Best Shanghai Restaurants: Michelin Picks, Bund Views & Local Favorites

What is the best Shanghai restaurant? If you want the city's highest-rated table, the answer is Taian Table, the only restaurant in Shanghai with three Michelin stars. But if you want the meal most locals would send you to first, it is a steamer basket of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) at a neighborhood shop and that will cost you less than $10.

In this guide, I break down the top-rated Shanghai restaurants by what you are actually looking for: Michelin stars, Asia's 50 Best, Bund views, authentic Shanghainese food, and cheap eats. You will also find the dishes you should not leave without trying and how to book and pay as a US visitor since most local restaurants do not take cash or US cards directly.

What Are the Best Restaurants in Shanghai?

The top rated Shanghai restaurants right now are Taian Table for Michelin fine dining, Meet the Bund for Asia's 50 Best, and Fu He Hui for something you will not find anywhere else. However, the best restaurants in Shanghai, China are not all expensive. Some of the most talked-about meals in the city happen at soup dumpling counters with plastic stools.

Here is a quick look before we get into each category.

Note: Budget = under $10, Mid-range = $10 to $30, Mid-to-high = $30 to $80, Splurge = $80 and up. These are rough ranges so please check the latest menu prices before you go.

Which Shanghai Restaurants Have Michelin Stars?

Shanghai has 51 Michelin-starred restaurants in the 2026 guide. The guide also lists 35 Bib Gourmand spots (good cooking at moderate prices) and covers 156 Shanghai restaurants across 35 cuisines in total.

Note: Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, the single-table restaurant that held three stars for years, closed in November 2025. But many other "best restaurants in Shanghai" lists on the internet still recommend it.

• Taian Table (3 stars): The only three-star restaurant in Shanghai, holding that title for five years in a row. It is run by founder Stefan Stiller and executive chef Christiaan Stoop in the Changning District. Plan on a long tasting-menu evening, book well in advance, and know that smart casual is fine here.
  
• T'ang Court (2 stars): A Cantonese restaurant that moved up to two stars in 2026. It actually held three stars in the guide's first Shanghai edition, so this is a comeback.
  
• Amazing Chinese Cuisine (2 stars): Newly promoted in 2026 for its Chaozhou cooking.
  
• Tou Zao (2 stars): Contemporary Chinese, also newly promoted to two stars in 2026.
  
• Fu He Hui (2 stars): Refined Chinese vegetarian fine dining that also ranks on Asia's 50 Best.
  
• Bao Li Xuan (2 stars): Elegant Chinese dining inside the Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai.
  
• 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (2 stars): Italian fine dining, just steps from the Bund.
  
• Da Vittorio Shanghai (2 stars): Classic Italian from the well-known family-run restaurant group.
• Huaiyang Delights, Jingan (1 star): New for 2026, serving Huaiyang cuisine (a lighter, delicate style from Jiangsu Province).
  
• Vivant by Johnny Pham (1 star): The third first-time star of 2026.

Tip: If the tasting-menu prices are too much, the Bib Gourmand list is the smarter way to eat Michelin-recommended food on a budget. Filter the official MICHELIN Guide site by "Bib Gourmand" and "Shanghai" to see the full list with addresses.

Which Shanghai Restaurants Made Asia's 50 Best?

Five Shanghai restaurants made the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list more than any other city in mainland China. The ranking was announced in Hong Kong on March 25, 2026 and is voted on by more than 350 chefs, food writers, and restaurateurs.

So, if you only have one fine-dining night in Shanghai, Meet the Bund is the easiest pick. It is the top-ranked restaurant in mainland China and sits right in the Bund area, so you can walk the waterfront before or after dinner.

Tip: If you are looking for a longer and more casual list, our Top 50 Must-Visit Restaurants in Shanghai list covers local favorites which are much easier to book on short notice.

What Are the Best Restaurants Near the Bund?

The best Shanghai restaurants near the Bund are Sir Elly's, Canton Table, and Mr & Mrs Bund for fine dining, plus Riviera Songhelou and Lost Heaven if you want great food without a tasting-menu bill. The Bund (the historic riverfront promenade along the Huangpu River) is where you will find the highest concentration of view restaurants in the city.

• Sir Elly's (MICHELIN Guide, fine dining): On the 13th floor of The Peninsula Shanghai at 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road, at the north end of the Bund. It is one of the best balances of food and view on the waterfront, and the terrace is the seat to ask for.
  
• Canton Table (1 star, fine dining): Refined Cantonese food inside the Three on the Bund building, which dates back to 1916.
  
• Jean-Georges Shanghai (MICHELIN Guide, fine dining): Also in Three on the Bund, on the 4th floor. It is one of the steadiest fine-dining rooms on the waterfront.
  
• Mr & Mrs Bund (MICHELIN Guide, fine dining): Modern French on the 6th floor of 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road, a few doors down from Three on the Bund.
  
• Riviera Songhelou (mid-range): One of the few places where every table gets a view. It sits in a standalone three-story building at 505 Zhongshan Dong Er Road, with 270-degree views of the Bund and the Lujiazui skyline. The menu focuses on Suzhou cuisine, so try the squirrel fish (deep-fried fish in a sweet and sour sauce).
  
• Lost Heaven (mid-range): Yunnan food (from China's southwest) in a moody, lantern-lit space at 17 Yan'an Dong Road. It is popular with first-time visitors and works well for groups.

Tip: If you only want one bowl of something iconic, head to Li Bai Xie on the 3rd floor of Bund 22 (22 Zhongshan Dong Er Road) for crab roe noodles. Ask for a window seat if you want the Oriental Pearl Tower in your photos.

Which Shanghai Restaurants Have the Best Views?

The Shanghai restaurants with the best views split into two groups: Bund-side restaurants that look across the river at the Pudong skyline, and high-floor Pudong restaurants that look down on the Bund. Which one you pick depends on whether you want to see the skyscrapers or the historic buildings.

• Sir Elly's, Riviera Songhelou & Li Bai Xie (Bund-side view): The classic postcard view of the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower lit up at night. All three are covered above and are the easiest ways to get this view with a proper meal.
  
• Vue Bar at Hyatt on the Bund (Bund-side view, drinks): On the 32nd and 33rd floors, looking over both sides of the Huangpu River. It works well as a stop after dinner if you just want a drink with the view.
  
• Park Hyatt Shanghai (Pudong high-floor view): The highest seats in town, on floors 79 to 93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center at 100 Century Avenue. The restaurants and bars up there give you an almost aerial view of the city.
  
• The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong (Pudong high-floor view): Its upper-floor dining looks straight across the river at the Bund's lit-up colonial buildings.

Tip: Book your table about 30 minutes before sunset. You get the skyline in daylight, the sunset, and the lights coming on, all in one meal. The Bund lights are usually switched on in the evening, but hours can change on holidays.

What Should You Eat in Shanghai in 2026?

The must-eat foods in Shanghai are xiaolongbao, shengjianbao, hongshao rou, and crab roe noodles. Shanghainese food (also called Haipai or Benbang cuisine) leans sweet and savory, with lots of soy sauce, sugar, and slow braising.

Tip: Hairy crab season runs roughly from late September to December. If you visit in the fall, this is the time to order anything with crab.

Where Can You Find Cheap Eats and Local Favorites?

You can eat very well in Shanghai for under $10 per person. A local Chinese meal often costs less than ¥50 (roughly $7), while Western restaurants charge close to Western prices.

Dumpling Shops and Snack Spots

• Jia Jia Tang Bao (xiaolongbao): The name that comes up again and again for soup dumplings, especially the pork and crab version.
• Yang's Fry Dumplings (shengjianbao): The go-to for pan-fried pork buns, with branches all over the city.
• Dong Tai Xiang (shengjianbao): A strong local alternative that many residents swear by.
• Din Tai Fung (xiaolongbao): A chain with several locations in Shanghai. Pick it if you want a bit more comfort and an English menu, since the dumplings are consistent.

Local Restaurants and Food Streets

• Jesse, also called Ji Shi (Shanghainese): A long-time favorite for a sit-down dinner that will not break the bank, at 41 Tianping Road in the Former French Concession. Order the red braised pork belly, the fish in seaweed batter, and the dates stuffed with sticky rice.
• Yunnan Road, also called Yunnan Lu (food street): Often called the best food street in Shanghai, near People's Square. It is a good place to wander and point at whatever looks good.

What Do Reddit Users Recommend?

• Tao Tao Ju, Xintiandi (dim sum): Around ¥150 per person and good for a bigger, fancier group dinner.
• Xibo (Xinjiang food): Around ¥110 per person, with high-quality food and a nice atmosphere.
• Lost Heaven (upscale Yunnan): Around ¥200 per person and very popular with expats.
• Do not trust long lines alone: A common tip on r/shanghai is that some queues are for social media hype, not the food, so check recent reviews before you wait an hour.

Tip: Many restaurants offer weekday lunch sets (called shangye wucan) at a fraction of the dinner price. This is the easiest way to try a pricier restaurant on a budget.

What Are the Most Unique Restaurants in Shanghai?

The most unique restaurants in Shanghai are the ones where the building or the concept is as memorable as the food. These are the places I would pick if you want a dinner story to bring home.

Fu He Hui (Vegetarian Fine Dining)

Fu He Hui proves that a meat-free tasting menu can hold two Michelin stars and a spot on Asia's 50 Best. The dishes draw on Buddhist vegetarian traditions, and the dining room is calm and minimal. It is a great pick even if you are not vegetarian.

The Commune Social (Inside a Former Police Station)

The Commune Social is housed in a former police station dating back to 1910, at 511 Jiangning Road in Jing'an. It serves creative tapas-style plates, so it works well for a relaxed night with friends.

Fu 1039 and Ren He Guan (Old Shanghai Atmosphere)

Fu 1039 serves classic Shanghainese food in a 1920s French mansion at 1039 Yuyuan Road in Changning. Ren He Guan at 407 Zhaojiabang Road leans into 1930s Art Deco style with golden lighting and nostalgic decor.

Both are good choices if you want to eat local dishes in a setting that feels like old Shanghai.

Immersive Dining Experiences

If you are visiting China for the first time, an immersive dinner show like Taste of China in Shanghai combines a multi-course meal with visuals of the country's landmarks. Reviewers on Trip.com say it is a fun introduction to Chinese food before you explore on your own.

Note: Shanghai's dining scene changes fast. Restaurants open, move, and close often, so always check the latest opening hours before you go.

How Do You Book and Pay at Shanghai Restaurants?

You should set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your US card before you land, because most Shanghai restaurants expect you to pay by scanning a QR code. US credit cards still work at international hotels and some upscale restaurants, but not at most local spots.

How to Pay as a US Visitor?

Both apps now let foreigners link an overseas Visa, Mastercard, or Amex card without a Chinese bank account. You verify your identity with your passport, add your card, and then scan to pay at restaurants, cafes, and even street food stalls.

Keep in mind that Alipay charges a small fee on foreign cards for larger payments. For example, a ¥500 dinner can show up as about ¥515 on your card. WeChat Pay also has a per-transaction limit of ¥6,000 for foreign visitors.

Tip: Turn off your VPN before you pay. Travelers often report that VPNs block Alipay and WeChat Pay transactions.

How to Book a Table?

For Michelin and Asia's 50 Best restaurants, book through the restaurant's official channel or the MICHELIN Guide's booking link at least a few weeks ahead. If you are staying at a higher-end hotel, the concierge can often book for you, which helps when a restaurant only takes reservations in Chinese.

At casual places, there is usually no reservation at all. You walk in, scan a QR code on the table, and order on your phone. Some of these menus run inside WeChat (not Alipay), so it is worth having both apps.

Tipping and Dining Etiquette

Tipping is not expected in Shanghai. However, upscale restaurants usually add a 10% to 15% service charge to the bill, so check before you add anything extra.

Most Chinese restaurants serve family-style, with big round tables and shared dishes. So, order a few plates for the table rather than one main per person.