Patios. The best thing about Shanghai spring and the only good thing about Shanghai summers. Ideally, with a happy hour or a brunch deal.
Here's a list of some new, some old — we added a good handful of places for 2020 — but all worth going outside for! It's in alphabetic order, so don't you go thinking there's some sort of objective best out there.
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Yongfoo Elite
This clubhouse has served as a consulate for the UK, Russia and Vietnam over the years. The graceful manor is now a private leisure club that offers gourmet cuisine and live music in a gentle ambience, with a real old-world charm garden. They do 388rmb/888rmb lunch sets from 11.30am-2pm, and their odd little Keep It Quiet bar has a regular movie night on Thursdays.
Tomatito
The rebirthed version of the casual, colorful and quirky Spanish tapas bar by Willy Trullas Moreno, the sssssssexiest chef in (but these days, mostly out of) town. Now with a giant south-facing terrace dominating the third floor of the Infinitus mall and overlooking the little lake by Xintiandi. Draws a vivacious Latinophile crowd. Hit it on a Wednesday for their tapas starting at 10rmb or the 158rmb weekend brunch.
Together
A French-Asian casual fine-dining restaurant, from founding chefs Kim Melvin (Commune Social) and Bina Yu, neither of whom live in Shanghai anymore. Still, it's the green, bamboo-ringed terrace against a low brick wall that makes it a fine place to sit and people-watch Yuyuan Lu on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
The Sukhothai Shanghai
A street-level patio directly in front of ZUK Bar, the Sukhothai Hotel's headliner patio puts you right on Weihai Lu, in that plaza between it and the heritage building. Apart from the regular 5-8pm happy hour, they occasionally host parties.
STYX
The outdoor terrace for Styx, the global skewers place, is probably bigger than the tropical interior, and is a great place for a couple of chicken satay. Cocktail Thirstdays every Thirs— sorry "Thursday".
Sense 8 (Xintiandi)
Cantonese restaurant with some serious, serious traditional Chinese decor, and usually a queue for dinner. Strung along the side of the dining room are a few outside tables that feel like a hidden enclave in bustling Xintiandi, from which you can order cocktails and be fabulous.
Roof 325
Perched on top of the restored Shanghai History Museum, Roof 325 has an expansive terrace with a great view over the top of People's Park, which, don’t you know, used to be a racecourse. The history museum itself used to be the Race Club building.
RAC (Anfu Lu)
Insta-heaven. Plus sweet and savory crepes and egg-related dishes, as well as a reputable selection of wine. They are insanely popular, especially on weekends. They opened a another spot on Shaanxi Lu, sadly lacking in patio seating. Go for the daily brunch and the galettes, assuming you can get a seat.
POP American Brasserie
American in name but not in calories (these will sort you out instead), POP is a kind of Americana envisioned by Europeans and the fancy people of Three on the Bund. There is foie gras on the menu, along with a Wagyu burger and a black cod fish & chips. Consider it casual, global food and you're most of the way there. It actually has two terraces, one on the restaurant side and one from the bar, both with lovely views over the city and to the financial district, respectively. If you're coming just for the terrace, however, then make a beeline for the bar, open well past midnight.
The Pine at Ruijin
From the people behind Light & Salt, this fancy-looking French restaurant is located on the verdant grounds of the highly photogenic InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin hotel. The menu's deft, white-tablecloth and photogenic.
Oxalis (One Museum Place)
The casual fancy restaurant from chef Jonas Noel near the Natural History Museum. It's been open less than a year but they've already started to dress up the rooftop terrace, which faces east. On Mondays, they have a deal where the pastry team takes over the kitchen and it's all-dessert all-day.
The Nest
Super popular bar/restaurant/lounge by nightclub brand Muse Group and Grey Goose vodka, right by the under-renovation Rockbund Art Museum. They basically set the template for every restaurant-lounge-club that has come since. Oysters are a specialty: on Sundays, they are 98rmb a dozen. Great design (read about how it came to be, here).
Mercado 505 (Wulumuqi Bei Lu)
Mercado 505, occupying a prime location in among the hotels at Wulumuqi Lu and Huashan Lu, is the same market-to-table concept as its original Cool Docks location, but bigger. The streetside patio's usually buzzing with Spanish expats and curious diners. The sangria is great. Nice view of Huashan Hospital.
Lokal by Wagas (Wukang Lu)
From the ever-dominating Wagas group, this place does a bit of everything from their Baker & Spice and Wagas menus: coffees, pastries, a couple international dishes and a lovely garden courtyard. Even if you can't get a seat outside (it's often packed around lunchtime), the interior spaces open up a bit so you can still get that spring breeze.
LAGO
Shanghai Bellagio's marquee restaurant, a modern Italian fine dining from Spanish chef Julian Serrano, big in Vegas. It's got an entry corridor that looks wrested from a nightclub, and a terrace overlooking the Suzhou Creek. Not a cheap option. Don't expect to save money when you go, and call ahead to reserve.
Kartel
Well-designed, casual French bar and lounge with a great rooftop that has one of the best views in town. The guy who started this used to be with Dr. Wine, then broke off to start his own spot. The place is warm, with wooden floors, exposed bricks, and long, communal tables. Wine is the focus, though there's a substantial menu of French food. Don't get put off by the sketchy elevator -- the place is really nice. A good bet for happy hour on the roof in the warmer months.
Highline
Contemporary American and cocktails place. The plan: All-day and late night California classics cuisine. The look: mid-century Miami-fornia minimalist chic sunken living room batch pad. The expansive patio's got a stunning view of People's Square. Go for the endless fried chicken and highballs on Wednesdays, or weekend brunch.
Found 158
It's one big patio. The whole thing. Just squat in the middle. Set up a lean-to wherever you like, start busking for change to spend at any of the, what, forty venues? You could probably live down there. Die, too. Zapfler and Cafe des Stags has a boatload of food deals, for example. Homeslice does a good deal on slices and drinks on Mondays. And happy hours abound.
Roof Garden
A patchwork of brick and lawn terraces of differing heights, the Shanghai EDITION's roof garden mixes Chinese greenery with tropical horticulture. Features an open-air theater, a games area for lawn bowls and croquet, daybed seating, and, naturally, a bar with food and snacks. More of a long-term lounging option.
Colca (Hengshan Lu)
Long-time restaurateur Eduardo Vargas doing the food of his heritage: Peruvian. It's a nice place. Works just as well for cocktails, snacks or a sit-down meal. It's 38rmb on select cocktails during <ahref="https://www.smartshanghai.com/event/52148">happy hour, including those massive gin tonics.
Char
An overlooked terrace on the south Bund attached to a high-end hotel steakhouse (60-day dry-aged Tomahawk steak, 1,888rmb). This one's good because it gives an angle on the Bund and Lujiazui you rarely see, looking from the south up Zhongshan Dong Yi / Er Lu. It's like the counterpoint to this place. Not much in the way of promotions, but your second drink is meant to be half-off.
The Captain
Once the "budget" option for Bund drinking, the Captain is the rebranded, refurbished rooftop bar of Captain's Hostel (cocktails are now 90-100rmb). They kept some of the less gaudy nautical-themed decor and the in-your-face view of the financial district across the river. Not as panoramic as some of the others, but an atmospheric spot nonetheless.
The Cannery
Probably the busiest and dog-friendliest patch of green lawn outside of West Bund's dog park. Plus, this one has a lounge with great food at good prices attached. When the lawn isn't available, there's still some seating outdoors, and during summertime they throw open the glass front to create a seamless space. It's casual but like... business casual. Good spot for a meeting, a date, or the start to a night out. They've got good deals on every day of the week (188rmb for a dozen oysters every day), and a super popular weekend brunch.
Calypso
This is a big stand-alone building between the Jing'an Kerry Center towers (no, not the Mao house), designed by famed Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. It does Mediterranean food but the real draw here is the RETRACTABLE ROOF that opens up when the weather is right, turning the second floor lounge into an al fresco space.
Café Gray Deluxe (The Middle House)
Celeb chef (RIP Gray Kunz) restaurant at The Middle House hotel, a half-moon shaped bar/lounge/restaurant hugging the outside of Taikoo Hui. Terrace is the big, big appeal. Big comfy chairs and prime people-watching over the Starbucks Reserve. They've got a three-course weekend brunch for 238rmb.
Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai
A surprise contender for best Bund view in Shanghai. Perched on the 48th floor, Bvlgari Hotel's La Terraza has a spectacular, basically unrivaled view over both Huangpu and Lujiazui. Impressive, considering it's on the wrong side of the Creek and about half a kilometer behind the promenade. Only downside is that it's a little exposed on windy days and there are no deals available. For that, you'll have to visit Il Ristorante, which has a Champagne knock-out brunch.
The Bull & Claw (Fenyang Lu)
Cozy garden mansion with a menu dedicated to steak, lobster and other stuff from chef Hardeep Somal. In addition to the large ground-floor outdoor dining space, the second floor balcony is real lovely and west-facing. Sundowners! This one's usually bustling. Go for the free-flow brunch.
Bird
A tiny spot with global cooking and big ambition on its small plates. Selection of natural and quirky wines, and welcoming counter service. They do lots of one-off events, usually involving wine and wine tastings.
Beef & Liberty (Shanghai Centre)
Purist statement burgers made from grass-fed beef with fancy English Tiptree ketchup. This was their first location and it has a great terrace out the back, on the Nanjing Xi Lu side. Plus, on Mondays, the Double Double promotion gets you BOGO burgers.
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