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:

  585 Zhongshan Dong Er Road, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 3302 9999

• Opening hours:

  Daily 2pm–midnight

• More info:

  Top of Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund, level 30

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:

  Madang Road, 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:

  https://elwilly.com

• Address:

  501, 22 Zhongshan Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5404 5757

• Opening hours:

  Daily 11:30am–2:30pm / 6pm–10:30pm

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:

  https://m-restaurantgroup.com

• 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 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.

• Address:

  568 Julu Road, Jing'An, Shanghai,

• Phone:

  +86 21 6289 6889

• Opening hours:

  Daily 5pm–10:30pm

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:

  11 Nanjing Road, 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.

• Address:

  521 Fuxing Road (M), 卢湾区 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 drapes. But anyone not needing a snooze can enjoy the torch-lit courtyard and the enticing sofas indoors.

• Web:

  https://cottons-shanghai.com

• Address:

  132 Anting Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6433 7995

• Opening hours:

  Daily 5pm–2am

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

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 are available.

• Address:

  60 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 021 6323 2779

• Opening hours:

  Daily 4pm–2am

M1NT

M1NT is Shanghai's definition of lavish opulence - with indoor shark tanks, exuberant decor style, pricey drinks, first-class views over the night city from its 24th-floor location and the notoriously strict dress code, the club is a sought-after nightlife spot for those looking to party in style.

• Address:

  318 Fuzhou Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6391 3191

Abbey Road

Abbey Road, a cosy bar and restaurant in Shanghai's French Concession, is a popular spot among the expat crowd. Helmed by a Swiss chef, the menu features primarily Swiss cuisine with some American dishes, including soups, salads, burgers, and the essential cheese fondue. Adding to its charm, Abbey Road boasts a lovely bamboo garden that provides refreshing shade on hot summer days.

• Address:

  3 Taojing Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 5466 2069

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.

• 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 artisanal bakery with several locations across China. It serves healthy, appetising café classics, such as 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

Yang's Fried Dumpling

For the perfect pan-seared Shanghai dumplings filled with a thick, flavorful broth that's molten off the pork filling (shrimp and squid varieties on offer as well), stop by one of the famous local Yang's Dumpling chains.

• Address:

  178 Ningbo Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai

• Phone:

  +86 21 6322 9763

• Opening hours:

  Daily 6:30am–9pm