Shanghai rewards rooftop-hopping because the skyline changes dramatically depending on which bank of the Huangpu you stand on. A bar in Lujiazui puts you among the towers looking back toward the Bund, while a Bund-side terrace gives the classic neon-and-skyscraper panorama across the river. Jing’an rooftops offer a third perspective built around dense city texture rather than postcard landmarks.
The selections below are chosen for distinct viewpoints, not simply because they happen to be outdoors. Height, river angle, terrace quality, and how naturally the bar fits into an evening all matter. That is why a lower Bund roof can be as compelling as a much higher luxury-hotel terrace.
For photography, the most useful strategy is to arrive before full darkness so you can see the skyline change from daylight to blue hour and then into the illuminated night view.
The key decision is which skyline you want in front of you. Bund-side rooftops look east toward the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower, while Flair places you inside Lujiazui looking back toward the historic Bund. TOPS widens the composition from the North Bund, and LAGOM drops the river entirely for a dense Jing’an cityscape. Weather, haze and seasonal terrace access can change the visual payoff substantially, so the view should be the reason for the reservation.
Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar is a high-rise terrace bar in Lujiazui with close-up views of Pudong’s towers and broad sightlines toward the Bund.
The height and open-air positioning make the skyline feel immediate, especially around sunset when the river and buildings begin to light up. Drinks are priced for the luxury-hotel setting, but the visual payoff is strong when panoramic views are the main priority.
Address: 58F, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, 8 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai / Visit Map
Skyline Dome
Skyline Dome is a Bund-side rooftop that frames the river and Pudong skyline from a lower, more architectural angle than the major tower bars.
Its position near the southern end of the Bund gives photographers a layered city view rather than a simple straight-on skyline panorama.
The relatively central height keeps surrounding rooftops and historic façades visible, which can make the scene feel more connected to street-level Shanghai.
Address: 6F, KS Tower, 1 East Yan’an Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai / Visit Map
The Captain
The Captain is a relaxed rooftop bar above a hostel-style property close to the Bund, with a terrace facing the Pudong skyline.
It is known for a more casual atmosphere than the luxury-hotel rooftops while still delivering a direct river-and-skyscraper view.
The Fuzhou Road address makes it easy to include after a Bund walk without committing to a formal destination-bar evening.
Address: 6F, 37 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai / Visit Map
The Fellas Terrace
The Fellas Terrace is an Italian-leaning rooftop terrace near the Bund with a broad view across the Huangpu toward Lujiazui. Food, cocktails, and open-air seating make it useful for a full evening rather than only a quick drink before moving elsewhere. The sightline is especially strong for visitors who want the Oriental Pearl Tower and Pudong cluster as the visual focus.
Address: 7F, 7 East Yan’an Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai / Visit Map
CHAR Bar
CHAR Bar is a high-floor bar at Hotel Indigo with views over the southern Bund, river traffic, and the Pudong skyline.
Its angle differs from the more northerly Bund terraces, bringing the bends of the river and lower historic waterfront into the composition.
The hotel setting is polished but the principal reason to choose it remains the unusual perspective over both banks of the Huangpu.
Address: 29-31F, Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund, 585 Zhongshan East 2nd Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai / Visit Map
TOPS at Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund
TOPS at Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund is a large rooftop terrace on the Hongkou side of the river, looking toward Lujiazui and the Bund from the north.
The broad open-air space creates a more expansive feeling than many narrow central rooftops and gives the skyline extra distance.
It works especially well when your day already includes North Bund, where the surrounding riverfront has become a destination in its own right.
Address: 13F, 19 Gongping Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai / Visit Map
LAGOM
LAGOM is a Jing’an rooftop bar that trades the famous river view for a dense central-city perspective.
Surrounding buildings, street lights, and the neighborhood skyline make the atmosphere more urban and local than the Bund’s postcard panoramas.
Choose it when you want an open-air evening in Jing’an without crossing town solely for a rooftop.
Address: 6F, Star Plaza, 105 Wanhangdu Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai / Visit Map