Bars and Clubs

20 years ago, this would have been the biggest section of this guide. As a young(ish), single guy, I spent quite a lot of time in bars and clubs. But now, with a family and a few more years crossed off the calendar of life, I rarely go to bars and as a result, this section is going to be somewhat sparse. Having said that, there are new places opening up every week and I will add to this list as I discover worthy additions.

Barules Shanghai

A favourite with one of my friends (before he had a baby) who loves a good cocktail. That's really all I needed to know because he knows his drinks. There are custom cocktails where you choose your own ingredients as well as signature cocktails and classics for the less adventurous. They also have some bar snacks if you're hungry or you could first have dinner at nearby Yaya's (see places to eat / fusion) before crossing over the road to enjoy some cocktails. It does get busy at peak times so you need to be prepared for a long wait for a table at weekends.

Address:
304-2 Tongren Lu, Jingan District
静安区铜仁路304-2号

COA

COA’s original bar in Hong Kong currently holds the No. 4 spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars ranking. In 2022, the brand expanded to Shanghai, first opening in Jing’an district before relocating to a new venue on Fuxing Road in 2024.

The bar is dedicated to spirits distilled from the agave plant, with a focus on Tequila, Mezcaland other agave-based spirits. The nameCOA refers to the machete-like tool used to harvest agave in Mexico and is pronounced "co-ah."

Spanning four floors, COA Shanghai offers a distinct experience on each level. The first floor is ideal for casual drinks and light bites, while the second floor, known as the Cantina, serves slightly heartier dishes. The third floor is home to the main cocktail bar, where guests can enjoy COA’s signature cocktails, and the top floor is the Mezcalería, specializing in premium Mezcal and Tequila. Here, a communal table seating about eight guests provides an intimate space for serious agave enthusiasts.

With its multi-level concept, COA Shanghai is essentially four bars in one and if you feel like bar hopping, another well established cocktail bar, Speak Low, is just a stone's throw away.

Address:
580 Fuxing Zhong Lu, Huangpu district
黄浦区复兴中路580号

Sober Company

Another multi-level, multi concept bar with several floors, each with different offerings in terms of both food and cocktails. Sober Company moved to their current home after closing their previous location, just down the road and continues to be one of the top places for cocktails in town. Now located at the new INS complex inside Fuxing Park (the building was once the home to Cash Box, a popular karaoke establishment). Like COA, the first floor is more basic and upstairs gets you the good stuff.

Address: 
109 Yandang Road (Fuxing Park)
雁荡路109号 (复兴公园)

Dashland

If you don't feel like spalshing out and spending north of 100 RMB on a cocktail, there are a lot of budget options available. Dashland is a great example. You just scan the code on your table and order from a selection of drinks that average around 32-35 RMB. Watch the screen to see when your drink has been prepared, then go collect it from the counter and enjoy. A Negroni will set you back a whopping 35 RMB. Okay, it might not be top shelf spirits, but it's still a fantastic deal for the budget-conscious like myself!

If you'd like more on this bar, I've written more on this venue in this blog post.

Address:
1 Xiangyang Road
襄阳路1号

Barbarossa / Ministry Of Crab

Lovely setting inside People’s Park in People’s Square, peaceful and tranquil yet in the heart of the city. During the warmer months, get there early to snag one of the tables on the balcony overlooking the lake. On the weekends, People’s Park becomes a marriage market full of older people looking for husbands or wives for their unmarried relatives – fascinating to observe. Opens at 5pm daily and the happy hour is one of the best in town with all drinks, not just house pours, by the glass 2 for 1 until 8pm. No children allowed in the bar, but there is a restaurant on the ground floor where children can go, called Ministry Of Crab, which is a branch of a restaurant in Sri Lanka that was voted one of the top 50 restaurants in Asia a few years ago.

Address:
People's Park, 231 Nanjing Road West
南京西路231号人民公园 

Flair Bar

In my humble opinion, this has the best view of Shanghai from the top of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Pudong on the 58th floor. It opens 5.30pm or 2.30pm weekends (no children after 5.30pm). Highly recommended for the night view - it is absolutely stunning on a clear night. If you want to impress out of town guests, or if you are an out of town guest, this needs to be on the bucket list just for the view.

Address:
Ritz Carlton Hotel, 8 Century Avenue,58th Floor, Pudong District
上海浦东世纪大道8号, 丽思卡尔顿酒店

Cages (Beers)

I listed this under places to eat, but I guess it's really still a bar that serves food, so it really deserves a mention here too. Lots of beers on tap, wine and cocktails too. Admittedly, the probably isn't the best place to come for wine or cocktails, but if you want to watch a game, shoot some darts or pool and enjoy some beers, this is as good a place as any. Beware when there are big sports events, Cages can get extremely crowded and rowdy which may be a deterrent or an attraction.

Address:
3rd Floor, 428 Jiangning Road, Jingan District
江宁路 428 号 3 楼

INS

This is a fairly new entertainment complex inside Fuxing Park that has bars (like Sober Company above), clubs and restaurants and is worth a visit. Gets busier and lively later in the night, especially at weekends.

Address: 
109 Yandang Road (Fuxing Park)
雁荡路109号 (复兴公园)