This second outpost of Umberto Bombana’s hot spot Hong Kong restaurant—the first outside of Europe to be awarded three Michelin stars—is Shanghai’s top Italian restaurant for a foodie experience. Located within the Rockbund development, Otto e Mezzo features a striking contemporary décor—don’t miss the cured meats and cheeses on display in a massive aging room—and upscale Northern Italian cuisine that still appeals to a wide audience. Chef Bombana, hailed as the ‘king of white truffles,’ has designed a menu that highlights the freshest produce and tried-and-true classics like homemade burrata ravioli and breaded veal Milanese. Those looking to celebrate a special occasion should opt for the five-course tasting menu and request a seat on the terrace, which affords stunning views of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Huangpu river.

Travelers looking for classic Shanghai cuisine but for something a little more upscale and refined than Jishi should head to this bright, contemporary enclave in the Jin Jiang Hotel. Diners are seated in a soaring dining room, with white-leather banquette nooks and modern light fixtures, and the professional staff serves modern renditions of the classics, as well as some fusion cuisine. Photographs decorating the entrance show visiting international dignitaries as, but despite longtime renown, the restaurant maintains a quiet, private feel. A good spot for a lunch break when shopping in the French Concession.

One of the toughest table to book in Shanghai is one of the four at this tiny restaurant. It specializes in home-style regional cuisine, and the dishes change every day, depending on what's in season. Don't expect anyone to speak English here, so come with a guide or be brave and try maneuvering a meal with your iPhone translation app.

This is one of Shanghai's most exclusive dining experiences, at the top level of Three on the Bund with soaring views. Reserve a private dining room at the Cupola at Three on the Bund: one seats a group of eight; the other has just a table for two. In either, you may order from any of the restaurants at Three on the Bund (including several Jean-Georges restaurants). With spectacular views over the river and of Pudong, this may just be one of the most memorable tables you'll ever reserve.

This charming Spanish restaurant located in a garden villa in Shanghai’s former French Concession is one of the best places in the city to enjoy al fresco dining. Chef Willy Trullas Moreno's innovative food is hard to beat; particularly impressive are the piles of fresh seafood and a range of inventive tapas. Although any evening here will be expensive it is worth it for the breezy patio, jugs of sangria, and delicious cuisine. There's also deli that sells imported cheeses and cold cuts.

Recently relocated to a historic venue on The Bund, this restaurant is run by the charming Barcelona chef Willy Trullas Moreno. His menu is a creative jaunt through Spanish tapas—croquetas, tortilla Espanola, patatas brava, chorizo and jamon iberico—and many ingredients are imported from Europe. El Willy is a great choice for a big night out that’s not Chinese-oriented.

Whether you’re looking to come here for lunch or dinner, you have to ask your concierge to make a reservation at this local hot spot. If you do, chances are you will be one of only few Westerners in this tiny place. Don’t be intimidated, though: the wait staff is friendly and the menu translated (it helps to get your concierge to write down the Chinese names of some classic Shanghai dishes to make sure you get a good mix of food).

The food is classic, simple and deliciously prepared Shanghainese, meaning a little sweet and uncomplicated. When I had lunch here with my husband, we sampled fried rice laced with pork sausage and vegetables, sweet glazed pork ribs, sautéed snow peas prepared with lots of garlic, and tiny dates stuffed with glutinous rice, all the while watching the surrounding tables grow more boisterous with every glass of rice wine consumed. It was the first—and only—time I felt like Shanghai slowed down enough to reveal a glimpse of its nostalgic, old-world self. Don’t miss Jishi for an authentic local experience.

Opened in the spring of 2016, this first venture by Joël Robuchon into the Shanghai dining scene is located in a refurbished historical building on the Bund and serves upscale French cuisine. The legendary chef, whose restaurant group boasts the most Michelin stars of any in the world, serves his haute cuisine in a vibrant red and black space dining rooms with an open kitchen and the largest teppanyaki (iron griddle) in the world.

This restaurant focuses on Yunnan folk cuisine (the region encompasses parts of southwestern China). The original branch is in a Colonial villa in the French Concession. The food is unique, beautifully prepared, reasonably priced and consistently delicious, which explains the crowds, especially on weekends. It’s a fun spot to try as much as possible from the large menu, which is illustrated with photos of the region and of the food (helpful when it comes to deciding between such dishes as tea-leaf salad and Yunnan scrambled eggs with white-mushroom). Some of the bites showcase the signature Yunnan heat, but not everything is spicy, making this a great spot for picky or timid eaters as well. There’s also a good selection of vegetarian dishes.

Parts of Lost Heaven, the wildly popular restaurants (there are two branches) featuring Yunnan folk cuisine are admittedly gimmicky. The wait staff is dressed in the traditional, colorful costumes of the Yunnan region (which encompasses parts of southwestern China), which would be charming if the place wasn’t so large that it also required them to wear ear pieces into which they discreetly place the orders. The sultry, black-and red-clad space, enhanced by a groovy soundtrack, brings to mind the early days of Buddha Bar.

That said, the food here is unique, beautifully prepared, reasonably priced and consistently delicious, which explains the crowds, especially on weekends. It’s a fun spot to come with a big group and to try as much as possible from the large menu, which is illustrated with photos of the region and of the food (helpful when it comes to deciding between such dishes as tea-leaf salad and Yunnan scrambled eggs with white-mushroom). Some of the bites showcase the signature Yunnan heat, but not everything is spicy, making this a great spot for picky or timid eaters as well. There’s also a good selection of vegetarian dishes.

The original branch is in a Colonial villa in the French Concession; larger and more flashy is the second outpost just off the Bund, a good choice for guests of the Peninsula Shanghai, Fairmont Peace Hotel or Waldorf Astoria Shanghai and looking for a good local option that doesn’t require another taxi ride. After or before dinner, the glamorous Bund bars are all a quick walk away.

Mr & Mrs Bund is not only known for its views over the Huangpu River but also for its buzzing atmosphere – this is one of the favorite locales for Shanghai’s It crowd. Reflecting this it is one of the few restaurants on The Bund to deliver a late-night menu. Modern French cuisine is served Chinese-style, with the multiple dishes on the vast menu placed on the middle of the table to  be shared rather than dished up on individual plates. Expect to be dazzled by the fabulous food (don't miss the fois gras crumble) by celebrated French chef Paul Pairet.

A favorite of Shanghai insider Francine Martin, Mr. Willis is run by Australian chef Craig Willis, who has taken over an entire building in the French Concession (which also houses acclaimed pizza joint La Strada). The menu is modern Australian, prepared simply and with top ingredients; Mr. Willis is also acclaimed for a laid-back brunch, served Saturday and Sunday.

To sample some of Shanghai’s best traditional cuisine, seek out this local haunt set by the entrance to the Yu Garden. The original location of a popular Chinese chain, this spot in Shanghai’s Old Town is famous for xiao long bao, steamed buns that are similar to dumplings. Simple in design and décor, Nanxiang is a Shanghai icon because of its cuisine, and the revered hairy crab dumplings are not to be missed.

Indagare Tip: Plan to come early; the popular eatery is packed with locals by 10:30am, so its best to plan an early breakfast before meandering through the gardens. Head to the third floor for seated dining.

Table No 1 is situated within the Waterhouse at South Bund, and like the hotel's designer-cool interiors, the restaurant boasts an industrial-chic dining room, with a grey brick floor and floor to ceiling windows. Table No 1 is all about small plates (the chef previously opened London's Maze restaurant under Gordon Ramsey). The modern European cuisine veers between traditional and Asian fusion. Scallop ceviche, for example, might be served with a wasabi dressing. The communal dining on shared tables might be off-putting for some but the casual setting will hit the right note with the cool crowd.

Located in the trendy Jing'An district, in a red-brick building that used to house a police station, the Commune Social is a cool collaboration of culinaria and style (the building also houses the flagship showroom of cool kid boutique Design Republic). The Social Commune is run by British chef Jason Atherton, who also heads up Shanghai’s Table No 1, and has fast become a favorite with the city’s in crowd. The playful menu is made up of small plates designed for sharing, and includes such delicacies as sea urchin and pepper butter on ciabatta and miso-grilled mackerel topped with cucumber cubes, wasabi avocado mousse and cucumber skin jelly on offer. There is also a meat and grill section (the suckling pig is recommended), and a separate desert bar that dishes up some deconstructed sweets.

Dining at Ultraviolet is far from the standard restaurant experience. Diners meet at a set location on the night of their meal, are ushered to a secret dining room, and are then treated to a 20-course, multisensory culinary show. After fifteen years of planning, Paul Pairet, who is also the chef at Shanghai favorite Mr & Mrs Bund, opened Ultraviolet, an avant-garde food experience that placed third on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in Asia list for 2016. Each night, ten lucky diners are served artful courses in a dark dining room, without windows or décor. Instead of views and furnishings, patrons are entertained by the interactive courses, which are served with projected images, music or fragrances matched to the pairings. Note: A meal can cost roughly $900 per person.