Hai Lights is your all-access pass to the coolest corners of Shanghai, whether it's food, nightlife, art, or just those random quirks that make this city tick, where each edition dives into a specific slice of city life. We're talking themed rundowns – from the top Spanish restaurants to the coolest soccer clubs, the most scenic bike routes and everything in between. We cut through the noise and bring you the standout spots in each category, so you know where to go, what to do, and who's doing it best. No fluff, no filler, just a solid list of places that make Shanghai tick, because if it's worth your time, it's worth ours.

---

It's a common misconception that China is not a friendly place for plant-based eaters. In fact, vegetarianism has a longstanding and significant place amongst the country's rich food culture and history, often associated with Buddhist and Taoist traditions going back thousands of years. Today's lab-developed burgers and nuggets may seem like innovative 21st-century Western inventions, but mock meats and soy-based products have been prevalent in Chinese cuisine for centuries.

If you're visiting Shanghai and looking for vegan and vegetarian-friendly dining destinations, these eight restaurants are guaranteed wins every time – for herbivores and carnivores alike.

Essential Chinese

Godly 功德林

Most dishes are vegan; some may contain eggs – ask your server.

Likely Shanghai's longest standing and most beloved vegetarian restaurant, Godly actually arrived on the scene in the 1920s and is still crushing it in 2024. Today it has multiple outlets across the city, including the charming Wukang Road location (which also goes by the name of Rose Cafe 藜涵食府); serving traditional Chinese fare with particularly excellent renditions of Shanghainese staples. This is a great place to get familiar with Chinese mock meats, such as the crispy fried "duck" made from paper-thin layers of tofu skin – a total showstopper. The shepherd's purse wontons with peanut sauce and Shanghai-style braised kaofu (wheat gluten) are other must-tries. Should the season suit, grab some vegetarian mooncakes here, too!

Opening hours: 8:30am-8:30pm

Tel: 6471-8909

Address: 97 Wukang Rd 武康路97号

Average price: 80 yuan per person

Jujube Tree / Vegetarian Lifestyle 枣子树

Vegan

Some call it Jujube Tree (literal translation), others call it Vegetarian Lifestyle, but what's universally agreed upon is the consistent quality and deliciousness of this vegan Chinese restaurant. With a great balance of mock meat and purely vegetable dishes, the menu features lots of Chinese classics, from excellent gongbao chicken and tri-colored veggie dumplings to sweet and sour pork made from monkeyhead mushrooms, Jiangsu-style "squirrel fish," and Shanghai hairy crab roe – the latter of which is one of the few vegetarian versions you can find that's not egg-based.

Opening hours: 11am-9pm

Tel: 6215-7566

Address: 258 Fengxian Rd 奉贤路258号

Average price: 125 yuan per person

Qingchun Perma 庆春朴门

Vegan

One of the highest-rated vegetarian listings with nearly 18,000 reviews on Dianping (China's Yelp-like review platform), this uber-popular restaurant serves excellent, elevated plant-based takes on classic dishes, dim sum and traditional specialties from various regional Chinese cuisines. Its earthy design, open kitchens and quality ingredients (many organic) are a bonus. Always packed, Qingchun Perma doesn't take reservations (unless you're a party of 8+), but is worth waiting if necessary. Don't miss the black truffle fried rice or sweet and sour lotus root.

Opening hours: 10:30am-9pm

Tel: 5897-9879

Venue: WL401, Northern District, Qiantan Taikoo Li 前滩太古里木区L4层W-L4-01

Address: Lane 500, Dongyu Rd 东育路500弄

Average price: 115 yuan per person

Cool & Casual

Carrot & Cleaver 蔬蔬食验室

Vegan

Founded by Vivian Chang aka Miss Green – a household name in plant-based cuisine in her home city of Taipei – this casual spot offers healthy, East Asian flavor-packed bowls, wraps, snacks and drinks, with the Thai-inspired eats being particular standouts. Many items feature the brand's own plant-based meat, made from whole food ingredients without any lab-made junk; plus house-made fermented foods such as kimchi, pickles and kombuchas. Many items are also gluten-free. The outlet has only a few outdoor seats, but offers quick takeaway service – perfect for lunch and meals on the go.

Opening hours: 11am-8pm

Tel: 175-2154-9335

Venue:Room 114, 1/F (West side), Shanghai Center 上海商城1层西部商场114室

Address: 1376 Nanjing Rd W. 南京西路1367号

Average price: 75 yuan

Fortunate Vegan Cafe 上海幸福咖啡店

Vegan

With a strong a cult following amongst the Shanghai vegan community, this quaint cafe on beautiful Wukang Road offers comforting eats you'll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Dig into delicious plant-based renditions of Cantonese classics and Southeast Asian favorites, plus Western-style breakfasts (full English, anyone?), pastries, desserts and of course solid coffee and drink choices. Try the chashao rice (Cantonese roasted pork) and pineapple bun with butter (all vegan, of course).

Opening hours: 10am-10pm

Tel: 177-1707-3154

Address: 8/F, 378 Wukang Rd 武康路378号8楼

Average price: 75 yuan per person

Treat Yourself

Duli 度粒

Vegan

A modern Asian fusion restaurant whose founders simply wanted to prove that plant-based cuisine needn't sacrifice flavor or flair, Duli opened just a few years ago and saw almost instant popularity. Fragrant, Sichuan-inspired flavors abound in dishes such as mapo tofu hummus and the mala salad, while the palate-pleasing punches keep coming in cauliflower coconut curry, scallion-nori pesto pasta and more. Start with the pillowy corn fritter – you won't regret it.

Opening hours: 11am-10pm

Tel: 177-6514-1737

Address: 227 Yanping Rd 延平路227号

Average price: 150 yuan per person

Yan Gege Hotpot 焱格格云南雪菌老火锅

Vegan

Mushrooms, mushrooms and more mushrooms – many of which you've probably never seen of heard of – exist in abundance at this excellent, all-you-can-eat Yunnan-style hotpot restaurant. Start by selecting from a diverse selection of broth bases (fresh tomato is a crowd-pleaser) and your side dishes: pan-fried dumplings, chili oil wontons, curry pancake, brown sugar-coated rice cakes… and best of all, mushroom xiaolongbao aka soup dumplings, a Shanghainese mainstay that's nearly impossible to find in vegetarian form. From there, visit the self-serve buffet of incredibly fresh veggies, tofu products, mock meats, and of course, mushrooms – and start loading up your pot! Have your camera ready when they present the fancy mushroom selection that goes into earthy soup at the top of your pot.

Opening hours: 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-9:30pm

Tel: 6222-7217

Venue: A4-1, 800 Show Park 800秀园区A4-1

Address: 800 Changde Rd 常德路800号

Average price: 225 yuan per person

Fu He Hui 福和慧

Most dishes are vegan, the server will identify vegetarian items

Quite the splurge but oh so worth it, this world-famous, modern Chinese fine dining destination boasts both 1 Michelin star and the accolade of The Best Restaurant on the Chinese mainland 2024 with its #19 spot on the list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. The chef focuses on regionally sourced, plant-based seasonal ingredients for each quarterly rotating menu – impressively, Fu He Hui hasn't repeated the dish since opening 10 years ago.

Sit down for a very chill evening and a 10-plus course set menu of stunningly presented, imaginative dishes that together tell a story of the current season, with an optional tea pairing add-on (go for it). You can expect exceptional service in peaceful, minimalist settings, with thoughtful explanations of each creative bite that arrives. Reservations are a must. Insider tip: ask for the off-menu silky mapo tofu as well as the downright lush Shanghai hairy crab roe (made with eggs).

Opening hours: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm

Tel: 3980-9188

Address: 1037 Yuyuan Rd 愚园路1037号

Average price: 998 yuan per person (set menu); 298 yuan per person (tea pairing)