Shanghai’s Finest: Discover the Best Dining Spots in the City

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Shanghai’s dynamic food scene unfolds in towering skyscrapers, hidden alleys, and century-old shikumen courtyards. From world-class rooftop bars to humble dumpling houses, the city’s restaurants reflect its history as a trading port and its present as a global metropolis. Whether you crave fine dining with panoramic views or crave authentic Benbang (本帮) classics, Shanghai’s culinary offerings promise a feast for every palate.To get more news about best restaurants in shanghai, you can citynewsservice.cn official website.

Rooftop Bars and Fine Dining
For an unforgettable night out, head to ROOF at The Shanghai EDITION, frequently topping Tripadvisor’s list with a 4.9-star rating and breathtaking city vistas. Just steps away, Flair Rooftop at the Ritz-Carlton Pudong entices with artfully crafted cocktails and a jazz lounge, while Scena di Angelo on the Bund showcases refined Italian fare under glittering chandeliers—proof that Shanghai’s skyline is best enjoyed over a glass of champagne1.

Classic Hu Cuisine and Benbang Heritage
Rooted in local neighborhoods, Benbang cuisine emphasizes delicate, seasonal ingredients with a signature sweet-savory balance. At Ren He Guan, a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, diners savor drunken crab steeped in aged Chinese wine and stir-fried baby bok choy drizzled with chicken oil, transporting guests back to old-Shanghai charm within a nostalgic, wooden-paneled dining room. Its menu reads like a photo album of 19th-century culinary tradition, refined for the modern palate.

Seafood Delights: Crab Meat Noodle House
In a city surrounded by water, Shanghai takes pride in its crab dishes. Zhuang Shi Long Xing, better known as Crab Meat Noodle House, specializes in braised noodles and rice crowned with fresh crab roe. Chefs crack whole crabs tableside, extracting roe that turns each noodle into golden silk. The richness of this “golden therapy” has made it a must-visit for crab lovers, with average prices around ¥110 per person.

Dumplings and Dim Sum Staples
No trip to Shanghai is complete without Xiao Long Bao. Din Tai Fung, though Taiwanese in origin, has perfected the soup-filled dumpling with paper-thin skins and savory broth pockets, earning it a 4.4-star rating on Tripadvisor. For a purely local take, Jia Jia Tang Bao near People’s Square serves soup dumplings in a no-frills setting where crowds queue daily for perfect folds priced under ¥30.

Hidden Gems: Neighborhood Eateries
Step off the Bund and into lanes where locals line up for Xiao Ping Restaurant’s tomato-beef with silky egg or garlic butterflied shrimp in a tiny Nanjing East Road storefront. Despite its modest décor, Xiao Ping blends authentic Shanghainese flavors with regional influences from Anhui and Suzhou, demonstrating how humble neighborhood spots can outshine glossy hotels when it comes to warmth and value.

Vegetarian and Zen-Inspired Eats
For plant-based diners, Wu Guan Tang Su Shi offers a serene escape from urban bustle. This Zen-inspired vegetarian restaurant crafts each dish—like the Nine Treasures Box and pepper-stuffed mashed potatoes—with locally sourced produce, highlighting purity and simplicity without imitation meats. Communal tables, private rooms, and a leafy terrace make it a peaceful haven for mindful dining at around ¥130 per person.

Michelin-Starred Marvels
Shanghai boasts over 140 Michelin-recognized venues, from one-star Cantonese temples to innovative French salons. Ultraviolet Shanghai pioneered multi-sensory fine dining, while Cantonese stalwarts like Shang-8 and Caprice at the Four Seasons blend French technique with Chinese ingredients. At Fu He Hui, a vegetarian first-star restaurant, chefs deconstruct plant proteins into sculptures on your plate—proof of Shanghai’s stature on the global culinary stage.

Local Favorites: Hot Pot and Beyond
Haidilao Hot Pot is synonymous with attentive service and fresh ingredients. Its Zhangyang Road branch in Pudong features automated noodle-pulling robots and complementary manicures while you wait, amping up the fun factor. For budget-friendly bites, Yang’s Fried Dumplings on Huanghe Road serves crispy-bottomed pork dumplings for under ¥20, earning it a cult following among students and office workers alike.

Sweet Endings: Rice Cakes and Desserts
Shen Da Cheng has been delighting Shanghai residents with chewy rice cakes since the 1920s. Striped red bean cakes, pork-floss-filled green rice balls, and golden sesame rice balls make the perfect post-meal treat. Located near People’s Square, this dessert shop offers a quick, ¥20-per-person taste of traditional Shanghainese sweetness in a bustling downtown setting.

Coffee, Fusion, and International Flavors
Beyond Chinese food, Shanghai’s global community has inspired eclectic fusion spots. YICAFE at the Pudong Shangri-La blends Mediterranean and Asian tones in seafood platters, while Minimalist, housed in The West Bund, pairs botanical cocktails with Japanese-French small plates. Starbucks Reserve Roastery Shanghai remains a pilgrimage site for coffee geeks, roasting beans onsite in a theatrical, industrial-chic space on Nanjing Road.

Shanghai’s restaurant landscape is as diverse as its skyline—where high-end tasting menus and street-side dumplings exist side by side. Whether you’re chasing Michelin stars, searching for Benbang soul, or simply craving crispy Xiao Long Bao, the city rewards the curious eater at every turn. Pack your appetite, make your reservations, and prepare to fall in love bite by bite.