It's time to ditch the dining table and hit up Shanghai's al fresco scene

Now that ayi's put away your wool underwear and winter's receded into nothing but a traumatic memory, it's time to get well and truly into the spirit of the season with this, our take on Shanghai's best al fresco dining options. Over 40 of them, to be exact. Don't worry, we'll tackle your outdoor drinking options soon enough. For now, break out your spring's best and get ready to hit those patios. In fact, we'll send you there. City Weekend wants to send a few of our lucky readers to eat at some of these great outdoor venues. Find contest details (as well as listings for all the venues mentioned in this article) in the CW "Deals and Prizes" section.

It's Better on Top: Shanghai's rooftop views

In Shanghai the higher you go the better the view. So with that in mind, here's our take on some of the more atmospheric places to expose yourself to while dining. At the southern end of the Bund are two great choices. New Heights and M on the Bund take in much the same view, looking up the famous avenue of the Bund and across to Pudong. Both are an easy way to show off the skyline to those pesky overseas visitors, or treat that someone special to fine dining with a fantastic view. New Heights' Asian and infused menu means laksa and curries, while M offers a white tablecloth experience with French suckling pig, but also Turkish ravioli. Further west, perched atop the classic Shanghai Art Museum with an A+ view of People's Square, Kathleen's 5 and their creative global menu make us wish Shanghai had more spots like this to catch a summer breeze. Finally, the view may not be quite the same from the former French Concession, but Mesa & Manifesto's hip and relaxed rooftop patio is a summer winner for all things food, served forth from their spot-on kitchen.

Dining in the Green

Escaping the urban jungle

El Willy: Jardin Urbano
Their garden, classy and relaxing, hidden away without being too far removed from that urban vibe, confirms that it's indeed high time El Willy blossomed into the outdoor dining game. Soak up the sun or head for shade under the tree, then enjoy a thoroughly Spanish menu running from paella and rice dishes to pigeon with grapes. We love these stylish Iberian flavors.

Coconut Paradise : Garden Sawadee
From the moment you step through the entrance and over the bubbling fountain, away from traffic outside, you'll feel that Thai-like serenity descend. With hardwood furniture and dark red tablecloths, Coconut Paradise not only has a garden perfect for a romantic tete-a-tete or group dinner, but also a great Thai menu full of old favorites and new discoveries.

South Beauty: Spice Garden
Pass up one of the 21 small dining rooms in the mansion and head outside to the garden where you can dine on the deck fountain-side, sit next to the lawn, or, if you're lucky, snag that private tent. In either case, a selection of Shanghai's most high-end Sichuanese offerings make this a great place for entertaining spice, or spicy, lovers.

Paulaner Brauhaus: Fenyang Lu Biergarten
Amidst trees and flowers next to a sprawling lawn, the d-¦cor of this garden is comfortably low-key, with tasteful wooden tables and patio chairs, while the menu's solidly Germanic. From Super Schnitzel Tuesdays to homemade sausage, there are plenty of reasons to sun yourself as you try some of Paulaner's best micro-brew. Who doesn't need a few more calories in the summer?

O'Malley's: Eire Ghairdin
They have a lawn you can actually walk on (amazing, we know), ample bench seating, and a kid-friendly slide and play area that will keep the little ones entertained while you get down to business with a cool pint and their menu of Irish favorites. Boxty pancakes, lamb stew, and Dublin coddle mean you'll easily find something to enjoy.

Patio Passions

Wholesome outdoor dining fun
Restaurants with decks or streetside patios in Shanghai are a varied lot, their menus spanning the globe. Here are some of the best, citywide. The Hongmei Pedestrian Street is ripe with outdoor dining choices but it notably hides Shanghai's best Iranian restaurant, Shiraz, where you can reserve your own private burgundy tent, lounge on cushions, and watch the Gubei-ites stroll by. Enjoy platters of grilled meats or stewed dishes like chicken with pomegranate and walnuts before finishing off with a nice hookah. In Pudong, dine at La Verbena in the relaxing breeze of the Huangpu River. Over 20 different Spanish tapas and nightly live music make it great for a night out with friends. Or, for impressing lovers and those with potential, we recommend heading next door for some of Shanghai's poshest Italian at The Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo. Both places offer a tranquil view across to the Bund. In Puxi, the five-star Mediterraneo has another stellar Italian kitchen to go with the peaceful second story patio that gazes out over their landscaped garden. For a more intimate vibe, Marrakech delivers the goods, not only with their romantic candlelit deck but also with a simple menu of well-made North African tagines, couscous and appetizers. If you're looking to darken that tan a bit, Element Fresh's Xiangyang Lu location is a great bet. The food is the same healthy stuff you (sometimes) crave but this two-level rooftop patio is one mean suntrap! And Sasha's, with their sprawling outdoor seating and ever-so-macho menu, makes a great place to start off or finish up a relaxing Friday night. The addition of Prime steakhouse upstairs means you can easily make this a carnivorous "do you take VISA?" kind of night.

Regional Diversity

Areas of patio concentration
Outdoor seating, like expats, tends to cluster, so here are the best areas for patio hunting. Xintiandi claims the tourists at established venues like KABB, and Simply Thai while newbies Enoteca, Lawry's and Fountain stake out fresh territory. Ferguson Lanes has much the same renovated-antique vibe albeit on a much smaller scale with French bistro Franck or if you must, Coffee Tree. However, if you're feeling Bohemian, Taikang Lu's a better bet. The warrens of alleys where unique shops and funky patios abound mean that there's always something to discover apart from brunch at Kommune. In Gubei check out the pedestrian-only Hongmei Entertainment Street for a superb concentration of outdoor dining options such as Moon River Diner, Indian Kitchen or Las Tapas to name but a few. On the other, calmer, side of the river, The Binjiang One is another Lujiazui spot to hit, or grab the family and head to Jinqiao for their rapidly expanding patio scene with Blue Frog, Element Fresh and Big Bamboo all settling in.

Patio Virgins

New patios get ready for their first summer fling

Casa 13
The outside wall leaves us feeling a bit gray-concrete but this secluded patio in a renovated period mansion just steps from Huashan Lu catches a great blast of summer sun. Combine that with a Mediterranean-inspired menu, a nice drinks list, and you have a recipe for pre- or post-siesta pleasure.

Otto Cafe & Wine Bar
From the people who brought you Otto on Fumin Lu, this new venue located on a fourth floor perch across from the JW Marriott boasts a clear view of People's Square. It's not open till sometime in May but with two patios totaling 250 sq. meters of deck space (more space than the inside restaurant!) and a chic urban design, this patio is not to be missed.

roomtwentyeight
From the Wagas team comes fine dining Mod-Oz style on the ground floor of the new URBN hotel. With white tablecloths, proper table settings, and a minimalist design of dark gray flagstones and bamboo, this patio would be perfect for your next need-to-impress business lunch.

Big Bamboo Jinqiao
Relax in clean and quiet Jinqiao at this, the newest member of the Bamboo family. The wooden deck and lovely ladies in white denim miniskirts will tempt you street-side with quesadillas, burgers and sandwiches. Good for a beer with friends or the whole family.

by Michael Elliott

Expat Favorites

“PAUL, especially for their raspberry tart. One Xintiandi Hotel for their terrace in spring and summer so that you're not bothered by the crowds, and I am a big fan of Enoteca.”
-Tiphaine le Breton, Managing Director of http://www.commealamaisonlemag.com

“Himalaya Nepalese Restaurant when I'm in the mood for some Indian. Or, if I want something even spicier, I like the wings, spinach dip and the view at Hooters by Super Brand Mall.”
-Tandy Sean Arnold, Photographer

“Papa's Bierstube for a nice patio, some good German food and great apple strudel in Hongmei. Also Moon River Diner for burger, fries, and a shake.”
-Nathan Monger Managing Director and co-founder of www.charmingenglish.com

“You can really run the gauntlet of all types of ethnic foods on the Hongmei Lu. Delhi Darbar has terrific Indian food and is a nice vantage point for watching the pedestrian traffic pass by.”
-Tom Bryson, English Teacher

“Kommune for people who are going to Taikang Lu for the first time, but normally I prefer the hideaway terrace at Utsuwa for homestyle Japanese dishes. For people-watching, Maui Coffee.”
-Leslie Kuo, Civil Religion Fanatic