Top Restaurants in 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.

Zi Yan Kafe Guan

This is a great example of the amalgamation of Chinese and Western cultures. The clientèle is mainly Shanghai. They do not have an English menu but will happily make recommendations for you. Portraits of Shanghai women from the 1930s evoke a feeling of nostalgia. A loft overlooks the main floor which is also filled with bric-a-brac; so eclectic that it borders on bad taste. This establishment functions mainly as a bar but the menu also offers several simple Shanghai dishes.

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.

Malone's American Cafe

Malone's provides a casual option for lunches, dinners and after-work drinks for the suit-and-tie crowd. Often mistaken to be American, Malone's is actually a Canadian chain (a wooden Canadian Mountie stands near the front!). A big, broad bar stretches the length of the interior. It is the place to get an ESPN fix or try your luck on the pool tables upstairs. Enjoy American fare in hearty American servings. Prepare to loosen those pants after dining on the burger platters. The menu displays some depth in its wide offering of pastas, Tex-Mex, and pan-Asian dishes.

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.

789 Nanjing Road

789 Nanjing Lu is a semi private bar located at the top three levels of Le Royal Méridien Shanghai. This allows for amazing views of the city and uninterrupted views of the Bund and the Huang Po River, 360 degrees around the city. 789 is not a loud dance club but rather a meeting point where good conversation and great music go hand in hand. Enjoy a drink or maybe a dance.

Gino's Cafe

This branch (at the Parkson Department Store) is one of many in the city, notable for its catchy brown signs and yellow writing. The Gino's Cafe branches are reasonably cheap places to eat for a quick lunch or casual dinner.The interior is modern and comfortable with high stools and coffee tables. More standard table seating is also available, and the service is efficient and polite. Hop in to try a wide selection of tasty pastas and pizzas, as well as sandwiches and desserts.

Always Cafe

This cafe and bar is a convenient place for a break or a quick bite to eat after a long day of shopping. The establishment serves a wide variety of international food but it is known foremost for its burgers. The long and narrow room with its huge windows is comfortably furnished. Service is warm and very friendly.

Peace Hotel Jazz Bar

The historically famous Peace Hotel hosts this equally famous live music bar. One of the jazz bands was the original band that performed here in the 1930s. Persecuted during the Cultural Revolution, the group disbanded, but recently the members regrouped. The bar has been renovated many times since a bomb damaged the hotel's ground floor in 1937, but the vintage flair is maintained with art deco lighting and windows.

Champions' Sports Bar

As part of the new Marriott Hotel, this bar serves up a slice of down home American pie in Shanghai. The designers have successfully created an American sports bar that is consistently good fun, even when the crowds begin to surge. The décor may cause homesick American sports fans to be overcome by nostalgia. There are autographed sports memorabilia gracing the walls, television sets suspended from the ceiling, and jersey-wearing servers. The food is also typically American—burgers, steaks and a dash of Mexican. Try Nachos and the Triple-Play Platter.