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Cocktail barWine cocktail barXintiandi
Swirl on Middle Fuxing Road in Shanghai swirls wine together with spirits into winetails, sharing a wall with sister cocktail bar Speak Low.
DrinkWinetails, wine-based cocktails swirled rather than shaken, from ¥90 to ¥125
FoodA small snacks menu alongside the wine cocktails
TipStart with the lighter-bodied cocktails on the menu before working up to the full-bodied pours later on.
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Cocktail barCocktail barFrench Concession
Gallows Humor on South Shaanxi Road in Shanghai is an all-black, minimalist cocktail bar from the same founders behind neighboring bar Paal.
DrinkPlayful cocktails built around unusual ingredients like blue cheese and century egg
TipCome with an open mind about ingredients; the menu leans into odd pairings like century egg and clam juice.
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Cocktail barCuban cocktail barFrench Concession
Alma Luna, on North Xiangyang Road in Shanghai, pours bartender Yao Lu's own take on classic Cuban cocktails behind a bright yellow front door.
DrinkMiami Vice, a two-in-one pina colada and strawberry daiquiri
FoodCuban-leaning bites like chicharron, croquettes and a Cubano sandwich
TipOrder the Cubano sandwich alongside a cocktail; the kitchen leans into comfort food more than sharing plates.
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Cocktail barItalian cocktail barXintiandi
Bar Leone Shanghai pours Italian aperitivo classics from a two-floor Sinan Mansions space, the Shanghai outpost of a Hong Kong original bar.
DrinkBlack Truffle Godfather, aged six months with Yunnan black truffle
FoodItalian aperitivo and bar bites, including a mortadella focaccia
TipThe ground floor Bar di Passo suits a quick aperitivo; head upstairs to the living-room floor for the aged Vecchi & Rari drinks.
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Cocktail barTibetan-themed cocktail barFrench Concession
Bar Rock is a Tibetan-run cocktail bar in Shanghai from the OHA Group, its menu built around highland barley and Tibetan Buddhist practice stages.
DrinkCocktails built on foraged Tibetan ingredients: highland barley, sea buckthorn, tsampa
FoodNo kitchen; drinks only
TipShoes come off at the door; the carpeted floor seating suits a slower, no-rush session.
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Cocktail barSpeakeasy cocktail barFrench Concession
Bar S-Otto hides in the basement of Atelier No. 3 on Fumin Road, an omakase-style Shanghai speakeasy pouring eight classics and eight signatures.
DrinkA tight list of eight classics and eight signatures, each ¥88
FoodDrinks only, omakase-style bar counter
TipLook for the hidden door inside Atelier No. 3 and take the stairs down; a private room is kept for whisky.