It’s hard not to think of Shanghai as a place to mainly eat, drink, shop, and then eat and drink some more. And with so many places making decent drinks, you’ve definitely got to have a view bar night on the town in Shanghai. With a friend in town recently on a Friday night, I found out that if you want a guaranteed table at any of these places, you need to book well ahead for the weekend, so we’ve included phone numbers here. Otherwise, you’re bound to float around at the bar if you get there post 9 pm.
Here’s where to go for a night out in Shanghai with a view:
Flair: It’s the highest outdoor patio in the city, up on the 58th floor of the Ritz. It also has fantastic drinks, an incredible interior, and a huge outdoor drinking area . Even if you don’t get a table outside, you can chill out a bit and take some pics from the Pudong side. Cons: Minimum cover charge for outdoor seats. Phone: 2020 1778
Roosevelt Sky: This is probably the least well-known one on the list. It’s only on the 8th floor, but the rooftop bar on the Bund offers AMAZING views of both sides of the river, and you are low enough that you feel like you are right in the thick of things. Drinks are hit or miss – stick with wine or basic cocktails, but on a nice night, book ahead, and you won’t regret chilling out here. Phone: 2322 0748
Lost Heaven: We always recommend this for a dining spot (email us for ordering recommendations), and they have an amazing rooftop patio open in good weather. Spicy cocktails, decent prices, and consistent drinks, coupled with cool decor and vibe. Not much not to love, though this is business dinner, conference, and foreigner central. Phone: 6330 0967 – no reservation necessary for cocktail lounge most likely, dinner-yes
Vue Bar: It’s a great view of both sides of the river, some 30 stories up. Cons: – A bit overhyped, 100 RMB cover, with one drink, for non-hotel guests on the weekend, very small outdoor space, people constantly breaking glasses in the jacuzzi (yes, jacuzzi), and generally quite cramped. 6393 1234 ext 6348
For a full list, check SmartShanghai’s rundown.
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