First published on 27 Mar 2012. Updated on 8 May 2013.
From indie designers and quirky boutiques, to highstreet brands and sprawling markets, Time Out presents the best of the city’s shopping scene
Streetwear
276 Changle Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu.
Time was, this Shanghai-based store would have been much higher on this list, but underwhelming recent collections mean that they only just scrape in. The strongest items remain their quirky T-shirts (188RMB) with a playful use of sloganism (‘Good good study, day day up’; 'very yellow, very violent’), but others can be hit and miss.
Designer
196 Xinle Lu, near Donghu Lu NuoMi’s fabrics – soya, bamboo and silk – might be all-natural, but the emphasis is on fabulously slinky evening dresses (from 750RMB) and quirky childrenswear (from 350RMB). The knits are hand-sewn by a co-op of Shanghainese grandmothers. Check out this little-known Zhongshan Park outlet store for discounts up to 40 per cent.
NuoMi, 196 Xinle Lu, near Donghu Lu. See full address details.
Beauty
1221 Changle Lu, near Wulumuqi Bei Lu.For seriously good (in all senses of the word) soap head to this spacious shop on Changle Lu. You can try the vegan, all-organic, TCM-influenced products before you buy and as well as the gorgeous soaps, such as Tibetan roseroot (158RMB/250g), they sell shampoo (goji berry 208RMB/300ml) and face cleanser (coix seed 188RMB/100ml) that are similarly all-natural.
Flowers
Ferguson Lane, 376 Wukang Lu, near Taian Lu.
Rosa Gallica’s majestic blooms are simply the most stylishly arranged flowers in town. One highlights is the velvety long-stemmed roses (5 RMB/each), which come from the company’s Kunming-based farm. If you’re after an authentic, grandiose Christmas tree, you can pre-order one of their Dongbei firs (from 350RMB/1.5m tree).
Rose Gallica,
376 Wukang Lu, near Taian Lu.
See full address details.
Gifts
No 168, Lane 1025 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Nanhui Lu.
Jenny Yu’s tiny Japanese zakka-style boutique is a joy to browse -- and nothing’s over 50RMB. There’s a pleasing range of simple, gift-ready toys, kawaii stationary and home accessories. The kitchen pieces are the best finds: colourful enamel cups (18RMB each) and a vintage-looking set of china plates and bowls (from 18RMB).
Cute Stuff,
1025 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Nanhui Lu.
See full address details.
Accessories
349 Zizhong Lu, near Madang Lu Local accessories brand Flying Scissors’ has great pieces from Vivenne Westwood’s wildest teenage dreams: slouchy leather shoulder bags, structured clutches and wide belts all with chain-straps, studs and spikes. The dog collar-inspired bracelets (330RMB) are part of this season’s fetish trend.
Footwear
15 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu
Though we insist that the original Feiyues sold at the factory shop (585 Zunyi Lu, near Tianshan Lu) are more durable – and cheaper (35RMB/pair) – we can’t begrudge Culture Matters a place on this list. The shoebox on Dongping Lu has spawned a host of imitators, but it’s still the best for brightly-coloured Feiyues (65RMB/pair).
Culture Matters,
15 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu.
See full address details.
Home & Interior
167 Anfu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu.
Kava Kava Home’s cabinets, tallboys and bookshelves are lacquered with bright reds or fresh blues and greens, and we love their bird cage lamps (from 380RMB). Just as beautiful are the flower and goldfish-stencilled flasks (160-200RMB) and Shanghai-specific wrapping paper, with Jin Mao and Pearl Tower motifs for 15RMB/roll.
Kava Kava Home, 167 Anfu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu. See full address details.
Vintage
1335 Anshun Lu, near Kaixuan Lu.
A rummage round this sprawling second-hand clothing market never fails to yield some dirt cheap retro gems. Head to Stall X13 for a huge selection of battered leatherware, including Debbie Harry-esque skirts for just 80RMB.
Anxi Market,
1335 Anshun Lu, near Kaixuan Lu.
See full address details.
Designer
Xintiandi Style, 245 Madang Lu, near Zizhong Lu.
With mannequins on the ceiling and an in-store DJ, this multi-brand concept shop in Xintiandi Style is achingly cool. Most of the international labels carried – Christopher Kane, Erdem, etc – are being introduced to the Chinese market for the first time with prices higher than the Rupert Sanderson heels. But it’s the only place in town you can find Gaga’s favourite lipstick-embellished Minna Parrika gloves (2,200RMB).
Alter, 245 Madang Lu, near Zizhong Lu. See full address details.
Electronics
300 Nanjing Dong Lu, near Henan Zhong Lu Apple stores offer top service and this new branch on Nanjing Lu, Asia’s biggest, might have ranked higher if it weren’t for one major problem: the iPhone 4S, won’t be here until next year, and the iPhone4 (16-32GB, 4,546-4,988RMB) only arrived last month. Functional as they may be, Apple products are essentially fashion items and they arrive here three or four seasons too late. Nevertheless, the store stocks coveted items like the iPad2 (wi-fi+16GB, 3,688RMB; 3G+32GB, 6,288RMB).
Apple Store,
300 Nanjing Dong Lu, near Henan Zhong Lu.
See full address details.
Gifts
207 Fumin Lu, near Julu Lu.
The 8ft-tall wooden statue of Mao that greets you at the door is for sale, but it’s 800,000RMB. For lesser budgets, there’s an excellent selection of original 1970s propaganda posters (800-6,000RMB) and mounted prints of 1950s China. Fantastic Mao-print paper is 12RMB/sqm. They also stock jewellery made from sweet wrappers.
Madame Mao's Dowry, 207 Fumin Lu, near Julu Lu.
See full address details.
Menswear
158 Jinxian Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu. This brightly-lit space from a Hong Kong designer is one of a cluster of quality options on Jinxian Lu (we also like Three Society and SVS). The shirts and suits are mostly simple, but prices are reasonable, with off-the-peg suits for 859RMB, fine wool jumpers and cardigans from 339RMB and leather shoes from 488RMB.
Music
115 Pingwu Lu, near Xingfu Lu.
Hidden in the basement of a tower block, Uptown Records isn’t the most accessible shop in the city, but it’s hard to beat their selection of vinyl (from 30RMB) – ’60s and ’70s soul, punk and rock classics and obscurities, plus a special section curated by Shanghai dub collective Sub-Culture. Organised crates elevate Uptown above Shijiu Jiancai market (58 Yejiazhai Lu, near Changshou Lu) and Kook Music (6 Changshun Lu, near Hongqiao Lu), as does the range of vintage clothing from Disco Kitty, a small collection of artwork from IdleBeats and the cheap record players.
Sports & Leisure
393 Yinxiao Lu, near Yinghua Lu.
Decathlon’s eight branches are unbeatable as the city’s one-stop-shops for sports enthusiasts. Pick up a pair of Wed’Ze skis (1,499RMB), a Quechua open-fast camping tent (399RMB) or a city bike (from 599RMB). Their own brand items come with a two year guarantee and hitting, throwing and riding before you buy are actively encouraged.
Decathlon,
393 Yinxiao Lu, near Yinghua Lu.
See full address details.
Accessories3721 Hongmei Lu, near Yanan Xi Lu.
With an entire floor devoted to cultured freshwater pearls, non-pushy vendors and cheap prices, Hongqiao Pearl City is definitely worth the trek from downtown. Our picks are Daxi Pearl (Room 2021) for classic stud earrings and SAA Design (Room 2022) for fake Chanel string-of-pearl necklaces (120RMB). but most places make to design.
Hongqiao Pearl City,
3721 Hongmei Lu, near Yanan Xi Lu.
See full address details.
Footwear
Ferguson Lane, 376 Wukang Lu, near Hunan Lu. Hailed as ‘the Louboutin of Shanghai’, luxury label Mary Ching makes Shanghai’s hottest shoes. Central St Martin’s graduate Alison Cheung draws from decadent materials such as snakeskin, lace and marabou trim to create stack-soled, stiletto-heeled must-haves. Her Ferguson Lane flagship also has sleek clutches and snuggly cashmere slippers (1,200RMB).
Mary Ching,
376 Wukang Lu, near Hunan Lu.
See full address details.
Adult 160 Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Nanchang Lu.
Boasting pink-painted walls and a lipstick-red sofa piled high with penis-shaped cushions, this cosy adult emporium is the perfect antidote to seedy sex shops. There’s a huge selection of toys on offer, ranging from the sublime (sculpted ergonomic ‘intimate massagers’ by Nomi Tang, 590-690RMB) to the ridiculous (‘Dicky’ sipping straws, 6RMB each). Bypass the slightly tired-looking lingerie in favour of items such as Sin Five’s leaf-shaped vibrators (230RMB) or Swedish brand Lelo’s ‘Luna beads’ (380RMB).
Amy's Bedroom,
160 Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Nanchang Lu.
See full address details.
UPDATE: This store has now closed. We will update the list as soon as possible
Beauty Unit 1, 108 Taikang Terrace, 171 Jianguo Zhong Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu. Take a stand against mainstream scent at this tiny fragrance boutique with a roster of mainly US-based independent perfume houses, such as CB I Hate Perfume (pictured left), Six Scents (which produces just six fragrances a year following collaborations between top artists, designers and master perfumiers), and New York-based label Demeter, whose scents (from 250RMB) revel in titles like ‘Earthworm’; ‘Gin & Tonic’ and ‘Laundry’.
UPDATE: Nest has re-opened at the EcoVillage.
Home & Interior
Lane 210, Taikang Lu, near Sinan Lu. Nest stocks only responsibly manufactured, locally designed wares and, while some of the products are a bit wacky (reusable sanitary pads are 35RMB), there’s a great range of eco-fashions by Jooi, Madame Pure and FINCH. Check out Zurner accessories, Wobaby Basics childrenswear, Bambu homeware and Elsie & Elva’s skincare.
Home & Interior 360 Kangding Lu, near Shaanxi Bei Lu.
Spin Ceramics is lit like an art gallery and the beautiful pottery, designed and made in-house, is certainly worth being spot-lit. The Chinese Kung Fu six forms miniature vases (320RMB, with wooden box and tray), an opening tulip candle holder (200RMB) or the bone-fragment shaped archaeologist chopstick rest set (200RMB/eight) are minimalist beauties. Meanwhile, there are fun items too, such as paper weights resembling dim sum presented in a bamboo steamer (60RMB/one, 280RMB/five).
Home & Interior 604-605 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Anting Lu. Our favourite thrift store in town, opposite Cotton’s on Jianguo Lu, stocks everything from antique watches (from 65RMB) to full-length mirrors (from 50RMB) and bright orange ’60s-style chairs (550RMB/four). The condition of the items varies, but there are plenty of bargains to be had, such as vintage luggage trunks (from 200RMB). We also love Fuwang Market (269 Yuntai Lu, near Shancheng Lu), but this shop gets the nod for being easier to navigate.
Shanghai Second-hand Shop,
604-605 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Anting Lu.
See full address details.
Vintage
Lane 274, Taikang Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu.
So much of Taikang Lu is throwaway tat but these back-door nostalgists stand out for their impressive selection of vintage glasses from the 1940s to the 1990s, with obscure Italian frames in among more wearable but still unique sunglasses. Prices vary but expect to pay 450-1,000RMB for a decent pair.
Watches are popular here too, with a line of second-hand Shanghai and Diamond brand watches from the 1950s (around 1,000RMB) and ’80s (around 280RMB), though Dongtai Lu antiques market (Dongtai Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu) has them for less.
Shanghai Code,
Taikang Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu.
See full address details.
Footwear
235 Hengshan Lu, near Yongjia Lu
There’s a surfeit of shoemakers in Shanghai, but this small family-run enterprise – now in new Tianzifang digs – gets our vote; the owner’s family has been in the cobbling business for four generations. As well getting copies made of the extensive range of styles on display – from ballet flats to stilettos, smart brogues to chunky boots – you can bring in your own design (680RMB for a pair of Chloe-inspired gladiator sandals). Turnaround is a month or less despite excellent attention to detail.
Junyuan Handmade,
235 Hengshan Lu, near Yongjia Lu.
See full address details.
Fashion
Xintiandi Style, 245 Madang Lu, near Zizhong Lu.
Established by Asia-wide fashion college Raffles Design Institute, this ‘incubator store’ for its most talented alumni comes out with custom-designed collections that rotate every six months. Some of the clothes might be a bit experimental – these are fledgling designers after all – but for one-off pieces at affordable prices (from 400RMB), it’s great.
Raffles Privato,
245 Madang Lu, near Zizhong Lu.
See full address details.
Toys
No 81, 1025 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Maoming Bei Lu.
At Ru-Wa Studio you can make traditional Chinese toys at a charming workshop in Jingan Villas. Children can create their own stuffed rabbits (80RMB) and lanterns (120-200RMB) or paint rattle drums (60RMB) and Chinese yo-yos (70RMB). If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own, you can also buy a wooden bow and arrow (32RMB), bamboo whistle (12RMB) or hoop and stick game (24RMB). Ru-Wa Studio,
1025 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Maoming Bei Lu.
See full address details.
Menswear
172 Nanchang Lu, near Sinan Lu.
Founded in 2007 by New Yorker Sean William Salim, indie menswear label S2VS is a bit like Gap’s edgier younger brother. Given the clean cuts, natural fabrics and quality of finish, you’d expect to pay a pretty penny for their brand of functional chic, but the Shanghai store is significantly more wallet-friendly than its Stateside counterpart. The reason? Designs are formed in New York but manufactured locally. We love the cosy plaid shirts (380RMB) and wool jackets (580RMB) currently in stock.
S2VS,
172 Nanchang Lu, near Sinan Lu.
See full address details.
Electronics
300 Luban Lu, near Xietu Lu.
Since the closure of Huanlong camera market’s lower floors, Xing Guang Photographic Equipment City is the undisputed biggest, best place to buy new and used cameras in Shanghai. It stocks everything from old Seagulls (from 200RMB), Leica M4 and M6 SLRs (10,000RMB) and medium format Hasselblads (8,000-27,000RMB) to brand new Fuji Instax Minis (830RMB), compacts like the Olympus XZ-1 (3,500RMB), and top of the line DSLRs.
A little bargaining can lower marked prices by 10-20 per cent. As well as cameras, there are handy peripherals like bags, remote shutters and tripods, and a great Photography Books Store (room 212, tel 5301 9519).
Xing Guang Photographic Equipment City, 300 Luban Lu, near Xietu Lu. See full address details.
Sports & Leisure 876 Jiangsu Lu, near Huashan Lu.
For those with a fixed gear fixation, the bikes at Factory Five are sex-on-wheels. Devotees flock there to drool over vintage frames, tinker with tools for free or just drink Vedett. Housed on Jiangsu Lu, the space has recycled old China brands (3,500RMB/bike plus service), including Forever (Yongjiu) and Phoenix (Fenghuang) frames, turning them into single or fixed gear, customisable cruisers. A fixed China Post bike costs 3,800RMB though for the real deal, head to Phoenix Bikes (see No 15 below). You can also buy their bikes and fixtures online at
http://wearefactoryfive.com.
Factory Five, 876 Jiangsu Lu, near Huashan Lu. See full address details.
Home & Interior
Bldg 30, 120 Taian Lu, near Huashan Lu.
Tucked inside a sleepy lane house, this art studio-cum-shop remains a secret known only to devotees of offbeat ceramics and original homeware. Created by Taiwanese artist Nicole Teng (Brut Cake) and Japanese designer Noriko Daishima (Xiao Xiao), as a reincarnation of the Jingan Villas-based Plum Studio, Showroom is a whitewashed, wooden-floored haven.
Cabinets are laden with ceramics – round vases, cups and joss stick holders (mostly around 160RMB) hand-painted with cutesy but enchanting faces that also appear on notepads (15RMB) and refurbished padded chairs (3,000RMB). Our favourites include postcard-sized wooden picture frames and mirrors (120RMB) and calico tote bags made from found country-cotton (200RMB).
Showroom,
120 Taian Lu, near Huashan Lu.
See full address details.
Designer
1 Taojiang Lu, near Dongping Lu.
This boudoir-inspired space from Sara Villareal plays host to a huge array of hip US and European labels from Proenza Shouler to Jason Wu, alice + olivia and Diane Von Furstenberg. Darling of the British boho-chic set, Matthew Williamson, is also due to land in store next year – we can’t wait.
Fashion
399 Lujiabang Lu, near Zhongshan Nan Lu.
When it comes to tailor-made clothing, the South Bund Fabric Market can’t be beaten. It pays to know where to go, though – both in cost and quality. We recommend 2F-215 for sumptuous cashmere coats, Merry Jacky (3F-340) for classic denim shirts and jeans, Andy Wen (2F-295+1) for Chanel-style boucle jackets and Xia Rong Jun (3F-326) for sharp, quality men’s suits and fitted shirts.
South Bund Fabric Market, 399 Lujiabang Lu, near Zhongshan Nan Lu.
See full address details.
UPDATE: Media Market has now closed down. We will update our list as soon as possible
Electronics
527 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu.
Placing a whopping 21 spots above the Apple Store, we love German chain Media Markt for its huge range – if you can plug it in, this place has it. You might find products they stock cheaper elsewhere, but you’ll probably have to bargain and may be unable to return it if something goes wrong. As well as a huge selection of phones, cameras, camcorders, laptops and tablets, good buys include Sennheiser in-ear headphones (from 89RMB), Verbatim external hard drives (1TB, 899RMB) and DVD players from 109RMB. Braun blending wands are 609RMB and Delonghi coffee makers start at 798RMB and go way, way up to 40,797RMB. The six floor store on Huaihai Lu also has its own surprisingly decent cafe.
Food & Drink
274 Wulumuqi Lu, near Wuyuan Lu.
We couldn’t, in all conscience, leave out this beloved Wulumuqi Lu institution. Fresh and rare fruit, vegetables and herbs are the principal draws, all far cheaper than the expat-baiting supermarkets in the area and, given the high turnover, probably fresher, too. There are cured meats (from 30RMB), cheeses, including fresh buffallo mozzarella (18RMB), and a gloriously messy amount of wine (from 45RMB). Amelia’s jams (from 45RMB) and Strictly Cookies are here, too. Stock is seasonal -- American-imported turkeys are currently in (50RMB/kg). Avocado Lady,
274 Wulumuqi Lu, near Wuyuan Lu.
See full address details.
Fashion
969 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Maoming Bei Lu.
Uniqlo isn’t the most cutting edge clothing store, but its cheap, basic designs make it one of our favourite high street chains. Their T-shirts (99RMB) – which have featured collaborations with New York’s MoMA – are regular features in our summer wardrobe, while the quality and durability of items such as their winter knitwear (cardigans and jumpers from 149RMB) raises them above the perhaps more stylish H&M.
Uniqlo, 969 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Maoming Bei Lu. See full address details.
Sports & Leisure
Basement, Lane 620 Quyang Lu, near Chifeng Lu.
There are no fixies, flashy neon rims or custom-made frames here, just a middle-aged man in a dank basement with the best range of Phoenix bicycles in the city. The heavy-duty frames and beautifully-painted Phoenix decorations are nearly unchanged from the 1958 Shanghai-made originals and are timelessly elegant, especially the racing green China Post bikes (458RMB), which are a cut above other Forevers and Phoenixes, in looks if not function.
Phoenix Bicycles, 620 Quyang Lu, near Chifeng Lu. See full address details.
Art & Design
126 Jinxian Lu, near Maoming Lu
Not just somewhere to buy analogue cameras, this six floor emporium is the home base for an entire subculture. The store hosts exhibitions; has a media library; stocks T-shirts (238RMB); develops film at reasonable prices (50RMB for 4x6" prints and a CD) and has a cosy cafe selling 15RMB coffees. The cameras include Holgas (668RMB), the Lomo LC-A+ (2,180RMB) and the Pop 9 (398RMB, which produces a mosaic of nine identical pictures on one print). Last month, Lomo launched the Lomokino (638 RMB), a 35mm hand-cranked camera that takes photos so fast you can make low-frame-rate movies.
Lomo Store,
126 Jinxian Lu, near Maoming Lu.
See full address details.
Fashion
Bldg 1, Lane 210 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu
Next door to Dong Liang, The Hive is a one-stop-shop for independent Shanghai-based labels, with the latest collections from JL, punksters Where What Who, preppy menswear brand threeSociety and its sister label Xiaozhe by George. Prices start from just 545RMB for one of JL’s quirky tees, printed with images of iconic Chinese animals.
The Hive, 210 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu. See full address details.
Entertainment
407 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu
Movie Star is like an Aladdin’s Cave of film organised by pedantic librarians; over 2,000 vintage, art house and blockbuster films and TV series stretching back over 60 years are lovingly ordered by genre, language and title. Their good quality and cheapish: 12RMB/DVD and box sets from 100RMB. Best of all is Mr Li, an old Movie Star hand with a Rain Man-like ability to find the film you’re after.
Movie Star, 407 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu. See full address details.
Couterfeit
580 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Chengdu Bei Lu
The four-storey ‘Taobao’ Market on Nanjing Xi Lu is the pick of Shanghai’s shanzhai malls, with a broad selection of fashion, toys, electronics, luggage, China tourist tack and more, all of which requires a bit of bargaining. Look for convincing Mulberry bag knock-offs, including ‘Alexa’ satchels (800RMB, 3F-103); mini-blow torches (55-120RMB, 2F-63A), Beijing opera masks (15RMB, 3F-130), good quality baseball shirts (100RMB, 1F-81), and pirated Wii and X-box games (6-10RMB, various stalls). While the range isn’t quite as good, you can find many similar items at the Shanghai Science and Tech Museum Market. One store we especially like there is A3-98, which has wind-up tin toys (30-200RMB) and leather notebooks (35RMB).
Nanjing Xi Lu Fakes Market,
580 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Chengdu Bei Lu.
See full address details.
Fashion
205 Nanchang Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu
205 Boutique is actually several stores under one roof: the ground floor houses Roommate, run by a trio of Korean fashion bloggers (www.Hee-J.com), and stocks affordabled Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese clothing. The second floor is currently given over to Swedish bridal label LOVA's swooningly romantic collection of wedding dresses, while upstairs in the attic is a great little affiliated gallery selling original framed fashion illustrations (under 500RMB).
205 Boutique,
205 Nanchang Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu.
See full address details.
Books
325 Changle Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu
Garden Books is the first and last stop when looking for English language books thanks to its international new releases and diverse back catalogue. Expect to find the latest titles as soon as they come out, alongside more obscure releases such as British journalist Caitlin Moran’s How to be a Woman (180RMB). You can also grab a decent cappuccino (29RMB) at the in-house cafe (with wi-fi) along with a delicious gelato (20RMB/one scoop) from La Perla.
Vintage
84 Fenyang Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu
This charming, cluttered space appeals with an alluring mix of high-end yet affordable second-hand clothing (gorgeous retro dresses go for around 300RMB) and local indie designers like punk jeweller Josie Chen, Snoozer Loser and in-house label Kaileeni. Affable owner Cairn Wu Reppun (pictured left) is on-hand to dispense her personal styling services along with organic Hawaiian honey (260RMB/8oz jar) from the family farm.
William the Beekeeper,
84 Fenyang Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu.
See address details.
Home & Interior 126 Caoxi Bei Lu, near Sanhui Lu
There’s a point about half-way round the IKEA circuit where you feel you’ll never get out. If the flatpack gods do spare you, you swear you’ll never return. And yet, we regularly find ourselves back among the simply stylish, affordable furniture and accessories, buying much more than we’d planned to. We sometimes wish it weren’t, but it’s still our go-to furniture option.
UPDATE: This popup shop has now closed down. We will update the list as soon as possible.
Accessories
1417 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Fuxing Lu
Adorable doesn’t even begin to describe this tiny treasure-filled pop-up store – only open until March 2012 – which stocks a mix of own-brand and imported jewellery and accessories sourced from London, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. Every month brings a fresh crop of designers; new for December are Little Odd Forest, L’Ile Aux Ashby, Kandura and – in a recent foray into clothing – the debut collection from Shanghai-based designer Aijek. Particularly delightful are the ‘Made By Hand’ necklaces (from 1,800RMB) by co-owner Chiewling Tan, which incorporates vintage brooches from London’s Portabello Road market.
Food & Drink
25 Yongkang Lu, near Jiashan Lu
With over 150 boutique beers from 25 countries, Cheers In stands out from the growing crowd of boutique beer shops in the city. Every space in the cramped shop is filled with an obscure beer. They’ve got Estrella Damm’s Inedit beer (55RMB/750ml), known as ‘the El Bulli beer’ after it was developed by the team at the world-famous restaurant; Belgian trappist brews (such as Orval, 28RMB/330ml); and a reasonably-priced range of more familiar brands such as Guiness, Leffe and Rogue (15RMB/330ml). It’s easily our favourite booze shop in town.
Cheers In,
25 Yongkang Lu, near Jiashan Lu.
See full address details.
Vintage
2 Yongfu Lu, near Wuyuan Lu
Challenged but never deposed, queen of Shanghai’s retro boutiques Lolo Love Vintage has relocated for the second time to a fabulous tucked-away location in an old art gallery on Yongfu Lu. Inside, the theatrical space drips with nostalgic glamour, with trinkets like old typewriters, silver compacts and toy dolls crowding in. Sourced mostly from Europe, the vintage goods include a well-priced selection of spangled party dresses (420-880RMB), kooky hats (360-580RMB) and some pretty 1950s lingerie.
Lolo Love Vintage, 2 Yongfu Lu, near Wuyuan Lu. See full address details.
Menswear
777 Julu Lu, near Fumin Lu
Shanghai’s first international menswear boutique remains the go-to store for hip casual-luxury labels with over 52 brands like Rag & Bone, Band of Outsiders, and Opening Ceremony. Recent arrivals include Baron Wells, Timo Weiland, Warriors of Radness, Our Legacy, Norse Projects, Creep, and Industry of all Nations – plus they’ve recently started stocking homegrown labels such as threeSociety and Flying Scissors. Sick of your Feiyues? Check out their designer sport shoe alternatives, including Clae, Generic Surplus, Adidas and Nike (from 799RMB).
Aegis,
777 Julu Lu, near Fumin Lu.
See full address details.
Designer
184 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu.
Our top bricks and mortar pick, Beijing export Dong Liang Studio is a temple to cutting-edge homegrown fashion. Stunningly set over three floors of a light-flooded lane house – complete with a tiny balcony, garden and resident cat – the comprehensive selection of designers covers local labels such as He Yan, Na (too) and Miss Mean, as well as hard-to-find brands otherwise only available online or elsewhere in China, such as Beijing’s Vega Zaishi Wang, Xiamen’s Sankuanz and new Guangzhou design house Ricostru. Prices start from just 500RMB for clothes. An added, unexpected draw is the mini-gallery, currently showcasing photo-installations by local artist Maleonn. A must for anyone remotely interested in emerging or established Chinese fashion design.
Dong Liang Studio,
184 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu.
See full address details.
Everything
www.taobao.com
Taobao isn’t perfect. It’s hard for people who don’t read Chinese to use, and made even harder by Chinese banks that seem hell-bent on obstructing online transactions. Buying items without being able to see them up close means you risk ordering clothes that don’t fit, incompatible electronics, and items that are just plain worthless. But Taobao is also the place where shoppers can reap the benefits of three of China’s great strengths: its mammoth manufacturing machinery, cheap postage, and flagrant disregard for intellectual property rights.
The selection of goods and brands available has lead to countless ‘Taobao has everything’ gasps, prices are unbeatable, and thanks to the power of consumer comments, the service is, on average, more polite than most offline stores. There are several guides and agencies to help you use Taobao (we recommend taobaofieldguide.com), and ways to get around interacting with banks, for instance by picking up Taobao charge slips from post offices or convenience stores.
You might argue that Taobao isn’t exactly a shop, but it’s a single shopping destination whose thousands of creative and committed shopkeepers demand a spot on this list. For us, that spot is number one.
For more see our feature on how to get the best out of Taobao.
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