There’s no pinpointing precisely when it began, but ‘bakery hops’ have become the new ‘café hops.’
Shanghai’s bakeries are now tourist attractions in their own right, and travelers are paying as much attention to bakery trends as fashionistas do to product drops.
These purveyors of bread, viennoiserie and pattiserie have been taking the lead in Shanghai’s popularity contest as of late:
+ Two bagel spots on opposite ends of town,
+ the “Hogwarts bakery” near Wukang Mansion,
+ the one upsetting market rates with its cheap ciabatta,
+ a rye sourdough specialist
... and more!
A hotspot for high-quality bagels and coffee, Holy Bagel got its start as a community bakery in Gubei.
You could visit its landmark location by Suzhou Creek or its newest low-key spot in Changning’s trendy Xing Fu Li or Happiness Alley. The latter is a stunner, with water features and well-situated plants casting aesthetic shadows on exposed brick walls.
Using natural, additive-free ingredients, Holy Bagel stays true to the traditional taste of New York-style bagels — think crispy exteriors with chewy interiors.
Even the cream cheese bagels use rich Philadelphia Cream Cheese, which — fun fact — despite the brand’s name, was invented in New York State and not Philadelphia!
Some signature bagels here include the Smoked Salmon Bagel with Norwegian low-salt smoked salmon and fresh cream cheese, and the Bacon & Egg Bagel, with Hormel-cut bacon, eggs, and fresh vegetables. Pair them with the citrusy Lemon Orange Latte for a balanced experience.
Nestled on Xingguo Road, netizens call it the “Hogwarts bakery,” and it’s easy to see why...
APOLI ITABAKERY transports visitors from modern Shanghai to a medieval setting with its Roman-style, marble accents, terrazzo floors and trailing greenery.
Despite the bakery’s Italian-sounding name, the signature bakes — from the Chef’s Signature Grilled Mentaiko Italian Bread to the Pastrami Beef & Pickle Sandwich — would look completely out of place in Italy.
Sweet-tooths might gravitate towards the ‘Italian low-temperature fermented donut series’ the Maritozzo or the cream puffs.
Whether or not the baked goods here are ‘authentic,’ they certainly are tasty, and one of the bakery’s key selling-points is affordability.
After starting in Sanya, BegL has since opened its first Shanghai branch at Gate M West Bund Dream Center.
Compared to the Sanya store, the Shanghai space is more refined, blending industrial design with playful touches, like its whimsical banana logo.
As its homophonic name implies, Begl specialises in bagels.
Sweet but not overly so, the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bagel and Yogurt Blueberry Bagel add to your daily serving of vegetables and fruit, while savoury options include the Fig Prosciutto Black Truffle Cheese Bagel and Scallion Chive Bagel.
Meanwhile, early birds can start their day with the Morning Bagel topped with sesame seeds and slathered with Sichuan pepper butter and cheese.
In addition to bagels, BegL offers a wide range of brunch dishes as well as main courses.
Plus, the bakery is pet-friendly, with complimentary bagels for furry companions.
Crowned the current ‘king’ of ‘value-for-money,’ Punch Monday Bakery offers cheap and creative baked goods.
Some unique creations here — from the Red Date Longan Sourdough to surprisingly piquant Sichuan Pepper Cashew Bagel — combine Chinese and Western flavour profiles.
Not long ago, Punch Monday Bakery also launched a series of stuffed ciabattas:
Think Fermented Bean Curd & Pickled Vegetables Ciabatta, Sweet Osmanthus Chestnut Ciabatta, Matcha Cheesecake Ciabatta, Black Sesame Soy Milk Mochi Ciabatta and Pumpkin Pepper Chicken Ciabatta.
You’ll never get bored of the ciabatta bonanza here!
Founded by former members of TonTon, which made waves in Shanghai with its legendary cinnamon rolls, Glory Butter is making a splash in the stylish Feiyue Li area.
Expect a red-brick exterior and spacious interior, oversized croissant-shaped chandeliers and handwritten menus in this sophisticated yet cosy bakery.
The cinnamon rolls, topped with hazelnuts, pecans or chocolate, are still the star attraction with their crunch, chew and perfectly amount of cinnamon.
Other highlights include the innovative and exceptionally delicious Matcha Mochi Napoleon and Foie Gras Napoleon.
The first mention of Glory Butter was in our guide on where to wine and dine well on Wuyi Road.
Tucked away on a tranquil corner of Lixi Road, Orenda Bay is a sourdough specialty shop that also feels like a zen, cosy retreat.
The bakery focuses on long-fermented rye sourdough that is low-GI (less likely to spike insulin and glucose), high-fibre, and oil- and sugar-free.
TIME OUT TIP: Reheating your bread enhances its fragrance and flavour.
Some Orenda Bay bestsellers to bookmark:
+Sweet: Apple Cinnamon Roll, Cardamom Raisin Roll
+Savoury: Pumpkin Baguette with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce, Corn Cheese Scone.
+ Sandwiches: Truffle Ciabatta
A sophisticated bakery offering artisanal creations in a minimalist and elegant space designed by hcreates.
VERIE and its sister establishment TING, which we named one of the best F&B openings of Fall 2024, are passion projects by chef Frédéric Jaros (formerly of Da Vittorio Shanghai) and spouse Xinxin Wu.
Each item on the menu reflects meticulous craftsmanship and artistic presentation. Signature offerings include the Pain Suisse, Cherry & Jasmine Cream Cruffin, and Pecan Pear Cheesecake.
Holidays and special celebrations in Shanghai might see limited edition treats, such as last Halloween’s playful ‘Wizard Coffin bread’ filled with creamy pumpkin and a ‘Mushroom Ghost Cake’ with a decadent mix of dark chocolate mousse and hazelnut praline.
Watch the video below (featuring VERIE) to be reminded of some sweet treats you might have missed in town.
All images were sourced via the restaurants. This article is not to be reproduced without prior consent.
