10 Viral Shanghai Cafes Worth Visiting In 2026, According To Locals

Here’s a fun fact: Shanghai has more coffee shops than New York and London combined—over 8,000 at last count.

The city basically runs on cold brews, specialty lattes, and croissants that look too good to eat. If you’re the kind of person who plans a trip around cafe-hopping, then make Shanghai your next must-visit city.

We dug deep into Xiaohongshu (小红书), Lemon8, and Dianping to round up the 10 best cafes in Shanghai worth visiting, from a Harry Potter-inspired bakery to award-winning coffee spots. The current exchange rate is ¥1 = ~S$5.32 as of 20 May 2026.

• 1. 13DE MARZO

If you’ve looked up Shanghai cafe recommendations on Xiaohongshu, chances are you’ve come across pictures of this place—the one with the giant teddy bear standing at the door. 13DE MARZO started as a Parisian-inspired fashion brand, and the cafe arm has since become one of the most talked-about spots in Shanghai. Drinks are priced from ¥12 to ¥36, and every single cup comes with a cute teddy bear. The Rose Latte (¥36) is their bestseller; else get the Lychee Rose Milk Tea (¥39) for something more refreshing.

There’s also the Black Bear Hot Cocoa (¥33) if you prefer a strong caffeinated kick.

Address:1/F, 322 Anfu Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China

Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9:30pm

Website

13DE MARZO Cafe is not halal-certified.

• 2. Apoli Itabakery

The inside of Apoli Itabakery feels like a scene ripped out of Harry Potter, with stone walls, vintage chandeliers, warm amber lighting, and terrazzo floors. It runs on a self-service model: grab a tray, pick what looks good, and pay at the counter.

Most items fall in the ¥15 to ¥45 range, so you can load up a tray without the guilt. Popular picks include the Tiramisu and Pistachio Maritozzo, featuring soft Roman cream buns generously piped with a rich pistachio filling.

Address: 380 Xingguo Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China Opening hours: Daily 10am to 8pm

Apoli Itabakery is not halal-certified.

• 3. Butterfly & Creamorous

Originally from Seoul, Butterful & Creamorous (B&C) opened its first Shanghai outpost in Xintiandi and has been drawing large crowds ever since. The European-style cafe is gorgeous: crystal chandeliers, round glass display cabinets stacked with pastries of every description. Bakes here are priced affordably from ¥12, with items such as Sichuan Pepper Cashew Ciabatta, Chocolate Croissant, Lava Cheese Sausage Balls, Giant Berry Napolean and more.

Address: L1-18, Building 6, Lane 123 Xingye Road, Xintiandi, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm

Butterful & Creamorous is not halal-certified.

• 4. Baker & Spice

Before Anfu Road became the most photographed street in Shanghai, Baker & Spice was already there. The small corner bakery opened in 2010 and quietly grew into one of the city’s most beloved all-day spots.

Their bakes are the main act—if you’re here for brunch, we recommend the Scrambled Egg And Bacon Croissant (¥35) and Grilled Sambal Prawn Omelette (¥68). The cafe serves pasta too, with the likes of Penne Chicken Pesto (¥68) and Spaghetti Bolognese (¥68).

Address: 195 Anfu Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China Opening hours: Daily 6am to 10pm

Website

Baker & Spice is not halal-certified.

• 5. Metal Hands

You’ve almost certainly seen Metal Hands‘ fried egg latte on #Chinatok—that drink with what looks like a sunny-side-up sitting on top of a coffee, the “yolk” made from pumpkin powder dusted onto milk foam, the “white” a cloud of cold cream. Metal Hands invented it, and it’s been imitated by cafes across every city in China since.

Fun fact: Metal Hands is one of the only cafes in mainland China to make the World’s Top 50 Coffee Shops list, which means the drinks back up the aesthetic. Their Cinnamon Poached Egg Latte (¥38) is the one to order, or you can get a cup of Pistachio Dirty (¥42) if you’re into nut-flavoured drinks. Address: No. 37 Yongjia Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China

Opening hours: Daily 9am to 6pm

Website

Metal Hands is not halal-certified.

• 6. O’Mills Sourdough Bakery & Bistro

While they’ve got multiple outlets in Shanghai, O’Mills’ OG cafe at Yongjia Road is the one to visit: a bright, lofty two-storey space with high ceilings, plenty of natural light streaming in from the street, and the faint smell of fermentation that hits you the moment you push open the door. Their menu skews brunch, starring avocado toasts, egg fry-ups, and fruit bowls.

The Prosciutto Burrata Pizza (¥158) comes highly recommended, comprising prosciutto with burrata, cherry tomatoes, arugula, and pesto. They’ve also got pastries and simple bakes, including Brioche Roll (¥39), Almond Croissant (¥32), Caramel Butter Sourdough Crunch (¥20) and more.

Address: 6F54+FWV, Yongjia Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China Opening hours: Daily 9am to 10pm

Website

O’Mills Sourdough Bakery & Bistro is not halal-certified.

• 7. Manner Coffee

Born in Shanghai in 2015 as a tiny 2-square-metre hole in the wall, Manner Coffee has since exploded to hundreds of locations across the city. You’ll spot it everywhere—in shopping malls, tucked into office building lobbies, on street corners—and the coffee is reliably excellent at every single one of them.

The concept is no-frills: small spaces, quick service, and coffee priced low enough that you can have two without thinking twice. Popular picks include the Flat white (¥15), Orange latte (¥20), and Matcha Latte (¥20).

Website | Full list of outlets

Manner Coffee is not halal-certified.

• 8. Captain George Flavor Museum

If you only visit one cafe in Shanghai, make it Captain George, AKA Flavour Museum. Barista Peng Jinyang—known in Shanghai simply as Captain George—won the 2025 World Brewers Cup championship, the most prestigious individual title in specialty coffee.

His team has also dominated China’s national Brewers Cup for five consecutive years. The cafe is split into three zones: a casual lounge up front, a retail area where you can pick up roasts to take home, and a dedicated brewing bar at the back. Their pour-overs (from ¥55) change with whatever Peng is excited about roasting that season, spanning Ethiopia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Colombia.

They’ve also got espresso-based options from ¥38 if you’re into that. Address: No. 236 Taiyuan Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China Opening hours: Daily 10am to 7pm

Website

Captain George Flavor Museum is not halal-certified.

• 9. Cafe del Volcan

One of Foursquare’s top-rated cafes in Shanghai sits on Yongkang Road, a quietly charming street in Xuhui. Cafe del Volcan takes inspiration from Latin American coffee culture: the beans are sourced from volcanic regions of Colombia and Guatemala, and the menu is built around showcasing the coffee’s natural complexity.

A pour-over coffee here is priced from ¥36, with specialties such as Affogato and Sparkling Brew going for ¥38 and ¥42, respectively. You can also pair your coffee with some cookies from ¥18, with flavours such as Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Banana Walnut, Brownie, and Cranberry Chocolate. Address: 80 Yongkang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China

Website

Cafe del Volcan is not halal-certified.

• 10. Goodbai Cafe

Goodbye Cafe is opened by Chinese actor Bai Jing Ting, which is probably why it trends on Xiaohongshu constantly. However, strip away the celebrity angle entirely and Goodbai Cafe still holds its own as one of the most beautifully designed cafe-concept-store in the city.

The drinks menu features coffee priced below ¥48 per cup, with signatures including Goodbai Latte, BaiBai Magnolia, and Dreamy Ice Tea. The menu also has pastries from ¥18, such as scones, cookies, and canneles. Address: 20 Yanqing Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China

Opening hours: 10am to 9pm

Website

Goodbai Cafe is not halal-certified.

Best Shanghai cafes to visit for coffee and bakes

Most of these cafes are clustered around Anfu Road, Wukang Road, and Yuyuan Road, which means you can easily string four or five together into a single morning walk! If you’re visiting Korea or Japan instead, check out our Jeju Island cafe guide, Hongdae cafe guide, or Tokyo cafe guide.

Feature image adapted from @13demarzocafe, @_wanshih, @manner_coffee, @tahneelane__, @foodiefeyf, and @lifewitheugy. Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news.