“NanNan, which rooftop bar should I go to in Shanghai?”

I get this question quite often.

There are plenty of lists online telling you about the “best rooftop bars in Shanghai.” You can check 高德地图 (Gāodé Dìtú / Amap), 大众点评 (Dàzhòng Diǎnpíng / Dianping), 小红书 (Xiǎohóngshū / Xiaohongshu), travel blogs — or even ask AI.

But this isn’t another “Top 10 Rooftop Bars in Shanghai” list.

These are my personal recommendations.

Places I’ve actually been to, places I would take friends, clients or visitors, and places I would choose depending on the kind of evening I want.

Because honestly, there is no single “best” rooftop bar.

Sometimes you want the best view.

Sometimes you want really good cocktails.

Sometimes you want somewhere spacious enough to actually have a conversation.

And sometimes you just want to sit somewhere beautiful and think, wow, this is Shanghai.

So, if you ask me where I would go, this is how I would choose.

1. My #1: Bulgari – La Terrazza

宝格丽酒店高空露台酒吧

Bǎogélì Jiǔdiàn Gāokōng Lùtái Jiǔbā

Location: Bulgari Hotel Shanghai, 108 North Shanxi Road
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is probably the easiest answer if someone asks me:

“NanNan, just tell me one.”

I would say Bulgari.

La Terrazza is on the rooftop of Bulgari Hotel Shanghai, with a beautiful view across the Huangpu River and towards the Bund. The terrace itself is spacious, elegant and comfortable.

But what I particularly like is that it doesn't feel like you're there only for the view.

The drinks are good.

The space is beautiful.

And you can actually sit down and enjoy the evening.

For me, that's important.

There are rooftop bars where you arrive, take 15 photos, order one drink and leave.

Bulgari feels more like somewhere I would actually stay for the evening.

I would choose Bulgari for:

Your first rooftop experience in Shanghai
A special evening
A date
Taking friends from overseas
Business guests
Sunset
When you want a beautiful Bund view without feeling squeezed into a crowded rooftop

My personal favorite.

2. My #2: W Shanghai – WET Bar

W 上海 — WET® Bar

W Shànghǎi — WET Bar

Location: W Shanghai – The Bund, 66 Lvshun Road
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If Bulgari is my choice for elegance and space, W is my choice when I want something more fun, stylish and energetic.

I really like the drinks here.

WET Bar has a very different personality from Bulgari — more contemporary, more playful, and with that poolside atmosphere that makes it feel very “Shanghai now.” The hotel describes WET Bar as a rooftop bar focused on cocktails, light food and a view of the city.

And there is another reason I keep coming back to W:

The weekend dim sum brunch.

This is actually one of my favorite brunches in Shanghai.

So if you're planning a weekend in Shanghai, don't only think of W as a place for evening cocktails.

I would happily recommend it for a weekend brunch + drinks + skyline experience.

It's one of those places where you can create a whole afternoon rather than simply “go to a rooftop bar.”

I would choose W for:

Great cocktails
A stylish, energetic atmosphere
Weekend brunch
Dim sum
Friends
A fun date
People who want something more modern than a traditional luxury hotel bar

My #2 overall — and one of my favorite brunch places in Shanghai.

3. VUE Bar

外滩悦榕庄悦景酒吧

Wàitān Yuèróngzhuāng Yuèjǐng Jiǔbā

Location: Banyan Tree on the Bund, 199 Huangpu Road
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

VUE is one I recommend when someone says:

“I want a great view, but I also care about the drinks.”

And that's exactly why I like it.

The view is beautiful, and I think the drinks are genuinely good.

In my experience, there is an entrance fee with one drink included, so I would check the current arrangement when booking.

For me, VUE works particularly well around sunset.

You arrive while Shanghai is still bright, watch the city change as the sun goes down, and then suddenly the whole skyline starts lighting up.

That's when Shanghai gets really good.

I would choose VUE for:

Sunset
Good drinks + good view
A proper rooftop experience
A date
Visitors who want that classic Shanghai skyline moment

Best balance of view + drinks.

4. FLAIR at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

悦·餐厅及酒吧

Yuè Cāntīng jí Jiǔbā

Location: The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, 58th floor
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let's be honest.

The view is fantastic.

FLAIR is one of the iconic high-level rooftop experiences in Shanghai, sitting on the 58th floor with views over the Pudong skyline and Huangpu River.

But personally?

I'm more mixed about it.

It can get very crowded, and for me, the drinks aren't the main reason to go.

In my experience, there has also been an entrance fee with one drink included, although I would always check the current arrangement before going.

However, there is one thing that can completely change my opinion:

Kazuo.

If Kazuo is there, I'm much more interested.

That's one of those Shanghai details you won't necessarily get from a generic “Best Rooftop Bars” article.

Because sometimes who is behind the bar matters just as much as the view.

I would choose FLAIR for:

Your first iconic Shanghai rooftop experience
The view
Showing visitors the Pudong skyline
A lively evening
Going when Kazuo is there

Amazing view. Not necessarily my first choice for drinks.

5. Captain Bar

船长酒吧

Chuánzhǎng Jiǔbā

Location: 6F, 37 Fuzhou Road
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐½

Captain is a completely different experience.

It's much more casual, and the big attraction is the Bund view.

The drinks?

They're okay.

Not the reason I would send someone there.

But if you're looking for a more relaxed rooftop option with a great view, it's worth knowing about.

And one thing I would recommend:

Book ahead.

Don't assume you can simply turn up and get the best spot.

I would choose Captain for:

A casual rooftop evening
A good Bund view
Friends
People who don't need fancy cocktails
A more relaxed atmosphere

Come for the view. Stay if you like the vibe.

6. Conrad Shanghai

上海康莱德酒店

Shànghǎi Kāngláidé Jiǔdiàn

Location: 789 Nanjing Road East

I also want to mention Conrad, because it belongs on the radar if you're exploring Shanghai's hotel bars and skyline views.

I wouldn't put it above my personal top choices, but it's another good option if you're already around Nanjing Road / People's Square and want to combine drinks with a high-end hotel experience.

For me, though, if someone asks:

“Where would YOU go?”

I'm still sending them to Bulgari, W or VUE first.

So… Which One Would NanNan Actually Choose?

Here's my very personal cheat sheet:

If you want…I would choose…My overall favoriteBulgari – La TerrazzaMy #2W Shanghai – WET BarBest combination of view + drinksVUEBest for a special eveningBulgariBest weekend brunchW ShanghaiBest dim sum brunchW ShanghaiMost iconic rooftop viewFLAIRFLAIR when Kazuo is thereDefinitely more interestingBest casual Bund rooftopCaptain BarGood hotel alternativeConradBest for sunsetBulgari or VUEBest for taking overseas visitorsBulgari or W

But notice something.

I'm not saying:

“This is objectively the best rooftop bar in Shanghai.”

I'm saying:

“This is where I would go.”

And I think that's much more useful.

Don't Just Search “Best Rooftop Bar in Shanghai”

One of my favorite things about living in Shanghai is discovering how much information is hidden inside the Chinese apps.

If you're searching for rooftop bars, try:

露台酒吧
lùtái jiǔbā
Rooftop bar

酒吧
jiǔbā
Bar

鸡尾酒
jīwěijiǔ
Cocktail

预约
yùyuē
Reservation / booking

人均
rénjūn
Average spend per person

推荐
tuījiàn
Recommend / recommendation

And learn these three sentences:

可以坐外面吗？
Kěyǐ zuò wàimiàn ma?
Can we sit outside?

你推荐什么？
Nǐ tuījiàn shénme?
What do you recommend?

这个是什么？
Zhège shì shénme?
What is this?

These are not textbook Mandarin sentences.

They're sentences you can actually use.

And that's exactly the kind of Mandarin I like teaching.

Don't Just Search Shanghai. Learn How Shanghai Searches.

You can always Google:

“Best rooftop bars in Shanghai.”

But you'll probably get the same five or ten places everyone else gets.

Try 高德地图 (Gāodé Dìtú), 大众点评 (Dàzhòng Diǎnpíng) and 小红书 (Xiǎohóngshū).

Search in Chinese.

Read the comments.

Look at what local people are actually recommending.

And then — even better — go and try it yourself.

Because a five-star review doesn't tell me whether the drinks are actually good.

A beautiful Xiaohongshu photo doesn't tell me whether you can find a quiet table.

And an AI-generated “Top 10” list definitely can't tell you which rooftop I would personally take you to.

So, If You Ask NanNan…

“Which rooftop should I go to?”

My answer isn't going to be:

“Here is the objectively best rooftop bar in Shanghai.”

I'll ask:

Who are you going with?

What kind of evening do you want?

Do you care more about the view, the drinks, the atmosphere — or all three?

Then I'll tell you what I would choose.

Because there is already plenty of AI-generated information about Shanghai.

What I want to share here is something different:

My experience of Shanghai.

The places I've actually tried.

The places I return to.

The things I've noticed.

The little details you won't necessarily find in a ranking.

And the Mandarin that helps you experience them for yourself.

Not just Shanghai from a guidebook.

Shanghai, the way I actually experience it.

— NanNan

Shanghai Rooftop Bars: NanNan’s Personal Recommendations