Shanghai continues to evolve as a culinary metropolis, where global luxury collides with regional heritage. The city’s food scene reflects its layered identity: old-school Shanghainese, experimental bistros, coastal Chinese cuisines, and ambitious fine dining projects from international heavyweights. From lanehouse eateries in Jing’an District, the Former French Concession, to skyline-facing hotel restaurants in Pudong, this is a city best explored through its plates and pours.
Travel Tips & FAQs: Navigating Shanghai
🚄 Getting Around: Take the Maglev from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road in 8 minutes, then switch to the metro. The metro is clean, fast, and in English. Use Didi for rides—just save addresses in Chinese to show drivers.
💳 Cashless City: Shanghai runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay. Even street stalls use QR codes. Malaysians can pay with Touch ’n Go via Alipay+. Carry a bit of cash just in case.
📲 Must-Have Apps: Download Alipay, Didi, Apple Maps, Dianping, and WeChat before arrival. These cover transport, payments, directions, and food.
🌐 Use a VPN: Google, Gmail, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook are blocked. Get a good VPN (like LetsVPN, a Hong Kong based company) to stay connected. Some don’t work well like ExpressVPN.
🈶 Language Tips: Most locals don’t speak English. Save names and addresses in Chinese, and use screenshots or QR codes when asking for help.
Where To Eat: Street, Casual and Fine Dining in Shanghai
Shanghai’s dining landscape is layered with contrast—wet market noodles served beside restored villas, and heritage dishes sharing space with progressive tasting menus. From street-side stalls selling xiao long bao to Michelin-starred counters reimagining Fujian or Taizhou cuisine, the city rewards curiosity at every level. Casual eats offer a window into daily local life, while fine casual venues strike a balance between comfort and concept, often led by returning chefs or creative independents. Fine dining is where Shanghai pushes boundaries, blending regional traditions with contemporary structure, global ingredients, and sharp precision. This section cuts through the noise to spotlight the places worth sitting down for—whether it’s a ¥20 breakfast or a 12-course dinner.
Casual Eats in Shanghai: Street Food, Soup Dumplings, and Heritage Dishes
For a city as dynamic as Shanghai, casual dining often reveals the truest expression of its culinary DNA. These no-frills venues serve dishes rooted in generational memory—whether it’s silky soup dumplings from a hole-in-the-wall on Maoming South Road or dongpo rou cooked in the same braising liquid for decades. The flavours lean bold and comforting: sweetened soy, fermented tofu, river crabs, and stir-fried eels all make appearances in menus written more for locals than tourists. These restaurants are not about style, but substance. What they lack in polish, they more than make up for in cultural authenticity.
Lai Lai Xiao Long Bao 莱莱小笼包
Shanghainese soup dumplings with loyal neighbourhood following
Lai Lai Xiao Long Bao has earned its reputation by sticking to the fundamentals: paper-thin wrappers, generous broth, and perfectly seasoned pork filling. Popular with office workers and retirees alike, the setting is humble and the turnover fast. Each basket arrives steaming hot, with vinegar and ginger on standby. There are no gimmicks here, just a steadfast commitment to craft. While the menu includes a few other staples, it’s the dumplings that draw locals back daily.
Address:
1/F, 900 Food City, no.50 Wanhangdu Road
万航渡路50号900食品城1楼
See our Shanghai Casual Eats Instagram review.
Old Jesse 老吉士
Shanghai’s most storied address for uncompromising local cuisine
Old Jesse remains the definitive stop for Shanghainese cooking. Salty, sweet, soy-heavy flavours dominate a menu that never panders to outside tastes. Signature dishes include braised pork belly, scallion oil noodles, stir-fried eels and a crab fat jelly that recalls pre-war elegance. The interiors are spartan, and service is brisk, but chefs and gourmands alike return for the rare precision of its old-school flavours.
Address:
41 Tianping Road
天平路41
See our Old Jesse 老吉士 Instagram review.
Wu You Xian 屋有鲜
Golden crab roe filled xiao long bao known for its execution
Tucked along Maoming South, Wu You Xian has quietly become a go-to for locals craving a purist take on xiao long bao. The dumplings here are hand-wrapped to order, with a thin, elastic skin that encloses an aromatic broth and delicately seasoned pork filling. What sets them apart is the precise folding technique and generous soup ratio—neither too heavy nor overly rich. The setting is unpretentious, with simple seating and brisk service, but the focus remains squarely on the craft. For those seeking Shanghainese comfort without fanfare, this small eatery delivers the essentials with clarity and care.
Address:
Shop 103, 7 Maoming South Road
茂名南路7号103
See our Shanghai Casual Eats Instagram review.
Casual Dining in Shanghai: Mid-Range Dining That Marries Comfort and Concept
Fine casual dining in Shanghai captures the spirit of culinary innovation without the rigidity of white tablecloths. These restaurants are concept-driven, chef-led, and grounded in accessible pricing. Italian aesthetics meet Chinese ingredients in restored villas. French sharing menus are layered with Southeast Asian memories. Japanese izakayas play with Western comfort food in new and unexpected ways. The focus is less on luxury and more on narrative, provenance, and personality. These venues appeal to diners looking for something personal—well-crafted plates in well-designed spaces, led by chefs with a story to tell.
1929 by Guillaume Galliot
Refined French cuisine with Asian echoes and Italian soul
Led by Marco Morandini, 1929 captures Guillaume Galliot’s culinary vision through a shareable French menu marked by precision and warmth. Dishes like king crab laksa, pâté en croûte, and semolina risotto with langoustine create a tapestry of textures and memory. Desserts, from flambéed mandarin baba to coconut and lemongrass, close the meal with quiet grace. It’s elegant without being aloof.
Address:
1/F, Jinbei House, no. 59 Maoming South Road (Changle Road junction)
茂名南路59号锦北楼西侧一楼沿街（靠近长乐路）
See our 1929 by Guillaume Galliot Instagram review.
Mi Shang 迷上
Italian restraint meets Shanghai glamour in a Prada-built villa
Located in the restored Rong Zhai mansion, Mi Shang is Prada’s first standalone restaurant in Asia, blending fashion’s visual discipline with culinary restraint. Riccardo La Perna delivers a modern Italian menu layered with subtle nods to local produce. Wong Kar Wai’s cinematic direction shapes the visual tone. Less a fashion gimmick, more a study in ambience and stillness, it’s a rare experience of art direction meeting culinary tact.
Address:
186 North Shaanxi Road
陕西北路186号
See our Mi Shang Instagram review.
San Bai Bei 三佰杯
Uncompromising Ningbo flavours in a stripped-back setting
An unapologetic showcase of Ningbo cuisine, San Bai Bei steers clear of crowd-pleasers in favour of regional honesty. The Rice Lees Platter and Raw River Crab highlight fermented, saline notes, while Taro Soup with Crispy Pork Lard and Steamed Black Sesame and Lard Pudding embrace deep textures and funk. It’s rare to find this level of integrity and depth outside a private home. Expect no-frills service and full-flavoured tradition.
Address:
56 Maoming South Road
茂名南路56号（兰心大戏院斜对面）
See our San Bai Bei Instagram review.
Shi He Yuan 柿合缘
Modernised imperial Beijing flavours with theatrical precision
Part of the new wave of Chinese bistros, Shi He Yuan presents new Peking cuisine with flair and finesse. Signature dishes include hawthorn goose liver, Qianlong cabbage, and cumin lamb, with careful references to Qing dynasty culinary aesthetics. The menu balances historical homage with textural modernity, creating a format where nostalgia meets clever reinvention. Expect plating that borders on art, without tipping into excess.
Address:
Shop 302-303, 3/F, Building no.2, Gate M, no. 2266 Longteng Avenue
龙腾大道2266号西岸梦中心2号楼3层302-303号
See our Shi He Yuan Instagram review.
XIME
Japanese izakaya comfort food with sharp, confident execution
Founded by Sam Norris, XIME is a modern Japanese izakaya where London meets Tokyo with casual swagger. A panko-crusted Scotch egg and rich beef omurice deliver indulgence without theatrics. The sukiyaki nabe arrives bubbling, packed with beef and vegetables soaking up sweet soy broth. The vibe is all blond wood, vinyl, and low-key confidence. Easy to return to, hard to fault.
Address:
989 Changle Road
长乐路989号
See our XIME Instagram review.
Fine Dining in Shanghai: Michelin Stars and Modern Chinese Cuisine
Shanghai’s fine dining scene is a study in balance—between heritage and innovation, formality and fluidity, global acclaim and local roots. The city’s top-tier restaurants showcase everything from Taizhou seafood to Fujian broths, reinterpreted with precision and restraint. International names like Narisawa bring philosophies of nature and minimalism, while homegrown talents like Tony Lu continue to shape the narrative of Chinese botanical cuisine. Whether it’s a tasting menu that unfolds like a film or a crab-focused omakase that challenges convention, these restaurants redefine what contemporary dining means in China’s most forward-looking city.
102 House 壹零贰小馆
Elevated Cantonese interpreted through seasonal discipline
Chef Xu Jingye brings a rare blend of rustic memory and fine technique to this two Michelin-starred venue. Cold starters like pork caul fat with shepherd’s purse and Shaoxing foie gras ease into warm dishes of geoduck rice noodles and camphorwood fried chicken. The signatures, including shark’s fin with crab and duck soup with three delicacies, reveal his reverence for clarity. Dessert is a quiet finale of almond cake and stewed peach gum.
Address:
5/F, House of Roosevelt, no.27 Zhongshandongyi Road
中山东一路27号罗斯福公馆5楼
See our 102 House Instagram review.
Fu He Hui 福和慧
Modern Chinese vegetarian rooted in spiritual and seasonal balance
Fu He Hui is one of the few restaurants where vegetables take centre stage with such grace and rigour. Helmed by Chef Tony Lu and backed by Fang Yuan, the two Michelin-starred venue draws from Buddhist philosophies to present a tasting menu that is textural, meditative, and exact. From roasted lily bulb with fennel to bamboo shoot rice wrapped in its own peel, each plate invites contemplation. It’s not merely vegetarian, it’s botanical cuisine executed with quiet depth.
Address:
1037 Yuyuan Road
愚园路1037号
See our Fu He Hui Instagram review.
Grand Boat 广舟
Modern Cantonese fine dining with regional depth
Chef Huang Jianyi’s tasting menu draws from Guangdong’s many traditions, offering a panorama of southern Chinese seafood and stews. Eight cold appetisers—including sunflower chicken and Ningbo-style choysum—lead into a series of precise hot dishes, such as stewed grouper soup, shark’s fin with crab, and sweet and sour pork. The pacing is exact, the tone refined, and the produce allowed to shine without distraction.
Address:
168 Julu Road
巨鹿路168号
See our Grand Boat Instagram review.
La Scène Ronde
French-Japanese elegance layered with Chinese terroir
Chef Yuki Yamano divides his tasting into Morning, Noon, and Night, threading dishes like turtle consommé, yellow croaker in wine sauce, and 5J ham sushi into a temporal arc. The setting, atop Jean Nouvel’s landmark, matches the meal’s considered pace. From Wagyu with aged soy to porcini ice cream desserts, the menu moves deliberately, poetic without drifting into abstraction.
Address:
LG1-13, The Roof, 458 Madang Road
马当路458弄恒基·旭辉天地地下一层LG1-13
See our La Scene Ronde Instagram review.
Ling Long 玲珑
Narrative-driven Chinese tasting menu with poetic restraint
Chef Jason Liu creates a menu that moves like a story. Each dish is a chapter, from yellow croaker and porcini tartlets to Guizhou tilefish in sour soup. References to his training and personal history appear in the details, such as the Tung Feng Chicken inspired by his early career or the dry-aged chicken broth amuse. Desserts draw on Chinese honey and childhood snacks. It’s a dining experience that favours rhythm over spectacle.
Address:
1/F, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, no. 2 Zhongshandongyi Road
中山东一路2号华尔道夫酒店1楼
See our Ling Long Instagram review.
Meet The Bund Skyline 遇外滩 SKYLINE
Contemporary Fujian fine dining with a view
Located in the Bund Finance Center, Meet The Bund Skyline offers panoramic views of the Lujiazui skyline and a refined tasting menu that explores regional Chinese cuisines through a contemporary lens. Signature dishes include abalone in aged Shaoxing wine, Jiangnan-style river prawns, and double-boiled soups with seasonal herbs. Interiors are understated and elegant, allowing the skyline and plates to speak for themselves. It’s a venue that embodies Shanghai’s fusion of old and new.
Address:
56/F, West Tower,North Bund Raffles City, 168 Gongping Road
公平路168号北外滩来福士西塔56层
See our Meet The Bund Instagram review.
NARISAWA Shanghai
Satoyama philosophy meets Shanghai restraint
Yoshihiro Narisawa’s Shanghai outpost translates his Japanese forest-to-table ethos for a new context. Dishes like Fujian squid tempura with Dalian uni, abalone furai, and moss butter evoke landscapes with precision. The soft shell turtle udon and rosy seabass zosui ground the experience in comfort. It’s not a copy of Tokyo but a conversation—between Japan and China, restraint and warmth, silence and flavour.
Address:
Shop 705, 7/F, 1000 Trees, no. 600 Moganshan Road
莫干山路600号天安千树7楼705室
See our NARISAWA Shanghai Instagram review.
No Crab Omakase 无蟹居•九道
A Chinese omakase dedicated to crustacean complexity
Chef Haley Zhang’s omakase challenges assumptions with a menu that leans heavily on crab, despite its name. Signature courses include foie gras with surf clam, crab roe oil rice, and river shrimp wok-fried in buffalo colostrum chilli. Each dish offers a new perspective on sweetness, texture, and shellfish depth. Xiao long bao with juvenile crab and a dessert of herbal ice cream reinforce the kitchen’s precise but boundary-pushing ethos.
Address:
B-01, Lobby of JinNan House, JinJiang Hotel, 59 Maoming South Road
茂名南路59号锦江饭店锦楠楼底层大堂B座–01
See our No Crab Omakase Instagram review.
TING by Frederic Jaros
Symbiosis cuisine led by emotion, memory, and visual wit
Frederic Jaros and Xinxin Wu craft a tasting menu as filmic as it is culinary. “Beach Holiday” unfolds through scampi in sugar globes, sukiyaki pigeon, and akamutsu with celery sabayon. Wagyu is served with fermented black bean and mint yoghurt, bridging comfort and rebellion. The final courses—such as After-Sun Care and cucumber with green tea—feel like a director’s closing frame. It’s theatrical but deeply sincere.
Address:
L108, Xintiandi Style II, no.245 Madang Road (entrance via VERIE Bakehouse)
马当路245号新天地时尚IIL1层L108（从VERIE Bakehouse进入）
See our TING by Frederic Jaros Instagram review.
Xin Rong Ji 新荣记 (West Nanjing Road)
Precision-led Taizhou seafood served in haute minimalism
Xin Rong Ji has perfected the art of letting ingredients speak. This branch continues the restaurant’s philosophy of unadorned precision, featuring signature dishes such as braised yellow croaker with handmade rice cakes and bitter melon pork rib soup. Pigeon with lacquered skin and tofu casseroles reflect the discipline of Taizhou cuisine. Subtle luxury prevails, from the plating to the seamless service. Ranked No.82 on Asia’s 50 Best, this is clarity at its highest.
Address:
L2, Henderson Plaza, no.688 Nanjing West Road
南京西路688号恒基688广场L2
See our Xin Rong Ji Instagram review.
Where to Drink in Shanghai: Craft Cocktails and Speakeasies
Shanghai’s cocktail scene has matured into one of Asia’s most compelling, blending global bartending technique with local flair. From speakeasies that redefined the genre to sustainability-driven laboratories and agave-led tasting rooms, each bar delivers a distinct mood and menu. Many venues are helmed by award-winning mixologists who focus on spirit-forward, balanced profiles with thoughtful infusions and house-made elements. The city’s top bars don’t just serve drinks—they shape conversations around craft, culture, and community. Whether it’s a clarified sour in a moody basement or a highball under vintage lights, Shanghai’s bars are built for serious drinkers who also know how to have fun.
COA Shanghai
Agave spirits in their purest form, imported with intent
Jay Khan’s award-winning Coa finds its footing in Shanghai with an agave-forward menu rooted in terroir and technical clarity. From single village mezcals to creatively restrained cocktails, the bar introduces China to the complexity of Mexican spirits without diluting their heritage. Service is enthusiastic, and the room hums with energy.
Address:
580, Fuxingzhong Road
复兴中路580号
Gallows Humor
Dark interiors, sharp drinks, and serious bartending
As the name suggests, Gallows Humour leans into the moody and irreverent. The menu walks the line between brooding classics and flavour experiments—think clarified milk punches and earthy infusions. Service is discreet and informed, and the setting is ideal for slow drinking or quiet conversation.
Address:
35 Shaanxi South Road
陕西南路35号
Penicillin Shanghai
Eco-conscious cocktails with culinary sharpness
A Shanghai sibling of the Hong Kong original, Penicillin champions sustainable bartending with precision. The lab-like set-up allows for on-site fermentations and reductions, resulting in zero-waste drinks that don’t compromise on flavour. From whisky sours built on reclaimed citrus to distillate-laced highballs, the drinks remain complex but easy to enjoy. The industrial-chic space keeps the focus on what’s in the glass.
Address:
62 Nanchang Road
南昌路62号
See our Penicillin Shanghai Instagram review.
Pony Up
A new-wave dive with smart drinks and low-key charm
Address: B1, 150 Hubin Road, Huangpu, Shanghai
Opened by the team behind The Odd Couple, Pony Up channels the dive bar aesthetic with clean execution. Think Highballs, clarified sours, and strong hip-hop over the speakers. It’s a favourite among off-duty bartenders and anyone who prefers substance over flash. Drinks are direct, well-balanced, and reasonably priced.
Address:
230 Jinxian Road
进贤路230号
Sober Company
Conceptual drinking with a side of dining and discovery
Sober Company invites guests to navigate its bar-dining-coffee hybrid format across interconnected rooms. Cocktails are well-structured, often built around spirit-forward profiles or nuanced infusions. If you complete the bar trail, you unlock access to Room S—a hidden back bar where the team lets loose with more experimental serves. It’s layered, polished, and playful.
Address:
F106 1/F, INS, no.109 Yandang Road
雁荡路109号INS 1楼F106
Speak Low
A multi-level speakeasy that defined modern Shanghai cocktail culture
sSpeak Low remains a mainstay of Shanghai’s drinking scene. Hidden behind a bartending tools shop, the bar unfolds over three floors, each offering a different style of cocktail service. Expect modern classics, Japanese precision, and one of the most consistent teams in the city. It’s no longer underground, but still essential.
Address:
579 Fuxing Zhong Road
复兴中路579号
See our Speak Low Instagram review.
Where To Stay: Business, Boutique and Luxury hotels
From riverside landmarks to sky-high sanctuaries, Shanghai offers accommodations that match the city’s layered character. Boutique hotels in restored heritage buildings sit comfortably alongside skyscraper towers offering panoramic views of the Lujiazui skyline. Whether you’re seeking discreet luxury with designer interiors, the formality of a global chain, or the efficiency of a smart urban hotel, there’s a place that fits. Many of the city’s best hotels are located within reach of its culinary and cultural districts, with on-site restaurants and bars that match the quality of Shanghai’s broader food scene. Here, where you stay is as much a part of the journey as what you eat or drink.
Fairfield by Marriott Shanghai Jing’an
Reliable, business-forward comfort with central access
Address: 1500 Gonghe Xin Road, Jing’an, Shanghai
Fairfield by Marriott Shanghai Jing’an is a solid mid-range option for travellers seeking practicality over polish. Situated near major commercial hubs and well-connected via metro, it offers clean, functional rooms with all essential amenities—comfortable beds, reliable high-speed Wi-Fi, and a small work area. The breakfast buffet caters to both Western and Chinese preferences, while the fitness centre provides enough for a short stay. While it lacks luxury trimmings, the hotel’s efficiency and value make it a dependable base for business trips or transit stays. Service is courteous, check-in is seamless, and the overall experience is hassle-free.
The Middle House
Boutique intimacy blended with design-forward hospitality
Address: 366 Shimen Yi Road, Jing’an, Shanghai
The Middle House is part of The House Collective, offering a sanctuary-like atmosphere amid Jing’an’s bustling urban core. Designed by Piero Lissoni, the hotel features dark timber finishes, jade accents, and curated contemporary artworks. Rooms are large and refined, with freestanding bathtubs, walk-in wardrobes, and Bamford toiletries. Dining is a draw in itself: Sui Tang Li serves modern Jiangzhe cuisine, while Café Gray Deluxe offers creative Euro-Asian plates alongside panoramic terrace views. The wellness area includes a well-equipped gym, an indoor pool, and a serene spa offering holistic treatments. Though located within Taikoo Hui, the hotel feels tucked away, prioritising privacy, tailored service, and quiet luxury. It’s a fitting choice for design-savvy travellers seeking a more intimate Shanghai experience.
See our Sui Tang Li, Café Grey Deluxe and Middle House Instagram review.
Park Hyatt Shanghai
Elevated tranquillity high above the financial district
Address: 100 Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai
Occupying the upper floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center, Park Hyatt Shanghai offers one of the most elevated stays in the city. The interiors are marked by minimalist luxury—warm woods, natural fabrics, and soft ambient lighting. Rooms come with expansive skyline views, deep soaking tubs, and thoughtfully integrated technology. Guests can unwind at the Water’s Edge spa, which includes a heated infinity pool with panoramic city views. The 87th-floor Dining Room serves delicately plated Jiangnan cuisine, and the hotel’s bar offers a quiet place to sip classic cocktails away from the city’s din. While located in the heart of Pudong’s financial zone, the experience remains calm, private, and refined—perfect for both business and leisure travellers seeking serenity.
See our Dining Room and Park Hyatt Instagram review.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund
Old World elegance on Shanghai’s most iconic stretch
Address: 2 Zhongshan East 1st Road, Huangpu, Shanghai
Set along the historic Bund, the Waldorf Astoria blends colonial-era grandeur with modern-day sophistication. The property spans two buildings: the Heritage Building preserves neoclassical architecture and original period details, while the Waldorf Tower provides contemporary rooms with sweeping river views. Rooms in both wings are spacious and well-appointed, featuring marble bathrooms, premium linens, and high-end amenities. Dining includes Wai King Kok for refined regional Chinese cuisine, Pelham’s for modern European plates, and Peacock Alley for cocktails and high tea. The restored Long Bar remains a nod to the building’s past, now open to all. Service is discreet yet attentive, while the hotel’s central location places guests within walking distance of Shanghai’s historic and cultural landmarks.
See our Wai King Kok, Long Bar and Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Instagram review.
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