The counters in Shanghai worth queuing for: bread, pastry, and the morning ritual.
Bakery counters in Shanghai worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.
Park Hotel Bakery inside the Art Deco Park Hotel on West Nanjing Road in Shanghai draws block-long lines every day for its bagged butterfly crackers.
Worth the queueBagged butterfly crackers (hudiesu)
TipEach bag holds five crackers for about ¥30, from some 2,500 bags made a day; buy two if one is a gift.
Kaisiling on Nanjing West Road in Shanghai has sold its whipped chestnut cake since a 1928 copycat of a Tianjin cafe opened at this address.
Worth the queueChestnut cake (tossed cream)
TipBeyond the chestnut cake the case holds eclairs, cream horns and millefeuille; this is the original site, now in a newer building.
Lao Xiang Zhai on East Nanjing Road in Shanghai bakes a looser, crumblier butterfly cracker, sold by weight, that travels better for gifting.
Worth the queueButterfly crackers sold by weight
TipBuy by the 500 gram bag, about ¥110 to ¥130; the lower-moisture recipe keeps longer for travel.
Shen Da Cheng on East Nanjing Road in Shanghai has sold glutinous rice pastries, dim sum and spring qingtuan since 1875, with a queue at its street counter.
Worth the queueQingtuan glutinous rice balls
TipIn spring pick red bean paste for the classic qingtuan, or salted egg yolk with pork floss for the savoury one.
Xing Hua Lou on Fuzhou Road in Shanghai is the flagship of a century-old Cantonese brand, known for its mooncakes, dim sum and seasonal qingtuan.
Worth the queueCantonese-style mooncakes
TipIn spring the pork floss and salted egg yolk qingtuan draws long queues, with a limit on boxes per person.
Taikang Foods on East Nanjing Road in Shanghai is a long-standing counter for freshly fried pork mooncakes, plus red bean and malted milk qingtuan in spring.
Worth the queueFresh pork mooncake
TipIn spring look for the red bean and malted milk qingtuan, a local favourite alongside the pork mooncakes.
VERIE Bakehouse on the ground floor of Xintiandi Style II in Shanghai bakes buttery viennoiserie under Quebec pastry chef Frederic Jaros, ex-Da Vittorio.
Worth the queuePain suisse
TipSit on the dog-friendly terrace outside; TING, chef Frederic Jaros's chef's table, is on the floor above.
O'Mills Sourdough Bakery & Bistro on Yongjia Road in Shanghai bakes sourdough loaves and sourdough pizza, with plant-based dishes and fermented foods.
Worth the queueSourdough olive bread
TipThe sourdough olive bread is the loaf most often recommended; the bistro menu leans healthy, natural and plant-based.
BasdBan on Yuyuan Road in Shanghai bakes its popular croissants inside a design forward stainless steel and concrete storefront with a dog friendly patio.
Worth the queueCroissant
TipSeasonal specials rotate often, but regulars keep returning for the plain, flaky croissant.
Money Shops on historic, protected Yuyuan Road in Shanghai bakes a Hong Kong sized egg tart alongside French breads, tarts and cakes every day.
Worth the queuePudding Français egg tart
TipThe Pudding Français egg tart, about ¥42, could feed a family of four; the first-floor counter handles coffee.
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