Shanghai's Top Gay Bars and Clubs

Shanghai's Top Gay Bars and Clubs
By Andrea Scarlatelli , eChinacities.com

For the LGBT community, the pickings here in Shanghai can sometimes be a little thin. Luckily, the city is becoming a little more open every year, with the first annual

Shanghai Pride Week

in the summer of 2009 proving to be quite the landmark for a country that doesn’t exactly promote being different. Below are some of the more established clubs and bars for the gay community, but keep your eye out for more opening as summer approaches.

The only place that could even come close to being called an institution in the Shanghai LGBT community is Eddy’s, a laid back bar with a surprisingly relaxing atmosphere. Bearing the name of its owner, this place has a definite Asian theme to it while managing to keep it small and intimate. The drinks are good and, more importantly, affordable, so there’s no need to worry about breaking your wallet when coming here for a date or friendly get together. This isn’t the place to go after a trip to the clubs, though – by midnight, most everyone’s already gone home.

For a different way to start (or end) your night, try Shanghai Studio. A funky mix of bar, art gallery, men’s lingerie store, and lounge, this place resembles an underground lair of pure sexuality. With pictures of nude men plastered all over, it’s an experience unto itself. All of the sections are connected by various corridors, which makes it easy to let yourself get lost in the eclectic mix of it all. Make sure to stop by on Thursday nights for their 100 RMB all-you-can-drink deal.

After Frangipani closed due to a fire in its building, some wondered if they would ever open again. Well they finally have, just under the new name of G8. A two-story cozy joint with comfortable couches, be sure to pop your head into the loft upstairs, cheekily dubbed the Lesbian Lounge. Its convenient location near People’s Square makes it the ideal place to enjoy a drink or two on your way to or from the clubs. Thursday nights are also a great deal here, where you can get 15 RMB beer during their official Shanghai LGBT night.

If you’re in the mood to dance, head over to D2 for some serious booty shaking. Out in the Cool Docks complex, its Bund location (out towards the Expo area) may be a bit far but makes for a great party spot. There is no shortage of people partying it up, whether you prefer the lounge, the main dance floor or the balcony. Head there pretty much any night of the week to catch some seriously talented DJ’s playing everything from techno to dance to funk.

For those looking for a more traditional bar atmosphere, The Box delivers with its foosball and pool tables (and, oddly enough, a piano). Formerly a Japanese karaoke bar, this basement-level venue attracts a large LGBT crowd who occasionally like to dabble in some traditional Chinese music.

Venue Listings:
Eddy’s
View In Map
Add:1877 Huaihai Zhonglu (Near Tianping Lu), Xuhui District, Shanghai
地址: 上海徐汇区淮海中路1877号 (近天平路)
Tel: 021 6282 0521
Opening hrs: Mon-Thu 8pm-2am; Fri-Sun 8pm-3am

Shanghai StudioView In Map
Bldg 4, 1950 Huaihai Zhonglu (Near Wukang Lu), Luwan District, Shanghai
地址: 上海卢湾区淮海中路1950弄4号楼 (近武康路)
Tel: 021 6283 1043
Opening hrs: Daily 21:00 – late

G8 (formerly Frangipani)View In Map
Add: 399 Dagu Lu (Near Shimen Lu and the Subway Line 2 West Nanjing Road stop), Jing’an District, Shanghai
地址: 上海静安区大沽路399号 (近石门一路, 地铁2号线南京西路站)
Tel: 021 5375 0084
Opening hrs: Daily, 18:00 – 2:00

D2View In Map
The Cool Docks, 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu (Near Fuxing Dong Lu), Shanghai
地址:上海中山南路505号 老码头 (近复兴东路)
Tel: 021 6152 6543
Opening hrs: Wednesday to Saturday 20:30 – Late

The BoxView In Map
Add: B1/F, 10 Hengshan Lu
地址: 衡山路10号
Tel: 0135 6463 9656
Opening hrs: Mon-Sun 7pm-late

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