration for AA Bar comes from the shadows of trees and the starry sky. The spatial design team has reshaped a brand-new whiskey space inside a historical building, blending the charm of whiskey with the natural mystique of tree shadows and stars. It’s a dazzling drinking space that offers multiple layers of experience.

Nestled in the heart of Shanghai, Fumin Road is one of the city's iconic “Ju-Fu-Chang” lanes—a trendy old neighborhood brimming with unique boutiques and the authentic local charm of Shanghai. At the entrance, a large sycamore tree marks the spot, and AA Bar can be found on the third floor, to the left of the arched windows.

At AA Bar, the interplay of day and night creates a unique experience. In summer, the long windows are filled with the dancing shadows of sycamore leaves, which beautifully complement the bar’s interior design of tree shadows and starry skies. It’s a perfect setting where the enjoyment of whiskey becomes a sensory journey, blending time, nature, and culture in every sip.

In a Historic Building, Crafting a Rich New Space for AA

No. 183 Fumin Road is located in a historical and cultural conservation area. The building has undergone several renovations over the years. The existing framework structure and pitched roof are relatively fragile. The long windows along the street are nearly 1.9 meters high, creating a distinctive horizontal frame that compresses the lighting and view. This unique design feature adds character to the space.

Covering a total area of 195 square meters, AA Bar also features a rectangular outdoor terrace. Before entering the main space, guests are greeted by an arched, vintage-inspired corridor that extends the sense of anticipation and ceremony. At the heart of the hall lies the central bar, crowned with a tree-shadow and starry-sky installation. Surrounding the main hall are a large private room and two smaller ones, perfect for gatherings of different sizes and intimate whiskey tastings.

The logo, typography, and color palette of AA Bar feature a sophisticated combination of navy blue, gold, and turquoise. These colors evoke visual moments inspired by “Skyward” — like the blue eyes under the desert sun in Dune II or the blue light of a cathedral dome, symbolizing “the radiance and gaze in life.” These elements are translated into the physical space, continuously transforming and reappearing to deepen the spatial memory of AA Bar.

Turquoise lines are inlaid within dark walnut wall panels, creating an elegant and profound visual effect. The material combination of wood, copper, stone, and cement tiles lays out a patina of time and intricate craftsmanship.

Salon & Gatherings:

Whiskey Moments Under the Starry Sky and Tree Shadows

The night sky and the starry firmament are like twins. When guests step into “Skyward,” it’s as if they’ve entered a rift in time and space. AA Bar is more than just a place to drink; it’s a magical journey for the senses and the soul. On the night when the comet arrives— the light of Teyvat— the slanting light hitting the entrance logo is like the trail of a comet streaking across the sky.

Before entering AA Bar, guests are greeted by a vintage-inspired arched corridor that extends the sense of anticipation and ceremony. The ceiling of this corridor features an arched, light-transmitting design with a color temperature that mimics the amber hue of whiskey. The lighting designer used gold leaf as the base for the ceiling, which is dotted with 60mm-diameter whiskey-colored acrylic tubes. The light sources are hidden behind the wainscoting, casting an even glow across the ceiling. When the lights are off, the progressive arches, combined with the lines of the ceiling and walls, create a sense of ritual before entering the bar.

On a summer afternoon, the long windows of the small private room are filled with cascading greenery, which spills into the room and complements the tree-shadow and starry-sky installation above the bar, creating a delightful interplay of light and nature.

The bar counter is topped with a layer of black mirror, which reflects the tree-shadow and starry-sky installation. Branches hang down from the ceiling, adorned with uneven fiber optics that hold small diamond-shaped pendants. These pendants emit a soft glow, casting faint reflections on the mirrored ceiling without clear boundaries. This creates an immersive drinking atmosphere where nature and the cosmos blend seamlessly.

The starry sky beneath the tree canopy blurs the visual boundary between indoors and outdoors, adding a sense of natural tranquility to the classic British vintage ambiance.

The bar counter and liquor cabinets display a rich and diverse collection of whiskies. The color temperature and angles of the lighting have been meticulously adjusted to complement the bottles, making them shine like stars in the night sky—a testament to the variety and depth of the whiskies.

Each bottle is positioned with a carefully arranged section of lighting. The black metal lamp bodies and translucent acrylic panels harmonize perfectly with the dark walnut shelves, softening the light so it’s gentle on the eyes. The length of the lighting fixtures is custom-fitted to the modular dimensions of the display cabinets, creating a gap between the shelves and the side panels. This ensures that the brightness of the shelves isn’t overwhelming, maintaining an overall balanced and visually appealing look.

A dedicated whiskey culture wall has been reserved on one side, showcasing the history, distillation process, and brand stories of various whiskies, so guests can read deeper the stories behind each bottle.

The bar counter is the heart and soul of AA Bar. With its substantial solid wood surface, the bar is complemented by dark walnut liquor cabinets and brass metal accents. Turquoise lines and inlays of Amazon green marble add intricate details, making the entire bar a visual centerpiece of the space.

The bar's team of sommeliers has an in-depth understanding of whiskey. They can offer professional recommendations and tasting guidance to help guests better explore the world of whiskey. Under the tree shadows and starry sky, it's a more relaxing and personal tasting experience.

Whiskey is also known as “Moonshine,” and we’ve brought this gentle vibe into three private rooms of varying sizes. The historical charm of the sycamore-lined area is extended into the bar through the long windows along the street of the original building.

The two smaller private rooms are laid out along the flat ceiling space by the long windows. After the installation of mechanical and electrical equipment and the completion of the finishes, the remaining clear height is only about 2200 mm. The rich and substantial dark walnut wood, combined with the tree shadows from the long windows, creates a warm and intimate atmosphere within this limited space.

Warm-toned lighting mimics the amber luster of whiskey, while antique-style tea mirrors on the ceiling mitigate any sense of oppression from the limited height. The generously proportioned sofas offer a comfortable seating experience, enhanced by their vintage leather, which exudes a timeless, mid-century charm. Together, these elements create a serene and sophisticated ambiance.

In the large private room, the mirrored wall design incorporates elements reminiscent of vintage train carriages. It’s a space for joyful gatherings and whispered conversations, where the anticipation before uncorking a bottle fuels the imagination. Here, guests can fully engage and immerse themselves in rich, relaxing interactions within the spacious setting.

In the restroom, the sink features an octagonal, vintage-style handmade design. The lighting primarily consists of wall sconces and up lighting for indirect illumination.

The design of AA Whiskey Bar is more than just a space—it’s an immersive experience in whiskey culture. By distilling core elements, selecting materials and colors, thoughtfully planning the layout, and focusing on details, we’ve seamlessly blended the classic and modern, nature and culture of whiskey. This creates a comfortable and ritualistic multi-experience tasting space for “Skyward” and its guests. Whether you’re a whiskey aficionado or a first-time taster, you’ll find your own cup of “the magic of time” here.