Where to Find the Best of the Luxurious Gastronomy in Shanghai?

Shanghai's food scene is a mesmerizing collision of tradition and modernity — a city where centuries-old xiaolongbao soup dumplings are crafted with the same precision as the avant-garde dishes in its Bund-side fine dining rooms. The city's culinary identity draws from Jiangnan cuisine's delicate sweet-savory balance, celebrated in dishes like hongshao rou and hairy crab, while its cosmopolitan history — particularly the French Concession era — has left an indelible mark on its restaurant culture. Today, Shanghai is one of Asia's most dynamic dining cities, where heritage and innovation exist in thrilling tension.

Our reviews navigate Shanghai's extraordinary food landscape: the legendary xiaolongbao houses where each dumpling holds a perfect measure of hot broth, the elegant restaurants along the Bund with sweeping Pudong skyline views, the intimate dining rooms of the French Concession where global cuisines are interpreted through a Shanghai lens, and the seasonal hairy crab specialists that draw devoted diners each autumn. We cover both the Michelin-recognized establishments and the beloved local favorites that define Shanghai's culinary soul.

Whether you seek a dawn visit to a bustling morning market, a refined dinner overlooking the glittering Huangpu River, or the city's most exceptional shengjianbao, our curated selection reveals the full spectrum of Shanghai's gastronomic brilliance — a city that honors its past while continuously reinventing its culinary future.