IPAs and APAs, pales and porters, stouts and saisons; the world of craft beer is going from strength to strength. As more and more small-batch breweries and specialist bars appear in the 'Hai, the revolution is only just getting started. And let's be honest – we've got a ways to go before we get near Beijing's level of hop dedication.
Here's a list of bars where you're guaranteed to get a good pint. You may have to pay a premium at some, but to avoid the humdrum of warm, flat lagers it’s sometimes worth it.
1. District
Backed by the company that distributes Duvel throughout the Mainland, you’ll get eight beers on tap at District. Four Belgian and four American crafts make up the taps, along with a decent bottle list. With reasonable prices and chill staff, you really couldn’t ask for more if it's a quick, social pint with a friend or a group you're after. Definitely worth a trip if you’re in the Jing'an area.
Good for: hangouts, brunch, small groups
See a listing for District
2. The Hop Project
Fantastic bar on Dagu Lu serving great beers, and some of the best grilled cheese sandwiches in the game (from Co. Cheese). The relaxed, friendly atmosphere is punctuated with sports on a couple of screens in the back, and a fine bottle selection and several taps are enough to stir up the excitement in any lover of beer. On said taps is a program that shines a spotlight on craft breweries from around China; previous 'tenants' have included the much-lauded Jing A Brewing Co.
Good for: local craft beers, small groups, sandwiches, pre-gaming
See a listing for The Hop Project
3. Drink Up
Drink Up is one of Shanghai’s premier ‘candy stores’ for adults; it’s basically a convenenience shop stocked with over 200 different beers from China and the wider world. Some bottles are marked up a bit, though nothing too egregious. The 'worst' thing about Drink Up is probably the overwhelming choice – trying to pick the perfect beer can be slightly anxiety-inducing.
Good for: selection, quieter vibes, al fresco drinking, take-home
See a listing for Drink Up
4. The Beer Lady
Much like aforementioned Drink Up, The Beer Lady is essentially a bottle shop with seating. Here you'll find what must be among Shanghai's largest selection of beers from Europe, Asia, China, Australia, Eurasia, Uranus and who knows where else. Put simply, you'll definitely find something you like. Friendly staff and prices make this a great choice for casual drinking sessions, particularly during nice weather. Oh, and did we mention they're open 24/7?
Good for: al fresco drinking, selection, take home, small groups
See a listing for The Beer Lady
5. Uptown Records 'N' Beer
Uptown Records 'N' Beer is the perfect accompaniment to an hour of browsing the shop's fantastic record collection, which are available to purchase. With good music – obviously – this intimate little spot has enough room for about eight drinkers. The place doubles as a bottle store too, with decent prices on everything from Rogue to Jägermeister. Definitely worth the trip if you’re a beer and/or music enthusiast.
Good for: take away, hangouts, selection by bottle
See a listing for Uptown Records 'n' Beer
6. Jackie’s Beer Nest
This tiny spot on Zhaozhou Lu was one of the first to spearhead the craft beer scene in Shanghai. Today the place counts 30 draught beers and over 80 imported labels, with some real rare diamonds among the collection. The owner, Jackie, is usually on hand to give you the low down what best suits your tastes, so there’s no reason to feel intimidated if you’re not up to scratch with your beer knowledge. Open for just five hours a day (5-10pm), make sure you get there early to bag a spot and let the beer flow.
Good for: hangouts, casual drinking, dates, small groups, take home
See a listing for Jackie's Beer Nest
7. Boxing Cat Brewery
Synonymous with Shanghai craft beer, Boxing Cat now have three locations across the city. Naturally serving all their own excellent beers, they also have a fair selection of imported beers to keep it interesting. Decent food sits alongside their distinctive beers, though we'd recommend getting there in time for the happy hour drinks deals (5-8pm Yongfu and Sinan locations, 3-8pm at Hongqiao), which nabs you a pint of any draught beer for RMB30.
Good for: casual drinking, groups
See listings for Boxing Cat Breweries
8. Dogtown
Based out of a tiny window on Shaanxi Bei Lu, Dogtown may only have six beers on tap but it’s the communal atmosphere that makes this street-side haunt fun. Particularly good at any point during the weekend – daytime included – be prepared to have a fun time with complete strangers. Their happy hour from 3pm to 8pm will get you any beer for RMB35, and for an extra RMB5 you can add a Jameson chaser.
Good for: day drinking, al fresco drinking, small groups, happy hour
See a listing for Dog Town
9. Shanghai Brewery
Microbrewery, classic pub food and live sports on the screens, what more could you want? Serving their own beers alongside pretty standard beers (Tsingtao, Tiger etc.), you'll still find a couple of gems from the bottle menu. Definitely go for one of their beers though, they’re great value and usually among the best that they serve.
Good for: casual drinking, pre-gaming
See listings for Shanghai Brewery
10. Liquid Laundry
Constantly rotating the taps, here you'll get homebrews from sister bar Boxing Cat alongside other exciting local and international microbreweries. Adventurous imbibers will also be thrilled to find many Chinese craft breweries on their bottle list, which often don't get a look in when up against the BrewDogs and Brooklyns of the craft beer world.
Good for: food and beer pairings, selection
See a listing for Liquid Laundry
11. Dr. Beer
Just what the Doctor ordered; Dr. Beer is the perfect place to let your hair down after a hard day at work. With DJs and live music on nearly every night, it can be hard to talk to anyone except the person beside you, though their reasonably priced beers on tap do the trick. Said beers are brewed on-site too, so you know what you’re getting is fresh. The crowd is a real mix of expats and locals, many of them pre-gaming hard before hitting the club.
Good for: groups, pre-gaming
See listings for Dr Beer
12. Kaiba Tap Room
For a huge choice, a visit to Kaiba's Tap Room branch is definitely a must – they've got 20 beers on tap, so you definitely won’t be wanting for choice. The program places a strong focus on Belgian beers, but for those who aren’t into weiss or pils, they also have good pales and hoppy classics. A laid-back atmosphere make this a great place for conversations and chilled dates.
Good for: Belgian beers, hangouts, groups, casual dates
See a listing for Kaiba
13. Bull and Claw
The delicious food may be expensive, but the 18 beers on tap should take the edge off for you. Lobster, steak, burgers and a good selection of craft beers make this a spot for special occasions and brunch alike. Comfortable and chic with an airy feel, Bull and Claw may be just have the best combination of food and drink in the city, just be prepared to pay a slight premium for it.
Good for: food and beer pairings, brunch, upscale drinking, small groups, dates
See a listing for The Bull & Claw
14. Tap House
With three locations in Puxi, you shouldn’t be too far from a Tap House if you’re West of the river. The branch keepin' on keepin' on at Yongkang Lu is our favorite, with a more intimate atmosphere that grows as the night goes on. Like many craft beer bars, the prices are often steep, but you can’t argue with six Mikkellers on tap. Cheaper options like ol' San Miguel and co. are available; and we recommend going between 11am to 7pm to partake of the RMB15-off discount.
See listings for Tap House
15. The Cannery
Much like Bull & Claw and Liquid Laundry, we file The Cannery under 'full-time restaurants with a decent craft beer program.' And with eight taps stocking seasonal specials like Ketucky peach barrel wheat, we've good reason to. Much on the regularly changing list hails from the USA, with some interesting breweries like Baird Beer and Black Market also representing.
Good for: seafood, loungey atmosphere, American beers, small groups, dates
See a listing for The Cannery
16. Drunk Uncle
With a large Asahi starting at RMB35, Drunk Uncle is just a decent place to sink a few cold ones. Those looking for craft will find a quality selection of around 80 international beers. The small food menu definitely plays second fiddle to the beer choices here, but then again, who’s coming for the food? Beers from the UK, Japan, Germany and the USA should be enough to satisfy any thirsty drinker.
Good for: hangouts, casual drinking, quieter vibes
See a listing for Drunk Uncle
17. The BREW at Kerry Hotel, Pudong
With six beers on tap and a rotating seasonal special, the beers here are brewed on-site. Nestled in the Kerry Hotel in the middle of Pudong, you’ll pay a premium to drink here, but the ambiance is nice and relaxed – plus, the outdoor patio is great. Your best option will be to go for the daily buy-one-get-one happy hour between 3pm and 8pm.
Good for: dates, upscale drinking, brunch, groups
See a listing for The Brew
18. World of Beer
World of Beer may look like an ordinary sports bar, but an absolutely stunning selection of beer greets you here. Rare breweries mingle with more commercial ‘craft’ establishments, and you'll also find quite tasty food and live sports playing on multiple screens around the place. The atmosphere may be a little dry, but you certainly won’t be.
Good for: live sports, hangouts, groups, selection
See a listing for World of Beer
19. Daga Brewpub
If you really want to discover the Chinese craft beer scene, Daga Brewpub is the place for you. They’ve got Chinese beers that are hard find anywhere else in the city, as well as a brilliant rooftop terrace at their Fuxing Lu branch. Beers from Nanjing, Chengdu, and of course, Beijing, mix well with the chilled atmosphere and hit-and-miss food. Seriously though, the food quality is neither here nor there when you’ve got a big selection of Chinese brews to discover.
Good for: Chinese craft beers, casual drinking, groups
See listings for Daga Brewpub
20. The Exchange
Found in the basement of the Shangri-La Hotel in Lujiazui, a usual selection of large ‘craft’ breweries await you. Beyond BrewDog, however, they have their own lager available, all of which can be enjoyed in big wingback leather armchairs. Comfy and quiet, The Exchange is the perfect spot for a meeting or a date in the Lujiazui area.
Good for: live sports, upscale drinking, groups, impress guests
See a listing for The Exchange
Paulaner Brauhaus
The world-famous Bavarian brewery has been setting up locations across the world to sell their celebrated Oktober Fest Pils. With three locations in the city, you can find their own brewed-on-site beers as well as a selection of other German and standard beers. The food is good too; the menu features classic German mains and beer snacks, which go with the beer perfectly.
Good for: groups, German beers, German food, hangouts, Oktoberfest parties
See listings for Paulaner Brauhaus
Beer not your scene? Then make sure you check out our list of wine bars to get classy drunk in.
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