A Shanghai Expo bar crawl

With the lines at all the major 2010 pavilions hours long (if you’re lucky), what is there left to do while you wait? A liquid cultural exchange.

Although some of the Expo food might not be a bargain, the drink prices at many of the pavilions are, making them ideal for a Shanghai 2010 Expo bar crawl.

2010 Expo bar crawl stop no. 1: Havana Club Bar, Cuba Pavilion

When stepping inside the Cuba Pavilion, we immediately thought Cohiba and Havana Club sponsored it: the entire back wall is devoted to these two brands. All drinks are RMB 35, and served all day. Alex Xu, from Hong Kong, tells us: “Although small, this is one of my favorite pavilions -- good and cheap drinks with great live music, and no lines. What could be better?”
Good To know: Enjoy your rum with live music at night.
Drink like a local: Mojitos are the bar’s specialty. 

2010 Expo bar crawl stop no. 2: German Bar, Germany Pavilion

When you tire of their “balancity” theme, come lose your balance at the German Restaurant and Bar, featuring huge plates of sauerkraut and meat and even bigger mugs of beer. “I thought this was the entrance to the pavilion,” confessed one inebriated Oktoberfester sitting down at the restaurant table. Wheat pints start at RMB 55, and the rest are RMB 49. 
Good to know: No need to wait in that colossal line in the front of the pavilion, as the entrance to this bar is outside.
Drink like a local: Buy a vintage Oktoberfest mug from their gift shop, and fill it up with a München wheat on tap.

2010 Expo bar crawl stop no. 3: Angola Pavilion

Before the exit of this whimsical African pavilion, Angola will certainly tempt you with their full bar and specialty cocktails (or, as the menu reads, cocktail espeliais) starting at just RMB 38. They also strategically place their gift shop after the bar, so beware -- once you finish getting your drink on, you might feel compelled to purchase some unnecessary Angola memorabilia. 
Good to know: Live dance shows and music are regularly performed at the stage by the bar.
Drink like a local: The official drink of the pavilion is called the China Angola, and is a dangerously sweet mix of rice brandy, lime, sugar and ice.

2010 Expo bar crawl stop no. 4: Porterhouse Brewing Co. China

At first, we thought this was the Ireland Pavilion. Instead, it is just an Irish pub smack in the middle of Zone C of the Expo. They have plenty of award winning brews starting at RMB 60 for a pint. “And the best part is, they don’t close until after midnight,” gushed one bar-goer.
Good to know: Some of the bartenders will go shot for shot with you if you challenge them to an Irish Car Bomb duel.
Drink like a local: Their Plan Porter has won four awards since 1999, but not too many stray from their own Dingle Gold Whiskey. Decisions, decisions.

2010 Expo bar crawl stop no. 5: Café Jubilee, Malta Pavilion

Although this pavilion is pint sized and is squeezed into the Europe Joint Pavilion 1, they still manage to have plenty of room for a full bar and restaurant featuring all the best liquid this Mediterranean island has to offer.
Good to know: If you really can’t bring yourself to go through their 30-second pavilion, have no fear, as their bar opens onto the street.
Drink like a local: Try Malta’s own Cisk Lager. We did, and we loved it.

2010 Expo bar crawl stop no. 6: Chile Pavilion

At the end of this incredibly cool pavilion, Chile congratulates you for making it to the finish line with an impressive -- and inexpensive -- display of wines to taste. Grab a drink (or a few) and head to their outdoor patio in the back, or stay inside and enjoy some live music. A few visitors admitted they hadn’t seen any other pavilions when we had asked. “We’ve been here since lunch, eating empanadas, drinking wine, and getting some sun.”
Good to know: They have something for every budget -- you can opt for a regular glass, a premium glass, or a reserve glass (starting at RMB 19).
Drink like a local: We drank like a local, sampling quite a few of their wines, for just RMB 5 during one of their frequent wine tastings. 

2010 Expo bar crawl stop no. 7: Belgium Pavilion

This was one of our favorite places to sit back with a beer during the Expo. Showcasing Hoegaarden and Stella Artois, their drafts are cheap and best enjoyed outside (as they don’t have an indoor bar). With weather as nice as it’s been, this is the place to be. And when you need something to soak up all that beer, they offer fries and mayonnaise, mini waffles, and other Belgium munchies.
Good to know: “We’re glad the beer is served in plastic cups; we just fill ours up and head to the other pavilions when we’re on break,” share two pavilion volunteers.
Drink like a local: Hoegaarden and Stella from RMB 10-30. Enough said.