Yanping Road and Wuding Road
延平路 · 武定路
Yanping Road and Wuding Road sit in the heart of Jing’an — one of Shanghai’s most reliable pockets for cafés, restaurants, bars and relaxed neighbourhood living, busy enough to feel exciting but compact enough to explore on foot.
- cafés and brunch spots
- neighbourhood restaurants
- cocktail bars
- craft beer
- doughnuts and gelato
- walkable Jing’an living
Grab coffee in the morning, lunch at noon, dinner later, and keep the evening going at a bar — all without travelling far.
Dia Coffee
Dog-Friendly Everyday Café
A dog-friendly café with strong coffee and good value — the kind of everyday spot that helps a neighbourhood feel lived in rather than just trendy.
Address: 160 Yanping Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Best for:: coffee, dog-friendly, everyday visits, good value Directory: Café
Toasty by O’Mills
Brunch and Bakery Favourite
One of the area’s best-known brunch and bakery stops, with a reputation for good sourdough and excellent baked goods. A strong choice for a slow morning or casual lunch.
Address: 135 Yanping Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Best for:: brunch, sourdough, baked goods, slow mornings
Slurp&Sip
Yunnanese Bistro Dining
Slurp&Sip brings Yunnanese food to Yanping Road, growing out of the original Slurp concept focused on Yunnan street food, rice noodles and snacks.
A good addition if you want something regional and distinctive rather than another Western café.
Address: 98-11 Yanping Road, near Wuding Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Known for:: Yunnan and Dai cuisine flavours, rice noodles, polished bistro setting, regional and distinctive dishes Best for:: Yunnanese food, regional cuisine, dinner
Botanical Basket
A Regulars-Friendly Bar on Wuding Road
A regulars-friendly bar on Wuding Road — a good pick for people who want a more relaxed evening than the typical high-energy Shanghai cocktail scene.
Address: 1101 Wuding Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Best for:: relaxed evenings, regulars, Wuding Road Directory: Bar
Best Restaurants
DULI
Vegetarian Fusion with a Sichuan Edge
One of Yanping Road’s best options for vegetarian and plant-based dining — creative Asian-inspired fusion with a strong Sichuan influence rather than traditional vegetarian food.
A good choice even if you’re not vegetarian, particularly if you want something different from the usual meat-heavy or Western options.
Address: 227 Yanping Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Known for:: mapo tofu hummus, Xinjiang-spiced mushroom skewers, curried cauliflower, kung pao pizza Best for:: vegetarian dining, creative fusion, adventurous eaters
Bastard
Contemporary Chinese with Confidence
A contemporary Chinese spot with a casual but confident identity — proof the area is about genuinely good food, not just brunch and cocktails.
Address: 102, No.30 Jiaozhou Road, Lane 319, Jing’an District, Shanghai Best for:: contemporary Chinese, dinner, date nights
Terrakota
One of the Nicest Terraces in the Neighbourhood
Known for one of the nicest terraces in the neighbourhood — ideal for outdoor seating and a slower, social meal, especially in spring and summer.
Address: 98 Yanping Road, Building 5, Room 201, Jing’an District, Shanghai Best for:: outdoor dining, spring and summer, social meals
Fat Cow
A Yanping Road Staple
A recognisable Yanping Road staple — a reliable casual stop and anchor point for anyone exploring the area, and a strong reference for expat-friendly dining.
Address: Yanping Road, Caojiadu, Jing’an District, Shanghai Best for:: casual dining, expat-friendly, reliable standby
Bingchenglao Yujia
Northeastern Chinese Comfort Food
A good stop for Northeastern Chinese cuisine (Dongbei cai) — hearty dishes like guo bao rou, di san xian, cold dishes, dumplings and stews.
A useful contrast to the area’s modern restaurants — generous portions, comforting flavours, rooted in home-style cooking from China’s northeast.
Address: 128 Yanping Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Known for:: guo bao rou, di san xian, Northeastern-style cold dishes, dumplings and stewed dishes Best for:: Dongbei cuisine, comfort food, generous portions
Doughnuts, Pastries & Gelato
Sloppy Gin
One of Shanghai’s Best-Known Doughnut Shops
One of Shanghai’s best-known doughnut shops and a must-know stop on Yanping Road — doughnuts alongside cinnamon rolls, croissants, kouign-amann and other pastries.
An easy place to add to a morning coffee run or afternoon walk.
Address: 425 Yanping Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Known for:: glazed and experimental doughnuts, lemon and sage, pistachio and blackcurrant, truffle chocolate, seasonal creations, cinnamon rolls and kouign-amann Best for:: doughnuts, pastries, morning coffee runs, afternoon treats
Spiceman Gelato
Unusually Creative Gelato
Another reason to walk the length of Yanping Road — a small gelato shop known for unusually creative flavours and a willingness to experiment beyond the standard combinations.
A fun stop for anyone who likes trying unusual gelato rather than a conventional ice-cream shop.
Address: 225 Yanping Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Known for:: olive and lemon, cheesecake, pandan, chilli, tropical fruit, cocktail-inspired profiles Best for:: creative gelato, unusual flavours, afternoon walks
Best Bars
Goose Island
A Familiar Beer Stop
A familiar option for beer lovers that fits neatly into the area’s casual drinks scene — one of the easier places to recommend for an after-work pint.
Address: 209 Maoming North Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Best for:: beer, after-work drinks, casual nights
Tapthat
A Dependable Beer Stop
Another dependable beer stop, adding to the area’s reputation as one of Jing’an’s strongest spots for a relaxed night out.
Address: Taixing Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Best for:: beer, relaxed nights, casual drinks
Mokkos
Low-Key and Conversation-Friendly
One of the more discreet bar options in the wider area — useful if you prefer somewhere low-key and conversation-friendly.
Address: 348 Yanping Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai Best for:: low-key evenings, conversation, quiet drinks
Quick Mini Guide: Where to Go First
For brunch: Toasty by O’Mills, Dia Coffee
For vegetarian food: DULI
For Yunnanese food: Slurp&Sip
For Northeastern Chinese food: Bingchenglao Yujia
For doughnuts: Sloppy Gin
For gelato: Spiceman Gelato
For dinner: Bastard, Fat Cow, Slurp&Sip, Bingchenglao Yujia
For cocktails: Mokkos
For beer: Goose Island, Tapthat, Botanical Basket
The Verdict
The real strength of Yanping Road and Wuding Road is that it’s practical as well as fun. You can meet friends for coffee, stay for dinner, pick up a doughnut or gelato on the way home, and find a place for drinks afterwards without crossing the city. That flexibility — central, current, and a little bit local all at once — is why the area has become such a favourite in Jing’an.
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