Shanghai nightlife gets easier with local guidance. In this English-led pub crawl in the former French Concession, you bounce between at least 3 bars, sampling craft beer, wine, cocktails, and a couple of shots so your night starts flowing fast. It is built for people who want the most fun per hour, without map-chasing.

Two things I really like here: the small-group setup (limited to 10), which makes it easy to talk to people, and the drink variety, from unusual locally brewed beers to cocktails and tastings you might not find by yourself. One possible downside: food is not included, so you should eat beforehand and plan to buy anything you want to snack on during the stops.

Key Highlights Worth Booking This For

• Small group max 10 with English live guide Jill, so you are not stuck guessing in smaller bars
• At least 3 bars in about 3 hours, and some nights include up to 5 stops
• Tastings across craft beer, wine, cocktails, and even whiskey tasting (as part of the planned bar mix)
• Shots included, including Chinese strong liquor and tequila shots
• Former French Concession route, starting at Funkadeli and returning to Chicken&egg
• Fun formats you may hit, like a bar with a second-floor secret space and balcony, or a place where you mix your own cocktails

Why the Former French Concession Bar Crawl Works in 3 Hours

Shanghai has a lot of nightlife choices. The problem is not finding places to drink, it is figuring out which ones are worth your time. This tour is designed for one goal: help you spend your evening enjoying bars, not reading menus and translating labels.

You get a guided route in the former French Concession, a neighborhood packed with bars and social spaces. You also get structure, which matters when you are trying to meet people. The format keeps your night moving, but it still leaves room to chat, take photos, and settle into each venue’s vibe.

Price and Logistics: What the $29 Actually Buys You

At $29 per person for about 3 hours, the value is the guided pacing plus drink inclusions across multiple stops. You are not just paying for one bar bill. You are paying for a plan that gets you to several places in a short window, with shots included (Chinese strong liquor and tequila shots).

A key practical detail: food is not included. That is why you should show up with a full stomach. If you do not, alcohol hits faster than you expect, and your “fun night” turns into “regrettable decisions plus a late taxi.”

Meet Jill and Start at Chicken&egg Near Line 2

The meeting point is straightforward. Meet at Chicken&egg, NO291 Fuming Road, at the crossing of Fumin Road and Changle Road. It is close to metro line 2, Jingan Shi station, exit 8.

I like tours that put you at a recognizable spot with good transit access. It lowers stress, which is half the battle before bar hopping starts. Also, this tour ends back at the meeting point, so you are not wondering how to get home after your last sip.

One more thing that helps: you will get information by email before the crawl, so you know where and when to check in. Read it. Arrive on time. These tours are only 3 hours, so late arrivals can cost you the first fun moments.

Stop 1 at Funkadeli: The First Pour Sets the Tone

The crawl kicks off at Funkadeli. Even if you have never been there, starting at the first venue matters because it breaks the ice. You can get oriented, meet the rest of your group, and settle into the idea of the night without rushing.

This is also where the tour’s social side kicks in. The small group of up to 10 makes it less awkward to talk. If you are traveling solo, this is the part that turns your night from you versus the city into you plus a ready-made conversation crew.

If you have ever felt nervous about approaching bars alone, this is the fix. Jill helps smooth the awkward moments, and she also tends to match the pace to the vibe you want for the evening.

The Middle Stops: Craft Beer, Wine, Cocktails, and Tastings

This crawl is planned around drink variety. You should expect at least 3 bars, with stops that focus on craft beer, wine, and cocktails. The tour description also points to tastings like wine tasting and whiskey tasting. In other words, you are not stuck doing one drink type all night.

Craft beer stops that feel local

One of the best signals in the reviews is how often the beer choices are something you cannot easily recreate at home. You might try locally brewed flavors like seasalt lychee IPA, mango spicy beer, jasmine flavored beer, or longjing tea flavored beer. If you care about drink details, this is where the tour earns its keep.

And if you do not care about the names, you will still appreciate the practical upside: you get introduced to interesting options without having to guess which beer is worth it. Your guide helps you order confidently.

Cocktail moments, including a hands-on style

You may also hit a bar format where you get to mix your own cocktails. That is a smart way to break the ice because it gives you something to do together, not just sit and scan your phone while everyone drinks.

Cocktails can be a win for bar crawls because they let you try different flavors without committing to only strong liquor. Still, pace matters, so keep an eye on how many rounds you are stacking.

Wine and lounge-style stops

The tour includes wine tasting as part of the planned experience. In practice, that usually means one of the stops shifts toward a slower, more conversational mood. It is a good rhythm change after louder bar moments.

In some bar crawls, everything feels the same. Here, the drink types help create variety in the atmosphere too.

A secret-feeling space with a balcony

One review highlights a bar with a secret space on the second floor, plus a balcony that gives you a laid-back view of the Shanghai night. I love these kinds of stops because they give you a break from the crowd pressure. You get a small sense of discovery, and you get a moment to pause, not just keep walking.

The Shots You Get, and How to Pace Yourself Without Killing the Fun

Shots are included: Chinese strong liquor and tequila shots. This is great for the “pub crawl” experience, because it means the tour officially covers some of the more intense stuff, not just beer and cocktails.

Here is the practical advice I would follow if you want to enjoy the whole 3 hours: eat before you go, drink water between stops, and do not feel pressured to match everyone’s pace. Bar crawls are fun, but they can get messy if you treat it like a contest.

Dress for walking and moving. Comfortable shoes matter more than you think, especially if the group wants to shift between venues quickly. Also, stick with your group. A pub crawl is most enjoyable when nobody gets lost, because the social flow depends on everyone being together.

Why Using a Local Guide Makes the Night Better

The tour’s value is not only the bars. It is also who is choosing them and why.

Language barriers can make smaller bars stressful. A local guide helps you cut through that. You can walk in and focus on the experience, not the ordering panic.

There is also the tourist trap issue. In the most tourist-friendly areas, some bars charge more for the name than the vibe. A guide helps you aim for places that locals actually patronize, where your money goes farther.

And for solo travelers, this matters even more. Drinking alone is fine if that is your plan. But if you want company for the night, a guided group does that job for you.

Group Size, Guide Energy, and What That Means for You

This is a small group, limited to 10 participants, and the live guide speaks English. That combo changes the feel of the evening. You are more likely to have real conversations instead of standing in the background while the guide chats with a couple friends.

Jill is the named guide in the reviews, and the recurring theme is her friendly, outgoing personality. People also say she tailors the tour to the group’s vibe, from chill chats to more party energy. That flexibility is a big deal because not everyone wants the same kind of night.

If you like structured fun with room to adapt, this is the right match.

What You Might Not Like: Food, Alcohol Speed, and 18+ Vibes

Let’s be honest about the downsides.

Food is not included. Even if some stops serve local snacks, you should not count on the tour covering meals. Eat beforehand, and if you need something substantial later, you may have to buy it yourself.

Also, the tour is not suitable for children under 18. That is an adult nightlife environment, so expect the energy to match.

Lastly, because it is 3 hours and multiple stops, you are going to feel a bit rushed if you normally like to linger for long stretches. This crawl is about moving, sampling, and meeting people, not slow-sipping for hours.

Who This Shanghai Bar Hopping Tour Suits Best

This tour is a great fit if you:

• want to meet people quickly, including if you are traveling solo
• like variety, not just beer all night
• enjoy craft beer flavors and tastings with guidance
• prefer an English-speaking host who can help you order and choose confidently
• want a former French Concession nightlife introduction without planning each stop

You might skip it if you:

• want a food-focused experience, since food is not included
• hate shot-style drinking, since Chinese strong liquor and tequila shots are part of the included program
• want total freedom to stay in one bar for a long time

Should You Book This Shanghai Bar Hopping Tour?

Yes, you should book this if your priority is maximum nightlife fun with minimal planning. The $29 price makes sense because you are getting a guided route through several bars plus included shots, and the small group size helps you turn the night into social time, not just sightseeing after dark.

Book it especially if you want the former French Concession vibe with a real person like Jill guiding the choices. Just go prepared: eat first, bring comfortable shoes, drink water, and pace yourself so you can enjoy the full 3 hours instead of burning it at stop one.

FAQ

How much does the Shanghai bar hopping tour cost?

It costs $29 per person.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 3 hours.

How many bars will we visit?

The tour includes bar hopping with at least 3 bars. Some groups have gone to 5 bars.

What drinks are included?

The tour includes guided bar hopping, Chinese strong liquor shots, and tequila shots. The experience also focuses on craft beer, wine, cocktails, and tastings as part of the bar stops.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included.

What language is the guide?

The live guide speaks English.

What is the group size?

It is a small group limited to 10 participants.

Where do we meet and where does it end?

Meet at Chicken&egg on NO291 Fuming Road, near metro line 2 Jingan Shi station exit 8. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

Is it okay for minors?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18.

What are the cancellation options?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.