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Mike and Ashley explore Shanghai's older streets, cafes and food spots, from Anfu Road and Wukang Road to Tianzifang, Old Jesse, Yuyuan Road and Wujiang Road. They try a bear-shaped drink, xiaolongbao, braised pork belly, milk pie, desserts and late-night dim sum. A search for a market shifts to a 24-hour restaurant, and a down-to-earth bar proves a better fit than a high-profile secret bar.
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Anfu Road, Wukang Road and Tianzifang
Mike and Ashley spend two days looking for a different side of Shanghai. On Anfu Road, a wait for a trendy drink sends them walking, where Ashley finds a bear-shaped drink served in a souvenir cup. Wukang Road in the French Concession has tree-lined streets and European-style buildings, including the Wukang Building. The road is more than a century old, and the couple stop for xiaolongbao.
Tianzifang began as a residential neighborhood of old stone gate houses and later became a maze of boutiques, handmade souvenirs and food stalls. The travelers find it quiet and clean during their visit. Ashley buys a milk pie for 40 yuan and a souvenir for good fortune. They pass the Communist Party's First National Congress Memorial Hall and stop at Cottage Cafe and Bistro, where mulled wine and a neon Adidas sign shape the cozy atmosphere.
Local meals and late-night stops
Dinner at Old Jesse in the French Concession is a highlight. Ashley enjoys braised pork belly, which she says does not taste fatty, and dates with glutinous rice. The following morning they visit a park and watch residents gather for fresh air and community. Yuyuan Road has eclectic shops and local signs. A dessert shop sells black sesame honeycomb ice cream, and they also try hot chocolate.
When it gets cold, they stop at a craft beer bar where the bartender knows regulars. They continue to Wujiang Road food street, where an Earl Grey mochi egg tart becomes a favorite. Their search for a traditional food market does not work out, so they go to a 24-hour dim sum restaurant for pan-fried pork buns and sesame noodles. A local woman tells them to stir the noodles right away. They also visit a well-known secret bar but find it too fancy, choosing a more casual bar instead. The trip shows the couple's mix of streets, cafes, food and neighborhood details beyond the skyline.
The second day begins in a park, where the couple appreciate fresh air and the chance to watch local residents gather. Yuyuan Road has eclectic shops and a sign about art. A dessert shop sells black sesame honeycomb ice cream for $7, which Mike compares with a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Ashley likes a hot chocolate made with Hershey's syrup, despite seeing it sprayed into the drink. These small details continue the couple's theme of finding unexpected places between major attractions.
The pair search for a traditional food market but do not find one, so they choose a 24-hour dim sum restaurant. The meal includes pan-fried pork buns and sesame noodles, and a local woman tells them to stir the noodles immediately. They also visit a high-profile secret bar, described as one of Asia's top bars, but it feels too fancy for them. A relaxed bar with dog parking suits their preference better. The route then continues toward Nanjing for the Lantern Festival. The trip's range—from a bear-shaped drink to Old Jesse and late-night noodles—changes their expectations of Shanghai and gives them a personal itinerary of cafes, alleys and local food.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What was the best thing they ate?
- A: They highlight the braised pork belly at Old Jesse, which Ashley says melted in her mouth and did not taste fatty. They also enjoyed pan-fried pork buns at the 24-hour dim sum restaurant.
- Q: Was Shanghai what they expected?
- A: Not entirely. They expected skyscrapers and busy streets, but found quieter, storybook streets in the French Concession and art alleys in Tianzifang. Those neighborhoods made Shanghai feel like a different city from the one they had pictured.
- Q: What surprised them?
- A: Cottage Cafe and Bistro stood out for its neon Adidas sign, indoor camping lantern and warm mulled wine. They also discovered that the so-called secret bar was one of Asia’s top bars.
- Q: Is Shanghai expensive?
- A: Shanghai can be expensive in some places. They paid $7 for a small ice cream and found the top bar too fancy for them, but also found a milk pie for 40 yuan and inexpensive street food on Wujiang Road.