By Heather Millet
Most social spaces are male-dominated, with male convenience the default—often without anyone even questioning it.There are plenty of reasons for this. Women simply don't inhabit social spaces as often as men—or, for that matter, business spaces, or political spaces,or financial spaces.
That's partly due to the disproportionate weight of responsibilities at home, all while juggling work, education, health, fitness, and beauty standards.
It's also because being out in places filled with men can feel uncomfortable, or even unsafe. So women learn to take up less social space.
There's a silent pressure to perform, to navigate carefully, even just going to a bar. But women grow tired of manspreading, mansplaining, and being told we lack humor when the jokes are at our expense.
So ladies, if you're looking forward to having a few places where you can actually chill—dress for the female gaze (or more importantly, for your own individual preferences), and dig into those nitty-gritty topics that aren't fit for the ears of men—here we go...
Women's Drinking Club
This one is exactly what it sounds like. Just a bar for women to gather, where men are not central to the way we behave, converse, drink, or feel seen.
Sign of Women's Drinking Club. Photo by Maria Menand.
Everyone asks: "But are men even allowed in?"
It's a silly question.
First of all, why would men want to go to a bar meant for women?
And sure, there's no outright rule banning them—but really, why should men insert themselves into a space that's specifically for women?
Women's Drinking Club cozy interior. Photo by Maria Menand.
And no, the bar isn't pink or frilly or focused on networking or candle-making or painting each others' nails, thank you.
It's just a bar.
Cocktail on stack of books about women's experiences. Photo by Maria Menand.
If you identify as a woman, stop by and try the amazing cocktails—each one inspired by influential women.
And for the guys: if you really feel you must gain access to this quiet bar, you'll need a woman to vouch for you.
Sorry, not sorry!
READ MORE: Women's Drinking Club – A Cocktail Room of One's Own
Open Daily, 6pm-1.30am
Women's Drinking Club 104 Changshu Lu, Lane 104, Number 4 常熟路104弄4号
Herlarious Comedy Club
Herlarious Club's New Venue
Herlarious isn't so much a specific location as it is a place in our hearts—or maybe in our throat? Or our tummy? Wherever laughter comes from!
Li Ying, who leads this troupe of female comedians, explains the ethos:
"Comedy has long been a male-dominated industry. So when women step forward—not just working behind the scenes, but walking onto the stage to command the room—it brings a real sense of excitement and power.
"There's a strong sense of women supporting women—not in a forced way, but in the natural way a room shifts when people feel safe to laugh together.
"The comedians invite the audience to look at the challenges women face through humor."
A Herlarious night of laughter
The stories, observations, and jokes often come from experiences many women recognize immediately: relationships, family expectations, workplace absurdities, cultural pressure, dating disasters, motherhood, and independence.
Instead of being talked about from the outside, these stories come from the inside, told in voices that feel familiar and honest.
Herlarious Club events happen weekly, so for at least one out of seven days, there's a place to laugh like you mean it.
No need to cover that giggle with a demurely cupped hand. Let that laughter rip and roar!
Women's Day Comedy Special
This Women's Day, Herlarious Comedy Club is throwing subtlety out the window and serving punchlines with attitude.
Join Iris, Piper, Li Ying (and yes, Horace survived the lineup) for a night of bold, brilliant, slightly unhinged stand-up.
Because well-behaved women don't headline comedy shows.
Click below to get your ticket now:
Sat Mar 7, 18-9.30pm; RMB138 or RMB248 for two people
Lehe Comedy L504, 5/F, Henderson Metropolitan, 300 Nanjing Dong Lu, by Henan Zhong Lu, Huangpu District 南京东路300号, 近河南中路, 5楼L504
ABORO
A trainer from Aboro Boxing Gym works up a sweat
Can women excel in combat sports?
Can boxing be just as thrilling for women as it is for men?
Is there a gym in Shanghai, run by a female former world champion, that proves it?
The answer to all of the above is a resounding: "YES!"
Enter ABORO—founded by one of the most badass women in Shanghai's fitness scene.
READ MORE: Boxing World Champ Talks Punches & Poodles
Michele Aboro, World Champion boxer and owner of Aboro boxing gym
The gym was co-founded by Michele Aboro, a former bantamweight world champion who retired undefeated.
(We'd call her a legend, but she'd rather keep things low-key—which only proves our point.)
Michele Aboro, in her days as World Champion
After paving the way for female fighters, she made her way to Shanghai and opened the gym that bears her name.
Now with two locations, ABORO offers everything from sparring-focused training to boxing-based fitness classes, welcoming anyone ready to step into the ring.
READ MORE: 8 Badass Women of Shanghai Fitness
ABORO The Flagship 2/F, S6-S8, 667 Changhua Lu, Jingan District 静安区昌化路667号2楼S6-S8
ABORO Xintiandi B1, E03B-E03, 150 Hubin Lu, Huangpu District 黄浦区湖滨路150号B1E03B-E03
TaKo
Another watering hole for the ladies!
Anyone can enter—but the fact is that walking in on a busy night will mean a crowd of chicks hanging out, boozing it up, and relaxing.
Built, run, and staffed by women for women, this is a bar for brawds, without having to say so explicitly.
Sneaky view inside Tako
The bar is dark and cozy, so whether escaping the cold, the heat, the light, or the menfolk, TaKo is a safe bet.
With straightforward, affordable drinks and a super chill—edgy? sexy?—vibe, it also bridges bar to club, as many nights lead to a full dance floor and swinging around an old chrome pole in the middle.
Check out Zero Gravity Pole Dance below if you wanna learn how to work that pole!
Daily, 7pm-2am
TaKo 2/F, 777 Shanxi Bei Lu, near Kangding Lu, Jing'an District 陕西北路777号2楼， 近康定路
Zero Gravity Pole Dance
Beginner pole sport move called a 'chair spin'
Zero Gravity Pole Studio is open to anyone who wants to try pole fitness. Gender and body type don't matter—everyone is welcome to "pop their pole cherry."
Yet, while it's great when men join, it remains true that most participants in pole and aerial sports are women.
Hoop in heels—aerial arts come in so many forms!
It could be the stigma around this style of dance that keeps many men away. Or maybe it's the risk of certain body parts meeting the metal bar a little too hard… some, it seems, are just too delicate.
(Gentleman, if you feel annoyed to be generalized by one body part, join the club—that's what happens to women all the time. So grow a pair... of ovaries, and get over it!)
Post Strength & Flexibility class photo
The studio community is all about self-improvement through pole and aerial sport. Think kettlebells, grunting, and weightlifting in classes like 'Workout Boobies.'
Oh, and endless chatter about creatine...
"Are you taking your creatine? How do you take it? You should really try it if you want to build those guns, girl."
Just kidding! Sort of… we really do want to build our guns!
Johanna Spee, owner of Zero Gravity Pole Fitness
There are classes for pole, hoop, flexibility, strength, dance, and more. Head along and try one under the watchful eye of the German giantess who owns the place.
She'll shout at you to point your toes and be careful not to slam your vagina on the pole!
And fellas—if you've made it this far—head along to the studio, break a few stereotypes, and have a great time!
READ MORE: Pole Lotta Love – 3 of Shanghai's Top Pole Dance Studios
Zero Gravity Room 8302, 3/F, Building No. 8 Bridge Creative Park Phase 1, 10 Jianguo Zhong Lu, by Chongqing Nan Lu, Huangpu District 8号桥一期建国中路10号8号楼3层8302室
M50 Art Space
Installation at M50
Sure, M50 has been around for a long time, but it's always worth mentioning as a great place to comfortably stroll, grab a coffee, or pop into a small gallery.
The art and artists are constantly changing, and the whole area is a cozy maze of old buildings, cement structures, sculptures, paintings, mirrors, and winding alleyways.
The ever-evolving art at M50
Graffiti and installations are a major draw of the art district, and they're always evolving.
Many artists rent studio space here, so you might just catch someone in the middle of a piece—or have a chat with them about their work.
There are a few restaurants in the area, like Bela Fiesta and Ministry of Malt.
M50's Filipino restaurant Bela Fiesta
Budget-wise, you can keep it tight and spend nothing, or splurge on an unexpected piece of art if something catches your eye.
Selfies are always welcome among the graffiti and installations, so no need to hold back on a little self-celebration.
Dress up or dress down, go full glam or bare-faced like a true rebel—it's all part of the vibe.
A girls' day out of dressing up for photography. Photo by Julia Gonzalez.
M50 Art District 50 Moganshan Lu, by Aomen Lu, Putuo District 莫干山路50号, 近澳门路
Madame Ching
Mosaic of Mazu, Goddess of the Sea, crafted from discarded pottery salvaged by Chef Dali
In the spirit of equality—which is really the most basic definition of feminism—not every spot on this list has to be female-owned.
In the case of Madame Ching, it's the atmosphere and the story behind it that make the space feel welcoming for women.
READ MORE: Madame Ching – Cantonese Treasure Trove of Flavor
Famous female pirate, Madame Ching
A restaurant named after the most famous female pirate in history practically dares you to hoist sail and drift away from patriarchy.
Of course, that escape might come in the form of 30-hour slow-cooked beef short rib in charsiu sauce, followed by Hong Kong milk tea crème brûlée.
Either way, after a meal and a bottle of wine under the billowing sails of this place, you'll be ready to either conquer nations—or conquer naptime.
The walls are adorned with a mosaic of the sea goddess Mazu, crafted from broken Jingdezhen ceramic tiles—a tribute to the female protector of the seas.
READ MORE: 48 Hours in... Jingdezhen – China's Porcelain Capital
Colors of the night at Madame Ching. Photo Courtesy of Madame Ching
As the night unfolds, the lighting shifts into reds, purples, and pinks. (Please note: This is the only spot on the list where pink plays a starring role.)
And it's all masterminded by That's Shanghai Food & Drink Awards Chef of the Year Derek 'Dali' Wong.
READ MORE: Who Won What at the That's Shanghai Food & Drink Awards 2025
Chef Dali plating dessert. Photo by Maria Menand / That's.
Reservations: 175 2151 5528
Tue–Thu, 6pm–1am (last order 12.30am)
Fri–Sun, 6pm–2am (last order 1.30am)
Madame Ching 1/F, 98 Yanping Road, Jing'an 静安区延平路98号1楼
RIINK
Creating a badass space that's safe for women and feels ultra-chill for everyone doesn't have to mean making big political statements.
RIINK is simply a place where anyone can have fun—with toys and décor straight from childhood TV shows, all centered around roller skating.
RIINK serves up a full food and cocktail menu, making it an ideal spot to chill with friends or even go on a date—why not?
It feels like a breath of fresh air, literally when the windows are open in summer.
Located in the heart of Shangkang Li, surrounded by restaurants and bars, it's about as non-gendered as a space can get.
It's all about childlike joy, zero judgment, and the very real possibility of falling on your ass while skating around.
Hey, everyone falls on their ass sometimes—regardless of gender!
READ MORE: 8 Badass Women of Shanghai F&B 2025
Daily, 11am-1am
RIINK Shankang Li, Building 18, Room 102, 358 Kangding Lu, by Shaanxi Bei Lu 静安区康定路358号陕康里18号楼102室
What Makes a Space Comfortable for Women?
If you've read this far, maybe you're wondering: what actually makes a space feel comfortable for women—especially when it's somewhere men also go?
Some off-putting factors are obvious, like walls covered in posters of women in bikinis, or bars blasting loud sports games (though of course, plenty of women love sports too).
But more importantly, consider whether a woman can truly relax and be herself in a space:
Can women share ideas, opinions, complaints, experiences, and their pride without hesitation?
Is there a chance of intoxicated men or tight crowds with mostly men?
Will the room be dominated by men, with only a handful of women present?
Does attractiveness feel like it's part of the unspoken dress code—where women might feel judged for their looks?
If someone makes a disparaging comment about women, motherhood, or women's safety, would it immediately feel out of place—and would others actually push back?
Does it feel strange to talk openly about the trials of motherhood and raising kids?
And ultimately, will women feel they need to make themselves smaller—whether that's physically tugging at their shirt or holding back in conversation?
Places where women can truly let their guard down are rare. We need to keep growing those options and balancing out the representation in social spaces.
Finally, for the sake of shared knowledge, feel free to comment below on any spot we missed—if you identify as a woman.
Like to Promote an Event?
Connect with us on WeChat by scanning the QR code below:
▼For more news, click 'Read more' (阅读原文) below.