From Dope Shifu's barbeque pork ribs to Candor's ramos gin fizz, these are our favourite bars and restaurants in town right now.
There’s nothing like a huge piping hot bowl of food to cheer you up in the deep mid-winter. The Big Plate Chicken (58RMB small; 98RMB large) at the new Miss Ali branch on Fuxing Xi Lu does the trick, with potato and green and red peppers in a lightly spiced sauce with a side of fat rice noodles. It’s a messy, rich and delicious Xinjiang classic.
Miss Ali is at 133 Fuxing Xi Lu, near Yongfu Lu, Xuhui district.
Opened by former Madison staff, Reunion might have attracted a bit of negative attention due to menu similarities, but the space is warm and inviting and the dishes coming out of the kitchen are tasty. Try the steaming bowl of al dente tagliatelle (158RMB), with juicy shrimp and chorizo, or stop by for brunch classics such as Scotch eggs.
Reunion is at 43 Yongjia Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu, Huangpu district.
Casual and slightly cavernous, Dope Shifu is a fun new addition to the Jingan bar scene. Offering a huge range of beers starting at 20RMB for a draft Kirin and beer-appropriate snacks including the likes of barbecue pork ribs (68RMB) and chilli cheese fries (24RMB, small; 30RMB, large), it’s certainly well worth a visit if you’re in the ’hood.
Dope Shifu is at 318-8 Changping Lu, near Jiangning Lu, Jingan district.
Ain’t nothing like asking for a ramos gin fizz to piss off a bartender. Except at Candor, a slick new bar that specialises in the cocktail. Every time you order one, a light gets switched on above the bar (if six lights are lit, you’ll have to wait). Each bartender then takes turns shaking the drink – it’s labour intensive, hence the 158RMB price tag, but the result is outstanding.
Candor is at 432 Shaanxi Nan Lu, near Yongjia Lu, Xuhui district.
The winner of best non-hotel brunch in our 2015 Best of Shanghai Awards, Hakkasan is a Bund-side dining spot we keep returning to, this time for their Chinese New Year menu. Try the signature crispy duck with caviar and gold leaf, luxury dim sum platter plus mains including jasmine tea smoked chicken and silver cod in a lightly spiced sha cha sauce for 888RMB per person.
Hakkasan is on the fifth floor, Bund 18, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu, Huangpu district.