Some of the most intriguing Shanghai bars sit inside old villas, behind discreet doors, or upstairs in buildings you might otherwise walk past. Our Shanghai Specials video explores that side of the city’s nightlife: Italian-style cocktails, cinematic interiors, intimate counters, and rooms that change character from floor to floor.
This guide turns the video into a shortlist for planning an evening, with updated context where the footage needs it. Choose a venue for the atmosphere you want, then confirm its current opening arrangements before heading out. The list follows the video’s choices rather than claiming to rank every bar in Shanghai.
Shanghai bars at a glance
| Venue | Why it appears in the video | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Leone Shanghai | Italian character in a Sinan Mansions villa | Distinguish the Shanghai branch from the award-winning Hong Kong venue. |
| Mi Shang Prada Rong Zhai | Wong Kar Wai’s cinematic design | A café and dining destination with a cocktail program; check access and booking arrangements. |
| COA Shanghai | Agave spirits and a multi-floor setting | Check the Shanghai location when searching. |
| Speak Low | A concealed entrance and speakeasy atmosphere | Use the operator’s current venue details. |
| Triple Neck | Contrasting interiors across floors | A design-led option on Xinzha Road. |
| Penicillin Shanghai | A laboratory-like room and experimental drinks | Consult the Shanghai venue’s own menu. |
1. Bar Leone Shanghai: Italian style at Sinan Mansions
The opening stop mixes an old Shanghai villa with an Italian neighborhood-bar feel. In the footage, a U-shaped counter anchors the room, while drinks and small bites make the visit feel as much like an evening gathering as a cocktail tasting.
The ranking needs a precise label: Bar Leone in Hong Kong was No. 1 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025. That award should not be presented as a separate No. 1 ranking for the Shanghai branch. Shanghai’s city portal covers the Bar Leone opening at Sinan Mansions.
Put this on your shortlist if you like a sociable counter and vintage surroundings. Check the current menu and entry arrangements rather than assuming every drink or snack in the video is still available.
2. Mi Shang Prada Rong Zhai: a cinematic setting
The second stop is properly called Mi Shang Prada Rong Zhai. Prada describes it as a café and fine-dining space created with director Wong Kar Wai, with interiors that bring together art, antiques, and Milan–Shanghai influences.
The video concentrates on its evening mood and classic cocktails. For a visit, use Prada’s official Mi Shang page to check the current beverage program and reservation information. Treat it as a planned dining or drinks occasion, rather than assuming it operates like a walk-in neighborhood pub.
3. COA Shanghai: an agave-focused stop
COA Shanghai is the fourth venue in the video, identified by the on-screen title. The narration highlights tequila and a villa on Fuxing Middle Road, making it a natural choice for viewers interested in agave-based drinks.
When researching it, select the Shanghai branch. Awards or menu details attached to its Hong Kong counterpart should not automatically be carried across to this location. Ask the team about the current selection and choose according to your own tastes.
4. Speak Low: the hidden-door experience
Speak Low supplies the classic speakeasy moment: the video approaches through a bar-tool shop before revealing the space beyond. The entrance is part of the fun, but the room and drinks are the reason to stay.
The bar’s operator, SG Group, maintains an official Speak Low venue page. Use that for current details when planning your visit. The video mentions queues, but that is not a prediction of how busy it will be on your particular evening.
5. Triple Neck: two contrasting moods
The name on screen is Triple Neck, rather than the “Triple Knack” produced by the automatic transcript. Its warm lower-level atmosphere contrasts with cooler, more minimal interiors elsewhere in the building.
The design studio’s Triple Neck project page identifies the location as 1750 Xinzha Road and documents the contrast between the spaces. This is a useful pick if the architecture and lighting matter as much to you as the drink list. Ask about seating and smoking arrangements if those affect your choice.
6. Penicillin Shanghai: an experimental finish
The final venue in the video is Penicillin Shanghai on Nanchang Road. A striking tree installation introduces a space with laboratory-like styling and a wall of bottles. The footage makes it a visually different finish to the villa-bar tour.
The official Penicillin Shanghai website describes its focus on sustainability and in-house ferments. Browse the current menu before choosing a drink, especially if you have strong flavor preferences: the video emphasizes combinations beyond a straightforward sweet cocktail.
More Shanghai bars shown in the video
GOTIA: a fantasy-inspired interior
The fifth stop is labeled GOTIA. The video shows a richly decorated interior on Yongkang Road with a wizarding theme. Shanghai’s city bar guide also lists GOTIA, although that older guide should not be used as a guarantee of today’s hours or menu. Go for the theatrical setting if that is the sort of evening you enjoy.
Apsu Shisha: garden seating in the footage
The sixth venue is labeled Apsu Shisha. The video focuses on outdoor seating, greenery, food, and the feel of a small gathering. Seasonal decorations shown in the footage are part of that visit, not a promise of a permanent display. Confirm the current terrace and seating arrangements before making a special trip.
Bar Bud: an intimate counter
The ninth on-screen title reads Bar Bud; the automatic transcript misheard it as “Bob Su.” A U-shaped counter gives the room the feel of a small stage, putting the bartenders’ work at the center of the visit. A City News Service neighborhood interview identifies Bar Bud at 2/F, 52 Yongfu Road.
EPIC: archive footage, not a current stop
EPIC appears early in the video, but it should not be used as a confirmed destination for this itinerary. SmartShanghai reported its closure in June 2026, and other local listings also mark it closed. The scene remains an illustration of Shanghai’s cocktail-bar history; leave it out of your route unless you independently confirm a reopening.
Fit Shanghai bars into your China travel itinerary
Build an evening around one main venue and an optional second stop nearby. Trying to cover the entire video in one night would leave little time to enjoy the rooms, talk to the team, or account for queues and travel.
For the daytime part of your Shanghai stay, start with our guide to things to do in Shanghai. Choose your sightseeing first, then select an evening venue that fits the area and your energy level. If Shanghai is one stop on a longer China travel itinerary, our China high-speed train booking guide helps with the next leg.
Keep your night-out budget separate from transport and accommodation. Our China travel budget guide offers broader planning context; use current venue menus for actual drink prices. Before departure, review our China travel packing checklist. For getting back to your accommodation, read our guide to using DiDi in China and save your hotel address.
Watch the Shanghai bars video