Nightlife in: Shanghai

Places to go in Shanghai - threw in a couple restaurants as well, just in case you start getting sick of local Chinese cuisine.

Prego
After about a week and a half of Chinese food, my classmates and I craved Western food - more specifically, Italian. That's when we found Prego, an Italian restaurant located on the second floor of The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai. We were skeptical at the idea of Italian food in China, but they lived up to their outstanding review as the best Italian food in the city. We were served fresh bread with marinara sauce and the best pizza and pasta dishes I have tasted in a long time. The setting is chic yet laid back, the service was great, and the wine list was diverse. The price is a bit on the expensive side, but it is worth every yuan. Definitely hit the spot.

Location: 88 Henan Middle Rd, by Guangdong Rd

M on the Bund
I didn't get a chance to eat here, but someone else should (and tell me about it). Spectacular views of the Pudong skyline, this restaurant claims to be famous and the best in Shanghai. Indoor and outdoor sitting areas, modern European cuisine, the never-ending wine list, a.k.a. - expensive. The restaurant was full of foreign expats and other visiting business men and women, taking in the view while taking in their steak tartare. Reservations are highly encouraged.

There's a bar in the basement (same owner as the M) of the same building, the antithesis of the upscale restaurant on the 7th floor. I don't remember the name of it, except for the salsa music playing in a Irish pub style atmosphere while drinking a glass of sangria. Drinks are a bit expensive (relative to China) but the place is complete with open dance floor, full bar, and a pool table. It's a good venue to hang out with some friends but not necessarily to meet other people - despite that it was a Saturday night, the place was rather empty.
BYOC - Bring Your Own Company.

Location: No. 5 The Bund (at Guangdong Lu), 7th Floor

Attica
A club based in Singapore, possibly named after the prison located in New York, it's the typical discoteque experience - flashing lights, fog machine, tacky "modern" furniture, and sleazy boys. It's located on the top floor of a building (somewhere near the Bund) so there is access to the roof patio which again, reveals a spectacular view of the city. There are bars all over the place so it's not difficult to get service, but the drinks are expensive. From what I remember, a shot cost about 15 USD each, and the patron that a few expats bought my friends and myself were more than 25 USD.

One major con: there is no place to sit down. If you want to sit, you have to get bottle service, otherwise, you pretty much have to stay up on your feet. It was a good thing that the DJ played decent songs which kept us dancing for a while. The music played was the same as with any other expat bar we went to - but that doesn't get old, especially when in a foreign country; it gives you a warm feeling inside - or maybe that was the alcohol?

Location: 15, Zhong Dong Er Lu, Shang hai

Nightlife in: Beijing

Going to China this summer? Don't know where to go? Below is a list of the places I went out to in Beijing. Enjoy.

Shooters
The first bar I went to in Beijing. Impressive due to inexpensive alcohol and the abundance of young expats or children of expats and other foreigners. The layout of the bar is pretty typical, rather small and without air conditioning = very hot and sweaty. Be careful not to get cigarette burns from the people who smoke inside, it's hard to avoid when there are so many people rubbing against each other. All the music played is American pop, so it's a good place to go when you're looking for the familiar home bar-scene. Also good if you're looking to scope out 18-year-olds with no regard for bar etiquette.

Location: Off of one of the side streets in Sanlitun

The Den
Frequented by British expats and Rugby players, The Den has a reputation for being the best place to go when craving Western food. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try the food so I can't tell you from first-hand experience. Drinks are decently priced and the waiters can speak English so ordering drinks is as breezy as a Malibu Bay Breeze. There are places to sit inside and outside, but the scene is rather calm overall. I didn't get the hype, but later on I was told that it was an "off-night." It's worth going to, if you're looking for a hot Brit or Rugby buff.

Location: Intersection of Gongti Dong Lu 4A

Kai Club
Another bar in the Sanlitun strip, but unique because it was the only place I saw that served Hoegaarden beer. I didn't get a chance to stay for long because it was so crowded already by 11pm. Aside from the abundance of white people, a wall covered in foreign currency with writings hailing the Kai Club makes its popularity among visitors evident. Personally I didn't appreciate the note that said, "South Korea sucks, Kai Club rocks." :-P

Location: Another back road off Sanlitun

Nanjie
This is were I spent most of my Friday night. They offer table service upstairs including a great outdoor balcony. According to some "locals" I met, its prior location was closer to the main Sanlitun strip, but moved when it became inconceivably filthy. Its new location, across from a salsa club is doing a good job so far in terms of tidiness. Drinks are rather cheap, they give you dice and cups for drinking games, and the music is good. I can't remember quite what they were playing, but considering that it's a favorite expat bar, American pop and electronica is not a far-fetched guess.

Location: 4 Gongti Beil (near Sanlitun), across Salsa Caribe