Shangairish.

Much has been made of Shanghai’s renaissance over recent years. From superb French restaurants to the world’s newest Grand Prix circuit, it’s no exaggeration to say that Shanghai town planners and entrepreneurs won’t rest until they’ve turned Shanghai into the world’s most exciting city.

But as well as beautiful Louis Vuitton stores and gorgeous art galleries in tastefully renovated historical buildings, Shanghai boasts one more benefit.

The Pearl Of The Orient holds what just might be, to my mind at least, Asia’s best Irish pub.

I’m no particular fan of sitting in franchised mock-Dublin surrounds. And normally, drinking imported Guinness under old bilingual County Cork road signs wouldn’t be at the top of my list of leisure options.

But O’Malley’s in Hengshan Road seems to have something about it. A satisfying maze-like layout with dark private snugs to drink in, a beautiful walled garden for imbibing al fresco in the cool Shanghai autumn, and a strange feeling that the place has been there for centuries make a few pints at this particular Gaelic Inn a very worthwhile experience.