Cocktail bars in Shanghai continue to raise the bar year after year. From neighborhood favorites to internationally acclaimed imports, these spots represent the best bars in Shanghai right now — here’s where to drink, and why they matter.
Best Cocktail Bars in Shanghai
- My Top Three
- Solid Cocktail Bars in Shanghai
- Award-Winning Cocktail Bars via Hong Kong
Pony Up
Pony Up is one of Shanghai’s most talked-about bars. Founded by Dre Yang, it’s a small space with a big sense of community at its core. The cocktails are spot on: smart twists on classics, never overworked, and made for easy drinking. The bar food more than holds its own too — the patty melt is the one to get.
It’s cozy, consistently buzzing, and filled with a crowd that actually enjoys cocktails and conversation. A recent #97 spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 seals the deal. For a homegrown bar, it’s a big moment — and an easy one to cheer for.
Why is it the best? Because it nails the sweet spot between serious cocktails and pure fun — no fuss, no ego, just a bar you’ll happily wait in line for. As far as best cocktail bars in Shanghai goes, this is my number one pick.
Barules
Barules is Shanghai’s go-to for truly bespoke cocktails, led by industry veteran Sam Kuan. The space is sharp and modern — all marble counters, geometric lines, and a lofted second floor — and it draws an energetic, design-savvy crowd.
Custom cocktails are the main event. Pick from over 100 ingredients and let the bartenders build something precisely to your taste, alongside clever signatures and respectful nods to cocktail legend Dick Bradsell. Plenty of bars say they do custom drinks — Barules actually means it.
Why is it the best? Because it treats customization as a craft, not a gimmick — and executes it flawlessly.
Speak Low
Speak Low is the OG speakeasy cocktail bar in Shanghai, hidden behind a bar tools shop and still very much an institution. Operated by SG Group and led by Shingo Gokan, it’s been shaping the city’s cocktail culture since day one.
The multi-level space offers different moods: classics and signatures downstairs, rare spirits and refined cocktails upstairs, and ultra-private rooms for those in the know. Consistently recognized by Asia’s and World’s 50 Best Bars, it remains a rite of passage for first-timers and a reliable haunt for veterans.
Why is it the best? Because every great cocktail city needs an original — and Speak Low is Shanghai’s.
Sober Company
Sober Company is SG Group’s multi-concept playground, relocated to INS near Fuxing Park and bigger than ever. Led by Shingo Gokan, it’s part coffee bar, part cocktail destination, part izakaya.
Downstairs is easygoing and low-ABV, upstairs is where things turn lively, with Tipsy being the heart of the party. Expect polished cocktails, elevated Japanese bar snacks, and a cocktail and food pairing experience that go far beyond “bar food.” Listed at #92 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024.
Why is it the best? Because it lets you choose your own adventure — chill, geeky, or full-on party — all under one roof.
The Union Trading Company
The Union Trading Company is a cornerstone of Shanghai’s modern cocktail scene. Founded by Yao Lu, UTC helped define what a great neighborhood cocktail bar looks like in this city.
American in spirit, seasonal in execution, the menu balances inventive originals with crowd-pleasing classics. Signatures like the Shanghai Breakfast have become local legends, and its Asia’s 50 Best Bars streak proves its staying power.
Why is it the best? Because it helped build the scene — and is still holding the standard.
EPIC
EPIC is pure personality. Founded by hype-man Cross Yu, this three-story former French Concession favorite is loud in spirit, playful in design, and serious about its drinks.
The magazine-style menu reads like a travelogue, with drinks inspired by cities across China and ingredients to match. Add a buzzing weekend crowd, dumplings and fried snacks, and a “Do EPIC Shit” attitude (their house motto), and you’ve got one of the most high-energy cocktail bars in Shanghai.
Why is it the best? Because no one tells cocktail stories quite like EPIC — and they’re fun from start to finish.
Root Down
Root Down is a vinyl listening bar with a soul. Founded by nightlife mainstay Gary Wang, it’s a slanted, atmospheric space dedicated to good music, good drinks, and slowing down.
Japanese-style precision meets old-school aesthetics, with craft cocktails designed for sipping rather than spectacle. It’s the kind of place you go late, stay long, and leave feeling calmer than when you arrived.
Why is it the best? Because it’s one of few cocktail bars that does all three things well: mixology, music, and mood.
Bar No. 3
Bar No. 3 is a classic neighborhood cocktail bar done right, sitting quietly opposite the Wukang Mansion. Run by the OHA Group, it’s intimate, unfussy, and reliably excellent. With just a dozen bar seats, the focus is on well-executed classics, gentle twists, and a crowd that appreciates consistency over trends. It’s grown-up, relaxed, and refreshingly drama-free.
Why is it the best? Because great cocktails don’t need reinvention — just consistency delivered with good hospitality. It proves that a neighborhood bar can stand the test of time without any fancy awards!
Penicillin Shanghai
Penicillin Shanghai brings Hong Kong’s celebrated sustainable cocktail concept to Nanchang Road, blending fermentation, science, and zero-waste philosophy.
Upstairs, a lab-like setup powers a closed-loop system that extracts maximum flavor from every ingredient. The menu is tight and thoughtful, featuring signature cocktails, fermented drinks, and non-alcoholic options — all backed by warm, precise hospitality.
Why is it the best? Because sustainability here isn’t a buzzword — it’s the backbone of every drink. Uniquely explorative cocktails you won’t find elsewhere.
Update Dec 8, 2025: Local shareholders have assumed control of Penicillin Shanghai, reported by Penicillin Hong Kong’s original founding team. That said, the Shanghai outpost is running the same concept and menu, just without the original HK team.
J. Boroski
J. Boroski is a discreet Jing’an hideaway dedicated to bespoke cocktails. Founded by Joseph Boroski, the bar built its reputation on “no menu” drinks — originally insisting on pure conversation-led ordering — though in recent years it’s eased up, acknowledging that sometimes people just want to point and sip.
The space is cool and intimate, anchored by a handsome mahogany bar, with bartenders crafting one-off drinks or polished classics using serious top-shelf spirits. Cocktails are undeniably steep, but the quality — and the experience — make it worth popping in.
Why is it the best? Because when it opened, it reminded drinkers in Shanghai that bespoke cocktails can be cool, and that when done right, they feel personal and genuinely memorable.
Bar Leone Shanghai
Bar Leone Shanghai is one of the city’s newest high-profile cocktail openings, landing in Sinan Mansions also via Hong Kong bar royalty. Founded by Lorenzo Antinori and Justin Shun Wah — the team behind Bar Leone Hong Kong, ranked #1 on World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 — it brings a polished take on Italian classic cocktails to Shanghai.
Downstairs feels like a polished Italian sports bar serving spritzes and aperitivo classics, while upstairs is quieter and more refined, styled like a 1970s Italian living room and focused on spirit-forward drinks and rare reserves. Expect well-executed Martinis and Manhattans throughout. They are, however, notorious for their queuing system, which kicks off at 5pm.
Why is it the best? Because it proves classics — when done perfectly — never go out of style.
COA Shanghai
COA is Shanghai’s temple to agave spirits, founded by Jay Khan and imported from Hong Kong bar royalty status. Now housed in a lane house on Middle Fuxing Road, it spans four floors — each with its own mezcal- and tequila-driven concept.
From casual tacos to serious sipping, COA offers depth, education, and a massive agave collection. Yes, the wait can be long — but few bars in the city go this deep on one spirit family.
Why is it the best? Because for agave lovers, this is the final boss.
