Go nuts for these great free bar snacks

There are slim pickings in Shanghai when it comes to free bar food. Sure, there’s often a nice array of breads and dips if you order a meal, but what about if you just want to sip your beer at the bar? We've uncovered a few rare spots that offer great free snacks when you order a drink.

This dimly-lit, moody bar has a terrific selection of cocktails -- strong, strong cocktails. Fortunately, Constellation also dishes out great Japanese bar snacks to go with them: crispy crackers and salty peanuts.

“The rice crackers are light, salty and a little spicy," says patron David Beaty. "They’re a great bar snack because you can eat them comfortably with other people and don't worry about getting too messy.”

Bar Manager Lu says the answer is simpler: “People like these Japanese snacks because they’re free.”
1/F, 127 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu 永福路127号1楼, 复兴西路, +86 5404 0970

We heard from a well-heeled Shanghai foodie friend that Jean-Georges had the best complimentary bar munchies in town. So, you can imagine our disappointment when we got peanuts and popcorn. The bartender shed some light on the matter, explaining that they used to have cinnamon almonds and cheese crackers, but “the economic downturn” forced them to downgrade the freebies.

Still, our displeasure didn’t last long. It may be more economical, but rosemary-flavored popcorn is definitely a great accompaniment to a strong martini and a smashing view of the Bund.
See CNNGo's Jean-Georges listing for venue details.

This surprise contender is the city’s first Filipino-only restaurant and they have an impressive array of free snacks. If you order a beer, you’ll get peanuts that are seasoned, in-house, with salt and garlic. If you order mixed drinks or wine, you’ll get a miniature martini glass full of Italian green olives. And if you order a bottle of wine or hard alcohol, they’ll dish you up a complimentary appetizer, anything that’s fresh in the kitchen from mushrooms to sausages.

“Here in Shanghai, this is very unusual,” says manager Marilyn Garado. “We wanted to offer something different, something unique so that people are happy and comfortable here.”
758-2 Julu Lu, near Fumin Lu 巨鹿路758-2号, 近富民路, +86 21 6289 2689

This view from the Hyatt’s deck is so spectacular that it doesn’t need to offer any freebies to satisfy customers. Still, the salty, crispy peanuts take some beating.

They may look like normal peanuts, but once you grab a few, it’s hard to stop. Their crunchy salty flavor and hint of spicy tang is really addictive.
See CNNGo's Vue listing for venue details.