Restored shikumen lane houses around Madang Road and Taikang Road, mixing hotel dining rooms, bars and the Tianzifang lanes.
Polux by Paul Pairet in Xintiandi, Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for all-day French cafe and bistro food from the chef behind Mr and Mrs Bund and Ultraviolet.
OrderOrder the grilled seabass vierge or the steak frites, then finish with the onion soup.
TipBreakfast and brunch are the strongest sittings; dinner leans toward country-style bistro food, with a spacious outdoor patio.
Sinan Books fills a historic building at Sinan Mansions in Shanghai with shelves and a cafe, naming its signature latte after a line in Yu Hua's To Live.
DrinkHardship Is Not Worth Pursuing latte
TipBeyond the cafe the 640 square metre shop has reading rooms and quiet rooms; author talks have been a Sinan fixture since 2014.
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.
Bar Leone Shanghai pours Italian aperitivo classics from a two-floor Sinan Mansions space, the Shanghai outpost of a Hong Kong original bar.
DrinkBlack Truffle Godfather, aged six months with Yunnan black truffle
FoodItalian aperitivo and bar bites, including a mortadella focaccia
TipThe ground floor Bar di Passo suits a quick aperitivo; head upstairs to the living-room floor for the aged Vecchi & Rari drinks.
Swirl on Middle Fuxing Road in Shanghai swirls wine together with spirits into winetails, sharing a wall with sister cocktail bar Speak Low.
DrinkWinetails, wine-based cocktails swirled rather than shaken, from ¥90 to ¥125
FoodA small snacks menu alongside the wine cocktails
TipStart with the lighter-bodied cocktails on the menu before working up to the full-bodied pours later on.
Wei Xiang Zhai on Yandang Road in Shanghai is an old noodle house famous for sesame paste noodles with chili oil, served in a congested, well-worn room.
TrySesame paste noodles with chili oil
TipPay at the front desk, then hand your ticket to the server; the spicy pork noodles are best ordered dry, as ban mian.
Kyu Hai on Nanchang Road in Shanghai is a small Japanese room serving chicken broth ramen, shio or shoyu, alongside yakitori and izakaya bites.
TryChicken broth ramen in shio or shoyu, plus yakitori and izakaya bites
TipGrab one of the outdoor seats if the weather allows; the small dining room fills up fast at dinner.
Ramen Mitsuyoshi's very first shop on Liyuan Road in Shanghai traces its roots back to two Michelin-recommended ramen shops in Tokyo, Japan.
TryTonkotsu ramen, including a black garlic version
TipOrder and pay at the vending machine first, then take a seat at the wraparound bar to watch the broth being stirred.
Highline near Xintiandi in Shanghai still draws a weekend crowd to its rooftop terrace for Benedicts, chicken and waffles, plus a free flow deal.
OrderThe Crab & Shrimp Cake Benedict or the Chicken & Waffles.
TipAsk for a terrace table when you book; the view is the reason regulars keep coming back here.
Ding Te Le down an alley off Middle Huaihai Road in Shanghai serves thick yellow croaker noodle soup, congee and five-spice pork chops around the clock.
OrderYellow croaker noodles and the scallion oil noodles.
TipOrder the fried pork chop on the side; it is a house favorite alongside the noodle bowls.
Private tour · 4 hours
Start your Shanghai trip calmly with Tony, an English-speaking Shanghai local host. Get practical help with Alipay, WeChat, local transport, food, and a flexible city route.
Experience a 5D dining experience on the Shanghai Bund. Enjoy a 7-course meal led by Panda Chef Cheng, with 270° panoramic projections, AR tables, and 360° surround sound.
Water activity · 4 hours
Discover Shanghai on a night tour with a river cruise and food tasting. Stroll along Suzhou Creek, explore shikumen lanes, and taste local snacks before cruising the H...
