English-Language Guide to Shanghai Restaurants, Bars & Clubs

When Mark Cavicchia moved from Los Angeles to Shanghai a few years ago, he was overwhelmed by the huge selection of restaurants in the sprawling city.  You'll be, too, should you visit.  There are more than 30,000 licensed eateries in Shanghai, and thousands more unlicensed establishments.

To sort them out, Cavicchia and colleagues launched www.shanghai-eats.com, a handsome web site that categorizes restaurants and bars by cuisine, theme, and neighborhood.  A "best of Shanghai" section zeros in on current hot spots.  And individuals may post their own reviews.

The most stunning restaurant I dined at while in Shanghai last fall shooting an episode on the city for my public television series was South Beauty 881, or "881," as locals call it.  Just across from the Shanghai Exhibition Center and within walking distance of the Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-La hotels, the 881 has as its centerpiece the 1930's home of a German banker.  It's been turned into a breathtaking, dimly lit bar, with more than a dozen private dining rooms upstairs, each decorated in a different motif.  The rooftop is another bar, this one featuring comfy sofas and large plants.  The transformation was accomplished by the South Beauty restaurant group, with multiple locations in Beijing as well as Shanghai, and a Japanese design firm that clearly had an unlimited budget.

An adjacent new, starkly modern building with glass walls is home to the main dining room.   The handsome venue overlooks a lawn with a gazebo tucked in one corner that can be reserved for an intimate dining experience.  The menu was still in flux when I visited, but a manager told me some Western dishes would be added to the Chinese menu.  Don't miss this place--it's ideal for both business entertaining as well as a romantic night on the town.  Details: 881 Central Yan'an Rd. Open daily for lunch and dinner. (86) (21) 6247 6682.