Drinking in Huangpu district goes far beyond the Bund. While you can’t go wrong with a waterfront favorite, it’s also worth expanding your search for a watering hole to other district hot spots like Xintiandi and Tianzifang. Here is our guide to the 10 best bars in Huangpu, Shanghai.
Located in charming tourist-friendly, shopping and dining lane Tianzifang, Kaiba specializes in Belgian brews and has a staggering number on tap. The chain was recently acquired by alcohol giant Anheuser-Busch, so big things may be ahead for little Kaiba. The patio overlooking the bustling Taikang Terrace is perfect on warm days.
Dean’s Bottle Shop may seem like little more than a bottle-o on the surface, but when you look closer, the shop and bar also sells everything from wine to rum, tequila, and whisky. There’s a table in the middle of the shop that’s great for gathering around with friends and cracking open a few brews (which the knowledgeable staff would be more than happy to tell you all about).
Popular Bund spot Unico is much more than a bar. It’s also a club, restaurant, and lounge. This place can get packed on weekends, or during weekday events like their Tuesday night salsa party, ladies nights, and other dance extravaganzas. The club has managed to snag some big name headliners in the past, like DJ Questlove, but mostly churns out bouncy Latin tunes.
On top of Bund-side backpackers haven Captain Hostel is one of Huangpu’s best bars. Its terrace looks out across the river to the Lujiazui skyline, offering imbibers a chance to economically experience something most people shell out big for. The drinks are nothing to write home about, but that’s not the reason people congregate here. Expect to meet expats and travelers from all around the world.
Located in the middle of People’s Park is Moroccan restaurant, bar, and lounge Barbarossa. The food is fine, but the drinks are the real selling point. Each of the venue’s three floors will transport you to the Middle East with its oasis-like atmosphere and cozy hookah nooks. If you’re a lady who likes drinking free, check it out on a Wednesday after 9pm for free cocktails until midnight.
Mid-range Xintiandi spot KABB is one of the city’s best places for a boozy brunch. The atmosphere is bright and cheery and the drinks taste like the weekend in liquid form. As such, it gets pretty crowded during brunch hours, so be sure to book ahead if you want to take advantage of their outdoor seating. Food is standard American fare like sandwiches, burgers, seafood, steaks, pastas, and salads.
Boxing Cat Brewery, one of China’s first microbreweries, is a Shanghai staple. And soon, you might be seeing Boxing Cat brand beer everywhere, as the label was also recently acquired by Anheuser-Busch. The bar offers a rotating selection of the brewery’s signature pilsners, lagers, stouts, and more, all of which are delightfully hoppy. There is a limited selection of food on offer as well, mostly Southwest-American style pub fare.
A bar as well as a restaurant, Kakadu specializes in gamey meats like crocodile, kangaroo, and emu. Australian through and through, this joint frequently hosts barbecues, especially when the weather turns warm. Expect alcohol to skew Australian as well, with the country’s wines being a major focus of the bar menu.
Another Tianzifang favorite is friendly and cheap Bell Bar. When it opened in 2006, the place was tiny, just a bar with a dozen stools. Now it takes up an entire old Chinese house, all four floors of it. The vibe is bohemian: mismatched chairs, exposed brick, rickety stairs. The bar also has an extensive collection of English-language books, which you can purchase or take for free if you swap one out with two of your own.
This popular Bund-area restaurant, bar, and lounge was founded in part by top shelf vodka brand Grey Goose. Unsurprisingly, they specialize in vodka-based cocktails. The vibe is nice but laid back. Unlike most Bund lounges, The Nest does not enforce a strict dress code. The music is classic indie rock.