Clorful leisure and recreational activities are symbols of a modern international metropolis, as well as a reflection of its great charm. Regarded as an international metropolis, the city of Shanghai has developed various types of leisure and recreation activities, best representing the principle of "the Sea accepting hundreds of flowing rivers". 
Wine and pottery bars, cloth-toy boutiques, Internet clubs and Chocolate bars--all emphasizing individuality; tea shops, cafes, musical theme restaurants--all for seeking elegance and relaxation; museums and private collection houses realizing an educational function through colorful displays; health and sports centers attracting mostly young people, as well as community parks suitable for people of all ages and walks of life. All these sites and facilities are calling the citizens to release themselves for a moment from their hectic schedules and join in the relaxed and pleasant environment.

Ten city streets with special features are attracting domestic visitors and overseas tourists to join in a romantic memory of the city s past. Among them are Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Duo Lun Road Cultural Ethic Street, Wu Jiang Road Gourmet & Leisure Street, Hua Shan Road Euro-American Romance Street and others. 

Bar Rouge
at Bund 18 is a favorite: the French-managed lounge, with its flaming champagne bottles, great views and slam-bang drinks like the mango drop and lemongrass martini make us rich in spirit, but very poor in wallet. The 100 RMB cover charge still gives us that "perhaps 10 kuai G&T¡¯s at Windows aren¡¯t so bad at all" sort of feeling.

Jean Georges
4th Floor, Three on the Bund
17 Guangdong Rd ( cnr of the Bund or East Zhongshan Rd)
Shanghai
Tel: +86 (21) 6321 7733
Gourmet travellers keen to get their fix of Jean Georges Vongerichten¡¯s renowned haute cuisine will not be disappointed in Shanghai. On the fourth floor of Three on the Bund, this softly lit dining room reeks of colonial elegance, with eel-skin sofas, pony leather armchairs and red velvet drapes. Those unfussed by cholesterol levels might opt for the eight-course tasting menu, but there are scores of other delectables to peruse on the ¨¢ la carte. We recommend the wild mushroom soup delicately seasoned with parmesan, chilli and thyme, and the red snapper lightly crusted with nuts and seeds and swimming in a sweet-and-sour juice.

The restaurant offers an exceptionally good deal at lunchtime, when you can feast on three courses for $25. But this is really a place to come to at night: when the sun goes down the room is lit by the skyscrapers of Pudong on the other side of the river.

T8
No.8 Xintiandi, North Block
Lane 181, Taicang Rd
Shanghai
Tel: +86 (21) 6355 8999

Rated one of the world¡¯s 50 best restaurants by Cond¨¦ Nast Traveller in 2003, T8 is still holding its own despite the recent influx of ambitious restaurateurs into Shanghai. Step inside and you will find yourself standing on a large slab of slate suspended over a fish pool. Candlelit tables and cushions strewn over large sofas make for a seductive ambience, while the chefs in the open kitchen manage to turn cooking into performance art.

The number of meat dishes on the menu testifies to the chef¡¯s Australian origins. But after years spent in South-East Asia, Stephen Wight displays a sure touch with the regions influences. Hence, under appetisers, you will find seared king prawns with octopus compote, and spring rolls filled with crab. Portions are generous and carnivores will be spoilt for choice: our roast wild duck breast was coated in a delicious chestnut pur¨¦e, while pork neck braised in Moroccan spices was juicy and flavoursome.

Club Shanghai
4/F Shanghai Concert Hall
523 East Yan¡¯an Rd
Shanghai
Tel: +86 (0) 21 5383 9989
Website

Lily Ho, a retired actress from Hong Kong, owns this lavish restaurant inside Shanghai Concert Hall. She designed the interior herself (and there are enough chandeliers and velvet drapes stuffed into the room to satisfy the most demanding diva). As well as a restaurant, there is a bar and a ballroom, where you will find live jazz (nightly, except Sunday and Monday).

With such drama, Club Shanghai needs food to match. It comes from Stefan Stiller, a Michelin-starred German chef, whose menu is inventive and entertaining. He offers several variations of an ingredient in one dish: so foie gras arrives prepared in five different ways on the same plate. This playfulness is also evident in the amuse bouches: we loved our potato cake topped with caviar, ravioli stuffed with veal and delicious cauliflower soup. The chefs talent and the general opulence of the place more than compensate for the restaurant¡¯s lack of waterfront views.

Laris
6th Floor, Three on the Bund,
17 Guangdong Rd (corner of the Bund or East Zhongshan Rd)
Shanghai
Tel: +86 (21) 6321 9922
Website

A meal at Laris affords the opportunity to eat in one of Shanghais architectural landmarks, overlooking the sweeping waterfront. The food by David Laris, an Australian chef who has worked in Hong Kong and Vietnam, is pretty good, too. Expect highly imaginative and very tasty modern cooking. On a recent visit we enjoyed pan-roasted scallops served over a parsnip pur¨¦e with a foaming oyster broth, and roast lamb loin with almond potatoes, pickled kumquat (a tiny, orange-like fruit) and almond sauce. The chef even makes his own chocolates¡ªa small plate of which will arrive (cunningly timed) before your bill.

It doesn¡¯t come cheap, but this is currently one of Shanghai¡¯s best restaurants, and everything from the deceptively simple decor to the adjacent Vault Bar (good for pre-meal cocktails) shows more than a touch of flair.