Shanghai has a genuinely great bar scene. Most visitors never find it because the good places don’t have signs in English, don’t run ads, and don’t need to.
We go to three: one in a 1930s building you’d walk straight past, one that doesn’t appear on any map app, and one that opened recently but already has regulars. First drink is on me.
What’s included
- Three bar stops in the French Concession / Jing’an area
- First drink at each location covered
- The backstory on each spot — who runs it and why it matters
- A saved map with 10 more places for the rest of your trip
Good to know
- Starts at 8pm (bars open late here)
- Additional drinks at your own cost
- Not a pub crawl — more of a slow, curious evening
- Works best for 1–3 people