Il Laboratorio del gelato Shenzhen Bay MixC 深圳灣萬象城店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★☆☆☆

We had a lot of food today (again), and with our bellies totally stuffed, we took a slow walk towards Houhai Station (后海站). Little nugget had been browsing left and right the whole time, and it didn’t take long for him to spot something that caught his eye — a gelato shop from New York City.

It was a pretty warm day, so I could totally understand his need for something thirst-quenching. When we stumbled upon Il Laboratorio del Gelato & Caparesh, he made his own choice though I’ll admit his choice of gelato left me scratching my head.

As soon as he found out his favorite vanilla flavor wasn’t available, he went with a scoop of Fuji apple sorbet and toasted coconut gelato (over the NY cheesecake!). I don’t get this!!! 🤔🤔🤔

I thought this was slightly disappointing. The apple sorbet had a bit too much acidity for my liking and the toasted coconut was topped with far too many coconut flakes. Not good.

Food Rating: 5.2/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Zone B, G/F Shenzhen Bay MixC, 3213 Keyuan South Road, Nanshan district, Guangzhou, China

深圳市南山区粤海街道海珠社区科苑南路3213号深圳湾万象城B区

Closest Metro Station: Houhai (后海)

Tel: +86 19075333387

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

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/e3/G9kM

TamKoKo Shenzhen Bay MixC 泰柯茶園 深圳灣萬象城店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Shenzhen Bay Mixc (深圳灣萬象城) in Nanshan has quietly become the favorite landing spot for some of the city’s hottest newcomers in the food scene. Not long ago, Chun Tian Tea Company (椿田熟成茶行) utilized its prime location as a launchpad for its successful debut in Shenzhen. Now, the latest buzz on social media belongs to TamKoKo (泰柯茶園) — another new member of Pink Street (粉紅大街), a fresh extension at Shenzhen Bay Mixc bringing together some of the city’s trendiest cafés, restaurants, and boutiques under one roof.

TamKoKo is a popular Thai tea brand in China, celebrated for its deep, flavorful Thai tea base and standout toppings like salted cheese and durian. Since I’m not a fan of durian, I went with the drink named “Thai Milk Snow Top” (泰奶雪頂) — an English name I made up on the spot. 😆😆

"Thai Milk Snow Top" (泰奶雪頂) (¥24) — A rich Thai milk tea topped with salted cheese, plus a generous swirl of Thai tea milk-cream soft serve. It’s been one of the most popular — and most Instagrammable — drinks in Shenzhen these days.

With Pink Street gaining momentum, it could be the next destination for some of Shenzhen’s most exciting new openings in the months ahead. Stay tuned.

Food Rating: 5.8/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop B1-30, Pink Street, Shenzhen Bay MixC, 3213 Keyuan South Road, Nanshan district, Guangzhou, China

深圳市南山区深圳湾万象城B区粉红大街B1层B1-30号

Closest Metro Station: Houhai (后海)

Tel: +86 18138225060

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

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/e9/yDkM

 

Files Dessert Lab (Shanghai, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Our last night in Shanghai is quietly drawing to a close. We were in Jing’an District (靜安區) shopping for a new suitcase after one of the wheels fell off (甩轆) from our old suitcase a couple of days ago. I was hoping we could admire the night scene around Jing’an Temple (靜安寺), but it turned out the lights were off.

So, I decided to turn my attention elsewhere. While my team went to the department store to get a new suitcase, I went dessert hunting.

Before this trip, Bebaked and Files Dessert Lab (FDL) were two of my must-do stops (for desserts) on my itinerary. With Files Dessert Lab just less than ten minutes away, the decision to go was a no-brainer.

Files Dessert Lab is a high-end, premium dessert shop in Shanghai located in 1788 Plaza, known for its luxury and Instagrammable cakes. Founded by Le Cordon Bleu graduate Ivy Wang, it’s best known for its creative savory-sweet combinations often with hefty price tag.

Chef Wang previously worked at several top Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK, including The Square and Greenhouse, so she knows all about combining innovative French techniques with local ingredients.

When I arrived, the shop was preparing to close, but my server was very patient and courteous. Initially, I was hoping to get my hands on some Basque cheesecakes, but they weren’t on display. Then, after a glance at the beautifully crafted desserts, I was immediately drawn to some of these amazing creations.

Strawberry Rose (草莓玫瑰) (¥68) — This certainly falls under the “too pretty to eat” category.

It features a lovely blend of fresh strawberries, strawberry crémeux, and strawberry sponge, layered with rose-infused mascarpone cream. A hint of basil adds grassy notes, finishing the dessert with a refreshing touch.

A pretty remarkable and visually pleasing dessert. I’m glad I got to cross it off my list on my last night in town.

Food Rating: 6.7/10

Price: ¥¥¥¥

Address: Shop 103, 1/F 1788 Plaza, 1818 West Nanjing Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, China

上海市靜安区江南京西路1818号1788广场1楼103室

Closest Metro Station: Jing'an Temple (靜安寺)

Tel: +86 17274573457

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

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/6d/zqkM

O’mills Sourdough Bakery & Bistro Pudong Airport 浦東機場店 (Shanghai, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I thought I was done with all the sweet stuff on this trip. We’d had our fair share of exquisitely tasty desserts over the last three days in Shanghai, and with our early arrival at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (上海浦東國際機場), I figured that would finally put an end to my run of delicious treats.

Turns out I was wrong.

While we were strolling around Terminal 2’s international departure floor, I spotted O’mills Sourdough Bakery & Bistro just a short walk from our gate. Since we still had more than an hour before boarding, I assumed I could easily spare the time to sit down for a slice of cake.

Based on what I already knew about the brand, O’mills Sourdough Bakery & Bistro is a Shanghai-based artisanal bakery and restaurant chain that had recently expanded to Shenzhen. Founded in 2018, the brand is built around a “slow life” philosophy, specializing in 72-hour slow-fermented sourdough made with wild yeast and clean, organic ingredients.

Naturally, I wasn’t coming for salad or sandwiches. I went straight for the kill with the mountain sweet potato Basque cheesecake, which looked incredible from the display counter.

Sweet potato basque cheesecake (高山紅薯巴斯克) (¥48) — This was super fluffy, and I loved the little random patches of sweet potato 🍠 that complements the cheese beautifully. 

I think this cheesecake is part of their extensive range of gluten-free and keto-friendly desserts. It features a creamy, “molten” center with the natural sweetness of sweet potato, and it’s topped with a nicely executed signature burnt Basque crust.

O’mills has several locations around Shanghai, and their decadent Basque cheesecake easily turned this place into an effortless sweet getaway. I had mine just now and I’m loving it.

Food Rating: 6.5/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop 2B-18 (Near Gate D73), 3/F Pudong Airport Terminal 2 International Departure Floor, Shanghai, China

上海市浦东机场T2国际出发层3楼2B-18号店铺（近D73号登机口）

Tel: +86 18901969548

Opening Hours: 6:00am - 11:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/1a/3ckM

Li's "aluminum-free" Youtiao Kunshan Road 李氏無鋁油條 昆山路店 (Shanghai, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

It’s our last day in Shanghai, and it strikes me that we haven’t yet had a proper, authentic local breakfast. Of course, with my luggage half-packed, I wasn’t going to head out for a sit-down breakfast in my pajamas. Instead, I’m calling the ever-reliable Meituan (美團) for delivery.

There weren’t many breakfast spots near the North Bund (北外滩) that offered delivery, but I managed to find one by the name of Li's "aluminum-free" Youtiao (李氏无铝油条 direct translation!!! 😆😆). It had a rating above 4 (out of 5) and delivered right to our hotel. Without hesitation, I clicked on the shop’s name and started ordering.

The “Four Breakfast Warriors” (早餐四大金剛)

A trip to Shanghai is not complete without the city’s “Four Breakfast Warriors (四大金剛)”: youtiao (油條), glutinous rice balls called cifantuan (粢飯糰), sesame pancakes called dabing (大餅), and soy milk (or doujiang 豆漿).

The breakfast set (¥9) includes two of the four warriors — youtiao and savory soy milk plus a tea smoked egg. I ordered a cifantuan separately for another ¥7, but since I was still feeling a little stuffed from last night’s supper, I happily skipped the dabing.

All it took was around 15 minutes for everything to arrive at the hotel lobby. I called reception to make sure they sent the food up before it all cooled off.

Youtiao (油條) — Nice, bouncy texture, slightly chewy in a good way. I swallowed it up after a nice dip into the soy milk.

Cifantuan (粢飯糰) — My aunt is Shanghainese, so I grew up eating this a lot. How I remembered it: the layer of glutinous rice was noticeably thinner, but the center of youtiao and pork floss remained constant. Love this!

Savory soy milk (豆漿) — I’ve never been a fan of this. Isn’t soy milk supposed to be sweet? This one came with vegetables and minced meat.

Tea smoked egg — Little nugget had it so I had no idea how this tasted.

It was nice to finally cross the “Four Breakfast Warriors” off my list. Well — three out of four, at least. Now it’s time to get back to packing and head over to the airport.

P.S.  Yes, you read this right. Li's opens at 4am daily.

Food Rating: 5.5/10

Price: ¥

Address: 254-25, Zhapu Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China

上海市虹口区乍浦路254弄27号

Closest Metro Station: North Sichuan Road (四川北路)

Tel: +86 13661559954

Opening Hours: 4:00am - 12:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/0b/TNiM

Bebaked Yuyuan Road 愚園路店 (Shanghai, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Bebaked is a trendy, Italian-inspired bakery and café chain in Shanghai, known for its innovative and artistic take on European-style pastries, authentic gelato, and signature beverages. It has gained major popularity on social media thanks to its highly Instagrammable aesthetics and relaxing vibe.

Its flagship location on historic Yuyuan Road (愚園路) is housed in a renovated old Western-style building that blends heritage with a modern, warm atmosphere. It has been a huge hit since it opened in 2025.

Since we had an early dinner planned on Yuyuan Road, we arrived early to soak up the vibe. Little nugget spotted Bebaked almost instantly and he rushed right in!

One of their most famous offerings is the diamond-shaped affogato, often described as a must-try drink.

But there's no secret about the brand's calling card — their lineup of creative desserts. The matcha lava tart served with glutinous rice balls and the Basque cheesecake paired with black sesame mochi are both hard for dessert lovers to resist.

Longan lime danish, anyone? These looked seriously good.

Moutai Basque Cheesecake (茅台巴斯克) (¥49) — By the time I saw this from the display counter, I knew I needed to spend some quality time with it.

The unique twist of adding moutai wine to the ultra-fluffy basque cheesecake was an experience on its own. The cheese flavor actually combined really well with the umami-rich moutai, creating a lingering sweet-savory finish.

We still have another 20 minutes before dinner time. Should be enough to check out the old Yuyuan Public Market (愚園公共市集) across the street.

Food Rating: 6.8/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: House No.8, 1107 Yuyuan Road, Jiangsu Road Subdistrict, Changning District, Shanghai, China

上海市长宁区江苏路街道愚园路1107号8号楼

Closest Metro Station: Jiangsu Road (江苏路)

Tel: +86 13122092945

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/56/VgiM

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

Moose Pudong 鹿園 浦東店 (Shanghai, CHINA) ★★★★☆

We had an early start for a morning tour of Pudong (浦東). The Oriental Pearl Tower (東方明珠塔) was a great starting point, and I planned to take a walk down memory lane with a long overdue visit to the Grand Hyatt Shanghai hotel (上海金茂君悅大酒店). It opened back in 2000 (I think) and at one point, it was the world’s tallest hotel. I have dined there on a few occasions when it was still new, but I’d never had the chance to stay.

But the temperature turned out to be much warmer than expected. After a few quick photos of the Oriental Pearl Tower, we decided to retreat somewhere with air-conditioning.

Super Brand Mall (正大廣場) came to the rescue, and we enjoyed some game time at the arcade centre there as well.

Next up was lunch. Moose (鹿園), also better known as Luyuan, is a Michelin one-star restaurant located on the 9th floor of the L+Mall in Lujiazui (陸家嘴). It specializes in refined Huaiyang and Shanghainese cuisine.

The main branch of the restaurant is set in a refurbished century-old colonial mansion in Changning district, quite a stark contrast to this modern, luxury outlet in Pudong.

The modern, cozy décor strikes a balance between contemporary style and traditional Huaiyang elegance.

Before our dishes arrived, we were offered some local melon and a strawberry.

Braised bean curd with vegetables (鹵汁浸素燒鵝) (¥48) — We started off with a few starters including this vegetarian duck dish. The braised bean curd stuffed with mushrooms and vegetables was served cold, with a homemade sweet soy sauce. Refreshing and appetizing to kick off the meal.

Mushroom soup with tofu and pigeon egg (明月雪絨豆腐湯) (¥58) — One of the house specialties here. A refined Huaiyang-style soup that showcases the incredible knife skills, where tofu is shredded into snow-like threads to resemble a snowflake. There was a light but deep mushroom flavor in the background, for a balanced and soothing finish.

Shrimp and bamboo shoot mugwort mochi (蝦仁筍丁艾草團) (¥68) — A new item on the menu. While the filling of shrimp and bamboo shoots resembles that of a steamed shrimp dumpling, the wrapper is a mochi-style one made with mugwort. An interesting creation on paper, but the skin was a little too thick and sticky for my liking.

Squirrel-shaped mandarin fish (松鼠桂魚) (¥78) — One of the signature dishes here, which can be ordered as a one-person portion. That’s exactly what we did with the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish. Little nugget has always been a huge fan of this dish thanks to the thick, sticky sweet-and-sour sauce. Personally, I thought the texture of the fish was really succulent. 

Roast duck (燜爐烤鴨) (¥288) — A signature dish that, according to our server, requires at least 70 minutes of preparation time. Let’s see whether it really lives up to the long wait.

I thought it would take longer than 70 minutes. By the time our chef brought it out and once the craving for those crispy skins kicked in — we’d already finished the other dishes long, long ago.

Our server explained that we would be enjoying the skin first. 

The duck was roasted with fruit wood, so the crispy skin naturally developed a distinct aroma, along with a shiny, slightly oily texture.

A plate of condiments was already set on the table. It included the usual scallion, cucumber, sugar, and hoisin sauce but no thin strips of hawthorn jelly or melon.

We were told to dip the skin in sugar first. Crisp, delicate, and melting in the mouth — it really was excellent.

By the time we’d polished off fewer than a dozen pieces of crispy duck skin, another plate was already waiting on deck.

All of these came with a thin layer of fat and meat underneath.

The thin and delicate pancakes were served in a heated bamboo basket.

Little by little, I added the condiments to my pancake.

And rolled it into a tube-like roast duck wrap.

What stood out most about Moose’s roast duck was how soft and succulent the meat was. The fruit-wood aroma was clearly present and distinct, but not overpowering allowing the natural flavor of the duck to shine through. For me, it even tasted better than the one we had at Song Sichuan Cuisine (宋 · 川菜) in Guangzhou.

Second and third round coming…..

Boiled Duck frame with vegetable and fish ball soup (時蔬魚丸鴨架湯) (¥20 per head) —  The remaining bones were used for this duck soup with vegetables and fish balls. I expected it might be a little greasy, but it was the complete opposite. The broth was clean and sweet, with a lovely creamy texture. Love this!

The highlight was definitely the soft bones. A little crunchy but tender and satisfying.

The meal lasted a little over two hours, slightly longer than I expected. The pacing wasn't bad except for the roast duck, which understandably took more time to prepare.

All in all, what stood out most was the balance between refinement and comfort. The dishes reflected clear Huaiyang finesse with clean flavors, careful textures, and plenty of attention to detail — yet nothing overly fussy.

Food Rating: 7.1/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop 908-909, Level 9 Lujiazui Center, Pudong District, Shanghai, China

上海市浦东新区浦东南路899号上海陆家嘴中心9层908-909号

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

Tel: +86 (021) 5877-5707

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 2:00pm, 5:00pm - 9:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/17/oeiM