Skip to main content

Windows Too

Ahhh… the infamous Windows… Ask just about anyone who has lived in Shanghai for more than a month, and they will undoubtedly know something about Windows, even if they’ve never been there.  Windows is THAT bar in college that required a certain mood in order to go to, but...

Ahhh… the infamous Windows… Ask just about anyone who has lived in Shanghai for more than a month, and they will undoubtedly know something about Windows, even if they’ve never been there.  Windows is THAT bar in college that required a certain mood in order to go to, but when the mood struck, it always made for a a fantastic evening.  
 
The original Windows still stands on Mao Ming Road, the former heart of expat nightlife. When the government “shut down” the wild nights on Mao Ming Road most of the bars opened second locations on Tongren Road near the Ritz Carlton on Nanjing Road.  Windows Too opted for a new location, however, that gave them more a little more room to support the throngs of young people seeking CHEAP drinks and a raging party.  Despite the club’s spacious interior, there is rarely a night when there is room to breathe.  My best advice is to head for the bar and take advantage of the cheap drinks. It should make the atmosphere much less claustrophobic, and the crowd much more entertaining.
 
On weekends there is usually a 30 RMB cover charge, which includes a couple of free drink tickets. The tickets are worth 10 RMB, which is conveniently the price of just about every drink at the bar.  It would be difficult to find a better deal anywhere else in Shanghai.  The crowd is a mix of foreigners and locals. While most people aren’t here looking for the love of their life, there will certainly be plenty of choices of dance partners for the evening.  Wear whatever clothing you won’t mind having beer and liquor spilt all over. Have fun!
 
How to get there:  Take Metro Line 2 to Jingan Temple Station.  Windows is inside the plaza right at the station.

Bar Rouge

A wonderful aspect of Shanghai is that it enables visitors to enjoy it’s nightlife as if they are rock stars.  Here, bars such as Bar Rouge – that in New York City, Paris or Tokyo would cost a fortune to simply enter nevermind drink (and that’s all assuming you lo...

A wonderful aspect of Shanghai is that it enables visitors to enjoy it’s nightlife as if they are rock stars.  Here, bars such as Bar Rouge – that in New York City, Paris or Tokyo would cost a fortune to simply enter nevermind drink (and that’s all assuming you look good enough to be let in to begin with) – are actually accessible to regular people.  
 
Typical for this type of bar, there is a cover charge on the weekends of usually 50 RMB. If you just want to check Bar Rouge out, I recommend doing so during the week.  A weeknight visit will still allow you to get a good feel for the bar’s hip scene, as well as avoiding the “here to be seen” weekend crowds.  The most expensive drink on the menu (besides a bottle of Veuve Clicquot) is the house specialty, the Bar Rouge Martini, for a mere 100 RMB.  Buy this drink and the bartenders will put on a show by lighting the entire bar top on fire and tossing bottles around while mixing the drinks.  The ambiance is definitely French – ’Moulin Rouge-ish’, with great lighting and awesome seating sprawled around the bar, which is situated directly in the center of the action. The seating, however, is reserved for big spenders. Desirable seating requires a hefty minimum that  includes ordering a least several bottles of Champagne. However, even standing, patrons certainly enjoy the scene at Bar Rouge.
 
One of the main reasons Bar Rouge has reached its height of popularity is its fantastic location on the Bund.  The bar’s terrace is enormous and provides an incredible view of Pudong’s bright lights, making it a truly breathtaking spot come summertime.  Even in the winter patrons don their (fur) coats to enjoy the view. No matter what type of scene you enjoy, Bar Rouge is worth checking out once for this reason alone.
  
Bund 18 & Bar Rouge Official Website:
www.resto18.com
  
How to get there:  Take Metro Line 2 to Henan Rd. Station.  Exit onto Nanjing Rd, and then walk east for about 10 minutes. Take a left on the Bund (Zhongshan Dong Yi Rd.), Bund 18 is on the corner.