By Lukas Steinberg
Valentine’s day is coming, and for those of you who still haven’t got a clue where to take your date, well, lucky you! We’ve rounded up all the best places in Shanghai to wine, dine and party this February 14, so read on!
Valentine’s Dinner @ Barbarossa
Barbarossa kinda loses out with the mercury still down as it has the perfectly romantic terrace, ensconced within People’s Park. But the interior with its dim lights and candles still sets the right mood for a date. You can book a 3-course Valentine’s dinner for 288RMB per person.
Barbarossa // 231 West Nanjing Road, Inside People’s Park, Next to Art Museum (南京西路231号人民公园内, 上海美术馆旁) // 6318 0220
Valentine’s Dinner @ Bloc
Bloc’s package is one of the more affordable options. 480RMB buys you a four-course dinner and a bottle of sparkling rosé.
BLOC // 2/F, No. 139-19 Changle Lu, near Ruijin Lu (长乐路139-19号2楼, 近瑞金路) // 6404 6685
The Lucky One @ Vienna Café
Suited to the occasion, Vienna Café shows a tearjerker based on a novel of America’s schmaltzy author no. 1, Nicholas Sparks.
Free // 7:30pm // Vienna Café // Lane 25 2 Shaoxing Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu (绍兴路25弄2号, 近陕西南路)
Wonky Kong Valentine Special @ LUNE
“Love potion” shots for 10 kuai, and that’s as Valentine as it gets at LUNE. UK style bass music, garage, dubstep and house delivered to you by Arthur Fox, Beardslap and Siesta.
Free // 10pm // Lune // 4F, No. 218 Xinle Lu, cross Donghu Lu (新乐路218号, 东湖路路口)
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre @ Inferno
Obviously you have no business being at Inferno if you wanna hear violins and birdsong tonight. But if you wanna hear razorsharp metal while slurping special 40 kuai cocktails, this is the place to be.
Free // 9pm // INFERNO Bar // No. 480 Yongjia Lu, near Yueyang Lu (永嘉路480号, 近岳阳路)
Girl’s Night Out: Traffic Light Party @ Bar Rouge
Bar Rouge is hosting a special traffic lights edition of their weekly ladies night. The idea is simple: Green means you’re still in need of a Valentine. Red means keep your filthy paws off me although I’m not here with my Valentine. And yellow, well, it means you feel it’s necessary to let everyone know you’re not really single, but still wanna keep your options open. Apparently you can also get your nails done and there will be a raffle where you can win a romantic dinner for two.
100RMB after 00:30 // 9:30pm // Bar Rouge // 7/F, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu (中山东一路18号7楼, 近南京东路)
Seeking Romeo @ Virgo
Virgo’s weekly Lions & Lambs party turns into a giant meat market: girls, drink as much as you can from 9:30pm till midnight, and dudes, RSVP to pick up a drunk girl find your soul mate.
Free drinks and snacks for ladies till midnight // 9:30pm // Virgo // Laomatou Bldg 11, 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu, near Fuxing Dong Lu (老码头, 中山南路505号11栋, 近复兴东路)
Valentine’s Party @ Windows Too
Free open bar for all the single ladies out there hoping to drown their sorrows in solitude Doors open 10pm.
Windows Too // 2/F, City Plaza, 1618 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Huashan Lu (南京西路1618号 久光百货X楼, 近华山路)
Valentine’s Party @ Zeal
And more drunk fun for the girls. Free for the ladies till 11:30pm.
Free // 9pm // Zeal // 6/F, 22 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, near Xin Yongan Lu (中山东二路22号6楼,近新永安路)
Minimalist @ DADA
The name hints at the most romantic Valentine’s party in town. Flower bouquets, rose petals on the floor, chocolate fountains and trained swans and flamingos 100% not to be expected. Instead you get minimal and Asian electro vibes courtesy of Milan J & Will A and Nakazawa & Yoshinaga. Unromantic fun.
Free // 9pm // Dada // No. 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu (幸福路115号, 近法华镇路)
Be mine Valentine: Love Letter Party @ Phebe 3D Club
For you singles out there, Phebe’s 3D’s “Love a Chocolate Love Letter Party” will have a “love letter activity” where you might be able to meet the love of your love the old-fashioned way.
Free // 9pm // Phebe 3D Club // No. 10 Hengshan Lu, near Gao’an Lu (衡山路10号,高安路)