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13DE MARZO Cafe is the cafe arm of the 13DE MARZO fashion label on Anfu Road in Xuhui, Shanghai, marked by the giant teddy bear on the building. Every cup arrives hugged by a little bear, the Rose Latte (around 36 RMB) is the signature, and the second floor sells bear apparel and souvenirs. It is takeout only with no seating, so grab your cup and wander the plane-tree streets around it. Expect a queue at weekends.

1929 by Guillaume Galliot is a French fine-dining restaurant on Maoming Nan Lu in Huangpu, set inside the restored 1929 Cathay Mansion, now the Jinjiang Hotel's Jinbei Building. Guillaume Galliot, the chef behind Hong Kong's three-star Caprice, has planted his first Shanghai flag here, serving French cuisine with Asian accents under towering ceilings and vintage windows: blue lobster with Shaoxing wine sauce, a king crab laksa. There are two bars, one easy daytime lounge and one intimate upstairs perch, and the room feels like the building's history got a second act. New to the 2026 Michelin selection.

Aster by Joshua Paris is a chef-driven fine-dining restaurant on Yongyuan Lu in Jing'an, a 48-seat room built around a 360-degree bar. Joshua Paris ran the kitchen at three-star Ultraviolet before striking out on his own, and Aster is what he wanted to cook all along: a borderless menu with a French backbone. The space, designed on the geometry of the aster flower, pairs double-height ceilings with mauve and ochre. Starters run 88 to 188 RMB, mains 228 to 358. Fine dining technique without the stiffness, and already in the 2026 Michelin selection.

Butterful & Creamorous is a Seoul-born bakery in Xintiandi Style I on Xingye Lu in Huangpu, Shanghai, the pastry shop that launched a thousand Instagram posts. Known for its buttery croissants, signature cream pastries, and the iconic deep green takeaway bag. The Shanghai outpost draws crowds for its flaky pain au chocolat and seasonal specials. Expect a queue on weekends.

Char Bar is a rooftop bar and steakhouse on the top three floors of Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund, at 585 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu in Huangpu, looking straight across the river at the Pudong skyline. The 29th and 30th floors hold the indoor grill room and bar, and the open terrace above them is the reason most people come, particularly at sunset when the Lujiazui towers light up. The kitchen is steak-led, with cocktails and wine served through the evening; doors open at 17:00 and the bar runs to around 01:00. It sits at the quieter southern end of the Bund promenade, below the Yan'an Dong Lu junction and away from the crush at the Peace Hotel end. The terrace is weather dependent, so book ahead on a clear night and expect to move indoors if it rains.

FLAIR is a rooftop bar and restaurant in Lujiazui, Pudong, on the 58th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong, with an open-air terrace that looks almost straight across at the Oriental Pearl Tower, close enough that the lights color your table. Dinner runs nightly from 5:30pm, with terrace dinner packages from 1,680 RMB for two and cocktails around 200 RMB. Book a terrace table ahead, especially in the warm months, and time it for sunset so you get the skyline in both lights. Dress up a little; the room expects it.

Fabula is a Michelin one-star tasting-menu restaurant on Weihai Road in Jing'an, Shanghai, from three young chefs who trained across Ningbo, Foshan, and Shanghai. The eclectic tasting menu, 1,280 RMB, shifts with the season and draws on all three chefs' hometown ingredients and techniques. The room is an intimate third-floor space at 720 Weihai Road, easy to reach from West Nanjing Road, and small enough that booking ahead is the only way in for weekends.

Funkadeli is a casual bar on Fumin Lu in Jing'an, a fixture of the Shanghai expat scene since it started on Yongkang Lu in 2013 and settled on this corner in October 2016. It is a patio bar and Italian kitchen in one: panini, pasta and aperitivo drinks, with indoor seats and a terrace that fills the moment the weather turns kind. At around 100 to 200 RMB a head, open daily from 11:30am until 1am on weekdays and 2am on weekends, it works for a lazy lunch, a spritz at dusk, or the last stop of the night.

Goodman is a no-frills smash burger joint from the Yaya's team, now on the second floor of Building C at 98 Yanping Lu in Jing'an, Shanghai, after its original Xiangyang Bei Lu corner closed at the end of March 2026. The menu stays tight on purpose: burgers, loaded fries, shakes, and that's it. The Classic Smash double runs 68 RMB, the triple 88 RMB. Walk-in only, no reservations, and open daily from 11am until half past midnight, which makes it a solid late-night burger stop too.

HANRO is a dry-aged Korean BBQ restaurant on Huaihai Zhong Lu in Xuhui, Shanghai, from Chef Tom Ryu of the modern Korean restaurant NABI, working with Master Choi, a specialist in dry-aging. The upstairs dining room does premium charcoal grilling with tableside service, using cuts like Qingdao wagyu and Zhejiang black pork, while the ground floor holds a bar and waiting area. It opened to instant demand, so book ahead; walk-ins are easier after 9pm.

Holy Spice is a Balinese-inspired Indonesian restaurant on Fuxing Xi Lu in Xuhui, Shanghai, built around Indonesian spices, textures and aromas by the OHA Group in the former Maolago space. The draw beyond the food is the plant-filled rooftop terrace, a rare open-air perch on this quiet stretch of Fuxing Xi Lu. It is a good pick when you want something warm-climate and a little different from the neighbourhood's usual bistros.

Momenti is a casual Italian restaurant in Hongshoufang, right beside the Changshou Road metro exit in Putuo, run entirely by a native Italian chef team turning out classic Mediterranean plates with zero over-localized twists. From my own visits, it's one of the steadiest Italian kitchens I've found in Shanghai this year. Management Alan and GM Valerio are the real thing, warm and unpretentious, and every pasta is handmade fresh daily from generations-old family recipes. It holds consistently strong reviews across Dianping and Xiaohongshu. A lovely, low-key spot for a casual weeknight dinner or a small gathering with friends.

Nora's is a compact natural-wine shop and bar on Yongfu Lu in Xuhui, Shanghai, run by Nora Liu with a clear point of view. The list leans natural, rotates often, and there are highballs for anyone who would rather not commit to a bottle. Snacks stay simple: burrata gelato, a plate of charcuterie, enough to keep the evening going. Vinyl plays, art hangs on the walls, and every other Thursday brings a Vinyl and Vino night. It is the kind of place you drop into after work and leave later than planned. Open daily from mid-afternoon to midnight.

Ocean's Table is a contemporary Spanish seafood restaurant in Jing'an, where chef Ferran Edo Andreu has taken over the former Commune Social space on Jiangning Lu with a seafood-first menu and a terrace brunch, now running Friday through Sunday, that has become the summer booking everyone in Jing'an is chasing. Brunch sets run 268 to 398 RMB; dinner is a la carte with mains up to about 288 RMB, and most people land around 259 RMB a head. Come for the seafood rice, stay on the terrace until the plane trees go gold. Book ahead for weekends.

POETS Thai is a casual, hugely popular Thai restaurant in the West Bund Dream Center in Xuhui, a short walk from the riverside. The menu runs through the classics with a properly punchy hand: expect real heat and real sourness rather than toned-down versions. At around 169 RMB a head, it is one of the better-value Thai meals in this corner of Xuhui. No reservations, so a queue builds at peak hours; go early or put your name down and wander the West Bund while you wait.

Penicillin is a low-waste cocktail bar on Nanchang Lu, near Yandang Lu in Huangpu, Shanghai, that came over from Hong Kong in 2025. The bar made its name on closed-loop, low-waste drinks, and that thinking runs through the Shanghai list: fermented rice water, grilled cabbage soda, spirits reworked from kitchen offcuts. Cocktails sit around 88 RMB, with a few considered mocktails for anyone off the sauce. The room carries a lab-like curiosity, though the welcome stays warm. No reservations, so come early on weekends. It draws a mixed crowd of drinks people and curious regulars from across the city.

Tabani Bar & Bistro is a cozy Eastern European bar and bistro on Hengshan Lu in Xuhui, tucked into Yongping Li and named after the thick pancake-flatbread it serves alongside borscht, goulash and draniki. The menu wanders from Eastern Europe to the Caucasus, the room stays warm and unfussy, and it pours from late morning to midnight, which makes it as good for a slow lunch as for a nightcap. Shanghai's food press has been quietly circling it since it opened, and the Slavic comfort-food niche it fills is real.

The Fellas is a modern Italian restaurant and terrace bar on the seventh floor of a historic building on Yan'an Dong Lu in Huangpu, a block off the Bund, with the Pudong skyline in full view from the outdoor tables. The kitchen runs an Italian menu of antipasti, fresh pasta, pizza and seafood, and the wine and cocktail list is what keeps the terrace busy after dinner. Service is evenings only, from 5:30pm, which makes it a sunset booking rather than a lunch one. Reckon on about 400 to 450 RMB a head with a couple of drinks. Terrace seats fill first on clear nights, so ask for one when you book.

Tuttù is an Italian bistro tucked into a lane off Yanping Lu in Jing'an, Shanghai, from Chef Giorgio, who also runs Hazel. The cooking is produce-driven and generous by local standards, built around balance rather than showmanship. The wine program is a real part of the draw, so it works equally for a full dinner or a couple of glasses with a plate to share. The room is casual but considered, small enough to feel personal. It opened recently and has been filling up on weekends, so booking ahead is sensible. Open evenings, later Thursday through Saturday.

VICE is a globally inspired small-plates restaurant on Yongjia Lu in Xuhui, Shanghai, from Raffe "Wolf" Ibrahamian (the team behind Cantina Agave) and Chef Carlos Sotomayor. The menu draws on Latin American, Mediterranean, and Asian flavors, built for sharing across the table. Opened June 2026 in a cozy Xuhui lane house setting on Yongjia Lu.

Vivant by Johnny Pham is a Michelin-starred French-Vietnamese restaurant near People's Square in Huangpu, set in the century-old Far Eastern Hotel. Johnny Pham cooked at Taian Table before opening his own room here, and in the 2026 Michelin guide it earned a star of its own. The French chef of Vietnamese descent runs a single seasonal tasting menu (1,888 RMB plus 10 percent) that moves between French technique and Vietnamese memory: think bouillabaisse with fish maw, pigeon with huangjiu. A special-occasion room with a story, and worth booking well ahead.

Babar is a French wine bar and bistro on Donghu Lu in Xuhui, tucked into a sunny corner with an open front that is perfect for people-watching. Simon Briens (Blaz, RAC) and Guillaume Tu (Spread) run the show, offering an unusually deep by-the-glass list paired with snack-sized French plates that sneak in Asian accents. The real draw: every evening from 6 to 8pm, wines by the glass go for a flat 60 RMB, a fine excuse to grab a counter seat early.

Bar Pesce is a seafood and wine bar on Suzhou Creek in Jing'an, set in the former Sage space beside Cometa. The kitchen leans Italian, with oysters, crudo and polished small plates matched to wine, and the low-key riverside room is built for lingering over one more glass. It is a recent opening still finding its rhythm, and an easy one to catch before word gets around.

Café del Volcán is a specialty coffee shop and roaster on Yongkang Lu in Xuhui, roasting Latin American volcanic-soil beans since 2012. This tiny spot feels like a neighborhood hangout, not a photo backdrop. Grab a properly pulled espresso or a slow pour-over, pair it with a pastry, and watch Yongkang Lu come alive. It's a reliable, unfussy stop for coffee that tastes like its origin, made by people who genuinely care about the cup.

Egg is an all-day brunch cafe on Xiangyang Bei Lu in Jing'an, a bright, airy corner with the feel of a Sydney beach cafe. Opened by US expat Camden Hauge, it does photogenic breakfast plates, avocado toast, rice waffles and corn fritters, with good coffee and a second-floor loft that fills with people working over flat whites. It is known for occasional guest-chef dinners too, but the mornings are the reason to come.

El Paisa is a Mexican taco restaurant in Jing'an, chef Marco Chavez's spot that relaunched in 2026 as a Sundays-only, all-you-can-eat taco session at AUNN on the second floor of Building 5, Lane 273 Jiaozhou Lu near Yanping Lu. For 188 RMB you eat your way through al pastor, birria and whatever else the flat-top is turning out that week, in a room that fills with regulars who clearly got the memo early. One day a week only, so book or arrive early; treat it as a proper Sunday ritual rather than a casual drop-in.

Godly, known in Chinese as Gongdelin, is a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant on Nanjing West Road in Huangpu, and it has been serving plant-based Shanghainese and Huaiyang cooking since 1922. The kitchen works in the old temple-cuisine tradition, turning wheat gluten, tofu skin and mushrooms into versions of duck, ham and fish that arrive looking like the thing they are imitating. Everything on the menu is meat-free, which makes ordering unusually low-stress if you are vegetarian and tired of interrogating waiters. Come for the mock duck and the vegetarian goose, and note the split service hours: the kitchen closes mid-afternoon and again after nine.

Goodbai is a celebrity concept cafe and merch store on Yanqing Lu in Xuhui, actor Bai Jingting's spot that has been a hit on Xiaohongshu since opening in 2024. Part design boutique, part coffee bar, the cafe sits at No. 104 with the clothing store a few doors down at No. 92. Sip the signature Goodbai Latte or a magnolia-scented cup, with drinks under 48 RMB and most people spending 28 to 40. Expect a stylish crowd and weekend queues; come for the people-watching and the branding as much as the coffee, then pop into the store for the merch.

Jia Jia Tang Bao (佳家汤包) is a made-to-order xiaolongbao (soup dumpling) shop on Huanghe Road food street, two minutes from People's Square. Open since 1986 and now at No.127 after moving across the street, it steams each basket only after you order, so the soup inside arrives scalding and the skins stay thin. Pork baskets run around 25 RMB for 12, crab roe versions around 38 to 60 RMB. Order and pay at the counter, share a table, and go before noon if you want the crab ones, they sell out.

Jujube Tree, or Zaozishu, is a casual vegetarian restaurant off Huaihai Middle Road in Huangpu, and it is the one most people here recommend first to a newly arrived vegetarian. The menu runs to modern Chinese vegetarian and vegan cooking across several regional styles, with mock meats built from tofu, seitan and yam alongside straightforward mushroom and vegetable dishes. It is written in English with photographs, which removes most of the guesswork. The group has run in Shanghai since 2001 on a no-meat, no-egg, no-alcohol premise, so a vegan can order from the whole menu rather than three corners of it.

Metal Hands is a specialty coffee shop at 234 Nanchang Lu in Huangpu, a calm block near Xintiandi. The concrete-and-wood interior, with its skylight and greenery, is as thoughtful as the coffee. It's one of the few mainland China cafes to land on a global specialty coffee ranking. Order a dirty, espresso poured over cold milk, or a seasonal riff like the cinnamon poached-egg latte (yes, that's a thing) or pistachio dirty. Come for a serious cup, stay for a second in a room made for lingering.

Nanxiang Mantou Dian is a century-old xiaolongbao (soup dumpling) house in the Yu Garden bazaar, Huangpu, right beside the zigzag bridge. The brand dates to 1900 and carries the Nanxiang steamed-bun tradition that made Shanghai soup dumplings famous; it appears in the Michelin Guide. The ground-floor window sells takeout baskets to the queue, while the upper floors seat you for crab roe and pork versions, around 35 RMB and up for six. Come at opening time or mid-afternoon, the bridge-side queue at lunch is real.

The Dome is a modern Japanese omakase restaurant and rooftop lounge on the Bund in Huangpu, spread across two floors of 1 Yan'an Dong Lu with skyline views over the river. From the team behind The Fellas and Captain Bar, it runs a nightly omakase alongside sushi, sashimi and grilled plates, with cocktails and sake. Upstairs the Skyline Dome terrace becomes a late-night lounge with DJs, so it works for a quiet counter dinner or a night that keeps going.

Trifle (揣福) is a bakery and cafe on Tai'an Lu in Xuhui, combining French-style pastries with playful local twists. Their butter croissant is a classic, but you'll also find a spicy Guizhou sausage puff pastry and a tofu cheesecake, with most items running 15 to 20 RMB. Seasonal breads tend to sell out by afternoon, so go early for first pick. The corner spot draws a young, camera-ready crowd, but it's a great excuse to wander this quiet, leafy pocket of Xuhui with something warm in hand.

Wanshou Zhai is an old-school xiaolongbao (soup dumpling) and wonton shop on Shanyin Road in Hongkou, a short walk from Lu Xun Park. It has fed this lane-house neighborhood since the 1960s and was named among Shanghai's noted local snacks during the 2010 Expo. Locals queue from dawn for thin-skinned pork xiaolongbao and the three-fresh wonton soup; a full breakfast lands around 20 RMB. Tables are shared, turnover is fast, and the room feels like the Shanghai of thirty years ago in the good way.

A House of Nobility is a Mawangdui Han Tombs exhibition at the China Art Museum in Pudong, showing 472 artifacts, including 31 sets of grade-one national treasures, that tell how Han-dynasty nobility lived 2,000 years ago. It runs July 3 to October 7, 2026 at the China Art Museum, the red crown-shaped landmark from Expo 2010. Time your visit around the silk banners: the Tomb No.1 banner of Lady Xin Zhui displays only until August 16, then the Tomb No.3 banner takes over from August 18 to October 7. Tickets are 98 RMB with early-bird tiers sold out; book ahead rather than gambling on the door.

Bund City Hall is a restored 1922 landmark and exhibition space in Huangpu, the former Shanghai Municipal Council building reopened to the public after a painstaking restoration led by David Chipperfield Architects, its neoclassical corridors feeling like being let into a room the city kept locked for a century. It opened with a large Salvador Dali show, and the program keeps rotating: exhibitions, performances, and an immersive seven-course Taste of China dinner theater for a proper occasion. Check what is on before you go, and come for the architecture even if you skip the shows.

Chuan Spa is a luxury hotel spa in Xintiandi, on the basement level of The Langham, built around fully enclosed, independent treatment suites with real privacy: therapists knock and wait before entering. Every suite has its own shower, so there is no need to bring extra toiletries, and you can adjust room temperature, background music, and massage pressure to your own comfort. Treatments run 1,280 to 1,880 RMB, and spending 800 RMB or more on a treatment also unlocks day access to the hotel's indoor heated pool and gym. It has become one of my go-to spots in the city for a proper reset.

On Top of the World Tree is a major Ancient Americas exhibition at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square in Huangpu, Shanghai, open from July 2026 well into 2027. It gathers close to 3,000 objects across a 10,000 square meter space, walking you from a cornfield entrance into the worlds of Mesoamerica and the Andes. Note that during this run the museum is fully ticketed: every visitor needs a ticket, booked through the Shanghai Museum WeChat mini-program or Trip.com with ID. Hours have been extended at times, so check the mini-program for current opening times, and go on a weekday if you can.

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park is an all-age marine theme park in Nanhui New Town, Pudong, that supports a slower-paced, multi-day family visit if you pair it with an overnight stay. The park runs marine performance shows, orca displays, mermaid performances, and interactive dolphin shows, suited to both young children and grandparents. For my own 2D1N stay I chose the Haichang Penguin Resort Hotel, a satellite property about a 10-minute shuttle ride from the park gates. It's quieter and better value than staying right on-site. If you'd rather skip the shuttle and don't mind more noise for a bigger budget, the resort hotel inside the park itself is the trade-off, and it's a fine option too. Either way, an overnight stay unlocks two full consecutive days of park entry, so you can move through the park without rushing a single-day visit. Around New Year's Eve and national holidays, the park runs drone light shows and fireworks with seasonal decorations and limited-time performances. This is one of my go-to recommendations for a family or multi-generational short trip within Shanghai.

West Bund Dome Art Center is an art and exhibition venue on the Xuhui riverside, a century-old cement factory reborn as a soaring dome that hosts the kind of exhibitions people cross the city for. Programming is entirely event-dependent: the Rolex Oyster Story centenary show wrapped at the end of June 2026, and the space turns over between shows, so check what is on before making the trip. Many exhibitions are free with an advance reservation, and the surrounding West Bund corridor rewards a whole afternoon: galleries, riverside lawns, and coffee within a ten-minute stroll.

Dino Beach (热带风暴) is a large summer water park in Minhang, a Shanghai institution built around a huge wave pool, a long lazy river and dozens of slides. It opens for the season only, roughly late June to early September, with tiered session pricing that runs about 120 to 200 RMB depending on the day and time slot; weekday off-peak is cheapest, online early-bird deals often go lower, and children under 0.8 meters enter free. It is a water park for play rather than lap swimming, and a reliable day out for families escaping the July heat. Confirm current dates and prices on the official channels before you go, since the season shifts each year.

K11 Art Mall is an art-themed shopping centre on Huaihai Zhong Lu in Huangpu, the one with the sculptural atrium and the rotating exhibitions in the basement gallery. It opened in 2013 as the first mall in the mainland built around an art programme, and it still works better as an afternoon than as a shopping errand: come for whatever is showing, stay for the upper-floor restaurants. Retail runs upscale and international. It is a short walk from Huangpi Nan Lu station, and a reliable place to take someone when the weather has ruined your other plans.

Playa Maya Water Park is a summer-season water park in Sheshan, Songjiang, right next to Happy Valley. It opened June 14 for the 2026 season with an ocean-adventure theme. There's a huge wave pool, a lazy river, over 20 big slides, and a gentle splash zone for little kids. During peak season, it stays open from 9:30 am to 10 pm through mid-August, so you can totally do a night swim after dinner. Day tickets start at ¥109 for early birds, and family bundles run around ¥299. Grab them on the park's official WeChat mini program or Trip.com. And pack water shoes, that pavement gets scorching by noon.

Shanghai Happy Valley is a large theme park in Songjiang's Sheshan area, and this summer it transforms into EV Music Park, blending roller-coaster thrills with six stages of live pop, rap, folk, and rock. Catch nearly a hundred short sets daily, then cool off at the water-gun splash party. The roller coasters keep the adrenaline going, and the music makes a hot afternoon worth staying for until 21:30. Night session entry from 16:00, with launch night tickets from ¥99. Buy via the official 上海欢乐谷 WeChat account. It's right next to Playa Maya for a two-day rides-and-water combo.

Shanghai Museum East (上海博物馆东馆) is the vast new Pudong wing of the Shanghai Museum, on Century Avenue near the Science and Technology Museum metro. Opened in stages from 2024, it spreads the collection of bronzes, ceramics, jade, painting and calligraphy across bright modern galleries with room to breathe. General admission is free and individual visitors can walk in without a reservation, though special exhibitions may charge and book out. Give yourself half a day; it is far larger than the original People's Square building. Closed Tuesdays.

Shanghai Swimming Center (上海游泳馆) is a public 50-meter swimming pool in Xuhui, a two-minute walk from the same-named station on Metro Line 11. It has a full 50-meter competition pool plus training and kids' zones, and it takes walk-ins: scan your passport at the self-service kiosk, no reservation needed. Entry is 55 RMB for a 90-minute session. Bring a swim cap (required at most Shanghai pools) and set up the free digital health commitment card on the Suishenban mini-program before you go. It is one of the better-value serious lap-swim options in central Shanghai.

Sleep No More Shanghai is an immersive theatre production inside the five-storey McKinnon Hotel at 1013 Beijing Xi Lu, Jing'an, closing for good on August 30, 2026. Co-created by Punchdrunk and SMG Live, it retells Macbeth in a moody 1930s Shanghai: you wear a white mask, roam the hotel at your own pace, and follow whichever character pulls you in. Since December 2016 it has played 2,670 performances to more than 750,000 people. The farewell season brings themed nights, midnight shows, two goodbye parties and a free ten-year memories gallery from July 15. Book via the official WeChat mini program or Trip.com; age 16 plus.

Zhangyuan is a restored shikumen lane compound on Weihai Lu in Jing'an, free to walk into and a short stroll from Nanjing Xi Lu. The stone-gate houses date from the late nineteenth century and have been conserved rather than rebuilt, so the lanes, brickwork and doorframes are the point as much as the tenants are. The first phase of the eastern section opened in July 2026, bringing a run of brand debut stores and pop-ups into the restored buildings, with the rest of the section due by 2027. Go for the architecture and the contrast; individual shops set their own hours, so an afternoon works better than an early morning.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is a 1,700-year-old canal town in Qingpu, the easiest water-town day trip from central Shanghai: Metro Line 17 from Hongqiao Railway Station gets you to Zhujiajiao station in about 35 minutes, then it is a 15-minute walk. Entry to the lanes and stone bridges is free; a combo ticket for the gardens, temples and small museums costs roughly 45 to 80 RMB, and hand-rowed boats tour the canals for a per-boat fee. Weekday mornings feel like another century; summer weekends feel like a festival.

Bellagio by MGM Shanghai is a 162-room hotel on Beisuzhou Lu in Hongkou, sitting where Suzhou Creek meets the Huangpu beside the Waibaidu Bridge, with the Lujiazui skyline directly across the water. It was the first Bellagio to open outside the United States. The location is the argument for it: you get Bund-facing views from the quieter North Bund side rather than from the middle of the crowds, and the walk along the creek is one of the better ones in the city. Rates generally start around 2,400 RMB a night. Named in Forbes Travel Guide's Shanghai hotel list in January 2026.

Kimpton Qiantan is a design hotel in Qiantan, Pudong, with a 28-meter rooftop infinity pool, open to non-guests on a day pass, set in a tropical garden with skyline and West Bund views. Non-guests can buy a day pass for one of two daily sessions, 299 RMB on weekdays (399 for two adults) and 499 RMB on weekends; book at least a day ahead through the hotel's WeChat mini-program, where the interface switches to English. One of the more photographed hotel pools in the city right now, and a genuine splurge for a summer afternoon.