From Michelin-starred restaurants to glamorous hotel dining rooms, discover the must-book restaurants defining Shanghai’s world-class food scene.

Shanghai does not shout about its dining scene the way some cities do. It does not need to. Behind the Bund’s Art Deco skyline sits one of Asia’s great culinary capitals, where centuries old Chinese tradition sits comfortably alongside some of the world’s most celebrated chefs.

Whether you are chasing Michelin starred French gastronomy, refined Cantonese cuisine or a table with a skyline view you will never forget, Shanghai now rivals Paris, London and Tokyo for serious luxury dining. These are the addresses I tell every client to book before they even confirm their flights. Save this list. These are not restaurants you stumble into. They are restaurants you plan around.

Yi Long Court, The Peninsula Shanghai

Start with Yi Long Court, the flagship restaurant inside The Peninsula Shanghai on the Bund. This is Cantonese fine dining at its most theatrical, set inside a dining room designed to feel like a grand 1920s Shanghai mansion, complete with Art Deco partitioning, rich mahogany, and an eight seat chef’s table for anyone who wants a front row view of the kitchen.

The restaurant currently holds one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Shanghai, and has previously held two, a reflection of a kitchen that has stayed consistently excellent across changes in leadership, currently under Chef Jacky Zhang. Build your order around the Peking duck, the barbecued Jiangsu Kurobuta pork and the fried rice with king crab, Jin Hua ham and fresh vegetables, all of which show off the kitchen’s precision with classic Cantonese technique.

Book a private room if you can. Several are designed to feel like a home dining room, but with service standards that belong to a five star hotel. There is no cocktail bar here in the traditional sense. Instead, Yi Long Court has a tea bar, with an extensive range of leaves and a tea specialist on hand to guide you through sourcing and flavour.

Practical detail worth saving: dress smart casual, no shorts or open toed shoes, and if hairy crab season falls during your visit in autumn, ask about the seasonal prix fixe menu built entirely around it.

Ling Long, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund

A short walk along the Bund brings you to Ling Long, on the ground floor of the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, itself housed in a heritage building more than a century old. This is one of the most exciting modern Chinese restaurants to open in Shanghai in recent years, named one of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2024, and currently holding a Michelin star. The setting is sultry, modern and has a glamorous undertone.

Chef Jason Liu’s cooking is built around the idea of xian, or umami, and the tasting menu unfolds like a piece of theatre, structured in acts rather than simple courses. Expect neo-Chinese dishes finished with European technique. The oyster sauce beef, made from marinated Shandong beef that is deep fried and then grilled, is the dish people talk about afterwards. Wine pairings are guided by Yang Lu, the only Chinese Master Sommelier, and lean into unexpected combinations, including Chinese yellow wine and even lambic beer alongside the tasting menu.

Reservations at Ling Long can only be made by calling the restaurant directly, so build this into your itinerary early. Given the acclaim it has picked up in a short space of time, tables are genuinely hard to secure, especially on weekends.

Polux by Paul Pairet, Xintiandi

For a change of pace, head to Polux by Paul Pairet in the Xintiandi district, the most relaxed project from the chef behind Shanghai’s legendary Ultraviolet and Mr & Mrs Bund. Where those restaurants are about spectacle, Polux is about comfort, and vibe, an all day French café and bistro that runs from breakfast through to dinner and has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand since its opening year. The bread is some of Shanghai’s best – crunchy and served with lashings of rich, creamy butter. They have fantastic wines by the glass at amazing prices. And the menu is very varied – snacks, entrees, mains, it really is a choose your own adventure.

This is where I send people the morning after a big night out. Go for the avocado toast or the mushroom cheesy toast with a poached egg at brunch, or come back in the evening for the classic French onion soup, pork chop, or the beef cheek steak au poivre. The grilled seabass vierge, finished with tomatoes, olives and a punchy pastis aioli, is a lovely lighter option if you are pacing yourself for a longer trip. The French toast is a classic. and served with vanilla ice cream.

Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire, Capella Shanghai

Set within the tranquil courtyard of Capella Shanghai, one of the city’s most beautiful luxury hotels, Pierre Gagnaire is among Shanghai’s most refined fine dining experiences. The legendary French chef lends his philosophy to the restaurant, while the kitchen itself is expertly led day to day by Executive Chef Ramses Navarro, delivering modern French cuisine with remarkable consistency.

Expect exquisitely plated tasting menus, an impressive run of amuse bouches and petit fours, and one of Shanghai’s finest wine programmes, spanning exceptional French, Chinese and even Greek wines by the glass. The setting inside Capella makes it a destination in its own right, not just a dinner reservation.

Mi Shang by Prada

Few luxury fashion houses have translated their identity into hospitality as successfully as Prada. Housed inside the magnificently restored Rong Zhai mansion, Mi Shang is far more than a fashionable restaurant. It is an extraordinary expression of the Prada brand end to end.

Executive Chef Riccardo La Perna, who has been in Shanghai for 18 years brings decades of experience from Italy’s finest kitchens, creating elegant regional Italian cuisine that reflects the same understated sophistication found throughout Prada’s collections. La Perna is adored by locals and is viewed as the best Italian chef in the country.

Every detail has been considered, from bespoke Prada porcelain and beautifully weighted cutlery to a carefully curated Italian wine list, right down to cappuccinos finished with the Prada logo. Combined with the breathtaking architecture of Rong Zhai, it is one of China’s most memorable luxury dining experiences and ends with a tour of the magnificent historical house Prada have carefully and tastefully renewed. Full review here.

Dragon Phoenix, Fairmont Peace Hotel

For elevated Shanghainese cuisine, Dragon Phoenix at the historic Fairmont Peace Hotel remains one of the city’s great dining rooms. Overlooking the famous Bund, the restaurant has built a loyal following for its sophisticated take on regional Chinese classics, with signature dishes built around beautifully prepared seafood, premium local ingredients and refined Cantonese influences.

The surroundings celebrate the glamour of old Shanghai, and the combination of impeccable service, heritage architecture and sweeping views makes Dragon Phoenix an essential stop for anyone wanting to experience one of the city’s most iconic hotels, not just its food.

Sir Elly’s Restaurant, The Peninsula Shanghai

Also inside The Peninsula Shanghai, but a very different experience to Yi Long Court, Sir Elly’s Restaurant occupies one of the most enviable positions in the city, with spectacular views across the Huangpu River and the Pudong skyline.

The setting alone would justify the reservation, but the contemporary European menu, beautifully executed seasonal dishes and outstanding wine cellar make it far more than a room with a view.

Arrive before sunset for cocktails on the rooftop terrace, then move into the elegant dining room for what is consistently one of Shanghai’s most romantic and celebratory evenings out.

Building the Itinerary

With seven restaurants across this many neighbourhoods and hotels, you do not need to do them all in one trip, and you probably should not try to. If you only have a few nights, this is the order I would book it in: Pierre Gagnaire or Mi Shang for the most formal, occasion worthy night, although Mi Shang is amazing for lunch. Yi Long Court, Ling Long, or Dragon Phoenix for the nights you want a genuinely world class Chinese menu, Sir Elly’s for the evening you want the view as much as the food, and Polux for the mornings and evenings in between, when you want extraordinary food without the ceremony.

Together, these restaurants say more about where Shanghai’s dining scene is heading than almost anywhere else in the city right now. Save this one before you go. You will want it on hand the moment you land.