Shanghai is well off when it comes to beer bars at the moment—an obvious sign that the Chinese love their beer—but while there may be plenty of beer joints scattered across the city’s bustling districts, few offer cutting-edge brews as good as a Dogfish Head IPA.
Thirsty for crisp Pilsner? Or perhaps a robust Imperial Stout? Hop on our hoppy train as we take you through a few of Shanghai’s top spots for damn good craft beer. #1 curates an insane selection of over 1000 bottles of local and imported beer!
1. Beer Lady (Suzhou) – This bar boasts over 1000 craft beer bottles
The epitome of craft beer heaven, The Beer Lady—specifically the outlet tucked away in a back alley in Suzhou Creek—curates over a thousand different beers spanning breweries from in and around China and abroad.
Along with 27 taps of mostly Belgian ales, beer aficionados will be spoilt for choice. There’s just about every beer you’ve seen anywhere in Asia—plus a few hundred that you likely haven’t.
Address: 1247 Suzhou South Road (Near Xinchang Road), Shanghai, China
Opening Hours: 24-Hrs, Closes at 2AM in winter
Contact: +86 5386 3393
2. Boxing Cat Brewery – One of Shanghai’s OG craft beer joints
With a history of brewing beer that spans more than a decade, Boxing Cat Brewery has since won about 40 international awards—a clear indication that these folks are doing things right. Boxing Cat’s beer menu features an impressively diverse selection of IPAs, pilsners, lagers, ales, stouts and more.
Interestingly enough, it is their food rather than their beers that have garnered buzz as of late. The menu features Southern American comfort food with British and Southeast Asian accents. If you’re got the stomach for it, definitely go for the Trio Of Blackened Fish Tacos.
Address: Sinan Mansions Unit 26A, 519 Fu Xing Rd. Central, Shanghai, China 200031
Opening Hours: 5PM – 12AM (Mon to Wed), 5PM – 2AM (Thu), 3PM – 2AM (Fri), 10AM – 2AM (Sat), 10AM – 12AM (Sun)
Contact: +86 21 6426 0360
3. Daga Brewpub – Opens until midnight every day
A trendier alternative to commonplace bars and pubs where their main focus is on Chinese craft beers above everything else, Daga Brewpub is a promising spot to hit up if you’re looking for a fairly adventurous tippling experience. If you’re looking to chill, be sure to cheap out their rooftop patio.
Located in Fuxing Xi Lu, this humble craft beer bar, located right opposite its sister venue, Daga Cafe, offers a wide selection of locally-brewed craft beers—over 50 beers on tap, in fact. If you enjoy a good stout, go for the Lunar Eclipse, a dry stout brewed by Nanjing-based brewers, Master Gao.
Address: 100 Fuxing Xi Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China, near Wukang Lu
Opening Hours: 2PM – 12AM (Mon to Fri), 10AM – 12AM (Sat & Sun)
Contact: +86 21 3469 5337
4. Liquid Laundry – Great beers & next-level pub grub
Whilst exploring Shanghai’s bustling streets, you’ll likely bump into Liquid Laundry, a lively gastropub which features over a dozen brews on tap. The concept was thought up by founder, Kelly Lee, the woman behind Sproutworks, Boxing Cat, and Cantina Agave. Their food takes bar bites to a new level, offering delicious dishes such as wood-fire oven pizza, duck nuggets and hand-crafted charcuterie.
Address: Kwah Centre 2/F, 1028 Huaihai Middle Road (near Donghu Road) Xuhui District, Shanghai
Opening Hours: 11AM – 2.30PM, 4PM – 2AM (Wed to Sat), 11AM – 2.30PM, 5PM – 12AM (Sun to Tue)
Contact: +86 21 6445 9589
5. Shanghai Brewery – Multi-award-winning brewery in Shanghai
Winning several prestigious accolades since it first opened, Shanghai Brewery Donghu has gained international acclaim for its top-notch craft beers which are all brewed using only the best imported ingredients.
They’ve won multiple international awards in Australia, Japan and the USA for their beer, as well as awards such as “best brewery” and “best bar” from various Shanghai-based publications. Shanghai Brewery features craft beers from other local high-end craft breweries such as the award-winning Mad Dragon Brewery and Taste Room Brewers, as well as occasional “Guest Brews”.
Address: 20 Donghu Road (by Huai Hai Road), Shanghai 200030, China
Opening Hours: 11AM – 1AM (Mon to Thu), 11AM – 2AM (Fri to Sun)
Contact: +86 21 3356-3996
6. Tap House – Grab a tasting flight
Boasting over 18 unique local and international brews (and a cider) on tap, there’s no question as to why Tap House is a hit among veteran expats and locals alike. Besides enjoying them in pints, what makes this beer joint interesting is their methods of serving.
If you’re a beer novice, you can opt for a tasting flight which allows you to sample a variety or opt for the pub’s curated beer and snack pairing.
Address: 72 Yongkang Lu, Taixing Rd, Jing’an, Shanghai, China
Opening Hours: 3PM – 12AM (Daily)
Contact: +86 21 5448 8337
7. Uptown Records ‘N’ Beer – Curated vinyls, LPs & craft beer
A small but convivial hangout spot in the off-the-beaten-track district of Pingwu Road, Uptown Records ‘N’ Beer features a wide curated selection of vinyls and LPs along with a few fridges stocked with a decent array of craft beer. A place for music and beer lovers to seek solace, grab a cold one from the fridge, plonk your tired butt down on a stool and tap your toes to some tunes.
Address: 131 Yongfu Lu, Near Fuxing Xi Lu, Xuhui district
Opening Hours: 2PM – 11PM (Daily)
Contact: +86 21 5404 0970
Read our guide to 10 different types of beer.
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