CHAR bar and grill & 恰餐厅

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.

• Address:

  585 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 3302 9995

• Opening hours:

  13h - 1h

• More info:

  29-31 Floors, top of Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund

Crystal Jade / 翡翠酒家

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.com

• Address:

  1438 Hongqiao Lu, Changning District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5290 5303

• Opening hours:

  11h - 14h, 17h - 21h30

• More info:

  Inside Gubei International Fortune Center.

El Willy

If you are craving Spanish, head over to this authentic Spanish restaurant housed in a 1928 colonial house. The restaurant specialises in modern tapas and prepares all dishes using the best products available. The restaurant has been recognised by multiple culinary awards.

• Web:

  www.el-willy.com

• Address:

  501, 22 ZhongShan Dong Er Rd, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5404 5757

• Opening hours:

  11h30 - 14h30, 18h - 22h30

Franck Bistrot

When you walk into Franck, you will immediately notice the private ambience of this French bistro. The attentive staff serve delicious French food, with dishes like foie gras, le poulet rôti" (roast chicken) and la cote de boeuf (imported Australian steak) offered up in a romantic setting. The restaurant also has its own wine cellar with 300 labels.

• Address:

  376 Wukang Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  + 86 158 2167 6767

• Opening hours:

  18h - 24h

Guyiwan Wonton / 顾一碗馄饨·烧麦

This is a famous chain of restaurants scattered throughout the city. The restaurant specialises in wontons and shumai (a type of dumpling), and is an ideal choice for some quintessentially local food. Their bamboo shoot shumai is a must-try.

• Address:

  56 Huaihai Dong Lu, Huangpu Disitrict, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 159 5506 7097

• Opening hours:

  7h - 21h

• More info:

  On the crossroads

M On The Bund / 米氏西餐厅

Created by Australian restaurateur Michelle Garnaut, M on the Bund serves high-end Asian and Western food in classy surroundings. With its terrace overlooking the Bund, it has one of the best locations in town. The restaurant has been distinguished by multiple awards.

• Web:

  www.m-restaurantgroup.com

• Address:

  7F, 20 Guangdong Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6350 9988

• Opening hours:

  11h30 - 17h, 18h - 22h30

Bar Rouge

A quintessential nightlife hot spot, Bar Rouge is the place to see and be seen. Dressed-to-the-nines glitterati flock to this sleek, glamorous bar-club hybrid set smack in the middle of it all in Shanghai's Bund, overlooking the Pudong skyscrapers.

• Address:

  18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6339 1199

• Opening hours:

  18h - 4h

Barbarossa

Barbarossa holds three floors of Arabic opulence beside the lake in People’s Park. With its delicious cocktails and a serene atmosphere, it attracts a glamorous crowd and is one of the city's finest for a relaxed drink out. Every day, between 5 pm-8 pm, drinks are 50% off.

• E-mail:

  marketing@barbarossa.com.cn

• Address:

  231 Nanjing Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6318 0220

• Opening hours:

  17h - 1h30

• More info:

  Inside People’s Park (人民广场)

Boxing Cat Brewery / 拳击猫啤酒屋

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 different European favourites. They serve good pub grub, and the indoor screens are large enough to fully enjoy a sporting game.

• Web:

  www.boxingcatbrewery.com

• Address:

  519-521 Fuxing Zhong Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6426 0360

• Opening hours:

  11h30 - 24h

Cottons / 棉花酒吧

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 the white voile drapes. But anyone not needing a snooze can enjoy the torch-lit courtyard and the enticing sofas indoors.

• Web:

  www.cottons-shanghai.com

• Address:

  132 Anting Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6433 7995

• Opening hours:

  11h - 1h

Dr Wine

The wine selection leans towards French but extends its scope to include international labels. The dimly-lit bar occupies two storeys that look nothing like the doctor's office, but a cure for (nearly) all ailments is served both by the glass and bottled. Delectable wine accompaniments and platters are highly popular.

• Address:

  177 Fumin Lu, Jing'an District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5403 5717

• Opening hours:

  12h - 2h

House of Blues and 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 available.

• Web:

  www.bluesandjazzshanghai.com

• E-mail:

  house@bluesandjazzshanghai.cn

• Address:

  60 Fuzhou Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 021 6323 2779

• Opening hours:

  18h - 2h

Abbey Road / 艾比之路

Abbey Road has a lovely bamboo garden which offers shade on a hot summer day. The chef is from Suisse and the restaurant has a western menu and the music is a mix between rock and blues. It is an ideal place to go for brunch Stuff can speak English.

• Web:

  www.abbeyroad-shanghai.com

• Address:

  3 Taojing Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5466 2069

• Opening hours:

  10h - 1h

Antique Garden / 古董花园

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. Can get very busy on Saturdays and Sundays.

• E-mail:

  info@antique-cafe.com

• Address:

  44 Sinan Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5382 1055

• Opening hours:

  11h - 22h30

Baker & Spice

An excellent bakery/cafe with several locations across town, Baker & Spice is a welcoming joint that serves healthy, appetising cafe classics such as salads and sandwiches, along with a vast variety of baked goods and desserts. Seating at a long communal table.

• Address:

  195 Anfu Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5404 2733

• Opening hours:

  6h - 22h

Kommune / 公社咖啡

Kommune is a great little courtyard café off the boutique shopping street of Tai Kang Road. It serves sandwiches, salads, lasagna, etc., and is popular among locals and expats alike. It is an excellent choice for brunch or even an evening drink of beer or wine.

• E-mail:

  info@kommune.me

• Address:

  210 Tai Kang Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6466 2416

• Opening hours:

  8h - 24h

• More info:

  In the Tianzifang Area

Maya / 玛雅墨西哥餐厅

Maya serves Mexican food 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:

  www.maya-shanghai.com

• Address:

  568 Julu Lu, Jingan District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6289 6889

• Opening hours:

  11h - 14h, 17h - 24h

• More info:

  Grand Plaza Club House 2F

Sumerian

Coffee is taken seriously at Sumerian, a hip cafe and coffee shop in the heart of Shanghai. With carefully monitored origins of its beans (which come from Africa, Latin America and China itself), the establishment serves up superb hot and cold caffeinated drinks, along with delectable bagels with a variety of toppings.

• Web:

  www.sumeriancoffee.com

• Address:

  415 Shaanxi Bei Lu, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 136 3657 8753

• Opening hours:

  7h30 - 19h30