There are few places in Shanghai that still hum with the glamour of old Shanghai quite like the Jazz Bar inside the Fairmont Peace Hotel. The moment you walk through the revolving doors, the city’s noise fades into a low brass note — marble floors underfoot, mirrored walls catching the lamplight, and the distant swell of a trumpet warming up somewhere in the back.
The Fairmont Peace Hotel is a landmark — first opened in 1929 as the Cathay, founded by Sir Victor Sassoon, the man who practically invented Shanghai’s golden-age nightlife. Today, the Jazz Bar carries that legacy forward every night of the week. Green leather banquettes, burnished brass, and the sound of live swing — it’s less of a performance and more of a living time capsule.
The musicians — whose average age hovers around 84, with several in their nineties — play with an ease that comes only from a lifetime of practice. They are, quite literally, living history. The crowd is a mix of locals, hotel guests, and the occasional architect or artist drawn by nostalgia. It’s intimate, smoky without smoke, timeless without trying.
Reservations go fast — tables are often booked days ahead — but if you’re lucky, you might catch a bar seat on a walk-in. We did, and somehow ended up front and center, just as two spots opened. The view was perfect: martinis glinting in the stage lights, the band easing into rhythm, a mix of Western classics and Chinese revivals drifting through the room.
The Jazz Bar Cocktails
The drinks list keeps faith with its history. Martinis, Manhattans, and Sidecars are mixed with precision by classically trained bartenders who still stir, shake, and strain by hand. Four signature Sassoon cocktails — drawn from the hotel founder’s journals — pay tribute to his legendary parties of the 1930s:
- Conte Verde, a refreshing mix of gin, Cointreau, dry vermouth, green mint liqueur, and lemon juice — first served at a party where the hotel was transformed into a toy store.
- Puss Month, the cheeky “school party” favorite, made with gin, rum, Cointreau, and lemon.
- The Champion Martini, Sassoon’s victory ritual whenever one of his horses won a race.
- The San Remo, the house favorite at his circus-themed soirées, blending brandy, orange curaçao, and fresh juice.
The bar menu is built for easy snacking — European classics and local favorites — but the real indulgence here is the ritual itself. Order something stirred, settle into the banquette, and watch as the band eases into “Fly Me to the Moon.”
If You Go
Hours: Live jazz nightly, usually 8:30–11:30 PM.
Address: 20 Nanjing East Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai.
Dress Code: Smart casual, but it’s the kind of place where a little polish feels right.
Cover Charge: Typically 200 RMB.
Tip: Arrive early for a table near the stage and order a classic martini or whiskey sour.
Why It Belongs on Your Shanghai List
Because no other spot captures the mood of old Shanghai quite like this — elegant, cinematic, and strangely alive. The Jazz Bar isn’t just a holdover from the past; it’s proof that certain kinds of magic don’t have to disappear, only adapt.
For more ideas on what to see, eat, and experience nearby, explore my full Shanghai city guide. If you’re planning a full evening out, see my guide to the best bars in Shanghai for more spots that blend design, atmosphere, and impeccable cocktails.
