Best Wine Bars in Shanghai: A Local’s Guide to French Concession & Natural Wine

Shanghai has quietly become one of Asia’s most interesting cities for wine, with everything from natural‑wine bistros in the former French Concession to serious, sommelier‑driven cellars in Jing’an and Changning. Historic lane houses and stylish terraces host bars that treat wine as both everyday pleasure and deep geekery, making it easy to explore Burgundy, grower Champagne, new‑wave Chinese labels and natural wines in one trip. Whether you’re in town for work or a city break, Shanghai’s wine bars offer a compact but diverse scene built for both casual drinkers and dedicated oenophiles.

1. RAC Bar

Instagram:@racshinstagram

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Location:_Building 14, No. 322 Anfu Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China.

RAC Bar sits in a lane house on Anfu Road in the former French Concession, sharing a courtyard with RAC Coffee, and has quickly become one of Shanghai’s hottest spots for galettes, crêpes, coffee and wine. By day it’s a French‑style café with a glasshouse courtyard and all‑day brunch; by night the space turns into a cozy wine bistro with a wall of fridges and a focus on natural and European wines.

The wine list changes regularly, with bottles chosen to complement their food—think savory galettes topped with blue cheese and jamón or simple lemon crêpes alongside aperitif‑style cocktails and wine by the glass. The crowd is a mix of locals, expats and visiting foodies, and RAC’s Instagram picts make it easy to get a feel for the courtyard, interiors and plate‑and‑glass combinations before you go.

2. Pudao Wines

Website: Pudao Wines

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Location:_House 102, Ferguson Lane, No. 376 Wukang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China.

Pudao began in 2009 as a wine shop in Shanghai and has grown into a combination wine shop + wine bar with one of the city’s most impressive selections. The Wukang Road venue, in historic Ferguson Lane, includes an indoor tasting space and a terrace, making it a relaxed place for friends to gather over glasses or bottles.

The selection now runs to around 800 different bottles, sourced with an emphasis on provenance and stored in proper conditions, with staff able to guide both newcomers and collectors. During the day you can browse and buy to take home; in the evening, Pudao becomes a full wine bar where you can drink on site, taking advantage of flights, glass pours and the terrace to enjoy Shanghai’s French Concession atmosphere.

3. Wine Universe by Little Somms

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Location:_769 Yuyuan Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China.

Wine Universe is the passion project of sommelier Jasper Sun, designed as a serious wine bar with opening hours that run from late afternoon until the last guest leaves—sometimes as late as 10:30 the next morning. The two‑storey corner site on Yuyuan Road includes outdoor seating, a compact kitchen and a walk‑in cellar, making it feel like a hybrid between European wine bistro and Shanghai neighborhood bar.

The bar offers around 100 wines by the glass, served via Coravin, plus shelves of bottles under a certain price point for easy picking, and a glass‑fronted cellar for more precious labels. Charcuterie, cheeses, salads and hot dishes like spiced prawns back up the wine program, and the energy of a young sommelier team in “Little Somms, Small but Legendary” uniforms makes Wine Universe a natural stop for anyone serious about tasting widely in one night.

4. Anteroom Wine

Website / info: Anteroom Wine

TripAdvisor:Anteroom Wine

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Location:_Shang Hai Shi, Jing'An, Changle Rd, 104号, 1222 邮政编码: 200031 China.

Anteroom is described as a “cosy & contemporary wine bar featuring boutique wines from around the world”, with a strong focus on flights, drop‑in tastings and wine‑pairing plates. Set on Changle Road in Xuhui, it offers an airy environment aimed at sipping, mingling and appreciating both wine and food, rather than a rushed drink.

The bar runs Wine Flight Trios and anytime tastings, making it easy to explore different regions or styles side by side, and pairs them with small plates inspired by Latin, Mediterranean and Spanish flavors. It also functions as a wine shop for bottles to‑go, which is handy if you taste something you want to bring home or gift.

5. Epicerie Caviste 62

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Location:_No. 62 Xinhua Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China.

Epicerie Caviste 62 sits on leafy Xinhua Road and plays multiple roles: café, bakery, grocery and wine cellar, transforming into a wine bar when the sun goes down. Inside you’ll find a small bar and a wall of refrigerators filled with bottles, plus shelves stocked with groceries and snacks that make it feel more like a neighborhood épicerie than a formal bar.

In the evenings, guests can sit among the fridges and shelves, order snacks, tapas, pizza and pasta, and let the staff guide them to bottles that fit their palate and budget. It’s a great place for after‑work glasses or low‑key evenings in the former French Concession, especially if you enjoy discovering producers through the lens of everyday food and a relaxed local crowd.

6. Au Bouchon

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Location:_No. 1455 Wuding West Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China.

Au Bouchon is often cited by sommeliers as one of Shanghai’s most professional wine bistros, led by a team of well‑established wine professionals. The space combines a casual, fun atmosphere with a four‑meter‑tall cellar storing more than 1,000 labels, making it both visually impressive and rich territory for exploration.

The menu mixes French classic bistro dishes with Chinese snack food—simple but tasty plates designed to pair well with a wide range of wines. Thanks to the founders’ deep relationships with suppliers, Au Bouchon can offer a broad and interesting list while keeping it approachable, making it a must‑visit if you want one evening where serious wine and relaxed dining meet in Shanghai.

Bonus

Natural wine & brunch: RAC as a day‑to‑night hub

While RAC appears in the main list, it deserves a special highlight as a day‑to‑night hub: brunch café, crêpe bar and natural‑wine bistro in one courtyard address. If you only have time for one stop in the former French Concession, RAC is a strong candidate—start with coffee and galettes, stay for wine and crêpes, and let the lane‑house setting anchor your Shanghai city‑and‑wine experience.