1. Bastille Day @ Not Me

This French stronghold on Dongping is throwing a special party to celebrate the toppling of the monarchy. Pastis for 25 RMB, and shots for 10. 

21 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu

2. Le Bal des Pompiers @ Cube

For something totally different, head to to Cube for a fireman party (of all things). With deals on food and drink (including free sparkling wine for ladies), bottles of wine at 200 RMB, and men in firemen costumes, plus pétanque and billiards, it promises to be quite an evening...

483 Guyang Lu, near Yili Lu

3. Bastille Day @ Masse

From 5pm until late, Masse will be offering very French chicken wings and six beers for 198 RMB, standard drinks for 25 RMB and 3 shots of Absinthe for 100 RMB. Expect to see the little green fairy. 

5-6/F, 219 Jinxian Lu, near Shaanxi Lu

4. La Boum @ Mr & Mrs Bund

It's a French house party, in a restaurant. Makes sense. Disco music from DJs Jazzamar and Charp from 11pm until late. 

6/F, Bund 18, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu

5. Bastille Day Celebration @ Hilton Hongqiao

The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China are throwing a celebration with a Tahitian theme. The night kicks off at 7.30pm with cocktails and canapes followed by a fashion show, gala dinner, and dancing. At 450 RMB for Chamber members and tables going for 4000 RMB, it's one of the pricier options. Marie Antoinette would be proud.

1116 Hongsong Dong Lu, near Hongxu Lu

Alternatively, dine at one of these French restaurans in Shanghai.

Garden Books

As well as stocking quality literature, this bookshop/cafe also serves gelato in several flavors, to be eaten either in a cup or a cone.

(325 Changle Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu)

Feidan

Feidan on Anfu Lu sells a good range of gelato, and has special freezer bags for 10 kuai so you can bulk buy.

(158 Anfu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu)

Awfully Chocolate

The gelato here is awfully good, and goes well with the legendary "hei' chocolate cake.

(174 Xiangyang Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu)

Origin

This Tianzifang health cafe offers 11 flavors in summer and 6 in winter, made by an Italian who knows what he's doing.

(274 Taikang Lu, near Jianguo Lu)

Le Creme Milano

The guys at Creme Milano make their gelato fresh every day, and it comes in over 20 flavors.

(173 Fumin Lu, near Julu Lu)

Father’s Day BBQ @ Downstairs
(Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June)
URBN Hotel’s Downstairs with David Laris is throwing a special weekend of barbecue brunches to celebrate dads. For 260 RMB, yours will get to chow down on his choice of grilled meats, slug a pint of Stella, and take home a gift.

Father's Day Cooking Class @ Morton’s Steakhouse
(Saturday 18th June)
Learn how to cook with your dad at Morton's Steakhouse in the IFC Mall. For 800 RMB (plus 10% service charge) you get to spend the morning making a three course meal made up of Morton's specials. Dad takes home Morton's cookbook and a 500 RMB gift certificate for the steakhouse. Saturday 10.30am-12.30pm.

Champagne Brunch @ Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel
(Sunday 19th June)
Take your dad over to the Arte Cafe in the new Jumeirah in Pudong for a special Sunday brunch. 368 RMB (plus 15% service) gets him a brunch plate with free flow Champagne. If he’s on the wagon, cut back to 268 RMB (with service charge) for just the brunch. 12pm – 3pm.

Father's Day Seafood Platter Set @ New Heights
(Sunday 19th June)
If your old man is a seafood freak, indulge his pescatarian penchant at New Heights this Sunday. 988 RMB gets you both a seafood platter including six oysters, eight southern ocean shrimp, four king crab legs, and a choice of main and dessert. Pay 1,488 and you get a bottle of Champagne too. Separate seafood platters are available for 388 RMB.

Father's Day Sunday Lunch @ Jean Georges
(Sunday 19th June)
Go gourmet this year with a Father’s Day lunch or brunch at Jean Georges. For 398 RMB plus 10% service charge, you get three tasty courses between 11.30am and 3pm.
 

Dad came to Shanghai last year. His epic voyage east was part of a China business trip, which happily coincided with the October holiday. I had been living in Shanghai for a year by then, and it was his first trip out to see me. I offered him the spare room in my apartment, but he insisted on staying in a youth hostel. He’s not short of a penny or two, so I’m unsure exactly why he didn’t splash out on something fancier. But anyway. More about the hostel in a later episode.

He didn’t exactly fall in love with China. My father is a man of few words and measured sentiment, observing much but commenting little. I like that about him, but it doesn’t sit well with the Shanghainese idea of how a British tourist should be. His white beard and general roundness make people think that he’s some sort of amiable Santa Claus figure, when in fact he’s more Ebenezer Scrooge with a flea in his ear. When manhandled into posing for a photograph on the Bund with some cheerful students, Dad made a face like a cat’s bum and stood, rigid, as they swarmed around him, grinning and posing with V-signs.

“Father Christmaaas!” the students yelled jovially, as Dad passed through silent circles of personal hell, nudging the more persistent kids away with his elbows. I should have stepped in sooner. Before I knew it, every child and teenager within twenty meters of us on the Bund (i.e. around three thousand) had gathered around Dad, yelling “Santa Claus” and scrambling to find their cameras. Soon I couldn’t even see him in the melee. All I could do was watch helplessly as he jostled his way out of the crowd.

They weren’t going to let him get away that easily. I pulled him away from the scrum and we broke into a run, followed by a (thankfully) ever-thinning straggle of Chinese children. The cries of “Santa” diminished as we made our way onto Nanjing Dong Lu.

“I hate this place,” Dad huffed as we slowed to a walk. “I need a drink.”
 

1. Swim With Sharks

Fearless fathers will jump at the chance to swim with sharks at the Changfeng Ocean World. Big Blue scuba club organizes regular forays into the deep.

www.big-blue.cn

2. Climb The Lupu Bridge

Nothing says "I love you, Dad" quite like a vertiginous trek to the top of a giant cantilever bridge. For just 80 RMB each, you and your dad can climb the mightly Lupu and admire the city from above.

www.lupubridge.com

3. Acrobatics

Face it, the only time you'll ever see an acrobatics show in Shanghai is with your parents, so combine it with a Father's Day gift for your dad and take him to ashow at Shanghai Circus World. 

www.shanghaiacrobaticshow.com

4. Go-Karting

If your pa is more of a thrill seeker than a tweed and pipe kind of chap, take him to Stampede Karting up in Putuo. Breaking possibly every safety code ever, they allow you to drink in there... Go easy.

www.stampedekarting.com

5. Beer Tasting

Schlep over to the Kerry Parkside hotel near Century Park, and buy your dad a tasting paddle of six craft beers at The BREW. Then make him buy one for you.

The BREW, Kerry Parkside, 1388 Huamu Lu, 6169 8888

Sometimes, you need to eat a big piece of meat. Here are our favorites for steak in Shanghai.

Condender for the best steak in Shanghai: The MEET

The MEET

Still relatively new, the MEET steakhouse and grill at the Kerry hotel in Pudong does a mean tomahawk. It serves four, but we reckon two people could get through it if they tried.

The MEET, Kerry Hotel, 1388 Huamu Lu, near Fangdian Lu

Contender for the best steak in Shanghai: Morton's Steakhouse

Morton's Steakhouse

This American grill offers great steaks in a classic atmosphere, complete with brass fittings and white tablecloths.

Morton's Steakhouse, 4/F, IFC Pudong, 8 Shiji Da Dao, near Lujiazui Huan Lu

More steakhouses in Shanghai

Contender for the best steak in Shanghai: Roosevelt Prime Steakhouse

Roosevelt Prime Steakhouse

If Dad's paying, persuade him to go to Roosevelt. It's pricey, but well worth it for the quality of the steak and authenticity of the table-tossed Caesar salad.

Roosevelt Prime Steakhouse, 60 Taiyuan Lu near Yongjia Lu

Contender for the best steak in Shanghai: Pinnacle Peak

Pinnacle Peak

If your poppa is still a bit of a livewire, take him for a spin on Pinnacle Peak's bucking bronco while you wait for your steak.

Pinnacle Peak, City Hotel 5/F, 5 Shanxi Nan Lu, near Julu Lu

Contender for the best steak in Shanghai: CHAR

CHAR

What is it with steakhouses and capital letters? This grill at the new Hotel Indigo on the South Bund is a contemporary venue with a bar and terrace attached.

CHAR, Hotel Indigo, 29-31/F, 585 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu

More steakhouses in Shanghai

1. ExploreMetro (£1.19)

This fantastic metro map with inbuilt streetmap functionalities and train timetables is the simplest and most useful out there.

2. Sina Weibo (free)

If you can't get onto Twitter but want to share your micro-thoughts with the world, sign up for a Weibo account. Mandarin not up to much? Just post in English. Hey, if it's good enough for Diane von Furstenburg... Check here for people to follow.

3. Nciku (£4.99)

The app version of the popular online Mandarin dictionary is worth shelling out for, as it saves you wasting data credit when you're out and about. Various add-ons like short stories and poetry are fun too.

4. Pleco (free)

Another great Mandarin learning tool, this multi-functional dictionary's add-ons include a character detector: you take a photo of a Chinese character, and it tells you what it is. 

5. ChinesePod (free)

Finding learning Mandarin a bit of a grind? Don't know where to start? Get this app, pay for the subscription of your choice online, and get downloading. The Shanghainese add-on will add a new dimension to your elevator rides.

El Coctel

El Coctel bar in Shanghai

Coctel by name, coctel by nature, celeb chef El Willy’s Yongfu lounge operates a sitting only policy, keeping things civilized. The Spanish bar snacks are worth a try.
2/F, 47 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu

Glamour Bar

The Glamour Bar in Shanghai

Beautiful décor, beautiful view and beautiful people give Glamour Bar its fame. The cocktails come in colored crystal glasses that are almost pretty enough to make you forget how much you paid for the contents.
6/F, Five on the Bund, 20 Guangdong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu

Constellation 2

The three Constellation bars are true stars (yes!) of Shanghai’s bar scene. The Yongjia branch does a mean Moscow Mule in a cute bronze jug, which is why it gets our vote.
33 Yongjia Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu

Kiitos

A Japanese cocktail lounge just down from the main Yongfu bar strip, Kiitos is still something of a hidden gem.
127 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu

The Alchemist

This is Kelley Lee’s foray into the world of cocktails, and is proving to be popular. Interesting bar snacks too, including pig brain popcorn.
Block 32, Sinan Mansions, 45 Sinan Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu

The Roof

Quality ingredients go into making The Roof’s drinks extra-special. Its terrace is a big draw in summer.
4/F, Bldg 4, 570 Yongjia Lu near Yueyang Lu

More bars and clubs in Shanghai