[Where to Eat:] Four recommended Bread Shops in Shanghai

In the sweet world of bread and baking, Shanghai boasts numerous shops worth trying, blending authentic Western flavors with local specialties. We cordially recommend several carefully selected bakeries in Shanghai that not only offer warm and delicious breakfast options for early risers but also cater to your needs when you're ready to embark on your journey back home, carrying with you a sweet memory from Shanghai to share with your loved ones afar.

 

1.New York Bagelous Museum

Rating: 3.8/5 (5302 reviews, Source: Dianping)

Per capita: 56 RMB

Business Hours: 11:00-22:00

Address: L111, Phase 2, Xintiandi Fashion Mall, No. 245 Madang Road

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With a diverse range of over 20 flavors, the most popular being the Red Bean Butter Bagel Sandwich and the Chive and Leek Cheese Bagel. The shop is decorated in an American country style, allowing customers to observe the bakers kneading and crafting dough. For those who prefer their treats fresh, simply heat them up in the semi-open kitchen after paying, especially the chocolate-filled ones, whose rich dark chocolate sauce oozes out upon heating, intensifying the flavor.

 

2.Crave Café & Wine Bar

Rating: 4.1/5 (2508 reviews, Source: Dianping)

Per capita: 104 RMB

Business Hours: 09:00-24:00

Address: 208 Xinle Road

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Renowned for its cinnamon rolls, considered the best in Shanghai, with only two batches made daily that often sell out quickly, this café is a must-visit for cinnamon lovers.

With an outdoor seating area, it's perfect for a leisurely breakfast or an afternoon tea break. Beyond bread, they also serve Laksa and Western-style light meals. The Orange Blossom Jasmine Ice Brew tops their beverage list, offering a soft sweetness followed by a subtle coffee acidity, creating a refreshing and cool experience.

 

3.Lao Da Chang

Rating: 3.8/5 (3944 reviews, Source: Dianping)

Per capita: 31 RMB

Business Hours: 09:00-21:00

Address: No. 558 Huaihai Middle Road (below Lao Ren He Restaurant, Chengdu South Road)

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Founded in 1937, Lao Dachang has seen its share of ups and downs but has remained true to its roots, regaining its vitality. After withdrawing from Huaihai Middle Road in 2002, it returned to its original location in 2014 as part of a revitalization project, and has since expanded to dozens of branches across the city. Known for its affordability and deliciousness, Lao Da Chang offers a wide range of classic Western pastries, with many dishes costing less than 10 RMB per person.

Curry Pies and Durian Puffs, freshly made at the unassuming counter outside, offering incredible value for money.

 

Ice Cream Cakes, a signature item, are like a blend of ice cream and cake, boasting both the coolness of ice cream and the softness of cake.

Bear-shaped Biscuits come in three flavors: Original, Coffee, and Chocolate, all melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The Coffee and Chocolate flavors are particularly recommended, while the Original can be a bit sweet. Available in packs starting from 10 RMB.

 

4.Shanghai Harbin Food Factory (Huaihai Middle Road Branch)

Rating: 3.8/5 (7834 reviews, Source: Dianping)

Per capita: 56 RMB

Business Hours: 09:00-21:00

Address: No. 601-603 Huaihai Middle Road

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An established brand since 1936, originally named "Fuli Bread Factory," Shanghai Harbin Food Factory was founded by Yang Guanlin, a Shandong native who learned Russian-style pastry-making in Vladivostok and honed his skills in Harbin. Sensing an opportunity in Shanghai, where the Russian community was growing, he moved south and combined Shanghai's local culture with Russian-style pastries, creating flavors that appealed to both locals and Russian expatriates. Renamed in honor of his Harbin experience, this 88-year-old time-honored brand has been a part of many people's lives. 

Butter cookies, almond slices, apricot cookies, Xi Fan Ni, and Mountain-climbing cake are its signature products. Spanish Cake: It is a popular dessert pastry among young lovers in Shanghai in the 1970s and 1980s. In Shanghai dialect, “Xi Fan Ni” means “like you”, so it is used to express love implicitly. Mountain-climbing Cake: Chinese mountaineers took this cake with them when they climbed Mount Everest, and it became famous ever since.