COTTON’S (ANTING)

Cotton's bar at Anting Lu

The original Cotton’s still draws the crowds thanks to its leafy terrace – perfect for enjoying a cocktail or a coffee on a summer afternoon.

132 Anting Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu, 6433 7995
安亭路132号, 近建国西路

COTTON’S (XINHUA)

Cotton Ding’s second location has an even bigger terrace, catering to the overspill from the Anting Lu branch.

294 Xinhua Lu, near Dingxi Lu, 6282 6897
新华路294号, 近定西路

SASHA’S

Sasha's restaurant and bar

The former residence of Soong Meiling and Chiang Kai-shek, this gorgeous restaurant and bar has one of Shanghai’s most attractive terraces.

11 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu, 6474 6628
东平路11号, 近衡山路

ABBEY ROAD

This Beatles-themed bar is especially popular in warmer months thanks to its tree-filled outdoor space.

45 Yueyang Lu, near Dongping Lu, 6431 6787
岳阳路45号, 东平路口

BARBAROSSA

One of Shanghai’s best-located venues, Barbarossa’s terraces look out onto a lily pond inside People’s Park, towards the buildings of People’s Square.

People's Park, 231 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Huangpi Lu, 6318 0220
南京西路231号, 人民公园内 近黄陂南路

COFFEE TREE

Chill out with an iced coffee on this family-friendly terrace inside the Ferguson Lane complex, or head down with your laptop on weekdays for free Wi-fi.

Ferguson Lane, 376 Wukang Lu, near Tai'an Lu, 6466 0361
武康路376号, 近泰安路

THE APARTMENT

The Apartment restaurant and lounge bar

The 47 Yongfu development is blossoming, and this rooftop bar is one of the highlights.

3/F, 47 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu, 6437 9478
永福路47号3楼, 近复兴西路

KAIBA

Decent beer can be tricky to find in Shanghai, but Kaiba has a great selection of imported brews. Its terrace gives out onto the 538 Kangding complex.

528 Kangding Lu, near Xikang Lu, 6288 9676
康定路528号， 近西康路

SOUTHERN BELLE

If the crowds outside Cantina are getting you down, head up Changle Lu to Southern Belle’s terrace, where the beer is cold and the food is fresh of the barbecue.

433 Changle Lu, near Xiangyang Lu, 5403 3218
长乐路433号, 近襄阳路

KEBABS ON THE GRILLE

This all-you-can-eat buffet of curries, tandoori meats, biryani, naan, and desserts happens every Sunday down at the Cool Docks, with unlimited beer, house wine, and soft drinks - all for 140rmb. Sat – Sun 11.30am-4pm.

The Cool Docks, 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu, near Fuxing Dong Lu, 6152 6567
中山南路505号, 近复兴东路

ENOTERRA (Taicang Lu)

Enoterra’s French-style weekend brunch includes Gallic delights like salmon tartare, quiche, cheese, cured meats, soft boiled eggs, bread, croissants and yogurt, with grape juice to wash it all down (¥130). Top it up with Fine de Claire oysters for ¥30 each. Sat – Sun 11am-4pm.

58 Taicang Lu, near Jinan Lu, 5306 3400
太仓路58号, 近济南路

T8

This high-end brunch at Xintiandi’s T8 is 258 for two courses, 328 for three courses, and 498 for four, with a glass of Champagne and coffee or tea. Add 298 kuai extra for free flow. Saturdays and Sundays 11.30am - 4.00pm.

Xintiandi North Block, Lane 181 Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu, 6355 8999
太仓路181号, 新天地北里, 近马当路

VUE

Vue Shanghai

At ¥588 plus 15% service, this one rings in as Shanghai's most expensive brunch. Enjoy a classic view of Shanghai as you sip Perrier-Jouët and choose from an array of international food stations. Sat – Sun 11.30am-3pm.

30/F, Hyatt on the Bund, 199 Huangpu Lu, near Wuchang Lu, 6393 1234 ext 6328
黄浦路199号, 外滩茂悦大酒店30楼 近武昌路

COTTON'S

Get two mimosas or two Carlsberg drafts and one brunch dish from Cotton’s menu all for ¥99 (¥75 with coffee or tea instead). Sat - Sun 11am-4pm.

294 Xinhua Lu, near Dingxi Lu, 6282 6897
新华路294号, 近定西路

DAKOTA

New York meets France at this newish bistro. The brunch menu includes fusion fare like Crab Benedict, croque madame, apple crepes, brioche French toast, and Belgian waffles. Sat – Sun 10am-5pm.

9 Donghu Lu, near Xinle Lu, 5403 8906
东湖路39号, 近新乐路

NEPALI KITCHEN

One of the tastiest Indian brunches in Shanghai is also one of the most reasonably prices. ¥55 gets you a vegetarian set (two curries, rice, lentil soup, dessert, coffee or tea), while the meat version goes for ¥70. Sat – Sun 11am-2pm.

819 Julu Lu, near Fumin Lu, 5404 6281
巨鹿路819号, 近富民路

CANTINA AGAVE

Cantina Agave's brunch tacos

While you feast on Cantina’s Mexican brunch dishes, enjoy unlimited house margaritas for ¥95. Sat – Sun 11am-3pm.

A Mansion, 291 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu, 6170 1310
富民路291号, 近长乐路

KABB

American brunch standards, and a DIY “Bloody Mary Kit”: 3oz of vodka, and shotglasses of salt, pepper, Tabasco, Worcestershire, sauce, and horseradish. Includes a coffee, tea, or soft drink. Sat – Sun 7am-4pm.

Unit 1, Xintiandi North Block, Lane 181 Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu, 3307 0798.
太仓路181号，新天地北里, 近马当路

MAYA

This popular Mexican restaurant does a special weekend "Huevos" brunch, with eight variations on the humble egg. Sat - Sun 11am-5pm.

2/F, Grand Plaza Club House, 568 Julu Lu, near Shanxi Lu, 6289 6889
巨鹿路568弄 四方新城俱乐部2楼, 近陕西南路

The newly remodelled Shanghai Bund has proven popular with hotel brands looking to cash in on Shanghai’s ever-growing popularity. From the cool new Waterhouse on the South Bund to the austere Art Deco glamor of The Peninsula, the historic waterfront has seen its fair share of new openings lately. Here are five of the best:

Bund hotel: The Waterhouse Shanghai

The Waterhouse

The old Shiliupu docklands used to be best known for the fabric market at 399 Lujiabang Lu, but the South Bund and Cool Docks development have turned things around. The funky new Waterhouse boutique hotel is attracting attention for its unique design as well as the culinary touch of a Michelin-starred chef. Designed by Neri & Hu (the architectural whizz-kids behind the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok), the Waterhouse is relatively small at just 19 rooms. Don’t expect identikit suites, though. Designer furniture by Danish and Japanese interior artists has been shipped in to add to the modernist feel. Luxury-minimalist restaurant, Table No. 1 by Jason Atherton, is helmed by Gordon Ramsay’s protégé, formerly the head chef at Michelin-starred Maze in London.

Find it: 1-3 Maojiayuan Lu, near Zhongshan Nan Lu 毛家园路1-3号1楼, 近中山南路, 21-6080-2988, www.waterhouseshanghai.com

Bund hotel: Fairmont Peace Hotel

Fairmont Peace Hotel

As far as Shanghai legends go, the Peace Hotel is up there among the best of them. Located in the 10-floor building with the green pyramid on top towards the north end of the Bund, the hotel started life as Sassoon House in the 1930s. Floors four through nine were the famous Cathay Hotel where Noël Coward wrote his play “Private Lives”, and the 10th floor was tycoon Victor Sassoon’s personal penthouse. The Peace Hotel closed for a full refurb in 2007 and re-opened last year with Fairmont attached to its name. It has clearly lost none of its former luxury, with 270 deluxe suites, a ballroom, spa, and six F&B outlets. The Jazz Bar with its veteran musicians is worth a look even if you’re not a guest.

Find it: 20 Nanjing Dong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu 南京东路20号, 近中山东一路, 21-6321-6888, www.fairmont.com/peacehotel

Bund hotel: The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai

Waldorf Astoria

Formerly the Shanghai Club, the new super-luxurious Waldorf Astoria combines that all-important Old Shanghai vibe with modern stuff like flat-screen TVs. The front part of the hotel consists of suites, a marble lobby and several F&B venues inside the original turn-of-the-century clubhouse. The new tower at the back contains most of the 272 rooms and suites. The Long Bar is an exact replica of its predecessor, complete with an oyster station, 500-strong drink list, and a 39-foot bar. Back in the day, your social status defined where you sat at the bar. Wealthy tycoon? Bund view for you. Fresh of the boat? Start at the bottom end.

Find it: 2 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu 上海外滩华尔道夫酒店 中山东一路2号, 近广东路, 21-6322-9988, www.waldorfastoriashanghai.com

Bund hotel: Les Suites Orient

Les Suites Orient

Les Suites Orient came onto the scene with less fanfare than its more ostentatious neighbors, and provides light relief from the chandeliers and marble. Located within easy reach of the Bund and the Yu Garden, the boutique hotel’s 168 rooms are decked out in minimalist style. They range in size from 26 to 145 square meters, and many are wheelchair accessible. Each room has a 42 inch flat-screen TV as well as a 15 inch LCD in the bathroom. Even the lounge that spans the second and third floors offers PCs and Macs for guests to browse the net, making this one of the most tech-savvy hotels to open recently.

Find it: 1 Jinling Dong Lu, near Zhongshan Lu 金陵路1号, 近中山路, 21-6320-0088, www.hotelsuitesorient.com

Bund hotel: The Peninsula

The Peninsula

Another grand dame of the hotel scene, The Peninsula on the Bund is that unmissable hunk of Art Deco granite just before the Waibaidu Bridge at the top of the Bund. It’s big, it’s luxurious, and it has a top-notch pedigree. Its parent company is the Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels Ltd., which held Shanghai’s iconic ‘big four’ back in the glory days – the Kalee, Majestic, Palace and Astor House. The Peninsula’s 235 guestrooms are blessed with some of the most sought-after views in town, looking onto the river, the skyline and the historic waterfront. The hotel was designed by architect David Beer and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, and is well known for its destination restaurant Sir Elly’s.

Find it: 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Beijing Dong Lu 中山东一路32号, 近北京东路, 21-2327 2888, www.peninsula.com