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