12 Best Rooftop Bars in Shanghai — The Unfiltered Guide

The verdict: FLAIR is widely considered the best rooftop bar in Shanghai — and for good reason. Perched on the 58th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Pudong, it's one of the highest open-air rooftop bars in the world. The view is staggering: you're face-to-face with the Oriental Pearl Tower, with the entire Bund and the winding Huangpu River stretched out before you. After a full refurb in late 2022, the terrace is sleek and modern with tiered seating.

What to order: Pan-Asian bar snacks plus a full dinner menu. Signature cocktails feature local ingredients. The champagne list is extensive — this is a celebration venue. Expect smart casual dress code enforced.

The verdict: The Shanghai EDITION's rooftop is the polar opposite of FLAIR's bombast — it's a cozy, intimate hanging garden with ivy-covered trellises, daybeds, and soft lounge seating. It feels like a secret garden floating above the city. The terrace is long and open-air, with casual-chic energy. Open daily for afternoon tea and cocktails.

What to order: Seasonal cocktails crafted with precision. The venue regularly hosts guest bartender shifts from award-winning mixologists. The afternoon tea service is also popular. Classy without being stuffy.

The verdict: Pure opulence. La Terrazza is decked out in resort-level luxury — teak decks, plush armchairs, and private cabanas for lounging 48 floors above the city. The Bulgari brand brings Italian design sensibility to a Pudong-facing view from the Hongkou side. It's the most exclusive rooftop on this list, perfect for a special occasion.

What to order: The full drinks menu runs from Italian-leaning cocktails to premium champagne. Food is served from 6pm–11pm including pasta, pizza, burgers, steak, and dessert. The cocktails lean toward the refined and Italian-inspired — think Negroni variations and Aperol-based creations.

The verdict: One of the few rooftop bars in Shanghai with genuine history — housed in a 1920s Bund building (The House of Roosevelt, Bund 27). The 8th-floor terrace has unobstructed views of both the Bund and Lujiazui skyline. Half the terrace is covered with a glasshouse, the other half extends into open-air lounging with daybeds. They run happy hour promotions regularly, making this one of the best value options on the Bund.

What to order: Modern European cuisine for lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea. The Sky Bar cocktail list blends classics with seasonal creations. The wine list leans French and Argentinian.

The verdict: The Fellas is where Shanghai's younger crowd goes for rooftop vibes without the hotel bar formality. It's an Italian restaurant and bar on the Bund (from the same group as Goodfellas downstairs and The Captain). The terrace attracts a party crowd on weekends with DJs, ladies' nights, and themed events. More social scene than quiet cocktail — come here to mingle.

What to order: Italian-leaning food menu plus cocktails, wine, and spirits. It's more about the atmosphere and the view than the mixology. Good for groups and late-night energy.

The verdict: The Captain is the budget king of Shanghai rooftop bars — a nautical-themed bar with an L-shaped terrace that extends into a large seating area with the Bund as backdrop. It proves you don't need to spend ¥200 for a cocktail to enjoy Shanghai's skyline. The vibe is casual and welcoming, popular with both expats and tourists. Daily specials include buy-one-get-one drinks on weekdays (2–5pm) and Pizza Mondays (pizza + two beers for ¥98).

What to order: Globally influenced food menu plus cocktails, beers, and wines. The weekend free-flow brunch is popular. Three private rooms available for groups.

The verdict: POP occupies the top floor of the iconic Three on the Bund building — one of the Bund's most celebrated addresses. The L-shaped terrace delivers unobstructed panoramic views of the Pudong skyline. It's an American brasserie by day and a cocktail destination by night, with a more relaxed energy than the ultra-luxury hotel bars. The view from Three on the Bund is considered one of the best positions along the entire waterfront.

What to order: American brasserie-style food and cocktails. The terrace seating is first-come-first-served and fills fast at sunset — arrive early.

The verdict: Not every Shanghai rooftop needs a Bund view. Highline sits on the 6th floor of the Ascott Hotel in Xintiandi, offering a downtown cityscape that's more neighborhood than spectacle. It's a modern American restaurant and hugely popular brunch spot. The big draw is the terrace, which gets seasonal themes — sakura blossoms in spring, a full winter wonderland with Christmas trees and fake snow. More locals than tourists.

What to order: The weekend brunch is the move — popular with Shanghai expats and locals. Cocktails are solid and more affordable than Bund-side equivalents. Good for daytime drinking.

The verdict: Not a rooftop in the traditional sense, but Spago occupies the highest floor of The St. Regis on the Bund with sweeping views that rival any terrace. This is celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck's first restaurant concept, serving his iconic signatures — smoked salmon pizza, Wiener schnitzel, and Kardinalschnitte. The bar area is ideal for pre- or post-dinner cocktails with a view. More restaurant-with-views than bar, but the cocktails are excellent.

What to order: Spago's signature smoked salmon pizza is a must. Cocktails lean classic American with an Asian twist. The wine list is exceptional.

The verdict: TALES is the rooftop bar at the Banyan Tree Shanghai — a luxury spa hotel on the north bank of the Huangpu River. The terrace looks south toward the Bund and Pudong skyline from a slightly different angle than the main Bund bars. The Banyan Tree brand brings Southeast Asian spa hotel vibes — more relaxed and zen than the flashy Bund scene. Pair a cocktail session with a visit to the hotel's famous three-floor spa.

What to order: Cocktails with Asian botanical influences. The bar menu draws from the hotel's regional Southeast Asian dining identity. Views are best at night when the Bund lights up across the river.

The verdict: Char Bar sits on the 29th floor of Hotel Indigo on the Bund, offering a unique vantage point from the southern stretch of the waterfront — you see the river bending through the city with both the Bund and Pudong in your peripheral vision. It's less touristed than the main Bund cluster, which means easier seating and a more local crowd. The hotel itself is a design favorite, and the bar carries that aesthetic.

What to order: The bar pairs nicely with Char, the hotel's steakhouse. Cocktails are well-executed and more reasonably priced than comparable Bund-side venues. River views from this angle are underrated.

The verdict: CE LA VI is the Shanghai outpost of the Singapore-born bar and restaurant brand famous for its Marina Bay Sands rooftop. Located at Bund 27 (sharing the building with Roosevelt Sky Bar), it brings a Pan-Asian dining and cocktail concept to a prime Bund location. The brand's pedigree means polished service and a well-curated cocktail program. Still relatively new and under-the-radar compared to the established Bund bars — which means less of a wait.

What to order: Pan-Asian small plates designed for sharing alongside signature cocktails. The menu draws from Japanese, Southeast Asian, and Chinese influences. Good for a dinner-and-drinks evening on the Bund.