SHANGHAI RESTAURANT

The Fat Olive

David Laris' terrace-top wine and Greek mezze bar is a favorite for lazy weekend afternoons, or late nights with wine overlooking the old city to the skyscrapers beyond.

The buzz: David Laris’ Greek-style wine and mezze bar with a big terrace overlooking the old district and the lights of Pudong.

The décor: Inside it’s standard wine-bar chic: a hint of neon, shiny wood floors, sparkly chrome bar hardware and minimalist furniture. However, outside is where The Fat Olive really comes into its own. At the moment it’s a sprawling terrace holding long tables and comfy white sofas. More tables and benches are being installed, and there’s a lawn being laid.

The food: A Greek feast in miniature. We liked everything we tried, which included dolma (stuffed vine leaves), keftedes (meatballs), fried potatoes (which tasted uncannily like the ones you’d get in Cyprus or Crete), salad, and eggplant dip with pita. Also on the menu were bigger dishes like a lamb pita burger, but it’s really the mezze that you’d come here for. Dishes range from ¥18 for a pita or sourdough bread basket to ¥48 for the Greek bruschetta.

The drinks: A healthy selection of whites, reds, and rosés sold by the bottle or glass. Prices for a glass start at a reasonable ¥38.

Why you’ll be back: This will surely become a Shanghai staple. When we visited, a corporate party was in full swing, and the free tables were never free for long. We envisage coming here for long brunches throughout the summer, as well as after work drinks. The prices are low enough to make this a regular haunt.


The Fat Olive at Silver Court opened in 2009. After an extensive 5-month renovation, The Fat Olive is reopeing mid-October 2012.


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Venue Details
Address: The Fat Olive, 6/F/F, Silver Court Building, 228, Shanghai, China
Phone: 6334-3288
Website: www.thefatolive.com
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Greek
Dress code:
Price Range: BBB
Open since: October, 2012
Opening hours: daily 8:30-2am
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