10 of The Best Cafés and Dessert Spots in Shanghai

Shanghai is a much improved gourmet city comparing to the dog days when I used to work in the city almost a decade ago. It now boasts some of the most stylish cafés, cake shops and dessert spots in all of China. For details, here is a list of my favorite cafés, cake shops and dessert spots that are not to be missed in Shanghai.


Chikalicious Dessert Bar
Originated from New York city, Chikalicious is a dessert bar that has sweet lovers in Shanghai jumping in joy. The two-storey venue in Xintiandi serves up a variety of sweets including their signature fromage blanc island "cheese cake" right in front of diners.

Address: 1-2/F, 123 Xingye Lu (inside 88 Xintiandi Boutique Hotel)
兴业路123弄5号(88新天地会所1-2楼)
Tel: +86 (21) 6333-9233





Le Boulangerie et Patisserie by Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire
For those who's been complaining about the lack of authentic boulangeries in Shanghai, here's a piece of good news for you. World renowned chef Pierre Gagnaire has finally arrived and he has brought his boulangerie from Paris with him. Located on the ground floor of the new Capella Hotel in the former French concession, the bakery shop offers some of the best French bread in the city and the best part of all, it also doubles as a French pastry shop serving up some delightful pastries by young (and handsome) Pastry Chef Clement Ayache.

Address: 1/F Capella Hotel Shanghai, 480 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Yueyang Lu, Shanghai, China
建国西路480号, 上海建业里嘉佩乐酒店1楼, 近岳阳路
Tel: +86 (21) 5466-6688
Website: www.capellashanghai.cn





Angelina Paris
It was sad to see the closure of Angelina Paris in Hong Kong but their sister store in Shanghai is doing just fine. A visit to Angelina is not complete without their famous hot chocolate and if there's enough room for dessert, their equally famous mont blanc will send you home with a happy tummy.

Address: Shop#204, 99 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu, Shanghai, China
黄浦区淮海中路99号204室, 近西藏南路
Tel: +86 (21) 6289-8736






Vivienne Westwood Café
Shanghai's Vivienne Westwood Café was the first of its kind opened and designed by British queen of fashion herself (soon followed by Hong Kong and Taipei). Situated at the K11 arts mall, the café is divided into two areas with two distinctively different themes. The first one is the “photoshooting panel”, inspired by the backstage of a fashion show while the second one takes on a colonial-style setting, reminiscing of a 18th century tea room. Regardless of whether you're a fashion fanatic or not, you should find their afternoon tea experience a memorable one.

Address: 2/F K11 Art Mall, 300 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu, Shanghai, China
淮海中路300号2楼, 近黄陂南路
Tel: +86 (21) 6316-0261






Victor's Café
Perched on the ground floor of the historic Fairmont Peace Hotel by the Bund, Victor's Café is one of the best kept secrets in Shanghai. On top of their all-day French café menu, the art deco deli also offers some of the city's finest hand-crafted pastries including my favorite mille feuille, hazelnut layer cake and apple caramel cream cake, which are all not to be missed.

Address: G/F Fairmont Peace Hotel, 20 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai, China 
南京东路 20号 
Tel: +86 (21) 6138-6887





Light and Salt
Light and Salt is housed inside a beautiful century-old building that used to be home to the first YMCA in Shanghai. Better known as a modern European restaurant with a great terrace view, it's been quietly dazzling sweet lovers with its decadent dessert menu that changes on a regular basis. Most of the dessert items (6 to 7 choices) are made to order and they are guaranteed to lure you back for more.

Address: 6/F, 133 Yuanmingyuan Lu, near Beijing Dong Lu, Shanghai, China
圆明园路133号6楼， 近北京东路
Tel: +86 (21) 6361-1086
Website: www.light-n-salt.com





Mr. Choi Patisserie (蔡嘉法式甜品)
Despite a name that is very Korean, the patissier behind Mr. Choi Patisserie is actually Japanese I was told. It started off as a tiny patisserie on XuJiaHui Road and gradually built up its reputation. Today, it's one of Shanghai's most sought after cake shop following its expansion to iapm Mall and Xintiandi. At Mr. Choi, you will find a very good mix of French classics (opera, mille feuille) and contemporary creations (oatmeal cake, matcha cream cake) which is rather difficult to find in Shanghai.

Address: Shop L5-513 & 521, iapm Mall, 999 Huaihai Middle Road, Shanghai, China
徐汇区淮海中路999号环贸广场L5-513&521
Tel: +86 (21) 6495-9727
Website: www.thechois.cc





Cinq Heure Du Matin (卯时法式甜品)
Cinq Heure Du Matin is more than just a small French patisserie in a quiet residential area. Not only do they have some of the most Instagram worthy pastries in Shanghai, their chefs also managed to wow sweet lovers with their masterful blend of ingredients. Just a comfortable 6 to 8 minute walk from Shaanxi South Road metro station.

Address: 114 Maoming South Road, Shanghai, China
茂名南路114号
Tel: +86 (21) 17702198638





Pain Chaud
Yong Kang Lu (永康路) was once Shanghai's most famous bar street but after a major crackdown more than a year ago, many opted to leave but thankfully, Pain Chaud decided to stay. A French boulangerie doubling as a cake and coffee shop, Pain Chaud has everything you need to start off your day on the right foot, from a warm cup of coffee to their housemade bread and pastries.

Address: 41 Yongkang Lu, near Xiangyang Lu, Shanghai, China
永康路31号， 近嘉善路
Tel: +86 (21) 5424-9630
Website: www.facebook.com/bakerycoffeeshanghai/?rf=1491237387798878





Kaisiling Cake (凱司令西点房)
Opened back in 1928, Kaisiling was the first bakery in the former French concession that was owned and operated by Chinese. Today, it remains one of the most popular cake shops in the city with their chestnut cake being a symbol of Shanghai's best "old school" desserts. They have a number of shops around the city including this one I visited at the Yuyuan Garden metro station.

Address: 1001 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu, Shanghai, China
南京西路1001号, 近茂名南路
Tel: +86 (21) 6267-5692






10 best top popular cafés dessert and cake pastry shops must try cannot miss in Shanghai China