The 10 Best Bars in Huangpu District

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.

Spicy duck confit sliders, paired we a malt forward well hopped craft lager from #fullers in Shanghai

A post shared by KAIBA (@kaibabeerbar) on Aug 31, 2016 at 9:42pm PDT

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).

Mkeller Peter, Pale and Mary: great American Pale Ale hints of lemon and grapefruit and a hoppy aftertaste. #mikkeller #paleale #apa #shanghai #hops #china #beer #craftbeer #啤酒 #上海 #deansbottleshop #shaoxinglu

A post shared by Dean's Bottle Shop (@deans_bottleshop) on Aug 29, 2014 at 7:39pm PDT

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.

Big thanks to everyone who joined @unico_shanghai in THREE DAYS OF CARNIVAL #carnival #carnivalparty #brazilianparty #brazilcarnival #riocarnival #unicoshanghai #celebration #party #partyshanghai #brazil #brazilianmusic #music #samba #sambadancers #batucada #braziliansamba #nightlife #shanghainights #zaishanghai #shanghaiist #timeoutshanghai #thatsshanghai

A post shared by UNÏCO Shanghai (@unico_shanghai) on Feb 28, 2017 at 3:30am PST

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.

Pudong from the Captain's Bar, Shanghai, 2016 #gaytravel #travel #shanghai #skyline #skyscraper #captainsbarshanghai

A post shared by Samuel Elias (@wehosam) on May 28, 2016 at 4:54pm PDT

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.

Вечер пятницы мы провели в красоте 😏 #peoplesquare #barbarossashanghai #Shanghaivibes #lifeisbeautiful #cityofmydream

A post shared by Elizaveta Tantsova (@tantsova) on Oct 2, 2015 at 8:26pm PDT

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.

A gorgeous spring day in Shanghai calls for gin #britishsumner #doubledigits #gin #ginoclock #shanghai #myshanghai #loveshanghai #shanghailife #chinesenewyear #lunarnewyear #yearofthemonkey #kabb #kabbshanghai #shanghaibarshanghaibars #shanghaidrinks #shanghaiexpat #kerrycentre #jingan #fruity #springfesgtival #shanghaifood #shanghaieats #eatshanghai #shanghaiblog

A post shared by Shanghai Hannah (@shanghai_hannah) on Feb 8, 2016 at 9:43pm PST

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.

上海のクラフトビール飲み比べ〜🍺 TAP全制覇！！ よき！！ #boxingcat #boxingcatbrewery #craftbeer

A post shared by @saki__56 on Feb 21, 2017 at 6:23am PST

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.

Healthy weekend menu with best friends… #bff #lifeinshanghai #kakadu #kakadushanghai #bridge8 #oyster #carsersalad

A post shared by R.TANG (@rt_here) on Feb 26, 2017 at 4:44am PST

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.

It finally hit us that it's our last night in #shanghai #happyhour #bellbar #denverfoodtrucks #backtoreality

A post shared by Bao Chicka Bao Bao (@baochickabaobao) on Feb 14, 2016 at 5:02pm PST

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.

Drink Drink Drink 요리사들은 브레이크 없는 폭주족이란 걸 온몸으로 느꼈던 지난 3일. 먹고 먹고 먹고, 마시고 마시고 마시고. 밤이 끝나야 폭주도 끝난다. 그런 에너제틱한 사람들에게 가장 잘 어울리는 도시는 물론 서울이다. 아마 두 번째를 찾자면 그게 바로 상하이가 아닐까. 페닌슐라에서는 특히 걸어다닐 수 있는 위치에 좋은 바가 많아서 다행이었다. 나는 네스트에 오면 그레이 구스의 칵테일을 마신다. 마치 잘 아는 단골이라도 된 것처럼 군다. 실은 겨우 세 번째 와 보았다. 바텐더들 위로 사이키델릭하게 돌아가는 고래뼈 같은 조명이 꽤 존재감 넘친다. #TheNestShanghai #달려달려 #24_7_365 #TWINROVERinChina🇨🇳 #RocketTraveler #로켓트래블러🚀

A post shared by YURI (@twinrover) on Feb 25, 2017 at 4:58pm PST