Champagne Lovers’ Guide to Shanghai: bars, restaurants and things to do
Shanghai is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities, with a sophisticated dining and wine culture that makes it an exciting place to explore Champagne. International cuisine sits alongside traditional Shanghainese cooking, and Champagne fits naturally into the city’s elegant restaurants, hotels, wine bars and celebrations. Its freshness and acidity can be particularly good with seafood, fried dishes, dumplings and the richer, slightly sweet flavours found in local cuisine.
Shanghai’s food culture is worth exploring beyond the famous xiaolongbao. Try shengjianbao, the pan-fried soup-filled buns, cong you ban mian (scallion oil noodles), braised pork and seasonal freshwater dishes. Xiaolongbao, served hot with ginger and black vinegar, are one of the city’s defining foods.
The city is also a pleasure to explore on foot. Walk along The Bund for views across the Huangpu River, wander through the leafy streets of the former French Concession, and explore Wukang Road and its surrounding neighbourhoods for historic architecture, cafés and boutiques. Yuyuan Garden offers a very different atmosphere, with traditional gardens and historic surroundings, while Nanjing Road gives you a taste of Shanghai’s huge commercial centre.
Shanghai works especially well for a Champagne-focused trip because you can move easily between very different experiences – a traditional local meal, an afternoon exploring historic streets and an elegant Champagne evening overlooking the city skyline.
