Shanghai comes into its own under the cover of darkness, with the new cocktail lounges, jazz bars and nightclubs trying to live up to the city's 1920s night-time debauchery. Glamour Bar remains a favorite, with hordes of beautiful people and stiff martinis served till late. Bar Rouge at Bund 18 are extravagant venues for those on the, ahem, prowl, while Sir Elly's at The Peninsula hotel is far classier and boasts an enormous 14th-floor terrace. Well-worth the cab journey is Vue at Hyatt on the Bund, which boasts 32nd floor views of both the heritage Bund and futuristic Pudong on opposite banks of the Huangpu River. Even higher is 100 Century Avenue, on the 91st to 93rd floors of the Park Hyatt hotel in the Shanghai World Financial Center ,(across the river in Pudong), which is claimed as the world's highest bar/restaurant.

Shanghai's tailors are legendary — but while the speedy sewers at the South Bund Fabric Market (399 Lujiabang Lu, tel: +86 6377 2232) are fine for simple replicas, for something a bit more glam Lu Kun is your man. Or, at least he was for Paris Hilton on her last Shanghai trip. The couturier's studio (open by appointment only — call at +86 138 1688 2676) you can rifle through the racks of cocktail gowns and flouncy day dresses and have adjustments made onsite. Or you can get fitted for a unique, custom-made number for home shipping in approximately two weeks.

The much-hyped lifestyle emporium Three on the Bund houses three gourmet stars. Each occupies an entire floor, and offers fine dining with prices to match the lavish interiors and awesome river views. The flamboyant white marble dining room at Laris specialises in contemporary cuisine with an Asian twist. Whampoa Club (tel: +86 21 6321 3737) serves 'new Chinese cuisine' using traditional techniques and eclectic ingredients. Jean Georges is the three Michelin-star chef's only signature restaurant outside New York. Just along the street, at Bund 6, is Mr & Mrs Bund, an eclectic, well-priced and always buzzing modern European eatery by acclaimed French chef Paul Pairet. Yi Long Court at The Peninsula serves upscale Cantonese cuisine in an art-deco infused 1930s-meets-new millennium dining room

The 1920s Twin Villas set back off Huaihai Lu, combines museum-style flagship stores for Dunhill and Vacheron Constantin, a men's barbershop and bespoke tailoring service, ShanghART Chinese contemporary art gallery, and KEE Club. The latter's artsy restaurant, salon and balcony terrace are reserved for members only, but a good concierge should be able to get you in to mingle with high society.