When spring arrives, imbibing indoors just doesn't seem to have the same flavour as a good al fresco drink. Whether it's a terrace, patio, balcony, or rooftop, Shanghai's bars and lounges offer a range of outdoor drinking options for those of us who enjoy a beer with a breeze. This is my personal opinion of al fresco bars in Shanghai at their best, so grab a cocktail and a porch seat with a view of the city.

1) VueView In Map

The name says it all as Vue offers an unparalleled 360-degree view of the Bund. If that wasn't enough to nab Vue the top spot on this list, its 36th floor outdoor terrace features a Jacuzzi ripe for soaking in and big beds with convenient curtains for shuttering out the prying eyes of your fellow drinkers. It's also one of the few places in town you can confidently order a dirty martini.

Add: 32/F, West Tower, Hyatt on the Bund, 199 Huangpu Lu, near Wuchang Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海黄浦路上海外滩茂悦大酒店西楼32楼近吴昌路
Tel: 021 6393 1234 ext.6348

2) Cotton's棉花酒吧 View In Map
With two locations featuring expansive outdoor seating, Cotton's has the market cornered on al fresco drinking. Head to the Anting Road branch for a cocktail in the garden, or enjoy a beer in the Xinhua Road branch's front patio. These converted villas are the perfect place for a romantic drink while gazing up at the stars (or, more likely, cloud cover).

Add: 132 Anting Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海安亭路132号近建国西路
Tel: 021 6433 7995
294 Xinhua Lu, near Fanyu Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海新华路294号近番禺路
Tel: 021 6282 6897

3) Sasha'sView In Map
A French Concession staple, Sasha's has been offering outdoor seating and Hoegaarden on tap for over 10 years. There's no better way to bask in Chinese history than relaxing in the garden of the Soong family's former villa with a chilled pitcher on your patio table.

Add: 11 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海东平路11号近衡山路
Tel: 021 6474 6628

4) Barbarossa 芭芭露莎 View In Map
Sitting in the middle of a pond, smack dab in People's Park, Barbarossa is a Shanghai institution and a favourite ladies' nightspot. Where else in Shanghai can you grab a hookah and duck outside to enjoy the park view? This Moroccan-themed location is celebrating its 5th anniversary at the end of April, so swing by and grab a drink on the porch underneath Barbarossa's silk tent.

Add: Inside People's Park, 231 Nanjing Xilu, near Huangpi Nanlu, Shanghai
地址：上海南京西路231号人民公园内近黄陂南路
Tel: 021 6318 0220

5) ManifestoView In Map
Mesa's better (and more inebriated) half, Manifesto, draws a surprisingly elite crowd for a bar with reasonable prices. This favourite watering hole also offers an outdoor terrace that protrudes over Julu Road. Although many a straight male cohort has declared an unabashed man crush on the bartender, the biggest summer draw is the breeze on the terrace. Well, at least until the summer heat compels the bartender to take his shirt off.

Add: 748 Julu Lu, near Fumin Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海巨鹿路748号,近富民路
Tel: 021 6289 9108

6) Captain Bar船长酒吧 View In Map
Housed in Shanghai's most popular hostel, Captain Bar offers an affordable alternative to the glamorous Bund clubs. With a gorgeous view of Pudong and a list of cheap cocktails and beers, this bar is a must-see for all foreigners not living in the lap of expat package luxury or just a great spot to pre-game before heading to one of its pricier neighbours.

Add: 6/F, 37 Fuzhou Lu, near the Bund, Shanghai
地址：上海福州路37号6楼, 近外滩
Tel: 021 6323 7869

7) O'Malleys欧玛莉 View In Map
Situated in the Irish Bermuda Triangle of bars, O'Malleys has a leg up on its compatriots. With a daily extended happy hour from 12 pm - 8 pm and a spacious garden packed with tables and an outdoor bar, O'Malleys takes the Celtic cake. It's the perfect pub to grab a pint of Guinness, pull up a bench on their patio, and gear up for the next rugby match.

Add: 42 Taojiang Lu, near Hengshan Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海桃江路42号近衡山路
Tel: 021 6474 4533

8) 842 Lounge 苑 View In Map
Located next to Park Tavern (another al fresco drinking destination that didn't quite make the list), 842 Lounge offers a street-side patio on the ground floor, two balconies on the second and third floors, and a rooftop terrace during the summer months. Grab a bite of French fare while lounging in the sun at this tasty treat across from Xujiahui Park. Drop by on Wednesdays to beat the mid-week blues with their 100 RMB open bar.

Add: 842 Hengshan Lu, near Tianping Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海衡山路842号近天平路
Tel: 021 5466 0842

9) The Wine WayView In Map
Tucked away in Ferguson Lane, the Wine Way outperforms rival wine lounges by offering an innovative membership card system and, more importantly, a sun-lit terrace. Amongst other perks, members can dispense their own wines from hi-tech machines before moving up to the second-floor porch. My first trip there was met with enthusiastic invitations to throw my own private party on their terrace, including mentions of delivering pizza from La Strada. Who can say no to that?

Add: 376 Wukang Lu, near Tai'an Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海武康路376号近泰安路
Tel: 021 6090 7075

10) Kaiba 开吧 View In Map
There's no better place in Shanghai to sip Belgian beer on an outdoor terrace than at one of the two Kaiba locations. These locations have a range of Belgian brews and imports that will bring tears to the eyes of beer snobs who expect their draught to come in brand-designed glasses. Head over to the Dingxi branch on Tuesdays to take advantage of their moules frites special.

Add: 528 Kangding Lu, near Xikang Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海康定路528号近西康路
Tel: 021 6280 5688

Add: 739 Dingxi Lu, near Yan An Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海定西路739号近延安西路

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