What to Eat in Shanghai: 7 Must-Try Restaurants & Cafés

Time travel to the future at No. 3 Warehouse, a futuristic restaurant that looks pretty out of this world. We’ve never seen anything quite like it!

We love how most dishes are presented with an innovative flair. The ‘Tea-Smoked Flame Ribs’ come in a little book; watch as the waitress sets one of the pages aflame to reveal succulent ribs on a bed of tea leaves. The drinks are a work of art as well: sip from a glass handbag, or sweeten the deal with a giant candy floss.

Don’t forget to leave room for dessert: we loved the ‘Starry Sky Journey’, which invites guests to crack open a planet made of white chocolate. Inside, you’ll find a refreshing blend of prawns and fruit salad. Otherwise, dig into a gigantic ‘Ice Cream Hotpot’, where two bear-shaped ice creams sit atop a mixture of fruits. Adding an interactive element, it also comes with a genie lamp full of condensed milk for you to drizzle on top. 

Tip: Expect a long queue at this viral restaurant! We arrived at opening time (10am), and were able to walk in. Alternatively, make a reservation (varies with outlet) or join the virtual queue via the Dianping app. 

2. Hen Jiu Yi Qian Yang Rou Chuan (很久以前羊肉串)

Snag a table at Hen Jiu Yi Qian Yang Rou Chuan (很久以前羊肉串), a super popular barbecue skewers joint.

Each diner will be given a fever patch to combat the heat from the grill — how cute is that! Choose from a variety of lamb, chicken, beef, prawn, and vegetable skewers. The staff will help to cook them on an automatically-rotating grill, so all you have to do is sit back, relax, and eat. The staff are super accommodating towards kids too; they even helped to push my stroller to the table.

The skewers are tender and flavourful on their own but, if you’d like, you add some extra seasoning. At the end of the meal, enjoy a free ice cream. Plus, don’t leave without using the scent remover machine for your clothes. 

Tip: There’s always a queue at this restaurant chain! The trick is to join the waitlist on Wechat mini program, and pre-order to minimise waiting time, as early as possible. 

Location: Multiple locations in Shanghai, including No. 1 Department Store at East Nanjing Road

3. Apoli Itabakery

Enter a fairytale world at Apoli Itabakery, which is famous for its magical Harry Potter vibes. 

Tip: Visit in the early morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds, as the shop can get quite squeezy.

Warning: you might feel slightly overwhelmed by the large variety of savoury and sweet treats on display. We ended up picking a whole tray full, and enjoyed most of them! We did find some of the pastries had too much cream, but really liked the best-selling strawberry pistachio cream croissant.

Location: No. 380 Xingguo Road, French Concession (near Wukang Mansion)

4. Ren He Guan (人和馆)

A dining institution in Shanghai, Ren He Guan (人和馆) is well loved by locals and tourists alike. Recognised by the Michelin Guide from 2021 to 2025, the restaurant serves a repertoire of classic Shanghainese dishes.

Tip: We love how we were able to make a reservation via the Dianping app. Remember to do so at least one day in advance.

The crab meat and roe with rice is a must-order; we tried a few others in Shanghai, and the one at Ren He Guan came out tops! Other dishes to try include the Squirrel Mandarin Fish with Sweet and Sour Sauce, steamed chicken, as well as drunken crabs (either raw or cooked).

You’ll even be treated to a live performance at the Xuhui branch.

Location: Two outlets in Xuhui and Jing’an (there’s also an outlet at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport T2 with no queue!)

5. 13DE MARZO

Our visit to 13DE MARZO was admittedly for the ‘gram and, evidently, many others thought the same. Choose from a line-up of coffee, fruit teas, and homemade milk tea. Each drink comes with the cutest teddy bear attached to it; and yes, it’ll be all yours to keep!

Tip: Order your drinks in advance via the Wechat mini program. Our drinks were only ready after 45 minutes, allowing us to explore the surrounding area whilst waiting.

Seize the chance to take photos with giant teddy stuffies, or shop for some teddy-inspired apparel and merchandise.

Location: No. 322 Anfu Road, French Concession

6. Lai Lai Xiao Long (莱莱小笼)

Recommended by the Michelin Bib Gourmand, Lai Lai Xiao Long (莱莱小笼) is a humble nondescript eatery specialising in soup dumplings (小笼包). Order a mix of crab, crab roe, or crab roe and pork xiao long bao to try. Our favourite was the pure crab xiao long bao variety, which was filled with creamy golden flesh. The fried pork steak is delicious too!

Tip: The restaurant unfortunately doesn’t take reservations, nor does it have a virtual queue. You’ll have to queue in person, but the queue moves fast.

Location: 504 Tianjin Road, near East Nanjing Road

7. Zhongyaotang (中曜堂)

Zhongyaotang (中曜堂) might look like a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shop on the outside, but inside you’ll find an inconspicuous gelato shop! Feel free to ask for complimentary samples before choosing from flavours like ‘Chinese Yam, Angelica & Goji’, ‘Poria and Coix Seed’, and ‘Guizhou Black Glutinous Rice’. 

That’s not all: load up your tray with jellycats shaped like Chinese herbs, and enjoy a cute jellycat performance. Note that this performance is only available at its Hunan outlet.

Location: Two outlets at Hunan and Xiangyang

Planning a trip to Shanghai? Check out our 14-day Shanghai and Beijing itinerary or the 8-day Shanghai and Nantong itinerary to see how to fit these dining spots into your travel plans.

This article is contributed by E-lyn, a mummy to both a three-year-old toddler and a five-year-old dog. She also loves all things Disney!