Shanghai Brunch Guide 2026: Where Expats Actually Go on Weekends

Brunch in Shanghai is a religion with its own denominations. There are the European bistro loyalists who will queue 45 minutes for a galette. There are the free-flow seekers who view brunch primarily as a vehicle for two hours of bottomless drinks. There are the cafe hoppers who photograph more than they eat. And there are the rest of us, who just want good eggs, decent coffee, and a seat before noon. This guide is for the last group, with notes for the others.

The classics: the spots that earned their reputation

• RAC (322 Anfu Lu, Xuhui). The buckwheat galettes here are the reason half the neighborhood wakes up before 10 on Sundays. Perfectly crispy edges, runny egg, ham that tastes like it was flown in from Paris (it might have been). The crepes are just as good, especially the salted caramel. Expect 60–90 RMB per dish. The terrace seats go first, arrive by 9:30 or wait. They also do natural wine in the evenings, if your brunch turns into a full day.
• Egg (3 Xiangyang Bei Lu, Xuhui), A dedicated breakfast cafe with a semi-sunken kitchen you can watch from your seat. The avocado toast is a reliable 58 RMB. The corn fritters are surprisingly good. Everything is photogenic without trying too hard, which is rare. Coffee is locally roasted and strong. Lines form by 10:30 on weekends, but they move fast.
• Highline (6F, 282 Huaihai Zhong Lu, Huangpu). Modern American with a terrace that overlooks downtown. Their pancakes have a cult following. The eggs Benedict is properly done: hollandaise that tastes like hollandaise, not warm milk. Brunch runs about 120–180 RMB per person with a drink. Reservations recommended for the terrace, especially if the weather is cooperating.
• Coffee Tree (Ferguson Lane, 376 Wukang Lu, Xuhui): Everyone goes for the truffle burger, which is technically a lunch item, but nobody follows the rules here. Great coffee, outdoor courtyard seating under the plane trees, and a crowd that skews young and creative. About 80–120 RMB per person.

Free-flow brunch deals: the social ones

Some people go to brunch for the food. Others go for the socially acceptable excuse to drink prosecco at 11 AM. Shanghai does not judge. Here are the free-flow deals that are actually worth the price.

• Cantina Agave (291 Fumin Lu, Xuhui): Saturday and Sunday brunch, 10 AM–3 PM. Free-flow house margaritas for 95 RMB on top of à la carte food (chorizo scrambled eggs, huevos rancheros, tacos). The margaritas are strong, the atmosphere is loud, and the crowd is a mix of long-term expats and visiting friends they’re showing the “real Shanghai.” Total damage: about 180–250 RMB per person if you eat and drink enthusiastically.
• The Bull and Claw (110 Fenyang Lu, Xuhui), A fixture. Weekend brunch with free-flow prosecco and bloody marys, usually 248–288 RMB per person including food. The lobster Benedict is their signature move. Reliably good, rarely surprising, which is exactly what you want from a Sunday brunch spot you visit twice a month.
• Beef & Liberty (Jing’an Kerry Centre, Nanjing Xi Lu): Known for burgers, but their weekend brunch with free-flow prosecco and aperol spritz (around 268 RMB) is an underrated deal. The truffle fries alone justify the trip. Good pick for Jing’an-based expats who don’t want to cross town.

Quiet mornings: when you want food, not a party

Not every brunch needs to be an event. Sometimes you want a corner table, a flat white, and food that arrives without commentary. These places get it.

• Baker & Spice (195 Anfu Lu, Xuhui), A Shanghai institution at this point. The bakery counter is stacked with proper croissants, sourdough, and cakes that rotate seasonally. Grab a pastry and coffee for under 60 RMB, or sit down for eggs and granola around 80–100 RMB. Quiet on weekday mornings. Gently busy on weekends but never chaotic.
• Luneurs (Yongkang Lu, Xuhui): Started as a gelato shop, expanded into a full cafe. The croissants are flaky and honest, the matcha latte is well-made, and the vibe is calm. About 50–80 RMB for pastry and coffee. Outdoor seating on Yongkang Lu is pleasant in the morning before the street gets busy.
• Pain Chaud (multiple locations). French bakery chain that does simple things well. Ham and cheese croissant, coffee, out the door for 45 RMB. Not trendy, not trying to be. Just reliable bread by people who take bread seriously.
• Alimentari (Yongjia Lu, Xuhui). Italian deli with weekend brunch plates that change weekly. The shakshuka is a regular, and they do a proper Italian breakfast plate with prosciutto, burrata, and sourdough. About 100–140 RMB. Small space, so weekday mornings are your friend.

Hotel brunch: the once-in-a-while splurge

Hotel brunch in Shanghai is a genre unto itself. Enormous buffet spreads, live cooking stations, champagne towers, carving stations, and prices that make you briefly reconsider your life choices. But once or twice a year: birthday, visiting parents, that friend who insists on “doing something fancy”, they deliver.

• The Langham (Xintiandi, Huangpu). Their weekend brunch buffet is well-curated and refreshingly free of filler. Seafood station with fresh oysters, a roast carving station, and a dessert section that deserves its own postcode. Around 500–700 RMB per person with free-flow champagne. Reserve ahead.
• Waldorf Astoria (The Bund, Huangpu). Grand setting in the heritage building. The brunch here feels like an event. Expect 600–800 RMB per person. The pastry selection is worth the price of admission on its own. Go for a celebration, not a casual Saturday.
• POP at the Three on the Bund (Huangpu). Terrace brunch with Pudong views. More relaxed than the grand hotel buffets, with an à la carte menu and good cocktails. About 300–450 RMB per person. Terrace seats in spring and autumn are genuinely lovely. In summer, request indoor seating unless you enjoy dining in a sauna.

The brunch survival guide

After far too many weekends spent learning these lessons the hard way:

• Book on Dianping (大众点评), not by calling. Most restaurants manage reservations through the app and calling sometimes gets you a different answer than the app. Search the restaurant name in Chinese characters for quicker results.
• Arrive at 9:30 or after 1:30. The 10:30–12:30 window is the danger zone. Every brunch place in Shanghai fills up during this window on weekends. Show up early or late and you’ll usually walk right in.
• Weekday brunch exists and it’s underrated. Many cafes and restaurants serve their full brunch menu Monday through Friday to a nearly empty room. If your schedule allows, Tuesday brunch at RAC is a completely different experience from Sunday brunch at RAC.
• Terrace seats go first. If you want outdoor seating in spring or autumn, book 2–3 days ahead. In summer, honestly, sit inside. The humidity will ruin your pastry before you photograph it.
• Split a free-flow brunch with a friend if the restaurant allows à la carte ordering alongside. One person gets the free-flow deal, the other orders a single dish and drinks from the first person’s allocation. Not all places allow this, but the ones that do make it very cost-effective.