Dinogo is back in Shanghai, China, to showcase the hottest new dining, drinking, and coffee spots in the world's most populous city. Shanghai-based food writer Christopher St. Cavish has provided his top recommendations for the best new openings of the past year.
Featured are a Korean-style izakaya (Jeju), a glamorous Szechuan hotspot (The Peacock Room), and a grocery-café-wine bar from a renowned three-Michelin-star chef (The Chop Chop Club). The coffee scene is booming with new spots from hidden pour-over bars (Hey There) to a massive 29,000-square-foot Starbucks — the largest globally. According to St. Cavish, Shanghai is also innovating tea culture for a younger crowd, making it an exciting time to explore the city's culinary scene.
Editor’s Note: Due to global travel disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, Dinogo is not currently updating international maps.
Jeju Izakaya
Jeju Izakaya offers a unique Korean-style Japanese izakaya experience, blending influences from various cuisines and designed to support the larger restaurants of its parent company. Despite its small size (only eight seats), it delivers exceptional food. Reservations are exclusively made through WeChat, China’s popular messaging app.
Hey There
Hey There is a fresh player in the competitive cat café scene, featuring three charming cats, one on each floor of its cozy, three-story venue. The space feels like a friend's inviting home, complete with a large sofa on the ground floor and Rolling Stones records on display upstairs, all set in warm wood and airy glass. While the coffee is mild, Hey There stands out as Shanghai’s top cat café.
Interior of Hey There
Photo by Brandon McGhee62 le Bec
Nicolas le Bec, after earning two Michelin stars in Lyon and establishing renowned dining spots in Shanghai, has launched a new venture: a grocery-café-wine bar. This isn't just a place for groceries and wine; it's a journey through Old World wines at exceptional prices, thanks to direct importing. Complement your experience with small bites and add 100 yuan for corkage in a setting reminiscent of his wine cellar.
RAC
After a scandal led to the closure of the popular Farine bakery chain in early 2017, its staff dispersed throughout the city. RAC marks their successful comeback, reuniting at this charming galette shop and café. Nestled at the quieter end of Expat Alley on Anfu Lu, RAC sits amid a mix of expatriate residences, restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops. It serves as a link between the modern expatriate enclave and the historic 1930s housing of the former French Concession, boasting some of the best coffee on the street.
Diner
Diner, led by renowned chef Austin Hu, offers a modern twist on comfort food and has become a beloved spot in the French Concession. With its striking plate glass windows and prime corner location, it's ideal for people-watching while enjoying pancakes topped with lemon curd and blueberry compote or a succulent smashed wagyu burger.
Réel Mall
The upscale food court at Réel Mall has become a hotspot since its recent renovation, attracting crowds and long lines. Da Fu Dong, a standout vendor, specializes in Asian-style grilled meats served over rice and is particularly popular during meal times. Beyond this, the mall offers a range of unique options, including sake-flavored soft serve and marinated goose.
Oha Café
Oha Café is an innovative fusion of Australian and Guizhou cuisines, blending the expertise of an Australian chef with the spicy flavors of southwest China. This unique concept delivers a diverse menu of small plates, many priced at 50 yuan or less, offering a culinary journey across Chinese regions and beyond, while maintaining a distinct identity of its own.
A dish from Oha Café
Photo: OhaDodu
In Shanghai’s vibrant culinary scene, the arrival of two young French chefs has set a new standard for roasted chicken. Their Dodu chickens, renowned for their crispy skin, herb-infused flavor, and juicy meat, have quickly become a sensation, even among seasoned Cantonese Mytouries. Served with delectable sides like roasted potatoes in the chicken drippings and buttered peas and carrots, these chickens have inspired numerous imitators. Note, however, that the small size of the shop means seating is limited.
Roasted chicken from Dodu
Photo: Dodu | FacebookSimply Better
This Korean hotspot gained fame in 2017 for its Dirty Coffee, a latte topped with chocolate shavings. Originally part of a monthly special, its popularity led to a strong demand to keep it on the menu permanently, alongside a rotating selection of inventive new drinks.
Zee Tea
Zee Tea is a trendy tea cafe redefining tea culture for millennials. With its raw concrete design, cold-drip high-mountain oolongs, and exquisite pastries, it draws a stylish crowd eager to savor tea, a beverage once deemed old-fashioned. Whether it’s a reaction against coffee, a nod to cultural pride, or a quest for something fresh, Zee Tea captures it all.
Moka Bros
Moka Bros, a vibrant cafe and creative hotspot from Beijing, ventured south in 2017 to open a lively, eclectic space in downtown Shanghai. Offering familiar fare like falafel wraps, smoothies, and poke bowls, its energetic vibe attracts both remote workers and health enthusiasts who enjoy relaxing on beanbag chairs for hours.
A daytime selection from Moka BrosInWe
InWe, whose name plays on “because of tea” and “flavor” in Chinese, is redefining the cafe scene in China. Unlike traditional cafes centered around espresso machines, InWe focuses on brewing a variety of leaves, whether hot or cold, and incorporating diverse flavors such as rooibos latte and a unique tea blend with Chinese olives and white tea. The minimalist, trendy design complements its innovative approach to tea.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Shanghai, already home to the highest number of Starbucks locations in a single city (631 and growing), now boasts the world's largest Starbucks. Spanning 29,000 square feet, this grand establishment celebrates all things coffee with on-site roasting, augmented reality features, dedicated cold-brew and cocktail bars, and an extravagant pastry shop by renowned Milanese baker Rocco Princi. Though it attracted long queues when it opened in late November, the rush has subsided, making this an ideal time to visit.
The coffee bar at Shanghai’s Starbucks Reserve RoasteryPhoto: StarbucksThe Peacock Room
Shanghai has shifted from the flashy, large-scale dining establishments of the early 2000s due to rising rents and a preference for intimate venues. However, The Peacock Room stands out with its lavish interior designed by Andy Hall of MQ Studios and Caesar Song of the popular Yu Ba Xian restaurants. The venue features a grand marble table seating 50, where the Malaysian chef showcases a vibrant and original take on traditional Sichuan cuisine.
Homeslice Pizza
Among the new arrivals at the open-air, subterranean Found 158 complex in 2017, Homeslice stands out. This project by an enthusiastic amateur chef has made waves with its large New York-style pizza slices, demonstrating that dedication can rival professional experience. The white pizza, featuring Parmesan cream, lemon zest, and garlic, is a must-try.
A classic cheese pizza from HomeslicePhoto: Homeslice Pizza | Facebook
Small plates from the Chop Chop ClubPhoto: The Chop Chop Club
