When Shanghai’s summer heat hits, locals know exactly where to chill—at artisan gelato counters, quirky ice cream boutiques, and Instagram-worthy cold drink cafés. Whether you're into creamy classics or daring flavors, this guide brings you the city's coolest treats—all within the Inner Ring!
🇮🇹 Italian Legends & Reinventions
1. Giolitti Gelato
Rome’s 125-year-old gem (featured in Roman Holiday) debuts in Shanghai with film-star flavors.
Must-try : Roman Holiday (pear-fig-caramel) and Pistachio di Bronte—Sicilian nuts ground into velvet cream.
Vibe : Vintage film reels + marble counters. Free mini cone with duo orders!
Add : No. 8, Lane 193, Maoming North Road (near Nanjing West Rd).
Hours : 10:00-22:00
Avg. Spend : ¥58
2. LUNEURS
Cult status : Buttery caramel swirls with sea salt flakes + house-made brittle. Consistently hailed as "Shanghai’s creamiest".
Secret : Order in a fresh-baked waffle cone (¥5 extra)—warm-cold contrast is divine.
Top spots :
No. 67, Xingfu Road (quiet, no queues)
North Bund Raffles City (Bund views)
Hours : 10:00-22:00
Avg. Spend : ¥35 (single scoop)
3. Leona Artisan Gelato
Tech meets tradition : Uses Pregel’s Italian bases but recalibrated for Chinese palates (less sweet).
Star flavor : Salted Egg Yolk & Rice Wine—savory-sweet umami bomb.
Add : Sun Palace, Ruihong Tiandi 3F/5F, Hongkou
Hours : 10:00-21:30
Avg. Spend : ¥45
🧪 Flavor Alchemists
1. Dip in Gelato
Seasonal poetry : Spring menu features "seed/root/sprout" themes like Dandelion Root (earthy) and Sichuan Pepper Buds (tingling honey-milk).
Pro move : Mix "Peanut Herbal Jelly" with "Pumpkin Seed Kefir" for sweet-sour balance.
Add : No. 205, Fumin Road (also at Xintiandi).
Hours : 12:00-22:00
Avg. Spend : ¥42
2. MIMILATO
Boundary-pushing : "Coriander Lime Sorbet" and Zhi Ma Fu Ru (sesame-white cheese-fermented tofu)—sounds wild, tastes harmonious.
Limited : Summer-only "Mala Beef Jerky Gelato" (spicy-sweet with chew).
Add : No. 1251, Changle Road
Hours : 12:00-21:00 (weekdays); 11:00-21:00 (weekends)
Avg. Spend : ¥48
3. Room for Gelato
Locavore star : Dongkui Mberry & Riesling—whole award-winning wine-soaked berry atop pink sorbet.
Texture : Chunky fruit pulp + silky base. Pair with "Yuzu Basil".
Add : 1st Floor, No. 1361, Yuyuan Road, Changning District
Hours : 12:00-22:00
Avg. Spend : ¥38 (double scoop)
🎨 Instagram-Worthy Sculptures
1. Corner Cone Gelato
Edible art : Monthly themed designs (Fendi collabs, orchestra violins). Current hit: "Jade Dragon" (matcha-black sesame horns)9.
Tip : Eat fast—structures melt in 8 mins! Photos first, then lick.
Add : 淮海中路1852号 (under Wukang Mansion).
Hours : 10:30-21:30
Avg. Spend : ¥32
2. Wild Man Gelato (野人先生)
Theater of making : Watch rice ice cream churned live. Five-Grain Rice flavor uses organic grains for chewable "rice pearls".
Hidden gem : Hairy Crab Roe (Sept-Oct only)—briny-sweet Shanghainese homage.
Add : 瑞虹路181号 (Sun Palace 5F).
Hours : 10:00-22:00
Avg. Spend : ¥36
🌱 Guilt-Free Indulgence
1. North Leaf Tofu Ice Cream (北叶豆腐)
Vegan hero : Silken-tofu base (35 cal/scoop!). Soy Original tastes like frozen doujiang, Brown Rice has grain crunch.
Pairing : Order with matcha pudding (¥22).
Add : No. 31, Yongkang Road
Hours : 10:00-22:00
Avg. Spend : ¥36 (trio cup)
⚡ Insider’s Survival Kit
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Beat Queues :
Giolitti: Go at 3 PM —tourist lunch rush over, dinner crowd yet to come.
Corner Cone: Weekday mornings (11 AM)—staff carve sculptures faster.
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Secret Menus :
Ask for "Off-Menu Trio" at Dip in Gelato (3 mini experimental flavors).
Wild Man’s "Soy Sauce Caramel" (¥5 extra)—salty-sweet magic.
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Discount Hacks :
Show LUNEURS receipt at nearby B&C Bakery for 10% off croissants.
WeChat mini-program "iScream" aggregates same-day coupons.
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Avoid :
Overpriced "Bund view" gelato bars—quality rarely matches the vista.
MIMILATO’s "Durian Laksa" (acquired taste; 50% return rate).
When Shanghai’s summer heat hits, locals know exactly where to chill—at artisan gelato counters, quirky ice cream boutiques, and Instagram-worthy cold drink cafés. Whether you're into creamy classics or daring flavors, this guide brings you the city's coolest treats—all within the Inner Ring!
In this city, gelato isn’t dessert—it’s a dialect. It speaks in Leona’s wine-drenched berries, Wild Man’s rice pearls, and Corner Cone’s melting dragons. Carry home not just brain freeze, but the certainty that joy, like summer, is best savored one radiant scoop at a time.