Sending frissons of excitement though gay Taipei with its grand opening just
last weekend, Fresh is a welcome addition to the Shihta-area pub scene. As
gay bars go, Fresh clearly goes for a western style and attracts the kind of
foreign crowd not partial to the Taiwan beer on ice, karaoke, and group
cha-cha to Mandopop available at similar establishments elsewhere in the
city.
A large bar dominates the first level, with chandeliers and velvet
upholstering proving that decadent fin-de-siecle spirit isn't dead in the
tender first years of the new century. Upstairs is the dance floor. Apart
from a few surprises, the music was dominated by the same trance-happy
remixes and diva disco that you might hear at, say, the Source. In a
nutshell, if you can say 貨"fbulous" 10 times super fast without screaming
once, you'll love it.
The cozy chill-out room on the third level, complete with balcony, provides
welcome respite from the sweltering, hormonal bump and grind below. The two
levels are linked by two narrow, dimly lit staircases, which allow for
plenty of spontaneous rendezvous in close quarters - as long as you don't
fall and break your teeth first.
There is no cover as yet, and drinks are cheap, with bottled beer at NT$120
and basic cocktails at NT$150. Owner Alvin said he wanted to relieve the
depressive spirit of Taipei nightlife by creating a place that was "simply
concerned with being gorgeous." But there's no telling how soon this bar
will ossify into a predictable part of Taipei's gay scene. So get there
while its still fresh.
Located at 2F, 7 Chinshan South Rd. Sec. 2, Taipei
(台北市金山南路二段7號2樓).
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