| Bars in Shanghai, like other metropolises, | | | | depending on the state you're in, your going |
| are clustered in streets and usually a night | | | | to want to end the night right here or go for |
| out entails going out to a specific street | | | | broke at Windows Too. The Mural' s indows |
| and stopping in for a few drinks at two or | | | | combination is a time honored classic Friday |
| three (or four or five) different venues in a | | | | night lineup designed for those who want to |
| night. This practice is fading somewhat, | | | | drink and dance themselves into oblivion. |
| however, as larger mega-clubs are entering | | | | Alternately, if you are looking to keep a |
| Shanghai and the bar scene is much more event | | | | certain level of integrity, or at least, |
| based. Nowadays, partiers are planning their | | | | something a little more exotic, try the |
| nights around a single specific event and | | | | Dragon Club on Fenyang Road instead. This |
| tacking on an after hours party rather than | | | | venue is Shanghai's most popular after hours |
| just bar hopping on a street. In addition to | | | | bar and although the cover charge and drink |
| this focus, all bars usually have happy hours | | | | prices are a little on the pricey side, it |
| and drink deals to attract the after work | | | | can always be counted on the be packed early |
| crowd. Several bars offer competing "Ladies | | | | into the morning. |
| Nights", which offer free drinks to ladies, | | | | |
| and "Open Bar" nights, which offer an | | | | Saturday: |
| all-you-can-drink deal after you pay a cover | | | | |
| charge (usually RMB 100). Shanghai's more | | | | For those who managed to stay responsible the |
| popular dancing venues usually try to book | | | | night before and managed to drag themselves |
| international DJs to attract the clubbing | | | | out of bed to sample a little daytime |
| crowd. | | | | Shanghai, reward yourself with a little |
| | | | shopping on either Nanjing Road or Huihai |
| Nowadays, clubs could be packed one night | | | | Road to gear up for a ritzy Saturday night. |
| during a specific event, opening or promotion | | | | If Friday night was all about crass then |
| and completely deserted the next night. Avid | | | | Saturday should be all about class at some of |
| club goers would be wise to consult local | | | | Shanghai's finest upscale drinking and dining |
| print media (That's Shanghai, City Weekend) | | | | establishments. After lunch at Element Fresh |
| or web sites ( to keep abreast of the scene. | | | | head off for an afternoon at a massage and |
| | | | spa facility to rejuvenate after last night's |
| With the locals, KTV bars are the choice form | | | | debauchery. Women should head to Dragonfly |
| of nightlife recreation, but the club scene | | | | and men should head off to the Alexander Club |
| in Shanghai is where the expats really come | | | | for some much needed physical rehabilitation. |
| out of the woodworks. With a few exceptions, | | | | Head back to your hotel to get changed and |
| the bars in Shanghai are organized after | | | | dressed up for a sophisticated night on the |
| Western models and on a given night you could | | | | town. Have dinner and cocktails at Jade on 36 |
| be walking into Shanghai's version of an Ohio | | | | at the Shangri-La Building. Although the |
| State frat party, an Ibiza rave, a London ale | | | | restaurant is on the pricey side (between RMB |
| house, a New York lounge, or a Paris café. | | | | 400-900), it is well worth it for the |
| | | | gorgeous view and atmosphere and the food |
| Bar Streets | | | | which is prepared with the utmost |
| | | | sophistication and refinement. Try the |
| Maoming Road: It all began on Maoming Road. | | | | Sea-bass Rivera, accompanied by a basil sauce |
| Although its glory has somewhat faded in the | | | | and cherry tomatoes. After dinner, head back |
| light of new, bigger, and better night spot | | | | to Puxi and stop in at the Glamour bar to |
| options, Maoming Road still continues to | | | | lounge on the sofas and sample their |
| offer some highlights to the indiscriminate | | | | extensive drink list. Glamour Bar, spinning |
| bar hopper. Bar girls abound in this street | | | | jazz and designed with a 1930s sort of |
| which is home to some of Shanghai's oldest | | | | aesthetic, is a great place for conversation |
| pubs and clubs. Those looking to sample some | | | | in an Old Shanghai setting. After an hour or |
| of that old school Shanghai vice could do | | | | two here, head to the main event, Bar Rouge, |
| worse that spending a night and early morning | | | | and visit the most talked about bar in |
| staggering up and down this famous strip. | | | | Shanghai. Whether you are dazzled by the fire |
| (Key venues: Babyface, Judy's Too, Woodstock, | | | | tricks of the bar staff, the chic clientele |
| M factory, Maoming Manhattan Bar) | | | | or the outrageous prices, a night at Bar |
| | | | Rouge is an unforgettable way to spend a |
| Tongren Road: A smaller, more efficient | | | | Saturday night. If you've been there and done |
| Maoming, Tongren Road seeks to recapture the | | | | that, and are looking for a Bar Rouge type |
| seedy flavor of Maoming and is home to many | | | | substitute, try Barbarossa or the new Attica |
| of that street's sister bars. Tongren Road | | | | Club. Depending on your budget, if you |
| caters to a more single minded punter; the | | | | followed the earlier suggestions you should |
| bar girls and their admirers seem a little | | | | be cleaned out. However, never-say-die |
| more populous on this strip. (Key Venues: | | | | partiers who tire of the main event and are |
| Blue Frog, Blue Angel, Judy's Too, Woodstock, | | | | looking for a little fresh ground to tackle |
| Studio 78, Mint) | | | | the early hours of the morning try Bonbon |
| | | | club, or Park 97. Both venues go all night |
| Hengshan Road: At night, this shopping street | | | | and are guaranteed to be slamming on Saturday |
| converts into the largest bar street in | | | | night. |
| Shanghai with nightspots lining both sides of | | | | |
| the road for kilometers. One of the more | | | | Sunday: |
| picturesque and scenic areas of the city, | | | | |
| Hengshan road is home to the cities most | | | | You going to need to get up around 11ish and |
| famous bars, cafes, restaurants and tea | | | | get down to the Jing'an district to get a big |
| houses and boasts a wide selection of each. | | | | greasy breakfast at either Rendezvous Café |
| (Key venues: Sasha's, O'Malley's, Beni House, | | | | (pp) or City Diner, both of which have great |
| Zapata's, Bourbon Street, Hello Bar, | | | | breakfast specials. After having the |
| Narcissus) | | | | requisite amount of coffee head down to old |
| | | | town to buy antiques and souvenirs for |
| Xintiandi: Shanghai's trendy Xintiandi area | | | | yourself and your friends and family back |
| is located within walking distance of the | | | | home to prove you were in Shanghai. Head back |
| Huangpi Road (S) Metro station and contains a | | | | to your hotel for a shower and to change for |
| bevy of upscale bars, restaurants and | | | | Sunday night. |
| international boutiques. This area buzzes | | | | |
| after dark and is where Shanghai's hip and | | | | Sunday night should be all about deetox and |
| wealthy go to sip on cocktails on terraced | | | | what better way than to purge the system that |
| patios, lounges, and cafes. (Key Venues: Ark | | | | having ten or twelve beers at the best dive |
| Live House, KABB, Soho Pub) | | | | bars in Shanghai? For dinner, head over to |
| | | | Malone's to chow down on one of their |
| The Weekend Bender | | | | specialty burgers and hang out on the patio. |
| | | | An evening on the patio accompanied by a few |
| For travelers that prefer the nightlife to | | | | pints and a few burgers is a great way to |
| the sights, the following schedule will | | | | ease oneself into a good Sunday night. From |
| ensure an unforgettable weekend in Shanghai. | | | | here take a cab to Windows Scoreboard which |
| | | | offers great prices and value (provided you |
| Friday: | | | | stick to bottled beer). The bar also offers |
| | | | pool and a large screen T.V. C's bar is also |
| Head down to Sasha's on Hengshan Road to | | | | a local favorite and the prices and |
| enjoy the half priced drinks from 5:30 to | | | | atmosphere are great for lounging and hanging |
| 7:00 P.M and then pop next door to Zapata's | | | | out with friends. For those who want a |
| to try the best Mexican food in Shanghai. | | | | classier night, head on down to the JZ Club, |
| After finishing the meal and a few drinks | | | | Shanghai's premier jazz performance venue to |
| proceed south down Hengshan stopping in at | | | | take in a live jazz show. If you're in luck |
| whichever place looks happening. Narcissus | | | | Shanghai's own Coco will be performing. |
| and Bourbon Street usually feature live acts | | | | |
| and are good if you are looking to see a | | | | Best of Shanghai |
| cover band and Beni's is a great pub to have | | | | |
| a pint. After you've sampled a bit of the | | | | Shanghai's nightlife scene is fast paced and |
| Hengshan Road pubs head off to the main event | | | | cut throat with new bars, lounges, and clubs |
| at Mural Bar: the 100 RMB all you can drink | | | | opening and closing weekly. It is almost |
| special. Mural is the place to be on Friday | | | | impossible to keep abreast of all the changes |
| night with an open bar and great music | | | | happening, however, the following section |
| keeping the party going till 2 A.M. The open | | | | lists some of the more popular nightspots and |
| bar shuts down at two in the morning and | | | | their chief selling points. |