Must-see restaurants in Shanghai

  • Commune Social

    Shanghai

    From UK celebrity chef Jason Atherton, this natty Neri & Hu–designed restaurant blends a stylish yet relaxed vibe with sensational tasting dishes,…

  • Brut Eatery

    Shanghai

    An extremely popular casual cafe with half a dozen tables, plus steps with cushions and mini side tables out the front. Diners queue and then sit shoulder…

  • Hǎi Dǐ Lāo

    Shanghai

    This Sichuanese hotpot restaurant is all about service, and the assault begins the minute you walk in the door. Pre-dining options include shoeshines,…

  • Hóng Làjiāo Xiāngcàiguǎn

    Shanghai

    There's no shortage of decent Hunan restaurants in Shanghai, but you won't find much better than this one. Wooden benches and an exposed-brick effect make…

  • Yershari

    Shanghai

    Yershari offers a slightly smarter version of the typically raucous Xinjiang dining experience, but this place is still no-frills and plenty of fun with…

  • Fu 1039

    Shanghai

    Set in a three-storey 1913 villa, Fu attains an old-fashioned charm. Foodies who appreciate sophisticated surroundings and Shanghainese food on par with…

  • Sproutworks

    Shanghai

    A branch of the excellent quick-serve smart cafeteria joint, serving cooked Asian and Mediterranean meals from counter vats. Plus fresh-to-order salads…

  • Fú Hé Huì

    Shanghai

    Started by the team behind Fu 1015, Fu 1088 and Fu 1039, Fú Hé Huì is the standout in an amazing bunch. Set in an elegant private room, the strictly…

  • El Willy

    Shanghai Old City

    Ensconced in the stunningly converted South Bund 22, Willy Trullas Moreno’s fetching and fun restaurant is a more relaxed counterpoint to many other…

  • Grand Café

    Shanghai

    On the 54th floor of Jinmao Tower (in the Grand Hyatt lobby), the Grand Café offers stunning panoramas through its glass walls and an excellent-value…

  • Xibo

    Shanghai

    Named after an ethnic group in China's northwest, this excellent restaurant is a tad pricey compared to other Xinjiang options in Shanghai, but makes up…

  • Din Tai Fung

    Shanghai

    If you choose one place to try Shanghai's famous pork-and-crab xiǎolóngbāo soup dumplings, let it be here. This critically acclaimed restaurant steams…

  • Yang's Fry Dumplings

    Shanghai

    In the mall above a metro exit is this small outlet of the great fried-dumpling chain, specialising in delicious pork and prawn shēngjiān (spring-onion…

  • Sichuan Folk

    Shanghai

    Formerly known as Baguo Buyi, Sichuan Folk is among the most authentic Sichuan food in town, cooked up by the diligent chefs at this famous restaurant at…

  • Fu 1088

    Shanghai

    In a 1930s villa, exclusive Fu 1088 has 17 rooms filled with Chinese antiques. Rooms are rented out privately, with white-gloved service and an emphasis…

  • 1221

    Shanghai

    No one has a bad thing to say about this dapper expat favourite, and rightly so: it has never let its standards dip over the years. Meat dishes start at …

  • Din Tai Fung

    Shanghai

    This busy Taiwan-owned restaurant chain may still be peddling its ‘Top 10 restaurants of the world’ mantra after a two-decades-old review in the New York…

  • Kebabs on the Grille

    Shanghai Old City

    This busy Cool Docks restaurant is a genuine crowd-pleaser, and has alfresco seating by the pond outside. There’s a delicious range of tandoori dishes,…

  • Yi Cafe

    Shanghai

    If you’re squabbling over what to eat for lunch, brunch or dinner, settle your differences at smart-casual Yi Cafe. With 11 open kitchens and a walk…

  • Bǎinián Lóngpáo

    Shanghai

    This tiny spot at the foot of Qibao’s main bridge has by far and away the best xiǎolóngbāo ('little steamer buns') on the block. Dumpling fillings include…

  • Co. Cheese Melt Bar

    Shanghai

    This small but established joint is dedicated entirely to the humble grilled-cheese sandwich. Choose from 25 different types of melts, from turkey to Thai…

  • Together

    Shanghai

    Foodies will adore this French-Asian minimalist place with an open kitchen and nice red-brick courtyard. It serves uber-creative cold and hot sharing…

  • Bistro 2555

    Shanghai

    Housed in a sleek industrial space, adjacent to a former aeroplane-hangar-turned-gallery, this is easily the best place to grab a bite in the area. It has…

  • Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant

    Shanghai

    A not-too-busy branch of the famous Shanghai dumpling restaurant, where you cannot go wrong with the reasonably priced xiǎolóngbāo dumplings. There's the…

  • Lotus Eatery

    Shanghai

    You've got to like it spicy if you're going to savour the cuisine from the land south of the clouds. The Yunnan dishes here really work for vegetarians –…

  • Jen Dow Vegetarian Restaurant

    Shanghai

    Your body is a temple, so treat it with respect by dining at this fab ground-floor meat-free restaurant slung out behind the Jing'an Temple. You can slurp…

  • On 56

    Shanghai

    All the restaurants in this swish selection come with breathtaking views into the Shanghai void from the Grand Hyatt. Canton serves modern Cantonese that…

  • Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant

    Shanghai Old City

    Renovated to spanking modernity in 2018, this is Shanghai’s most famous dumpling restaurant – some love it, others see an overrated tourist trap. Decide…

  • South Beauty

    Shanghai

    On the 10th floor of the Superbrand Mall, this branch of South Beauty is a little scuffed around the edges these days but it still cooks up classic dishes…

  • Char

    Shanghai Old City

    Housed in Hotel Indigo, Char is a wildly pricey steakhouse. Park yourself on a sofa against the window or in a comfy chair facing Lujiazui for optimum…

  • Pie Society

    Shanghai

    Super modern, minimalist Pie Society is the place to come for a British food fix. It does a good line in pie flavours, from the blue moo (blue cheese and…

  • Xinjiang Restaurant

    Shanghai

    The decor is full-on kitsch at this upstairs Uyghur restaurant, but you can feed an army on the whole roast lamb, or simply settle down to some tasty…

  • Sproutworks

    Shanghai

    For a healthy recharge, Sproutworks offers a natural and earthy focus on fresh, wholesome food, in a clean-cut (but rather square) setting. Cleanse your…

  • Méilǒngzhèn Jiǔjiā

    Shanghai

    This esteemed lǎozihào ('old name') lane-house restaurant has been serving delighted diners since the 1930s. The iPad menu mixes Sichuan and Shanghainese…

  • Lynn

    Shanghai

    Lynn offers consistently good, cleverly presented dishes in plush but unfussy surroundings, with polished dark wood furniture and white tablecloths. There…

  • Blue Frog

    Shanghai

    One of the main expat hangouts in Xujiahui, Blue Frog has been in Shanghai for more than 16 years (making it practically ancient). The reason it's still…

  • Jin Hua

    Shanghai

    Dressed with tropical plants, vintage lampshades and plastic tablecloths, this casual retro spot serves tasty eats from Yunnan. Order crunchy fried lotus…

  • Taste & See

    Shanghai

    Meat-heavy, satisfying Australian dishes served in a modern white-and-wood space inside the popular Zhang Garden lòngtáng, near Tap House. Try the…

  • Cafe du Dragon

    Shanghai

    For those needing refreshment after an art appreciation session in the adjoining Long Museum, Cafe du Dragon is just the place. This colourful hangout…

  • Joe's Pizza

    Shanghai

    Pizza by the slice, served up with style on a paper plate. There are 15 delicious creations from the super cheese bomb to the Canadian (with mozzarella,…

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