Shanghai to allow street-side dining again

Dining outside in Shanghai might be a possibility again as the city seeks to revitalize its nightlife with a slew of new measures governing what goes on after dark.

According to guidelines released by the city government on April 19, eateries including bars and coffee shops can place tables on the street if they meet certain requirements, and some streets will be closed to traffic at certain times.

The pilot program will also require every district to appoint a local “nightlife director” who will report to a “nightlife CEO,” mirroring cities such as New York, London, and Amsterdam that have similar authorities in charge of relations between neighborhoods and night spots.

Liu Min, deputy director of the Shanghai Commission of Commerce, told Shanghai Daily the city wants to “create a cozier environment for a nightlife economy.”

The rules are aimed at promoting Shanghai’s economic growth and its attractiveness as an international shopping destination, and the city believes a vibrant nightlife is required for that.

Currently, it’s illegal for food and beverage establishments to have tables on the street, and once throbbing areas such as Yongkang Road had their ground-floor bars shut down when upstairs neighbors complained of the noise generated by patrons.

The city hopes to avoid that with the new regulations. In 2017, they also designated areas like Found 158 as demonstration zones to show how nightlife can be controlled.

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