New Shanghai Bars and Restaurants: November 2016

Here are all the new restaurant and bar openings we featured in our November 2016 issue.

Restaurants 

Bread Etc.

If the name ‘Bread etc.’ sounds casually dismissive, it’s probably for the reason that this newly opened bakery and café does so much more than its name suggests. Like many of the more successful openings of late, this is a place that has adapted its definition to fit the needs of Shanghai’s fickle market, in this instance, an all-day eatery in the mold of a French bakery. Judging by the crowds, we’d say the formula is a doozy. Furnished with a full-size kitchen and onsite bakery, food here is a relatively serious affair, supplying all-day breakfast, brunch, salad, sandwiches, pizzas and even entrées. 

Price: RMB40-150 per person
Who’s going: locals and expats
Good for: brunch, coffee, patisserie, bread etc.

Read the full review here. See a listing for Bread etc.

Blue Feaster

Located on the corner of Kangding Lu and Shaanxi Bei Lu neighboring Delimuses Cafe and Ozaoza Bistro, Blue Feaster is a newly established casual bistro that’s been going viral on Chinese social media. With a total of 12 Cordon Bleu Institute trained chefs (yes you read it right, 12), we showed up with high expectations for this unassuming little eatery. Co-founded by owners Harry Han and Xiao Yan, along with   several of their classmates from the Institute, Blue Feaster hits the mark somewhere between ‘dessert bar’ and ‘bistro.’ 

Price: RMB100-150 per person
Who’s going: local and young couples, ladies in the afternoon
Good for: afternoon tea, desserts, casual dining

Read the full review here. See a listing for Blue Feaster.

Opposite

Operating from the beautiful two-story villa that once upon a time housed VIA, Opposite is a new restaurant by Chef Jenson Pei and former Mercato GM, Kevin Hu. One part mixologist (Allen Hsu), one part chef (Pei), Opposite is the duo’s first permanent brick-and-mortar endeavor, having previously operated a private kitchen. 

Price: RMB300-500 per person
Who's going: young locals
Good for: groups of 3-6, special occasions, fusion food, cocktails, al fresco drinking

Read the full review here. See a listing for Opposite.

Bar Centrale

As residents of Jing’an’s Yanping and Wuding Lu can no doubt attest, their neighborhood has experienced a windfall of new bars and restaurants over the last year. Joining the likes of Hunter Gatherer, Revolucion Cocktail, Raw Bar & Grill, Fat Cow, Grinder and Ola is Bar Centrale, fittingly named for its position at the revamped area’s epicenter. Owner Yuri Valazza, also of eateries Gemma and Piccolo, tells us this was exactly his intention, imagining Bar Centrale like one of the cheerfully utilitarian piazza eateries of Italy, to be relied upon for a meal, spritz or espresso at any time of day. 

Price: RMB100-200 per person 
Who’s going: young locals and expats
Good for: casual dining, happy hour, wine, pizza

Read the full review here. See a listing for Bar Centrale. 

Bars

World of Beer

It might look like a run-of-the-mill sports bar chain from the outside, but surprisingly, World of Beer holds one of the best craft beer selections we’ve found anywhere in Shanghai. The selection offered isn’t just varied; many of the beers available are excellent in their category. Clearly chosen with an expert eye, we were astounded to find names like the Samuel Smith Brewery on the list, a fantastic brewery that’s rare to find even in its native home of Yorkshire.
Price: RMB50-150 per person
Who’s going: locals and expats
Good for: beer, sports screening, hangouts, casual dining

Read the full review here. See a listing for World of Beer.

Cages

Cages Sports Bar and Grill has stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam with its new, expanded location on the corner of Wuding and Jiangning Lu. Needless to say, the go-to for batting practice has made it to the big leagues. Not just a bar - or a batting cage - the new indoor center has it all: squash courts, corn hole, darts… we saw people playing football and cricket, taking swings in both their softball and baseball cages, gearing up for dodgeball and little ones creating their own games in the kids’ area

Price: RMB40-100 per person

Who’s going: Sports fans, young expats and locals, families
Good for: Catching a game, sports activities, casual business, family activities, hanging out

Read the full review here. See a listing for Cages.

Read more Shanghai Restaurant Reviews and Shanghai Bar Reviews