Spin

“The prices here are ridiculous,” said my guide when I visited Spin during my recent trip, but he meant it in a good way. If you only visit one ceramics store while in Shanghai, it should be Spin, which is owned and run by the same people as acclaimed Japanese restaurant Shintori. The designs are modern, creative and whimsical, and even the most beautiful, delicate pieces are more than fairly priced (no need to bargain here). Favorite discoveries included a set of sixteen tiny, paper-thin sake cups, each a little different from the next; a votive with teeny star cut-outs; and oversized coffee mugs with a single brightly colorful line of paint slicing the smooth glaze. Be sure to ask to get your purchases wrapped up in one of the store’s stylish wooden boxes; the perfect present to take home. Spin also has a branch in Beijing.