Looking for a bit of romance in the month of luurrve? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got some of Shanghai’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes waiting to date you. And by the way, dinner’s on us.
See someone you fancy? Find full details on how to register your interest at the bottom of the post.
Cathrene
Age 37
Interested in Men
Profession Owner of timesavers
Describe yourself in three words Creative, funny, adventurous.
What do you look for in a person? Sense of humour, honesty, intellect and independence.
What traits do you loathe? Insecurity.
What’s your idea of the perfect first date? A fun activity followed by copious amounts of good wine.
Where is your favourite place in the world? Lake Niassa, Mozambique.
Favourite film? Jule et Jules.
What would make you throw a drink over a date? Being asked to speak ‘African’.
Favourite quote? ‘Never love anybody who treats you like you are ordinary’ – Oscar Wilde.
Harry
Age 28
Interested in Men
Profession Marketing manager
Describe yourself in three words Direct, forgetful (sometimes), fussy.
What do you look for in a person? Someone who will keep me on my toes and make me laugh.
What’s your idea of a perfect date? Having a laugh, it doesn’t really matter where it is as long as I can get a drink.
What’s worse: PDA or arguing in public? PDA, I like watching people fight in public.
Where is your favourite place in the world? Ibiza.
Cats or dogs? Dogs, coz these cats ain’t loyal.
Favourite film? Bad Teacher.
What would make you throw a drink over a date? No conversation.
Which body part do you find most attractive? A strong jaw.
Favourite quote? ‘She’s a babe.’
Michael
Age 28
Interested in Women
Profession Personal trainer
Describe yourself in three words Modest, confident, wishful.
What do you look for in a person? Someone fun who loves adventure, but also likes quiet time. Fitness and being healthy is also a big part of my life, so someone who shares that interest, too.
What traits do you loathe? People who won't try new things.
Where is your favourite place in the world? Thailand.
Favourite film? The Great Wall.
What would make you throw a drink over a date? I would never throw a drink over someone! It’s rude… and a waste of good alcohol.
Which part of the body do you find the most attractive? Eyes.
Rocio
Age 27
Interested in Men
Profession Relocation consultant
Describe yourself in three words Easy-going, warm hearted, smart.
What do you look for in a person? Someone smart and funny who doesn’t take himself too seriously.
What traits do you loathe? The worst is ignorance combined with arrogance.
What’s your idea of a perfect first date? My ideal first date has to be laidback. The conversation must go well. If we stay longer than planned that is a sign of success.
What’s worse: PDA or arguing in public? Extreme PDA. I don’t want to see you guys fondling each other like horny teens.
Where is your favourite place in the world? Montreal or Mexico City.
Cats or dogs? Both.
What would make you throw a drink over a date? Inappropriate touching.
Karen
Age 28
Interested in Men
Profession Community Warrior at Bon App!
Describe yourself in three words Passionate, intense, energetic.
What traits do you loathe? Terrible breath.
Perfect first date? Fun conversations and throwing out creative ideas.
What’s worse: PDA or arguing in public? Neither. Pretending you’re someone you’re not is worse.
Where is your favourite place in the world? On the top of buildings when the skies are blue.
Cats or dogs? Dogs.
Favourite film? Singin’ in the Rain.
Favourite quote? ‘No one’s perfect’ from Some Like It Hot.
Daniel
Age 29
Interested in Women
Profession Project manager
Describe yourself in three words Restless, funny, honest.
What do you look for in a person? A well-travelled mind.
What’s your idea of the perfect first date? A relaxed dinner in a cosy restaurant and then into a speakeasy, talking till they throw us out.
What’s worse: PDA or arguing in public? Arguing in public. Sorting your shit out in the open is more disturbing for me than a reasonable amount of affection.
What would make you throw a drink over a date? A proper earthquake.
Favourite quote? ‘If fate doesn’t make you laugh, you just don’t get the joke’ – Shantaram.
Lavinia
Age 27
Interested in Men
Profession Designer
Describe yourself in three words Alice in Wonderland.
What do you look for in a person? An interesting mind, courage.
What traits do you loathe? Unsympathetic, ostrich-like tendencies.
What’s your idea of the perfect first date? A few drinks, smooth music, a short walk with a nice view and weather.
What’s worse: PDA or arguing in public? Arguing in public.
Cats or dogs? Dogs, but I have a cat.
Favourite film? Silver Linings Playbook.
Which body part do you find the most attractive? Shoulders.
Favourite quote? ‘The best is yet to come.’
See someone you fancy?
If you want to apply to date a reader send a message to our official WeChat account telling us who you want to date with your age, a brief bio, a recent photo and your WeChat ID or email. We’ll find the best matches and let you know if you’ve been successful. Then love shall ensue! (Or you’ll get a free fancy dinner at least.)
The Hot Spots
We've partnered with some of the hottest restaurants around town to help sparks fly when you meet your blind date.
Kathleen's Waitan
With one of the most spectacular views of the Bund that any restaurant has to offer, the floor-to-ceiling windows at Kathleen’s Waitan overlook a sprawling terrace and across the river to Pudong. We thought we’d seen the Pearl Tower from every angle, but this is something else. The modern global cuisine from the kitchen team is equally impressive, with a well-executed selection of seafood dishes, sushi and more.
Raw Eatery and Wood Grill
Snagging the Readers’ Choice prize for New Restaurant of the Year in our Love Shanghai Awards 2016, Raw keeps things simple. The focus is on fresh ingredients cooked in a way that best preserves their natural flavour – mostly thanks to a Josper oven. The result is honest and hearty, (not to mention damn tasty) food.
Mercato
One of our favourite spots in the city thanks to Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s playful takes on Italian classics, this ever-popular Bund-side restaurant never disappoints. The atmosphere is relaxed, the pizzas are some of the top ones in Shanghai and, despite its upmarket address and name of fame, a meal here won’t break the bank. Plus there’s a late-night special (298RMB per person), from 9pm on Sundays through Thursdays, for when you and your date feel like staying out late on a school night. Everyone likes someone who’s a bit naughty.
OPPOSITE by Jenson and Hu
Set in a beautiful, two-storey villa in the Former French Concession, OPPOSITE makes for a charming date spot. Executive Chef Jenson experiments with different ingredients to create a menu of playful takes on modern, Western cuisine – with a few Eastern touches and techniques thrown in. While Allen Hsu, the man behind the bar at the chic cocktail lounge on the first floor, shakes up some creative libations.
The Cannery
Another absolute winner from the team behind The Nest, The Cannery is all about laidback elegance. The team has paired a stylish, unpretentious interior with an inventive menu heavy on the seafood and some top-notch drinks. Sophisticated yet relaxed, it’s the perfect place to impress your date while keeping it casual. Stay cool, ladies and gents.
Thought for Food
As the first restaurant from wellness platform Octave, the ethos at Thought For Food is all about ‘gourmet, natural and organic’. It aims to alter the way you eat and think about food. The kitchen team, complete with certified nutritionists, create mindfully prepared, healthy dishes – using clean and responsibly sourced ingredients – that don’t forgo on flavour.
The Urban Harvest
Equal parts open lab and eatery, ecorestaurant Urban Harvest hydroponically grows its own sprouts and mushrooms. Its philosophy is simple: to reduce the environmental impact of the food industry’s culinary endeavours and guarantee absolute freshness. The contemporary menu draws on influences from both the East and West, ticking all the right boxes for a solid, environmentally conscious, night out.
Photographed at Central Studios by Yang Xiaozhe.