As the year comes to an end, it comes time to round up the best eats, drinks, and deals around Shanghai for any budget. Best RestaurantBudget: Wai Po Jia In short, it’s nearly impossible to leave Wai Po Jia hungry, penniless, or sober (if that’s your intent). You’re able to get a taste of Hangzhou on the cheap: that includes drinks, small dishes, entrees, and dessert. Their signature dishes are a staple for every visit, whether it’s the claypot tea chicken or hongshaorou. Their meat dishes are bursting with flavor and tenderness; you’ll hardly believe they cost less than 50RMB. Best of all, starting at just 6RMB, you can get 500 ml of beer on tap. Read a full review of Wai Po Jia here. “I like Wai Po Jia because its always filling, tasty, and cheap. Unlike many other Chinese restaurants, they don’t skimp on meat, but they do go light on the oil. The food never sits too heavily in your stomach, but you’ll always leave satisfied.” – Osman Syed

Editor’s Pick: Mercato Anything by Jean-Georges is bound to be a satisfying experience, and Mercato is no exception. The amazing Bund views, fresh and delicious Italian food, and a warm environment all at relatively reasonable prices come together to create one of the best restaurants for value in Shanghai. If you’re on a budget, you can split one of their woodfire oven pizzas or simple but delicious pastas, or splurge with one of their seafood or meat selections. Best BrunchBudget: Spread the Bagel No longer just a delivery service, Spread the Bagel has recently opened up their first storefront right across from IAPM Mall in the French Concession. And better yet, they’re serving up bagel sandwiches with high-quality ingredients. Your 45-60 RMB is not going to waste for a bagel sandwich. The meat portions are certainly adequate, and with such mouthwatering ingredients sourced from your favorite expat artisans, your money goes a long way. "Spread the Bagel offers Shanghai's finest bagel selection by far. This small storefront offers nothing but the best, with consistently quality ingredients for an unforgettable mouthful of deliciousness with each bite. Their chicken club, pastrami hu, and GrumpyButtinsky bagel sandwiches are absolute musts." – Betsie Wilson

Editor’s Pick: Madison Their iconic brunch is no stranger to the Shanghai dining scene, but unlike other dining spots, Madison delivers on the hype that surrounds it. Chef Austin Hu knows what the people want: poached eggs, French toast, and home fries. While you can find these at virtually any brunch spot in Shanghai, Madison elevates these classics with their attention to fine detail and brilliant execution. I strongly recommend their banana-stuffed French toast. It has the perfect caramelization, delivering a sweet crunchiness in every bite, smothered in a delightful oatmeal streusel. A reservation is essential!

Best Happy HoursBudget: Shanghai Brewery From 2-8 PM on weekdays, you can get your happy hour on much earlier than normal. Beers start at 20 RMB, cocktails from 25 RMB, and shooters from 22 RMB. If you prefer to wash down your alcohol with a meal on the side, their menu is expansive and Shanghai Brewery’s appetizers are ideal for sharing. What’s not to love about an enormous plate of nachos? “I went 4 weeks in a row last month. The happy hour beers are good; you’re given a nice tall glass. Also, their Tuesday nights are a great date night because burgers are buy one get one free. You could get 2 burgers and 2 beers for about 140 RMB in total. And their garlic aioli sauce is bomb!” – Jarred Kubas Editor’s Pick: Morton’s Every Monday to Friday from 5-7 PM, 45 RMB will get you some of the strongest martinis concocted in town. If vodka/gin martinis aren’t your thing, you can opt for weaker options like their appletini, chocotini, or cosmopolitan. Forget mixed nuts to munch on the side; Morton’s supplies you with free flowing filet mignon sandwiches. Famous for their high quality meat, you’re able to have a taste without paying those infamous sky high prices. Perhaps the best perk of all is the unobstructed view of the Pearl Tower. In warmer weather, request to sit on their terrace for an even closer look. Best ClubBudget: M2 and Muse So these clubs aren’t exactly “budget”, but everyone ends up at a promoter table with free drinks anyway, so they arguably are. Arguably the NYU Shanghai favorites, these clubs provide the typical clubbing experience: loud music, too many people, and pretty lights. Editor’s Pick: Le Baron This club is new to Shanghai, and is unlike anything that exists here. With locations in Paris, London, Tokyo, and New York City, Le Baron is a much needed addition to the Shanghai club scene. The music is refreshingly not EDM and not top 100, it’s somewhere in between, often playing some cool remixes of oldies. The atmosphere feels more like what I would imagine discos were like way-back-when, even going so far as having a disco ball shining on the middle of the dance floor. They seem to be doing a good job of keeping out people who are only concerned with showing off wealth and popping bottles—there are no extravagant light shows or sparklers. However, this doesn’t mean it’s easy to get in. They’re trying to put up a pretty tough door-front—basically, they’re looking for “hip” people. They are also open until the wee hours of the morning and gets livelier as the night goes on; there was a line outside the door at 4 AM. Best BarBudget: Yongkang Lu A step up from Ellen’s or Perry’s, you can’t go wrong with an evening on Yongkang Lu. Any of these bars are bound to satisfy an after-school or after-work drink craving. Expect to find a largely young expat crowd here, and lots of great drink deals. Personal favorites are El Luchado and Le Cafe de Stagiaires. Be aware that Yongkang closes early, before 10 PM, due to nearby angry residents, so plan to take your night somewhere else. “It’s a very friendly and interesting crowd. Yongkang is a great place to meet new people over moderately priced drinks” – Daniel Tamayo Editor’s Pick: El Ocho We’ve already reviewed El Ocho, but it definitely deserves a spot in our Best of Shanghai 2014. The winning point of this bar is the cocktails, which is ultimately what you want from a bar. Whether you want a Manhattan or want to try something different, you are guaranteed a quality drink at El Ocho. They don’t come cheap, but you’re paying for expert mixologists to shake up something cool. If you are feeling really adventurous, take a seat at the bar, chat with a bartender, and the bartender will make up a few drinks for you. This article was written by Tatiana Bautista & Enrique Menendez . Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit:Tatiana Bautista