Bars and Cafes in Xuhui District (Shanghai)

Shanghai Band Sanctuary

A lot of money went into making this three-story building to resemble an American Southern-style mansion. Formerly known as Bourbon Street, this music venue has a southern mansion feel to it. As the name suggests, live music is on the menu, and many of Shanghai's local musicians have performed here over the years.

Paulaner Brauhaus

This large bar is popular with the upwardly mobile expatriate and local set, and is generally busy all the time. Many people come here for Paulaner's excellent live band, not to mention the authentic German sauerkraut and sausage. Oktoberfest picnic tables on the main floor provide an authentic, if sturdy, feel. (The booths upstairs are more comfortable). Fruhschoppen brunch is great value, served every Sunday. The beers made on location and stored in copper tanks are worth a try, as well as the canned Weissbier.

Yuan Yuan Yuan

A tremendously busy teahouse, this place is a hot favorite with the local young generation. The youths love to come here, play cards and chat endlessly about the day's events. This is a standard purpose teahouse with a simple set-up designed to cram in as many customers as possible. Yuan Yuan Yuan has a variety of local dishes available and, of course, a selection of teas.

Cotton Club

Cotton Club has the distinction of being the first and the most popular live blues and jazz bar in Shanghai. Buzzing with people, especially on weekends, the raucous bar sees a mix of locals and expatriates. Seats at the T-shaped, dark bar fill up quickly so come early for a prime position. Asian snacks, sandwiches, ice cream and fruit platters are available.

O'Malley's Irish Pub

Irish to the core, O'Malley's has a friendly Irish band, Irish bartenders and managers, and a not-so-friendly German Shepherd. Housed in a refurbished mansion dating back to the 1920s, the pub's quaint, wooden interiors appeal with nooks and crannies. Expatriates flock here for football games on the big screen television. In warmer months, customers can be found on the bar's famous patio. O'Malley's knows how to serve a pint of Guinness or Kilkenny just right. It also offers a surprisingly innovative menu with dishes that are a considerable notch above average pub grub.

YongFoo Elite

This restaurant teams up Shanghai cuisine with service according to Western standards, and the only way to experience this is to book a table and enjoy a filling repast. Selections from the menu boast of influences from the Qing dynasty, and include clam salad, baked chicken and shrimp on toast, steamed pear with a rice stuffing, stewed duck with bean sauce and a variety of dried chicken and fish concoctions. Rich, elaborate tables bear these goodies and the mahogany furniture enhances the warm feeling within the villa. Entertainment comes in the form of live operas and local music, while three cheery bars stock a range of cocktails to be enjoyed on Gucci sofas. The lush garden, with a fountain, fish, arches and lanterns adds the finishing touch to the joint.

Melrose Pizza

The owners have successfully created a Western-style gathering place featuring good food and good service. With magazines and books available to peruse at your leisure, it is easy to spend more time than you meant to here. So be it. The owners and staff do not mind. They have even provided checker-boards and puzzles to help you enjoy your visit. The reasonably priced menu ranges from pizza and pasta to more gourmet fare. There is also an extensive selection of coffees and other refreshments. Clean and colorful, this cafe and 24-hour pizzeria provides a pleasant atmosphere in which to savor the food.

Bon Ami Cafe

If you are in the mood for comfortable western food in a cozy atmosphere, Bon Ami is the place. Conveniently located downtown, this funky eatery serves tasty and affordable entrees that appeal to the western palate, ranging from African chicken to creative sandwiches. Different promotions are available each month. Bon Ami also offers superbly smooth cappuccinos and sumptuous desserts perfect for a lazy afternoon. The light and airy interior is filled with Southeast Asian furniture and artwork. The comfortable daybeds and scenic outdoor terrace compel diners to linger for hours.

Moods Bar & Lounge

Set in the rafters of the Shanghai stadium, home to local football team Shanghai Shenhua, you can get a great birds-eye view of all the action happening down below. If you are looking inward from up here, then your gaze will not be held for too long. A large circular bar with a pool table and darts board are available. Simple seating in front of the floor to ceiling windows provides a nice view. Everything you would expect from an American-style bar: a well-stocked bar and tasty bar food.

Beni's

Although it was the first bar to open on the entertainment street,near Heng Shan Road, in 1995, Beni's has remained more or less unnoticed by the foreign crowd, that is until recently. The small bar is usually jam-packed with people who enjoy inexpensive drinks while listening to live music. Great to share a pint of beer with fellow travelers.

Onegin Bar

A little bit off Heng Shan Road, at the other end of Dong Ping Road, this little two story house has changed from a Hong Kong-style restaurant to a Russian Bar and restaurant. For the time being, it mainly functions as a bar. The bartenders are extremely friendly. The place is quiet and hardly ever crowded.

Keven Cafe

Wondering where to have breakfast, head towards Kaven Cafe. This is the place for early birds, a cafe with a comfortable ambience. Here you'll find everything from your favorite breakfast cereal to the regular Chinese treats. You can choose to feast on your order within or have it in the garden, when the weather is fine. This place can be a bit pricy, so if you don't mind shelling out that extra buck then you are more than welcome.