Book Your Shanghai Restaurant Experience
Securing a table at Shanghai's best restaurants can be competitive. Here is how to navigate the reservation landscape like a pro.
By Li WeiUpdated
When to Book
Michelin-starred restaurants: 2-4 weeks ahead. Popular casual spots: 3-7 days. Weekends and holidays: add 1-2 extra weeks. Hairy crab season (Sep-Dec): book as early as possible.
How to Book
Most restaurants accept bookings via Dianping, Meituan, or direct phone calls. Dianping — which Wikipedia describes as "a Chinese technology company that operates a platform for local services" with "consumer reviews under the Dazhong Dianping brand" — is where most locals check ratings before reserving. International visitors can use Chope or email the restaurant directly. Some high-end spots require a deposit.
Walk-In Strategy
For no-reservation spots like Jia Jia Tang Bao, arrive 15-30 minutes before opening. Lunch rush is 11:30-13:00; dinner is 18:00-20:00. Avoid peak times for shorter waits.
Booking as a Foreigner
You do not need to speak Chinese to reserve. Most Michelin-listed and hotel restaurants answer email in English, and your hotel concierge can place the call for you in minutes. For the Dianping and Meituan apps — the platforms locals use — screenshots of the restaurant page let any staff member book from the listing even if you cannot read the interface. Chope still lists a handful of international-style venues with English-only booking.
Deposits and No-Shows
Fine-dining and tasting-menu restaurants increasingly take a deposit of roughly RMB 200-500 per head, charged to a card or via WeChat, and forfeited entirely for a no-show. Casual and mid-range venues rarely require anything. Confirm the cancellation window when you book — most high-end kitchens ask for at least 24 to 48 hours' notice and will hold your table for fifteen minutes past the booking time before releasing it.
A Phrase to Save
If you would rather phone it in yourself, memorize one line: "Wǒ xiǎng dìng yī gè wèizi, X yuè X hào wǎnshang Qī diǎn, liǎng wèi" — "I'd like to book a table, [date], 7pm, for two." Lead with the date, time, and party size; ask for a window or private room (kāchā / bāoxiāng) only after the table is confirmed. Speaking slowly with those three details is enough to book almost anywhere in the city.