Come fair weather, this city has some mighty fine rooftop bars, and knows a thing about al fresco brunching too. There are even some brilliant swimming pools to dip into when the temperature cranks up. But when the weather is clever, we know you want to sip outside. Here, we map out the city’s finest al fresco happy hours.
The Bund
VUE Bar
5.30-7pm Tue and Thu. Two select drinks for 110RMB (only applicable for ladies on Thu).
32nd-33rd Floor, Hyatt on the Bund, 199 Huangpu Lu, near Wuchang Lu.
POP
11pm-2am daily. Spend over 100RMB and get a free beer.
Seventh Floor, Three on the Bund, 17 Guangdong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu.
The Captain
5-7.30pm Mon-Thu. Select hot cocktails for 65RMB. Select cocktails for 50RMB for ladies on Tue.
Sixth Floor, 37 Fuzhou Lu, near Sichuan Zhong Lu.
Huangpu
Photograph: Yang Xiaozhe (Mayita)
Barbarossa
5-8pm daily. All alcoholic drinks half price (excludes bottled drinks).
231 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu.
Mayita
5-7pm daily and 10.30pm-1am Fri-Sat. Buy-one-get-one-free select cocktails and beer, and buy-two-get-one-free pitchers of margaritas and sangria.
Sixth Floor, 98 Shouning Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu.
RIINK
5-9pm daily. Two select cocktails, beer and wine for 100RMB. Add 20RMB for skate rental.
Unit 6-103, No 1, Bund Square, 658 Dapuqiao Lu, near Longhua Dong Lu.
FOGO
5.30pm-2am Fri-Sat. Buy one bottle of select Champagne for 598RMB and get a half-dozen oysters free.
Top Floor, 139 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Jiangxi Zhong Lu.
Jing’an
Photograph: courtesy The Middle House (Café Gray Deluxe)
The Hop Project
4-7pm Wed-Mon, 4pm-midnight Tue. Buy four select beers and get one free. Select house spirits for 30RMB, select wine for 35RMB, select cocktails and draft beer for 40RMB.
372 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Bei Lu.
Kartel
6-8pm daily. Select drinks, including house wine, margaritas and draft beer, sangria and mulled wine for 30RMB.
Fifth Floor, 1 Xiangyang bei Lu, near Julu Lu.
Tap House
3-7pm daily. Beer for 35RMB. All drinks for 35RMB for ladies on Wednesdays.
99 Taixing Lu, near Wujiang Lu.
Café Gray Deluxe (The Middle House)
5-8pm daily. Select bottles of Champagne and spirits for 50 percent off.
The Middle House, Third Floor, 366 Shimen Yi Lu, near Weihai Lu.
D.O.C Gastronomia Italiania
From 4-5pm, 5-6pm, 6-7pm and 7-8pm daily, select cocktails and wine at 25RMB, 30RMB, 35RMB and 40RMB respectively.
390 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Bei Lu.
UP!
7-10pm Tue-Sat. Buy-one-get-one-free for select drinks.
688 Shanxi Bei Lu, near Wuding Lu.
Xuhui
Abbey Road
11am-8pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat-Sun. Select wine and cocktails for 30-45RMB; select beer for 25-50RMB. Cocktails and select wine and beer for 25RMB all day on Tuesdays.
3 Taojiang Lu, near Hengshan Lu.
Bitter
5-8pm Mon-Thurs. Select cocktails for 50RMB.
58 Wuyuan Lu, near Changshu Lu.
The Bull and Claw
3-7pm daily. House wine, house beer, gin and tonic for 30RMB.
110 Fenyang Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu.
THE CUT Rooftop
6-9pm Fri-Wed, 6pm-midnight Thu. Drinks from 40RMB.
Seventh Floor, IAPM, 999 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu.
Moka Bros
4-8pm daily, 8am-10pm Thu. All drinks, including house wine, cocktails and beer for 30RMB.
108 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu.
Cafe Sambal
4-8pm Mon-Fri and Sun. Three glasses of any alcoholic drink for 100RMB.
Jiashan Market, Unit 37, 259 Jiashan Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu.
Chicken & Egg
5-11pm Mon-Thu, 5-8pm Sat-Sun. Buy-one-get-one-free for all drinks.
291 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu.
Cotton’s
4-8pm Mon-Fri. Beer for 40RMB, select wine for 40-48RMB per glass or bottles for 165-240RMB, select cocktails for 55RMB.
132 Anting Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu.
Garden Restaurant
2-8pm daily. Buy-one-get-one-free beers. Two glasses of select wine for 56RMB, select cocktails for 58-68RMB.
99 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, near Changle Lu.
TRIBE
5-10pm daily. Buy-one-get-one-free for select drinks by the glass.
Unit 103B, A Mansion, 291 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu.
Boxing Cat Brewery
3-8pm daily. Select wine at half price.
5pm-midnight Mon. Select tequila, rum, gin and wine at half price.
3-8pm Tue-Sun. House pour beer at half price.
26A, Sinan Mansions, 519 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Sinan Lu.
Xintiandi
Cobra Lily
11am-7pm Mon-Fri. Buy-one-get-one-free wines, beers, cocktails and house pours.
North Plaza Xintiandi, 181 Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu.
Paulaner Brauhaus
2.30-6pm Mon-Fri. One free refill on glasses of select beer, cocktails and wine.
North Plaza Xintiandi, 181 Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu.
Calix
2.30-7.30pm Mon-Fri. Half price on all drinks by the glass including wines, beers, spirits and more.
North Plaza Xintiandi, 181 Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu.