General Information » Culture & Lifestyle » Food & Drink

It is impossible to go hungry in Shanghai. The local culture of socialising over food mixed with a history of foreign influence and an ever-increasing expat population has led to an abundance of restaurants serving a vast array of Chinese and international cuisines at all price levels. Whether you need to entertain a client, romance a date, or simply go solo, there are Japanese sushi bars and German brauhauses, Indian buffets and Italian bistros - all waiting to cater to even the pickiest palate, most restricted wallet or most delicate situation.

Eating out in Shanghai is much cheaper than in other international cities such as London, Tokyo or Paris, but if you crave a home-cooked meal there are many different food-shopping options. If you’ve got the stomach for it, go to a local ‘wet market’ like the one at Dajing Lu in Shanghai’s Old Town ; these markets sell a mind-boggling range of live poultry, fish, mammals and reptiles at the most competitive prices around. Otherwise, Chinese supermarkets sell local ingredients at low prices. If you are homesick for overseas goods such as balsamic vinegar, olive oil, cheeses and wine, then there are large hypermarkets such as Carrefour or smaller boutiques like City Shop, which sell imported foods at comparatively high prices.