A Day in My Life, Shanghai

One of the many things I love about China are the endless experiences on offer. I feel that Shanghai in particular, is a city where culture and luxury correlate perfectly, making it exciting to plan each day. If you enjoy indulging, shopping, and immersing yourself in the beauty of the city, here’s how I recommend spending your day based off one of mine.

I start my day by waking up in the beautiful The Puli Hotel and Spa. Waking up in their soft, white, luxurious beds is the most peaceful way to begin the morning. Interestingly, most cafes in Shanghai don’t open as early as they do in Australia—where a 6:30 am coffee is the norm—but this slower pace gives you time to sleep in or get ready.

Since I couldn’t immediately venture out for my usual large soy latte, I opted for a cup of Jin Jun Mei tea (my absolute favorite black tea) paired with a delicate lemon macaron at The Puli. The tea selection here is exquisite, and sipping such a high-quality brew felt like the ideal way to ease into the day.

Once the cafes opened, I made my way to one of Shanghai’s many cafes. As a self-proclaimed and validated coffee snob, I had my reservations on my first day, but the quality of coffee in Shanghai genuinely impressed me. One café my friend introduced me to stood out: T12 Lab. Their attention to detail—like the card that suggested, “For best mouthfeel, drink after 30 seconds”—elevated the experience. Each of us chose a coffee best suited to our acquired taste. Mine was smooth, creamy, and perfectly balanced exactly how I like it.

After fuelling up, we spent the late morning exploring Shanghai’s boutique shopping scene. I recommend starting near the café I mentioned, as it’s a short walk to some of my favorite shops around Xiangyang Rd and close to the Jing’an district. While apps like Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) can guide you, the best finds also can come from wandering down side streets and discovering stores on your own.

Shanghai’s fashion scene is exceptional—boutiques here feel more like curated art galleries, offering unique, one-of-a-kind pieces you won’t find elsewhere. The stores I fell in love with weren’t the ones trending on TikTok but the ones I stumbled upon by chance.

Shopping in Shanghai can be physically demanding, especially if you’re carrying heavy bags. Thankfully, Shanghai is known for its accessible beauty and wellness services. My friends and I stopped at 左右 Massage/Spa for an hour-long massage, which was heavenly after a morning of walking. We followed it with a quick facial and even had our hair and makeup touched up before heading out again.

Being gluten-free can make street food challenging in Shanghai, as many dishes involve buns or batter. However, I found solace in dining at restaurants where I could enjoy fresh, flavorful meals in a relaxed setting. For lunch, I recommend a restaurant in Nanjing Road. Their menu featured dishes like crab curry, taro in soy milk, and slow cooked beef. It was the perfectly satisfying meal to set us up for the rest of the day.

Nanjing Road may be touristy (I prefer to avoid touristy spots), but it’s worth visiting for its incredible selection of stores. From high-end luxury to niche finds, this shopping district has it all. The shop assistants were genuinely so kind and welcoming, often connecting with us on WeChat for future recommendations.

For the early evening I headed to The Bund. Walking along the waterfront with the glittering skyline as a backdrop is incredible. Make sure to go before 10 pm when the city lights are dimmed.

For an additional view of the Bund, I visited The Captain, a rooftop bar with wide views of the cityscape. I enjoyed multiple uniquely prepared cocktails paired with bar snacks; mini beef brisket tacos and guacamole corn chips.

I ended the day off with a 9 course dinner at Cūn, a Sichuan-style fine dining restaurant with Spanish fusion. Cūn blends Spanish and Chinese flavors. One standout dish involved freshly grilled spicy prawns, which we were instructed to squeeze its juices over an open hot tortilla and then proceed to suck Hakushu whisky through the prawn head. Each dish was incredibly unique and packed full of flavor. Additionally the staff’s generosity made the experience even more memorable.

After dinner, I took a short cab ride back to my hotel, unwinded with a pampering session, including face-masks and tea. And of course, the convenience of ordering anything I needed through apps like Dianping.

Shanghai is a city that fully caters to indulgence, offering beauty, culture, and connection at every moment. I hope this guide helps you plan your perfect day in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.