Itineraries for Your Trip to Shanghai
3 Days in Shanghai for Foodies
Cosmopolitan and diverse, Shanghai is a foodie paradise, with everything from sublime street eats to Michelin-starred restaurants—both of which I took full advantage of during my time in Shanghai.
Shanghai has its own distinctive cuisine, which is generally sweeter and milder than others in China, and you can’t visit Shanghai without trying the iconic xiao long bao or, if you’re lucky enough to visit in the right season, hairy crabs. The cosmopolitan nature of Shanghai means it’s also a great place to try different regional Chinese cuisines, like Xinjiang cuisine. Here’s how to eat your way around Shanghai in three days, with recommendations for dishes and where to try them.
Expect all four seasons and a hot, humid summer. Pack layers and an umbrella.
If you only have time for one thing, make it xiao long bao, Shanghai’s iconic soup dumplings.
Start your day sampling local breakfast favorites, such as scallion pancakes, jianbing, and fried dough sticks, from a street stall. A breakfast food tour makes it easy to find the best options.
No visit to Shanghai is complete without sampling xiao long bao. Try them at Jia Jia Tang Bao at People’s Square. Or combine it with a tour of Yuyuan Garden, near Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant. Pro tip: Be careful not to burn your tongue when you eat them.
Other must-try dishes include hairy crabs in late fall (go to Cheng Long Hang restaurant) and red braised pork belly (go to Old Jesse restaurant).
For a different breakfast experience, try a Champagne brunch, found at many top hotels. Head to the Bund for the best views, or combine it with a tour with transport that includes the iconic waterfront area.
Take some time to appreciate Chinese tea culture and enjoy tea tasting at a teahouse or tea ceremony. Alternatively, enjoy high tea at the Peninsula Hotel or Waldorf Astoria at the Bund.
End the day trying more local street food, like hand-pulled noodles and meat skewers. Many food tours offer enough food and drink samples to fill you up for dinner.
Now that you’ve tried a variety of dishes, learn to make some of your favorites yourself with a cooking class. Opt for one that includes a market visit to learn more about the ingredients that go into classics such as dim sum and dumplings.
Spend your evening with dinner and an acrobatic show or Chinese opera. Or combine a nighttime Huangpu River Cruise with a dining experience. If you’re still standing afterwards, try a private nightlife tour around the former French Concession and the Bund.
