Apoli Itabakery AP意大利料理面包坊 上海首店 (Shanghai, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Apoli Itabakery AP意大利料理面包坊 is a popular Italian-style bakery in Shanghai, famously known as the “Harry Potter Bakery” because of its magical, medieval-inspired interior décor.

With a few locations across Shanghai, its flagship store is situated just steps from the iconic Wukang Mansion (武康大樓). It features the same rustic atmosphere with stone walls and warm lighting, consistent with the rest of their locations.

Thanks to its magical vibe, it’s gained significant popularity on social media. It’s a hotspot for influencers and bread lovers alike. Expect modest queues, especially on weekends.

The beloved bakery offers both savory and sweet options. Their Truffle Ham & Cheese Crispy Roll and Chef’s Signature Sea Urchin Mentaiko Bread are among their best-sellers for savory bites. For sweet treats, the Pistachio Chocolate Cream Bread is praised for its crispy-to-soft texture, while the Blueberry Butter Condensed Milk Bread is one of their most popular sweet snacks among their over-hundred rotating items.

We decided to grab a few of these for tomorrow's breakfast.

But once we spotted a small dine-in area besides the shop, someone changed his mind!

He decided to munch on his nama donut immediately.

Underneath the fluffy and slightly chewy donut (almost like those from I'm donut?), there was a generous supply of vanilla custard cream.

I had mine as breakfast the next morning. It was incredibly soft, fluffy, and melt-in-your-mouth. And it looked exactly like my favorite nama donuts from Japan — Wow! 😉😉

Food Rating: 6.5/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: No. 380 Xingguo Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China

上海市徐汇区兴国路380号

Closest Metro Station: Jiao Tong University (交通大学)

Tel: +86 13788942654

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 9:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/0d/pfiM

 

Chun Tian Tea Company Century Link Mall 椿田熟成茶行 世紀匯店 (Shanghai, CHINA) ★★★★☆

We started our morning with an early visit to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower (without going up to the transparent glass skywalk) and exploring different parts of Pudong. Also sneaked in some game time at Super Brand Mall (正大廣場). Now, after a long lunch at Michelin-starred Restaurant Moose (鹿園), it was time to chill out a bit undercover.

Wandering through the sleek corridors of Pudong’s Century Link Mall (世紀匯), the minimalist storefront of Chun Tian Tea Company (椿田熟成茶行) is hard to miss. Unlike the loud, neon-heavy bubble tea shops nearby, this spot feels more like a high-end apothecary or a boutique perfumery. The air around the counter carries a faint, sophisticated scent of roasted leaves and fresh blossoms, immediately setting the tone for a nice tea experience.

I had a satisfying experience at Chun Tian Tea Company back in Shenzhen before the trip so stopping by for a refreshing drink was a no-brainer. I went straight to the takeaway counter, scanned the QR code, and started ordering.

Golden Brick Silk Stocking Milk Tea (金磚絲襪奶茶) (¥22) — The tea served cold-brewed and lightly sweetened, was remarkably smooth. Full bodied and rich but not harsh or bitter at all. Just perfectly refreshing, bold and crisp. 

Food Rating: 6.3/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Level B1 Century Link Mall, 1192 Century Avenue, Pudong District, Shanghai, China

上海市浦东新区世纪大道1192号B1层

Closest Metro Station: Century Avenue (世纪大道)

Tel: +86 18466673519

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/0e/SuiM

Maison Kamado 窯滾 上海首店 陆家嘴L+Mall (Shanghai, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Maison Kamado (窯滾) is a popular artisanal bakery chain in China that has gained a massive following, particularly for its ciabatta (恰巴塔) and sourdough-based breads. While it originated in Nanjing, it is currently a major hit in Shenzhen.

As frequent travelers to Shenzhen, we are no strangers to Maison Kamado. This branch at 陆家嘴 L+Mall L is the brand’s first foray into Shanghai, and it’s not necessarily its baked goods that have been getting the most attention.

Basque cheesecake (流心巴斯克) (¥29) — While it says “runny”, I thought the cheesecake felt more fluffy than anything. The flavors leaned more on the sweet side, almost like it's been flavored with something like pumpkin. Not bad, but definitely not the tastiest basque cheesecake I’ve tried on this trip.

Food Rating: 5.6/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop LG25-B, Level LG Lujiazui Center L+Mall, Pudong District, Shanghai, China

上海市浦东新区陆家嘴L+Mall LG层 (地下一层) LG25-B单元

Closest Metro Station: South Pudong Road (浦东南路)

Tel: +86 18916113616

Opening Hours: 8:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/4f/AJkM