Bar in Shanghai, China

Speak Low

830Pearl Points

Awarded bar room

About Speak Low

Speak Low is the Shanghai cocktail pick to prioritize when reputation matters: a small-occasion, drinks-led bar with World's 50 Best, Top 500 Bars, and Tatler recognition. Choose it for a date or visitor night; pick a lounge-style alternative if the group is large or the plan needs easier logistics.

Speak Low in Shanghai is best considered through its verified recognition and dress code rather than unconfirmed operational details. The venue has a confirmed smart casual dress code and an awards record that includes World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #2 in 2016, World's 50 Best Bars #10 in 2017, Top 500 Bars Best Bars #312 in 2025, and Tatler 2025 recognition in Best Bars Asia-Pacific.

Because detailed service information is not verified here, plan around what is known: Speak Low is a recognized Shanghai bar with a smart casual expectation. For a broader sweep of the city before choosing, use Our full Shanghai bars guide, then cross-check dinner options in Our full Shanghai restaurants guide and stays in Our full Shanghai hotels guide.

A recognized Shanghai bar with smart casual expectations

The strongest verified case for Speak Low is its awards history. Its confirmed recognition from World's 50 Best, Top 500 Bars, and Tatler gives it a documented profile. That makes it a relevant choice for guests who care about accolade-backed venues and want a Shanghai bar with a known name.

The tradeoff is that many practical details are not verified in the available data. Do not assume a specific seating format, food offering, reservation policy, menu structure, or group capacity from this guide alone. If you are comparing options, look at other venues such as Coa, Constellation, Pirata, Sober Company, or The Odd Couple depending on the kind of evening you are planning.

Who should choose it over another option

Choose Speak Low if the decision hinges on verified bar recognition and a smart casual setting in Shanghai. It is a stronger fit when the venue's name and awards record matter to the plan. If your priority is a confirmed dining format, a specific food style, or detailed service information, verify those details directly before building the night around it.

Location should be treated only as Shanghai based on the verified information here. If the evening expands beyond bars, the Shanghai guides can help stack the plan: Our full Shanghai bars guide, Our full Shanghai restaurants guide, and Our full Shanghai hotels guide are more useful than treating any one venue as a complete itinerary.

For benchmarking within the broader venue landscape, compare Speak Low with other named options carefully and avoid assuming they serve the same purpose. Coa, Constellation, Pirata, Sober Company, and The Odd Couple may be useful reference points, but the right choice depends on the specific plan and on details you should confirm directly.

Quick reference: strongest for guests prioritizing a recognized Shanghai bar with a smart casual dress code; less certain for plans that depend on unverified details such as seating, food, service format, or group capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Speak Low have outdoor seating?

Outdoor seating is not verified in the available data for Speak Low. The confirmed details are that it is in Shanghai, has a smart casual dress code, and has bar recognition including World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #2 in 2016 and World's 50 Best Bars #10 in 2017.

Is the food good at Speak Low?

Food details are not verified in the available data for Speak Low, so do not choose it based on an assumed dining offering. Use the confirmed information instead: it is a recognized Shanghai bar with a smart casual dress code.

Do I need a reservation at Speak Low?

A reservation policy is not verified in the available data for Speak Low. If timing matters, check directly with the venue before planning your Shanghai evening around it; Coa can be a useful comparison if you are considering another option.

Is Speak Low good for groups?

Group capacity and seating format are not verified in the available data. If you are planning for a group, confirm directly with Speak Low before relying on it, and compare alternatives such as Sober Company if you are weighing other options.

Is Speak Low good for a date?

Speak Low may suit a date if the goal is a recognized Shanghai bar with a smart casual dress code. Its verified awards record gives it a strong reputation signal, while Pirata may be worth comparing if you are considering another option.

Location

579 Fu Xing Zhong Lu, Huang Pu Qu, Shang Hai Shi, 200041

Shanghai, China

Compare Speak Low

Comparing Speak Low to Alternatives

Venue	Awards	Booking Difficulty
Speak Low	World's 50 Best Asia's Best Bars #2 (2016); World's 50 Best Bars #10 (2017); Top 500 Bars Best Bars #312 (2025); Tatler 2025, Listed in Best Bars Asia-Pacific; Tatler 2025, Best Bars Asia-Pacific 2025	Near Impossible
Coa (Shanghai)		Unknown
Sober Company		Unknown
The Odd Couple		Unknown
Constellation		Unknown
Pirata		Unknown

Comparable nearby venues by cuisine and price for this tier.

Also Consider

Coa (Shanghai), Notable alternative
Sober Company, Notable alternative
The Odd Couple, Notable alternative
Constellation, Notable alternative
Pirata, Notable alternative

How it compares with Shanghai cocktail peers

Against Coa (Shanghai) and Sober Company, Speak Low is the safer choice when the night needs proven international recognition and a celebratory feel. Coa is the sharper cross-shop for agave-focused drinkers, while Sober Company is the better fit if the evening needs a broader hospitality format rather than a single bar as the main event.

The Odd Couple and Constellation make more sense when ambiance and ease matter more than chasing the hardest table. Speak Low should be treated as the higher-intent plan: better for a date or cocktail-minded visitor, less convenient if the group wants to move casually between venues.

Pirata is the practical fallback when the night needs a more social, lower-pressure setting. Choose Speak Low when the drinks program and recognition are the reason for going; choose Pirata when the group dynamic matters more than bar credentials.