8 Best Restaurants in Jing'an and Changing, Shanghai

On the second floor of The Middle House Residences, this polished restaurant delivers excellent contemporary renditions of regional Chinese fare, including modern takes on dim sum. Stellar service and tasty Chinese-inspired cocktails combine with the elevated cuisine to make this a must-try eatery.

Part of the renovated Columbia Circle complex, the carousing spot for American expats in the 1930s, Blackbird features different spaces on three levels. The chic first-floor lounge serves contemporary cocktails and Chinese-influenced small plates and casual mains; the fine-dining Table Black, one level up, has a regional-Chinese tasting menu; and the lovely rooftop space is complete with an outdoor bar and an herb garden that supplies the downstairs kitchens.

Outfitted to evoke 1920s Shanghai, Fuchan regularly appears on lists of the city's best soup-dumpling restaurants. This branch was renovated in 2018, making it a particularly pleasant place to soak up a retro atmosphere over breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Mall shoppers appreciate this mid-range, sit-down Chinese chain for its expansive menu of excellent contemporary dishes inspired by flavors from across the country.

If you've tired yourself out on the city's excellent Chinese food and just want a steak, head to this often-packed but laid-back Spanish eatery. It relies on incredibly high-quality ingredients and a Josper charcoal oven to make the magic happen.

For a treat, head to Stefan Stiller's Michelin-starred Taian Table, where most seating is at a bar that wraps around a truly open and impressively orderly kitchen. The meticulously prepared dishes on the (mandatory) eight-course tasting menu change regularly and can be supplemented with equally well-made classic dishes and seasonal specials from an à la carte menu.

Helmed by Bina Yu, a young Korean chef who trained under Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Together typifies Shanghai's contemporary dining scene—a sleek but casual setting serving unfussy but interesting food. Developed and co-owned by the Neri & Hu design firm, the space is brilliant, as is Yu's thoughtful blend of French and Korean flavors.