Sasha's: Mansion living ... and drinking

Housed in the 1920s mansion once owned by Soong Mei-ling (aka Madame Chiang Kai-shek), Sasha’s has old-Shanghai elegance to spare.

The food menu is uneven (we suggest sticking to the thin crust pizza and Sunday brunch), but the ambiance, architecture and alcohol are so enjoyable that we’re willing to forgive almost all sins against our taste buds.

The cocktails are spot-on, as is the spacious and sunny backyard patio that's as busy by day as by night in the summer.

And if you’re looking throw back a few tequila shots instead of a beer and cocktails, you can always hop over the hedge next door to Zapata's, Shanghai’s little slice of Cancun under the same management as Sasha's.