Love Shanghai Awards shortlist: New Bar of the Year

We love Shanghai. And with top-notch cocktail bars, off-the-hook restaurants and fabulous nights out hitting the tiles, how could you not? Here's this year's shortlist, with nominees hand-picked by our editors, for the Time Out Love Shanghai Awards 2016. Want to spread the love? Click 'Read more' at the bottom of this page to vote for your city favourites – shortlisted or not!

The shortlist

Blackbird

Cool design, clean lines and hanging lights; the decor at Blackbird is well in vogue, but what we really like about this place, other than the fresh flowers dotted about adding much-needed pops of colour, is the fabulous and well-stocked bar. Drinks take pride of place at this new venue from the team behind excellent drinking den Bar No. 3, and if you’re given the condensed menu when you arrive, make sure you ask for the full version. 

The Cannery

With spotlights pointed at a mock copper tiled ceiling overhead, walking into The Cannery feels a bit like entering a giant bar of gold. But while it may seem a little tuhao on the face of it, this new Yuyuan Lu spot from the people behind perenially popular Rockbund hang out The Nest actually serves up a laidback elegance, with its stylish interior paired with casual, filling dishes and excellent drinks.

The Parrot

The people behind excellent former-Yongkang Lu option Funkadeli have opened The Parrot seemingly as an overflow venue following chucking out time on YKL (it's just about staggering distance). You'll find it underneath Craft on Donghu Lu, where Tang dynasty-themed hostess bar Cinderella used to be.The decor is stylishly fun, and normal drinks include tropical and twisted cocktails - the latter featuring a large Aperol-based Superspritz (60RMB).

Shake

Standing on the third floor of a revamped building on the corner of Jinxian and Maoming Lus, this venue from the people behind Heyday is another live music and drinks spot with a similarly sleek decor, but this time with a vintage supper club theme. Drinks, courtesy of Colin Tait who was previously plying his trade at the highly thought of Vesper bar in Bangkok, come named after classic soul hits and singers.

Tour

Tour are serving drinks that each come accompanied by a small bite to eat. The edible theme is emphasised by a menu that you can also stuff into your mouth. Gimmicky? Maybe a touch, but while your first few orders will have you and your fellow drinkers sat in silence for a few minutes while you all upload images to your WeChat moments, what will keep you coming back is the fact that the drinks are well-mixed, the paired snacks are tasty and the general feel is of a refreshingly unpretentious place to enjoy a quality drink.