The best bars to visit in Shenzhen 2026

The Guangzhou flagship of Hope & Sesame holds the bragging rights of being the first bar in mainland China to crack the World’s 50 Best Bars list. In 2020, they brought their magic over to the Nanshan District, building a sister venue that’s split into three distinct concepts. First is Charlie’s, an Italian-style coffee house that opens from 2pm every day to serve coffees, teas, desserts, along with low-ABV coffee cocktails, natural wines, and bubbles for those who believe it’s always 5pm somewhere.

The second space, which sits behind Charlie’s through a small door, brings a piece of the original Hope & Sesame speakeasy, offering its trademark, highly experimental cocktails built around seasonal ingredients. Thirdly, for the serious imbibers, The August is an exclusive, seven-seat cocktail omakase counter that introduces the concept of ‘fine drinking’ to provide guests with a 10-course drink pairing where the bartenders will also share the stories behind each drink.

Perched on the 79th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Shenzhen, MO Bar embraces an industrial-chic design that makes the dizzying height feel remarkably comfortable. Indoors is a large bar counter and a DJ booth that keep things lively with a steady thrum of electronic beats, and, as a fun little activity, you can even use their two vintage letterpress machines to ink your own custom coasters. Outdoors, the terrace offers a sweeping 270-degree view of the city skyline, perfect for soaking up the city lights as you decide which drink to order next. 

More recently, the bar has been hosting regular guest shifts, inviting bartenders from across Asia and China to mix up exclusive drinks for a night or two.

The cocktail programme is helmed by Tiger Chang, who serves up signatures inspired by the art of movable type alongside an impressive lineup of whiskies sourced from across the globe. 

The Long Bar is a staple of the Raffles brand, drawing direct inspiration from the original bar that opened over 100 years ago at Raffles Singapore. Nestled atop the highest tower of One Shenzhen Bay, the bar serves up signature afternoon tea by day and shifts to classic cocktails by night. A must-order is, of course, the iconic Singapore Sling, but you can also opt for the bar’s local version, the Shenzhen Sling.

Sitting 320m above the ground, the space offers unobstructed views across Shenzhen Bay and all the way to the northwestern horizon of Hong Kong. If you head over during their sunset happy hour, they do a great deal on free-flow drinks and small bites, making it the perfect spot to watch the sun go down.

Tucked inside the monolithic Ping An Finance Centre, Obsidian Bar is every bit as unique as its namesake stone. As one of the most popular spots in town for a night out, the venue exploded onto the scene in 2019, turning heads with its moody, old-world design where Hogwarts meets steampunk. Downstairs, you’ll find the Rivet Lounge restaurant and an al fresco terrace, while the second floor unveils the Copper Room, which houses an extensive collection of rare whiskies. Perfect for drinks with your favourite people.

Conceived by the team behind Hope & Sesame, this Futian outpost’s name breaks down the Chinese character for alcohol (酒) into its two components: ‘san’ (三, meaning three) and ‘you’ (酉, an ancient symbol for alcohol). True to its name, SanYou focuses on marrying traditional Chinese drinking culture with contemporary mixology. Every single ingredient that goes into the glass is strictly sourced from mainland China, including baijiu (Chinese white wine), huangjiu (Chinese yellow wine), and rice wines serving as bases, along with herbs, tea leaves, and seasonal fruits for a flavour profile that is unapologetically 100 percent ‘Made in China’. The cultural nod extends to the service as well, where drinks are presented in Chinese teaware and elements like incense burning and tea ceremonies are often incorporated into the experience.

Located on the 48th floor of the Park Hyatt Shenzhen, The Attic offers a front-row seat to Futian’s stunning cityscape. Apart from shaking up all your favourite classics, the bar also pairs ancient storytelling with premium spirits to present a signature cocktail list inspired by traditional Chinese folklore. The vibe is kept easy with a steady rotation of jazz, electronic music, and ambient rhythms, alongside occasional live acoustic sets. It’s exactly the sort of place you need to decompress after a long week of adulting.