Shanghai

Shanghai is China's craft beer capital and one of the most vibrant craft beer cities in all of Asia. The scene is anchored in the French Concession — one of the world's great drinking neighbourhoods — where plane tree-lined streets and restored Art Deco lanes provide the backdrop for a dense cluster of craft bars, taprooms and microbreweries. Yongkang Lu, once a wet market street, has evolved into one of Shanghai's busiest craft beer strips, with venues spilling onto the pavement and a convivial atmosphere that runs well into the early hours. Jing'an has developed its own strong scene, and newer venues continue to open across Changning, Putuo and the Bund-adjacent areas.

Shanghai's craft beer producers have earned international recognition. Boxing Cat Brewery, Master Gao and a new generation of smaller Shanghai-based producers brew at a genuinely world-class level, while the city's role as a major international port means import distribution is excellent — you'll find well-stocked fridges of American, Belgian, British and Japanese craft in the city's best bars. Whether you're after a sun-downer on a French Concession terrace or a deep-dive beer tasting in Jing'an, use this directory to find the best craft beer bars and taprooms in Shanghai.