3 Shanghai bars named in Asia's top 50

Asia’s 50 Best Bars were announced last week and guess who brought home the bacon? That’s right, Shanghai bars did, taking out three spots on the list, the most of any city in Mainland China - hazaa! 

Ranking No. 2 overall was Speak Low (pictured below), topped only by 28 Hongkong Street in Singapore, and followed by High Five in Tokyo at No. 3. To be positioned among these great and established bars is an honour for relative newcomer Speak Low, and one that’s well deserved, with this Shanghai speakeasy having kept our taste buds entertained and our livers working hard since they opened in 2014.

Not a great deal further down the list fell Union Trading Company at No. 9. This Fuxing Lu hotspot is permanently busy thanks to its seasonal menu changes, inventive (and unique) cocktails and top-notch food offerings (hello t’achos!). With friendly and professional staff, it’s far too easy to frequent co-founder Yao Lu’s bar, and thankfully it never disappoints.

And finally, sneaking in at No. 42 was Constellation. In their overview of the list, producers Drinks International pegged Shanghai’s bar scene under ‘rapid development’, saying: ‘In the past few years its cocktail scene has grown quicker than its skyscrapers. Not so long ago Constellation was about the only place to find good drinks in the city outside of hotel bars.’ And although Constellation may have ignited Shanghai's love for cocktails, it’s still going strong - a wonderful indication that new is not always superior, and that there’s always a place for well-crafted classic drinks.

Asia's 50 Best Bars was produced by Drinks International and is the first regional spin-off of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Votes came from 154 Asian Academy members, made up of bartenders, bar consultants, brand ambassadors and journalists. For the full top 50, click 'read more' below.