Shake

Shake sits up a flight of steps at 46 Maoming Road South, on the corner of Jinxian Road in Shanghai's former French Concession. SmartShanghai and Time Out Shanghai describe it as a 1960s, Mad Men style supper club that runs three things at once: a craft cocktail bar, an Asian fusion kitchen, and a live music room. The music plays six nights a week, with a full band and guest singers later in the week.

This is a night out with a soundtrack, not a quiet cocktail den. If you want a hushed speakeasy, Shanghai has plenty nearby. If you want to eat, drink and end up dancing to funk and soul under one roof, few rooms in the city do all three as well.

The space, designed by Kokaistudios, leans into the retro supper-club idea with banquettes, a stage and a long bar. It works as a restaurant early in the evening, then shifts as the band takes over and the floor opens up. Wednesday to Saturday is when the dancing starts, per SmartShanghai's listing.

The cocktails come from a veteran bar team led by Colin Tait, and the kitchen is run by award-winning chef Danyi Gao, so both halves are taken seriously rather than treated as an afterthought to the music. Order a proper cocktail and a few fusion plates, then keep the table as the band starts. The pairing of a serious bar with live funk and soul is the whole pitch.

Because it is a supper club, the smart play is to come for dinner and let the night roll into the music set rather than turning up only for last orders.

A mixed French Concession crowd of diners early on, turning into a livelier dancing crowd once the band is up at weekends. It draws people who want music with their night rather than a silent tasting flight.

Planning a Shanghai night out? Read our top 10 bars in Shanghai guide and our top 10 cocktail bars in Shanghai list. Searching nearby? Start at the cocktail bars near me hub or browse the Shanghai bars page.