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