The only elements that distinguish Senator Saloon from a 1920s speakeasy are its Shanghai address and Chinese staff—everything else is a faithful replica, from the thick velvet curtains concealing the interior from inquiring eyes outside, to the dark wooden paneling and red velvet flocked wallpaper and pressed tin roof imported straight from Texas. A collaboration between two Shanghai restaurateurs and American former police officer David Schroeder, Senator has quickly emerged as one of the expat community’s favorite watering holes, despite its being just shy of its first birthday. Schroeder left the force and relocated from Oregon last year to open the bar, and his passion for cocktails is rivaled only by his extensive knowledge on the subject. You can ask him anything about bitters, for instance, which he has laid out on the bar with labels facing the patrons to encourage conversation. Although his former career might seem at odds with his current job, Schroeder believes his law enforcement background provided important preparation. “As a police officer, the most important thing I learned was how to deal with people,” he says. “The ability to communicate across a broad spectrum is a huge element of both jobs.”