we’re just about to wrap up a lovely two weeks in shanghai. we had grand plans to do at least a couple of day trips and spend a while in beijing but chris has been so hospitable and the task of booking inter-city train tickets so daunting, we decided to stay put in shanghai for longer than planned. we’ve been sleeping in and reading books and drinking coffee. it’s been so nice after a pretty frantic few months.
on our first morning in the city, after an epic 10+ hour sleep, we had a lazy morning before going to vegan brunch on the bund. after consuming a crazy amount of carbs in taiwan, it was really nice to have a vege-focused meal. after brunch we picked up coffee at sumerian (perhaps the best coffee i’ve had since leaving australia) and then started wandering and cycling through the very cute streets of the french concession. dan got a snack the spelling of which i can never remember and we had a vegan smoothie pit stop at graze before getting negronis at funkadeli and a scoop of strawberries and cream ice cream at gracie’s. we decided to call it a night and order in dinner and so we cycled home. it was really lovely cycling through the quiet sunday streets of shanghai.
monday and we were on our own without chris to help us. thankfully we’ve done ok. for our first adventure we paid a huge 75 cents for jianbing at a tiny stall near chris’s apartment. it’s a crispy pancake layered with egg, chilli and spring onion which is folded around a crispy fried cracker. so delicious! we’ve been back a couple of times since then and i will miss them when we leave for mongolia.
since then we’ve fallen into a nice rhythm of sleeping in, getting a cheap take away breakfast close to home that we eat with a pot of coffee before chilling our for a couple of hours and then hitting the city. we’ve been making great use of mobikes. they’re so
cheap and convenient and i’ve been shocked by how respectful shanghai drivers are. it’s been so nice cycling everywhere.
other highlights of our time here include:
- sleep no more
- cabaret at candour
- ruby punch at the punch room (edition hotel) – the drinks did not pack any punch at all but the views from the roof top bar over the bund were really stunning.
- big bowls of frog noodles at a 24 hour restaurant (that is seemingly always packed!) across the road from chris’s apartment. i didn’t mind the texture of frog – it’s like a delicate shrimp – and the flavour is very mild but the buttery noodles were too much for me.
- delicious soup dumplings at jia jia (thank you scarlett for the recommendation!)
- frozen yogurt at spooon and coffee beans from the delightfully small and particular cafe del volcan
- walking along the bund – like most tourist sites it was absolutely packed with people but i’m really glad we came. the view along the river is amazing and the art deco buildings really are incredible
- jazz and cocktails at heyday. we went on a thursday night to hear denise sing and she was amazing
- sesame noodles (with spicy pork for dan) – sesame paste is one of my favourite things and these noodles were delicious – dressed thickly with sesame paste, soy, chill oil and scallions
- delicious lunch from a cantonese place near chris’s apartment when it was raining outside and we didn’t want to leave the apartment – shrimp wanton soup and sticky claypot rice
- bar no 3 for perfectly delicate pear cocktails, followed by a delicious anniversary dinner at racines
- grilled garlic shoots at a nearby izakaya that chris took us to
- sea snail noodles
- drinks at speak low – we agreed the drinks were some of the best we’ve ever had (and my pina colada came complete with an umbrella. like, not a cocktail umbrella. a real umbrella)
- coffee and cake at cafe on air – one of the most beautiful cafes i’ve ever been too. it’s just off one of shanghai’s busiest shopping streets. as dan led us there i couldn’t imagine we were going to chill in a relaxing space but you head down an alley and through a large wooden door and you’re standing ina gorgeous light filled cafe that overlooks a beautiful garden
- western chinese food at yershari
- black pineapple ice cream at bonus
- pan fried dumplings and turmeric soup at dahuchun
peace out shanghai. you’ve been so swell.
Hi this is Ben. I will be your top commentor. Cute pics!
HI! I posted before, but I don’t think it saved. Cute pics and looks delicious. I hope to be your most frequent commenter.
Hi Ben – both your comments are now approved! We look forward to reading all your comments 🙂