Shanghai Restaurants

You'll notice that most Chinese restaurants in Shanghai have large, round tables. The reason becomes clear the first time you eat a late dinner at a local restaurant and are surrounded by jovial, laughing groups of people toasting and topping off from communal bottles of beer, sharing cigarettes, and spinning the lazy Susan loaded with food. Whether feting guests or demonstrating their wealth, hosts will order massive, showy spreads.

Shanghai's standing as China's most international city is reflected in its dining scene. You can enjoy xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) for breakfast, foie gras for lunch, and Korean barbecue for dinner. In many restaurants, it’s traditional to order several dishes to share among your party for family-style dining. Tipping is not expected, but more upmarket restaurants will tack on a 10%–15% service charge. Although you can eat at Chinese restaurants for less than Y50 per person, Western meals go for Western prices.

Some restaurants in Shanghai offer set lunches at a fraction of the dinner price. Check out the dining section of Time Out Shanghai, That's Shanghai or Smartshanghai.com, all of which list dining discounts and promotions around town.

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  • 1. Yong Yi Ting

    $$$$ | Pudong

    You'd expect nothing less than an exquisite experience from a restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental, and Yong Yi Ting delivers. The nuanced dishes—which focus on China's famous Huaiyang cuisine from Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province near Shanghai—are light in flavor and skillfully prepared.

    111 Pudong Nan Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China
    021-2082–9978

    Known For

    • Crispy fried pomfret with sweet soy
    • Braised beef ribs with walnuts
    • Crispy mandarin fish with sweet sour sauce and pine nuts
  • 2. Canton Table

    $$$$ | The Bund

    Though the decor here is thoroughly modern, it still evokes old Canton, with gorgeous tiled floors and painted murals of women in qipao dresses. The classic Cantonese dishes have been refined, elevated, and updated to perfectly match the stunning contemporary view of the Pudong skyline.

    3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, 200000, China
    021-6321–3737

    Known For

    • Whole abalone puffs
    • Cantonese barbecue platter
    • Sauteed beef with matsutake mushroom
  • 3. Cejerdary

    $$$$ | The Bund

    Outfitted in gorgeous pale wood with an aesthetic that feels almost Japanese in its minimalism, this light, airy shop specializes in one thing: crab noodles. They don't come cheap, but you can taste the care and craftsmanship in each serving—plus, the premium bowls are topped with gold flakes.

    59 Guangdong Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, 200000, China
    021-6969–7777

    Known For

    • Singular, specialized menu
    • High price tag
    • Beautiful design
  • 4. Coquille Seafood Bistro

    $$$$ | City Center

    The scent of butter and brine waft from the kitchen of this lovely French restaurant, the brainchild of Californian banker-turned-restaurateur John Liu and set in a refurbished space that was previously his mother's Vietnamese restaurant. While seated in a brasserie chair at a marble- or wood-topped table, you can tuck into platters of seafood and slurp French onion soup; while seated at the bar, you can watch the frenetic concocting of cocktails.

    29 Mengzi Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, 200231, China
    021-3376–8127

    Known For

    • Ultrafresh seafood
    • Beef Wellington
    • Foie-gras crème brûlée

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
  • 5. Mercato

    $$$$ | The Bund

    Prolific restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten's namesake restaurant has delighted Shanghai for quite a few years now, but Mercato is a whole different animal—one where the kitchen really shines with its smaller plates and pizza. Also polished is the industrial chic interior featuring iron, steel, reclaimed wood, and black-leather and wooden chairs that celebrate form and function.

    17 Guangdong Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, 200002, China
    021-6321–9922

    Known For

    • Black-truffle pizza
    • House-made ricotta with fruit compote
    • Classy but unfussy atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Mr & Mrs Bund

    $$$$ | The Bund

    Open into the wee hours, chef Paul Pairet's Bund-side eatery features not only satisfying modern French dishes but also a lengthy list of wines by the glass. If you're not a night owl, come for lunch or brunch, when the terrace views of Pudong's skyine are especially gorgeous.

    18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, 200002, China
    021-6323–9898

    Known For

    • Late-night bites
    • Romantic setting
    • Locally renowned chef

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 7. Taian Table

    $$$$ | Changning

    For a treat, head to Stefan Stiller's Michelin-starred Taian Table, where most seating is at a bar that wraps around a truly open and impressively orderly kitchen. The meticulously prepared dishes on the (mandatory) eight-course tasting menu change regularly and can be supplemented with equally well-made classic dishes and seasonal specials from an à la carte menu.

    No. 161, Lane 465, Zhenning Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China
    173-0160–5350

    Known For

    • Sea urchin on sourdough
    • Lobster royal
    • Roasted cauliflower with beef cheek
  • 8. Ultraviolet

    $$$$ | The Bund

    To reach this Paul Pairet (of Mr & Mrs Bund fame) restaurant, you board a minibus bound for a secret, 10-seat location, somewhere near Suzhou Creek, where you're served several courses, each one paired with customized video projections, songs, and aromas. Several different dining experiences are offered, but all of them are as pricey (seats start at Y4,000) and exclusive (deposits and reservations accepted three months out) as they are unique.

    18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, 200002, China
    021-6142–5198

    Known For

    • Totally immersive experience
    • High price tag
    • Critically acclaimed

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch. Closed Mon., Reservations essential

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