Somewhere between the Bund's neon lights and your next bad decision of the night, there's a rooftop trying very hard to be an island. Mykonos Island, the summer pop-up perched on LAGO's terrace at the Bellagio, is less a restaurant and more a relaxed daydream with a liquor license.

It's all there: Mediterranean bites, pink-gold sunsets, a soundtrack of gentle house music, and enough tropical cocktails to justify ordering something with a paper umbrella. The scene? Shanghai's trend-chasers and post-brunch survivors, drifting between lounge chairs and selfies, pretending this isn't downtown but a breezy island somewhere far, far away. We went down for a visit to see what they've done with this total-conversion project and took some pics in the process.

So how is it?

You walk in and it's like someone spilled a bucket of Santorini across a Shanghai rooftop. Blues and teals everywhere. Bougainvillea creeping in from the corners. Some attempt at greenery – real? fake? It's real. Great for photos. Off in the distance, Pudong does its usual sparkle-flex while string lights overhead try their best to compete.

It's mellow, but not sleepy. Chill house pulses in the background, spun live by DJs who rotate through the week like tapas – a constant slow drip of lounge vibes. It's a real nice option for an after-work unwind Wednesday through Friday. The weekends, it's a bit more lit; a few drinks in, sun down, skyline lit, and suddenly you're three tracks deep into forgetting what day it is.

Come with friends or come alone and pretend you're writing a novel. It all feels vaguely Mediterranean, vaguely magical, and very much like Shanghai trying on a Greek accent – for once, convincingly. The space is being run by Unight, and reminder this is a pop-up takeover, meaning it's here for a limited time up until November 1.

Themed parties and... whose going so far?

This isn't just a rooftop for sipping something blue and pretending you're in a Kygo music video.

Saturdays are for the main event: Rotating party themes that range from "Balkan-style Afro House" (yes, that's a thing) to whatever the DJs feel like bringing in that week. It's less about the label and more about the vibe – basslines, moonlight and that brief moment where you and a stranger lock eyes while leaning against the terrace edge.

Thursdays are Ladies' Night, which means free drinks and a higher-than-average concentration of people who look like they have Instagram deals. Expect a crowd that includes everyone from wide-eyed Shanghai newcomers and jetlagged DJs to veteran expat footballers and freelance fashionistas – sometimes all in the same group chat.

Midweek perks & other reasons to pretend it's still the weekend

Beyond the theme nights and curated beats, there are weekday incentives for those who refuse to wait until Friday to make bad decisions. Wednesdays, for example, offer a buy-one-get-one shisha deal – ideal for the midweek philosopher who likes their existential dread with a side of apple mint.

The menu: Mediterranean-inspired cocktails and nibbles

The food and drink situation at Mykonos Island is less "authentic taverna" and more "Santorini via Xintiandi." Overseen by consulting chef Conrad Van Den Heever, the menu leans into the shareable, Instagrammable and cocktail-compatible – small plates, bold flavors, things on skewers.

You've got your raw bar, because of course you do – wagyu tartare and yellowfin tuna with grapes and almonds, the kind of combinations that sound like someone dared a private chef and it somehow worked.

The grilled stuff is solid: lamb and chicken souvlaki, New Zealand salmon, all delivered in manageable, photo-friendly portions. Pair that with a ruby red drink in a frosted glass and a skyline backdrop, and you're basically one well-timed breeze away from believing you're on a yacht.

The cocktail list leans heavy into island fantasy – lots of fruit, lots of colors, lots of drinks that taste like you should be wearing white linen and flirting irresponsibly. There's the Mediterranean Sunset, which pairs Beefeater gin with cranberry and mint – basically a spa day in a glass. Or the Coconut Sea, a Bacardi-and-coconut milk situation that feels like something you'd order barefoot, ideally on a boat.

They're sweet. No one's pretending otherwise. But they go down easy, which is sort of the point. At 80-100 yuan (US$11.1-13.9) a pop, you're paying for the daydream and the buzz, not the mixology credentials.

Cutting sugar? Good luck. But there are fallback options: standard mixers (80 yuan), beer, wine by the glass… all present, all drinkable. Just don't ask for anything neat and serious – this place is for letting your hair down.

Cost, rooftop in rain, will I get sweaty?

Mykonos Island opens at 6pm, which is early enough to convince yourself this is just a casual drink.

The space fits about 50 to 60 seated guests, though "seated" is a temporary condition. There's plenty of room to drift, mingle, smoke something fruity, or debate whether someone at the bar is actually famous or just owns white pants.

Rooftop cover? Yes. So if you don't want to stay home while it's raining, you can chill here. Cooling system? Also yes.

Entry starts at 100 yuan, which includes a drink and your first mistake of the evening. Tickets are available through Unight's WeChat mini-program or, if you're living in 2006, via email (info@unight.cn). First 50 people usually get in free, which explains why there is the occasional queue of well-dressed optimism at the door.

If you go...

Tel: 1860-1714-754

Email: info@unight.cn

Website: www.unight.cn

Address: Rm 162, 4/F, WeWork, 608 Xikang Rd

⻄康路608号WeWork4楼162室