A 1,300-square-meter European style chateau, is located in French Concession during the old Shanghai decades ago. The 3-storey building situated in the garden setting offers diners an escape from the urban hustle and bustle. The garden can house up to 60 guests. With its big-screen projector, it is a perfect place to hold parties, buffets and romantic weddings. We are very proud to bring you this presentation of our service specialties: Authentic home brewed German beers and fine European continental cuisine.

Embraced by the peaceful green trees, breathing the freshness from the solid wood made chairs and tables while drinking the home-brewed beer served in restaurant, you could be completely immersed yourself in the relaxing comforts in downtown that is really out of your imagination.

Boring bites A cavernous complex hidden behind a brick gate, Castle Oktober puts style before substance and misses the mark on both. The décor of this restaurant / brewhouse is high ceilings and mahogany tables, but the globe-trotting menu manages to be universally bland. Diners are left to choose from the bad—the Bavarian Meat Platter (¥68), an artfully arranged display of cold cuts; the boring— pork schnitzel with mashed potatoes and over-salted vegetables (¥128); to the simply inexplicable—a Scandinavian fish sampling? The beers, meanwhile, proved to be delicious, if a bit pricey. A 0.5 liter glass of dark Dunklesbier, brewed onsite, cost ¥68. Try to come during happy hour(every night until 7:30pm), when prices are sliced in half. Service was extremely attentive, but the blaring samba music made it hard to hear. Perhaps with some minor tweaks, Castle Oktober will transform into the grand Bavarian brewhouse it could be. –Jamie Feldmar