Le Cafe des StagiairesSee Address

With the rustic chic of Le Petit Franck, but none of the pretension or high prices this small bar, on the increasingly bohemian Yongkang Lu, is already one of our favourite places in the city for a quiet drink. The bar itself is built from old luggage trunks and various European and Chinese memorabilia such as old Vedett signs, Shanghai clocks and Coke bottle chandeliers are dotted around the wooden-floored space.

Here, the ‘stagiaires,’ or trainees (the toilet walls are plastered with CVs) offer an extensive wine list (house reds and whites start from 30RMB/glass), eight classic cocktails (50RMB, except for an 80RMB Champagne mojito) and modest range of top-quality beers including the hoppy La Chouffe (40RMB), making them possibly the only bar in the city to offer this strong Belgian brew on tap. A daily happy hour from 4-8pm sees prices fall further: just 20RMB will get you a glass of house wine or draft Heineken. Food-wise, there are a few plates such as cold cuts and cheese (80-150RMB), but Sheng Sushi are also happy to deliver Japanese take out from across the road and a pizzeria 2011 from the same owners will soon open next door. Stylish, relaxed and with an excellent drink selection, there are few better places to hunker down for the winter.