Shanghai

The Bund (Waitan)

For First-time visitors and architecture enthusiasts. The trade-off is the relentless crowd of tourists and the premium prices charged at every venue.

Grand, historic, and imposing. The waterfront promenade is lined with monumental Beaux-Arts and Art Deco buildings facing the futuristic skyline of Pudong across the river.

Where to stay — Historic luxury hotels housed in preserved concession-era buildings.

Former French Concession (FFC)

For Slow travelers, coffee lovers, and those who prefer neighborhood life. The trade-off is that older properties here can have poor soundproofing and outdated plumbing.

Leafy, residential, and intimate. Low-rise lane houses, independent boutiques, and quiet cafes sit beneath a dense canopy of London plane trees.

Where to stay — Boutique guesthouses or restored lane house apartments.

Lujiazui

For Business travelers and those who want high-rise views. The trade-off is a lack of street-level soul; the area feels sterile and deserted after office hours.

Futuristic, corporate, and vertical. This is the financial engine of the city, dominated by three of the world's tallest skyscrapers and massive, air-conditioned shopping malls.

Where to stay — High-end international business hotels occupying the upper floors of skyscrapers.

Jing'an

For Expats and shoppers who want convenience and a wide selection of international dining. The trade-off is that it can feel corporate and lacks the historic intimacy of the FFC.

Polished, commercial, and central. A bustling hub where historic temples sit in the shadow of modern glass office towers and upscale malls.

Where to stay — Sleek, modern luxury and mid-range business hotels.

Xintiandi

For Luxury shoppers and those looking for high-end dining in a clean, historic setting. The trade-off is that it feels highly sanitized and lacks authentic local life.

Manicured, affluent, and pedestrianized. A car-free shopping and dining district created from reconstructed traditional shikumen (stone gate) lane houses.

Where to stay — Ultra-luxury design hotels and high-end serviced apartments.

Tianzifang

For Souvenir hunters and casual explorers. The trade-off is that it is extremely touristy and can become uncomfortably packed on weekends.

Claustrophobic, artsy, and commercial. A maze of narrow alleyways packed with souvenir stalls, tea shops, craft boutiques, and street food vendors.

Where to stay — Not recommended for lodging due to crowds and noise, but nearby Dapuqiao offers standard mid-range options.

People's Square

For Culture seekers who want to be steps away from major museums. The trade-off is the overwhelming volume of foot traffic and aggressive street touts.

Civic, busy, and central. The geographic heart of the city, home to major cultural institutions, a massive metro interchange, and a sprawling park.

Where to stay — Large, high-rise international hotels.

Hongkou

For History buffs and travelers seeking a break from the glitz of central Puxi. The trade-off is that it is further from the main nightlife and dining hubs.

Historic, residential, and unpretentious. A quieter district that served as a haven for Jewish refugees during World War II, retaining a slower, local pace of life.

Where to stay — Mid-range local hotels and quiet guesthouses.

West Bund

For Art collectors, architecture fans, and runners. The trade-off is that it is spread out, requiring taxis or long walks between venues, with limited dining options.

Industrial-chic, artistic, and spacious. A former industrial waterfront transformed into a cultural corridor lined with world-class contemporary art museums.

Where to stay — Sleek, modern design hotels near the riverfront.

Uncompromising execution of Taizhou-style seafood, sourcing pristine wild-caught fish from the East China Sea.

Signature — Wild yellow croaker braised with home-style tofu.

Set in a preserved 1930s Spanish-style villa, offering private dining rooms and refined, historic Shanghainese seafood recipes.

Signature — Smoked fish prepared tableside.

Operating since the Qing Dynasty, this is the city's definitive institution for hairy crab and traditional yellow wine.

Signature — Steamed whole female hairy crab with ginger vinegar.

A legendary, cramped institution serving soul-satisfying, traditional Shanghainese home cooking.

Signature — Cod fish head baked in a mountain of scallions.

A minimalist space dedicated entirely to serving pure, hand-picked crab meat and roe over noodles.

Signature — Crab fat noodles.

Focuses on the salty, savory, and fermented seafood flavors of neighboring Ningbo port.

Signature — Steamed butter crab.

Excellent Taizhou-style seafood served in a polished dining room with views of the Pudong skyline.

Signature — Braised sea anemone with sweet potato noodles.

A dedicated crab-feast restaurant where every course features a different part of the hairy crab.

Signature — Sautéed crab asparagus.

A no-frills, local favorite for fresh, simple preparations of East China Sea catches.

Signature — Salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp.

A temple to dry-aged beef, featuring custom-built aging rooms and a passionate chef-owner who sources rare cuts.

Signature — 45-day dry-aged ribeye.

A sleek, contemporary steakhouse featuring its own in-house butcher and a dedicated aging room.

Signature — The 'Ningaloo' Tomahawk steak.

Located on the 30th floor of the Hotel Indigo, combining premium cuts with panoramic views of the river.

Signature — Wagyu sirloin served with a choice of artisanal salts.

An intimate, classic American steakhouse housed in a historic lane compound with a lush courtyard.

Signature — USDA Prime Filet Mignon.

Combines a classic 1930s Shanghai aesthetic with premium Australian beef hand-selected by the restaurant's meat sommelier.

Signature — Dry-aged T-bone steak.

An unpretentious, highly popular Argentine steakhouse offering exceptional value for grass-fed beef.

Signature — Argentine ribeye with chimichurri.

Focuses on clean, natural flavors using a Spanish Josper charcoal oven to seal in juices.

Signature — Charcoal-grilled Spanish Iberico pork presa.

Consistent, high-end American steakhouse dining with a dramatic close-up view of the Oriental Pearl Tower.

Signature — Center-cut double filet mignon.

A cozy French bistro that serves some of the most reliable grilled meats and classic frites in Puxi.

Signature — Côte de bœuf for two.

A rare find in the city: high-quality, MSG-free Shanghainese comfort food served in a narrow, multi-story lane house.

Signature — Red-braised pork belly with sweet soy glaze.

A state-owned legendary eatery where locals queue for hours for traditional cold appetizers and savory pastries.

Signature — Fresh pork mooncakes (Xianrou Yuebing).

Modern, creative dim sum and small plates served in a sleek, contemporary dining room inside The Middle House.

Signature — Xiao long bao with black truffle and Iberico pork.

Elegant, jazz-era styled dining room serving refined classics from Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu.

Signature — Cold chicken steeped in Shaoxing rice wine.

A tiny, family-run dining room with only four tables, offering home-style cooking based on what is fresh at the market.

Signature — Scrambled eggs with crab meat.

A late-night institution that has retained its old-school, chaotic dining hall charm.

Signature — Swiss steak.

Sleek, modern showcase of Xinjiang folk cuisine, utilizing organic ingredients from China's northwest.

Signature — Roasted mutton skewers.

Atmospheric, dimly lit dining room serving the spicy, herbal flavors of Yunnan province.

Signature — Yunnan wild mushroom salad.

An elegant dining room on the Bund specializing in perfectly roasted Beijing duck paired with a world-class wine list.

Signature — Signature roast duck with caviar.

A single-table, 10-seat multi-sensory dining experience combining avant-garde cuisine with 360-degree projections, scents, and sounds.

Signature — The 20-course avant-garde tasting menu.

Opulent French gastronomy centered around a dramatic open kitchen overlooking the Bund.

Signature — Le Caviar Imperial.

Exquisite, classical Cantonese dining set in a 1930s Shanghai noble house aesthetic inside The Peninsula.

Signature — Barbecued Iberian pork with honey.

An intimate, interactive counter-seating experience focused on highly seasonal, modern European dishes.

Signature — The monthly rotating chef's tasting menu.

Elite Shanghainese set-menu dining in a historic garden villa, evoking the lifestyle of old Shanghainese aristocrats.

Signature — Braised abalone with pork belly.

Elegant, modern Cantonese dining with a sophisticated Art Deco interior and views of the river.

Signature — Crispy-skin roast pork belly.

Paul Pairet's chic, democratic French eatery serving playful twists on global bistro classics in a high-energy room.

Signature — Lemon & Lemon Tart.

A highly creative, modern interpretation of Chinese culinary heritage by a talented chef duo.

Signature — Multi-course conceptual Chinese tasting menu.

Classic, refined Cantonese cuisine served in an intimate, luxurious setting inside The Langham.

Signature — Braised sea cucumber with minced pork.

Famous for freshly rolled, thin-skinned soup dumplings steamed to order in traditional bamboo baskets.

Signature — Pork and crab meat xiao long bao.

The city's most famous chain for thick-skinned, sesame-crusted pan-fried pork buns filled with hot broth.

Signature — Shengjian bao.

A legendary, cramped, and noisy noodle shop that has served the same recipe for decades.

Signature — Sesame paste noodles with spicy pork (Majiang mian).

A historic brand serving the traditional, yeast-leavened style of shengjian bao with a thicker skin and less broth.

Signature — Pork shengjian bao.

An excellent, slightly less chaotic alternative to Jia Jia for pristine, hand-pinched soup dumplings.

Signature — Pure crab meat xiao long bao.

A 24-hour heritage snack shop specializing in traditional Shanghainese breakfast items.

Signature — Scallion oil noodles (Congyou banmian).

A local neighborhood favorite that still fries their buns in traditional shallow iron pans over open flames.

Signature — Classic pork shengjian.

A tiny, bustling shop serving fiery, comforting Hunan-style rice noodles.

Signature — Spicy beef rice noodles.

A reliable, clean local chain serving comforting Suzhou-style sweet broth dumplings and wontons.

Signature — Suzhou-style soup dumplings.

A Zen-inspired, Michelin-starred temple to vegetarian fine dining, showcasing rare Chinese fungi and vegetables.

Signature — Grilled porcini mushroom served in a smoky glass dome.

Founded in 1922, this historic Buddhist restaurant is famous for its mastery of mock-meats made from wheat gluten and tofu.

Signature — Vegetarian 'crab meat' made from carrots and potatoes.

A trendy, casual vegan bistro serving creative fusion dishes and natural wines in a hidden courtyard.

Signature — Vegan mapo tofu fries.

A massive, multi-floor vegetarian buffet located next to Jing'an Temple, offering everything from dim sum to hot pot.

Signature — Vegetarian dim sum selection.

High-end, artistic vegetarian cuisine that focuses on organic, seasonal ingredients without relying on mock meats.

Signature — Sweet and sour 'ribs' made of lotus root.

A cozy, organic vegetarian cafe focusing on macrobiotic bowls and cold-pressed juices.

Signature — Macrobiotic Buddha bowl.

A popular, casual deli-style spot offering fresh, creative salads and grain bowls for a quick lunch.

Signature — Custom warm grain bowl.

A Western-style vegetarian restaurant serving clean, wholesome wraps, burgers, and pastas.

Signature — The green curry wrap.

An elegant, vegetarian hot pot restaurant specializing in rich, medicinal mushroom broths.

Signature — Wild mushroom broth hot pot.