10 Best Spots to Catch Up With Friends

With fall in the air and most people back from their amazing summer holidays, it is time to plan an evening of catching up! Where are some of the best places to go with a group of friends that has both great food, amazing drinks and ideal to hang out with friends? Look no further, here are our recommendations!

T8

Address: 168 Hubin Lu, Hubindao II, 3/F, Room W08-W10

Hours: Daily 11:30am-12pm (last order 10pm) 

Tel: [phone]

Price: Around RMB 400 per person

The interior is exquisite. Two terraces with astonishing park views make you feel like you are having a Manhattan brunch. Chinese-crafted screens carefully balance privacy and spaciousness, and there are many ways you can enjoy the environment at T8. There are couches with skyline views, unique, rounded Elmwood benches at circular tables perfect for groups, and the foodie favorite: a counter seat around their open kitchen. 

Why is it great for gatherings: Quiet & exquisite dinner with views overlooking the greenery in Xintiandi, plus the service and drinks do not dissapoint!

More Than Eat

Address: 758 Julu Lu

Tel: [phone]

Daily: 5pm-11pm

Price: Around RMB 200 per person

More than Eat brings together the best dishes from different cuisines. Everybody can find a special something which satisfies their personal taste. Gone are the days where groups of friends agree on one type of cuisine.

The best Japanese, French, Spanish, and South Asian dishes are all here, gathered in the same place. You can go to the different corners, make your selection and then go back to catch up with friends.

Why is it great for gatherings: All types of food to satisfy all your friends’ different cravings. And, there is a great wine bar that can give you extensive selections to keep all parties chatty throughout the night.

Constellation 7

Address: 288 Shimen Yi Lu, Taikoo Place, Building 1, L161  

Tel: [phone]

Daily: 8pm-2am

Price: Around RMB 150 per person

Now you don’t have to go to your favorite whisky hangout after dinner. At the new Constellation 7, not only do they have the same selective types of whisky as the other Constellations, they also have food. In fact, as far as we’re aware, this is the first Constellation bar to sell food at all. 

The décor is stylish and upmarket and there are a few covered tables outside. There is even a private room for big parties or a function. The décor also fits the fusion style, with a humorous painting of Superman blindfolded playing a game of catch done in traditional style Chinese art. There are also line drawings of Shanghainese elders cooking you dunzi on the street.

Why is it great for gatherings: Exquisite cocktails and good food, now you don't have to go to two separate places for dinner and drinks.

The Cannery

Address: Rm 106, Bldg 1, 1107 Yuyuan Lu, near Jiangsu Lu

Tel: [phone]

Daily: 5:30pm-1am

Price: Around RMB 350 per person

The interior design is splendid, with flourishing golden plates all over the place, an amazing collection of bourbon, spacious bar counters, inviting sofas everywhere, cozy fire place, and above all: they manage not looking overly fancy. Cocktails are astonishing and include all the classics. Food is based on west coast culture: mussels, oysters, buttery crab salads, clam soup. They’ve got lots of seafood dishes with all range of prices. There is something for all tastes and all budgets. 

Why is it great for gatherings: Spacious seating, delicious food, delicious cocktails, and beautiful people.

Lychee

Address: Lane 49, West Fuxing Rad, near Wulumuqi Road

Tel:  [phone]

Daily: 6pm-2am

This three-story gastrolounge is the brain child of Cotton Ding, who is also proprieter of Cotton's. Lychee is spread over three floors of a lane house just off Fuxing Xi lu.

The first floor is the cocktail bar, which has romantic little cubbyholes in the corners, so you can kick back with your own beauty. There’s a little outside seating adding to the romance.

The second floor is the restaurant and it looks beautiful, a wonderful color palette of royal blue, sea green and deep purple velvet stools and sofas to enjoy dinner in a little luxury, including a private dining room.

The third floor is the nightclub, comprising a great bar and another private lounge area, so it’s the perfect spot for dinner and drinks.

Why is it great for gatherings: You can eat, drink and lounge with a DJ all in one night. Perfect for a quiet dinner and finish with a banging night out

The Pelikan

Address: 225 Xikang Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu

Tel: [phone]

Daily: 11am-11:30pm

Price: Around RMB 300 per person

Charming and revitalizing new venue with a fresh atmosphere. They chose this pelikan tropical decoration in order to break the standard Nordic venue aesthetic. Here it’s all about eating food with seasonal and local ingredients.  As you’d expect/hope with Nordic cuisine, the chef is from Denmark and the card changes every week. Going there you should be ready to eat a lot of raw foods with delicate, nuanced flavors. Cocktails are all freshly made. The trip will be especially lovely for gin enthusiasts, and there’s a great selection of artisanal coffees and imported wines.   

Why is it great for gatherings: The place has great seating that can accomodate large crowds, and the ambient is suitable for a quiet night of conversation. 

The Fellas

Address: 7/F, 7 Yan'an Dong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu

Tel: [phone]

Daily: 5:30pm-2am

Price: Around RMB 300 per person

The Fellas has a classy indoor space and an outdoor terrace with a breathtaking view of Pudong skyline. The menu is filled with delicious and carefully prepared Italian favorites, like Burrata, handmade ravioli, tiramisu… these on top of fine wines and unique cocktails and there might not be a better spot in the city to unwind after a long day.

Why is it great for gatherings:The view and Italian favorites

Mercato

Address: 6/F, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu

Tel: [phone]

Daily: 5:30pm-11pm

Price: Around RMB 500 per person

Considered by many as the best coastal Italian restaurant, it’s the place to be for getting a fine dinner and experiencing the purist form of Italian hospitality. Mercato provides some of the best pizza and pasta in Shanghai, celebrating the three Michelin star Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. You can enjoy their gorgeous space with the finest products and freshest ingredients possible. However, some forget that they also serve great cocktails. They’ve got a selection of fruit-infused proseccos, Italian-inspired cocktails with mint and basil and naturally a fine selection of wine. 

Why is it great for gatherings:  For the discerning crowd where there is breat burratta, amazing pizzas that goes extremely will with  a fine cocktail

Lost Heaven on The Bund

Address: 17 Yan'an Dong Lu, near Sichuan Nan Lu

Tel: [phone]

Daily: 5:30pm-10pm

Price: Around RMB 200 per person

Located in the southwest of China, Yunnan is arguably the most mysterious and beautiful place in China, and its cuisine along the Ancient Tea Horse Road is what you can find at the Lost Heaven on the bund. Lost heaven wants you to forget your worries and enjoy natural, healthy and most importantly, delicious food. This cozy venue has a vibrant and eye-catching decoration based on the Yunnan artisanal design. For years now, Lost Heaven has been considered a perfect place for a feast: first meal in Shanghai? Business meeting? Birthday party? Kicking back after a long day’s work? Go with Lost Heaven. 

Why is it great for gatherings:  Their terrace is splendid with fountains, soft tatami, luscious plants, candles and a spacious bar. 

Cotton’s

Address: 132 Anting Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu

Tel: [phone]

Daily: 11pm-2am

Price: Around RMB 150 per person

A little gem hidden in the French concession with that kind of patio Shanghai could use so much more of. This restaurant is located in a lane house which has it’s own garden. A magical atmosphere assured with candles, sounds of crickets and sweet gurgling fountains of water. They host several live jazz bands, and a solid food and drink menu. Don’t miss the chance to relax in this natural environment while the weather is perfect.

Why is it great for gatherings:  The casual atmosphere is very soothing, and large seating capacities makes it easy to handle large crowds. And on some nights where you can enjoy music outdoors, it is simply magical.

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