Shanghai's a boozy city - there's no avoiding it. And why would you want to, anyways? Plus, when it comes to cocktails the city is particularly well served. In no particular order, here are ten of our favourite cocktails to try in town.
Baked Whiskey Sour
85RMB, Tour
Chivas 12, lemon juice, simple syrup, angostura bitters, egg white
A smooth, velvety whiskey sour served with a creamy egg white foam on top and an egg tart on the side. Like Macau, minus losing all your money.
Tour is at 104-105 Bldg E, United Valley, 462 Changle Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu, Jingan district.
Barrel-aged Negroni
88RMB, Senator Saloon
Beefeater gin, Campari, Cinzano sweet vermouth, orange peel
All the top-notch flavours of a Negroni but mellowed out from two months of ageing in an oak barrel – think 'Netflix and chill' with an edge of class.
Senator Saloon is at 98 Wuyuan Lu, near Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, Xuhui district
Pisticchi Daisy
80RMB, Union Trading Company
Bourbon, Lucano Amaro, pressed lime, Earl Grey cordial, seltzer
Sweet and refreshing with deep, caramel notes from bourbon and floral accents from the Earl Grey cordial, plus a bit of pep from the seltzer. The changing of the seasons in a glass.
Union Trading Company is at Bldg 2, 64 Fenyang Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu, entrance on Fuxing Zhong Lu, Xuhui district.
Elegant Kiss
80RMB, Barules
Camino Gold tequila, cassis, raspberry, cranberry, lime
Juicing made easy for lushes, essentially – the Elegant Kiss is a boozy, boozy berry smoothie that tastes like it just must have all your vitamins. Right?
Barules is at 51 Fenyang Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu, Xuhui district.
Revolucion Cocktail
80RMB, Revolucion
Havana 3 years rum, rosemary, apple, passion fruit, sugar
This rum-based tipple is the tropics served up in a glass. It's ultra-fresh and comes with a spot of pyrotechnics as the server sets the booze-soaked sugar cube alight.
Revolucion is at First Floor, 98 Yanping Lu, near Xinzha Lu, Jingan district.
Chavela
65RMB, Pocho
Tequila, beer, lime
The Chavela sparks the philosophical quandry: what is a cocktail? But give us a glass this large full of beer and tequila, and we certainly won't argue.
Pocho is at 376 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Taiyuan Lu, Xuhui district.
Glam's Mail
128RMB, Glam
Rum, Champagne, osmanthus flower liquor, honey, lime juice
Elegant to the max, this gorgeous, well-balanced drink is sweet without being cloying and packs an unexpected punch.
Glam is at Seventh Floor, Five on the Bund, 20 Guangdong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Huangpu district.
Superspritz
60RMB, The Parrot
Aperol, prosecco, soda, orange, olive
It's a spritz, but giant. 'Nuff said.
The Parrot is at 7 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu, Xuhui district.
Rehab
90RMB, Shake
Plantation 3 star rum, Plantation Original Dark rum, Plantation Original O/P, lime, passion fruit and raspberry
A beautiful but deadly combo of three top rums, this drink is just the thing to send you back to rehab. You won't be able to drink just one.
Shake is at Third Floor, 120 Jinxian Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu, Huangpu district.
Perfect 20
98RMB, The Nest
Bacardi 8 years, Aberfeldy single malt 12 years, Dom Benedictine, Punt e Mes vermouth, Jerry Thomas bitters
Served in a bell jar filled with smoke, this playful yet sophisticated riff on a classic turns the Manhattan up to 11.
The Nest is at Sixth Floor, 130 Beijing Dong Lu, near Huqiu Lu, Huangpu district.
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