CHAR Bar

This excellent restaurant is located on the top floor of Hotel Indigo, and, thanks to being perched so high, offers great views and an even better menu selection. Their speciality is meat, but if a juicy steak isn't what you're feeling, seafood and delicious desserts are available as well.

• Web:

  www.ihg.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/shanghai/shgnb/hoteldetail/dining

• Address:

  Hotel Indigo Shanghai on The Bund, 585 Zhongshan Dong Er Road, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 3302 9999

Crystal Jade

With its menu featuring scrumptious dumplings, pork belly and roast meat, this place serves some of the best Shanghainese and Cantonese cuisine. This (originally Singaporean) chain restaurant offers a unique dining experience with exceptional food quality and good service.

• Web:

  www.crystaljade.cn/en

• Address:

  123 Xingye Road, Xintiandi, South Block Plaza, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6385 8752

• Opening hours:

  Sat–Tue 11am–10:30pm; Wed–Fri 11am–4pm / 5pm–10:30pm

El Willy

For an authentic Spanish dining experience, visit this acclaimed restaurant located in a charming 1928 colonial house. Specialising in modern tapas, the restaurant prides itself on using the finest ingredients to prepare its dishes. Its exceptional cuisine has earned recognition through multiple culinary awards, making it a must-visit for Spanish food enthusiasts.

• Web:

  elwilly.com

• Address:

  501, 22 Zhongshan Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5404 5757

Franck

Located in the French Concession of Shanghai, Franck Bistrot is a beloved destination for food and wine enthusiasts. This French street-style bistro offers fine French cuisine, featuring dishes like foie gras, poulet rôti, and tartare de bœuf, all served in a romantic setting. The restaurant also has its own wine cellar with 300 labels.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/franck.bistrot

• Address:

  376 Wukang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6437 6465

• Opening hours:

  Daily 10am–10pm

M on the Bund

Created by Australian restaurateur Michelle Garnaut, M on the Bund is an award-winning restaurant serving high-end Asian and Western food in classy surroundings. With its terrace overlooking the Bund, it boasts one of the best locations in town.

• Web:

  m-restaurantgroup.com/m-on-the-bund

• Address:

  20 Guangdong Road, Waitan, Huangpu, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6350 9988

• Opening hours:

  Daily 11:30am–2:30pm / 5:30pm–10:30pm

Maya

Maya serves Mexican food from the Yucatan Peninsular with an Asian touch, using exclusively fresh ingredients and experimenting with bold flavours. The extensive brunch menu is what originally earned Maya its fame. The food is healthy and hearty, with dishes like casserole, roast chicken enchiladas and roast duck quesadilla.

• Web:

  maya-shanghai.com

• Address:

  568 Julu Road, Jing'An, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6289 6889

Barbarossa Lounge

Barbarossa holds three floors of Arabic opulence beside the lake in People’s Park. With its delicious cocktails and serene atmosphere, it attracts a glamorous crowd and is one of the city's finest for a relaxed drink out.

• Address:

  People’s Park, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6318 0220

Boxing Cat Brewery

Boxing Cat Brewery is an award-winning small brewery with several locations across Shanghai. Here you can enjoy every type of beer from malt to ale and many European favourites. They serve good pub grub, and the indoor screens are large enough to enjoy a sporting game fully.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/boxingcatbrewery

• Address:

  521 Fuxing Road (M), Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6426 0360

Cottons

The eponymous drinking hole of Cotton Ding has recently moved to a new home in a French Concession villa. The most intriguing element is its circular bed with white voile curtains. But anyone not needing a snooze can enjoy the torch-lit courtyard and the enticing sofas indoors.

• Web:

  cottons-shanghai.com

• Address:

  132 Anting Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6433 7995

• Opening hours:

  Daily 5pm–2am

Dr Wine

Dr Wine offers a potent prescription for the evening, with a wine list that favours French vintages but spans the globe. The dimly lit, two-storey space bears no resemblance to a clinic, but its remedies, available by the glass or bottle, are highly effective. To complement the pours, a menu of well-composed platters and delectable bar bites draws a consistent crowd.

• Address:

  177 Fumin Lu, Jing'an District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5403 5717

House of Blues & Jazz

House of Blues and Jazz is a relaxed venue which often hosts international live acts. There is no cover charge, and the drink menu is extensive, although mixed drinks are best skipped in favour of beer or wine. Opens in the afternoon; some dining options are available.

• Address:

  60 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 021 6323 2779

• Opening hours:

  Daily 4pm–2am

Paramount

This Art Deco dance hall was the place to be seen in 1930s Shanghai (Charlie Chaplin once danced here), and it has now reopened for the twenty-first-century crowd. The clientele is mostly older, and the dancing done is old-style. This place is a real throwback to the glamour of old Shanghai, so strap on your dancing shoes and take to the floor for a whirl.

• Address:

  218 Yuyuan Lu, Jing'an District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6249 8866

% Arabica Coffee

The % Arabica Coffee brand, with over 20 locations in Shanghai and over 230 in the world, has become a prominent feature of the city's café scene. Its flagship store is situated in the historic Ferguson Lane on Wukang Road, a location chosen for its architectural charm. The café's minimalist, light-filled aesthetic is a hallmark of the brand. While the atmosphere is a key draw, the coffee itself is consistently praised, with the smooth Spanish Latte and Matcha Latte standing out as popular choices. This combination of design and quality has secured its popularity among both locals and visitors.

• Web:

  arabica.com/en/location/arabica-shanghai-wukang-lu

• Address:

  374 Wukang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai

Antique Garden

Antique Garden is an excellent find in the French Concession, only steps away from the green Fuxing Park. Relaxing jazz music often plays in the background, and they serve coffee, beer, wine and champagne, along with a few dishes to choose from. Most of the antiques and vintage items inside are up for sale.

• Web:

  rachelgouk.com/antique-garden-a-quirky-curio-filled-bar-near-sinan-mansions

• Address:

  44 Sinan Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5382 1055

• Opening hours:

  Daily 10am–10pm

Baker & Spice

Baker & Spice is a café and artisan bakery with several locations across China. It serves healthy, appetising café classics like salads and sandwiches, along with a vast variety of baked goods and desserts. Hand made sourdoughs, Danish rye bread, and their signature carrot cake are just a few of the bakery treats you can expect to find here.

• Address:

  195 Anfu Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5404 2733

• Opening hours:

  Daily 6am–10pm

Horiguchi Coffee

Horiguchi Coffee is a highly respected Japanese roastery, now with an outpost in a quiet corner of Shanghai's Bund. As a pioneer of specialty coffee in Japan, the brand is known for its direct relationships with growers and a meticulous, quality-focused approach. The Shanghai café reflects this ethos, offering a selection of seasonal single-origin beans for hand-brewed coffee. The serene, retro-Japanese ambiance is complemented by a unique touch: customers can select their drink from a numbered flavour profile and have it served in a beautiful, unique Arita ware ceramic cup, which is also available for purchase.

• Web:

  www.kohikobo.co.jp/en

• Address:

  YWCA Building, 1st Floor, 133 Yuanmingyuan Road, Huangpu, Shanghai

Metal Hands

Metal Hands is a standout specialty coffee shop known for its industrial-chic aesthetic and inventive, meticulously crafted drinks. Two signature creations define its menu: the Pistachio Dirty, served in a glass rimmed with crushed nuts, and the visually distinctive Lychee 'Poached Egg' Latte, where a drop of lychee syrup on the milk foam resembles a sunny-side-up egg. While the café's raw, metallic decor creates a cool, modern atmosphere, the focus remains squarely on high-quality, house-roasted beans and the skilled baristas who prepare them, making it a destination for both coffee connoisseurs and those seeking a unique sensory experience.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/metalhandscoffee.co

• Address:

  37 Yongjia Road, Huangpu, Shanghai

RAC Coffee & Bar

RAC Coffee & Bar is a celebrated fixture in Shanghai's former French Concession, housed within a characterful lane house with a distinctive green facade and a sun-drenched central courtyard. It is renowned for its authentic savoury galettes and crêpes, which are a cornerstone of its popular all-day brunch menu. The buckwheat crêpe with mushrooms and smoked meat is an absolute standout. As evening falls, the venue transitions into a natural wine bar with a French-Asian bistro menu. Its vibrant, convivial atmosphere and versatile offering make it a perennially busy destination, where securing a courtyard table is considered a prized spot.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/racsh

• Address:

  322 Anfu Road, Xuhui District, Xuhui District