8 fabulous Shanghai brunches to win your weekend

It’s undeniable that we’ve all been chomping at the bit to resume our favourite past-time in Shanghai – weekend brunching, again, especially now summer is in full swing and many restaurants are reopening. So, whether it be returning to an old classic or trying out somewhere new, it’s time to head over to these brunch spots and get back to some awesome eggs, sourdough, coffee, and maybe booze too.

Tomatito is back and serving their ‘sexy’ Spanish brunch. With a steal of a deal at four dishes for 188RMB, you can gorge yourself on all sorts of mouthwatering grub. Try the classic salmon bombs (see above), the newly introduced pork stuffed peppers and the menu’s highlight – the Pollo 69, a basket of fried chicken covered in Tomatito’s signature sauce, made in-house. They also have free-flow, vegan and vegetarian options available.

Keep it classy at one of Shanghai’s better-known brunch spots, Cotton’s. First opened in 2003, Cotton’s has been a Shanghai institution for nearly 20 years. Serving lovely brunches on their large outdoor terraces on both Anting Lu and Xinhua Lu locations. The menu includes classic fare such as avocado and egg bruschetta, and the ever-popular salmon and poached eggs on toast. They currently have a deal where you can pick one brunch item and two select drinks for 168RMB. For those of you looking for something a bit on the boozier side, take advantage of the free-flow options while you are there.

Elevate your brunch game with an Indian-inspired brunch menu at KLAY. From Chicken Tikka Mac n’ Cheese to Lobster Masala, the restaurant offers exciting takes on all your favourite classic Indian dishes paired with an array of different naan breads. As for the drinks, there’re classic cocktails and a wine special that sees any two bottles for 388RMB and any three for 568RMB.

Have cravings for a fabulous Mexican-style brunch? Head on over to Maya and get your fiesta started. The restaurant is serving up all sorts of brunch favourites with a Mexican twist. Think chicken and waffles slathered in guac, or chorizo topped with poached eggs and finished off with a red pepper hollandaise. Try their Croque Señora, a Mexican take on the classic Croque Madame, loaded up with pulled pork cochinita and fresh avocados. In the way of booze, they offer bottomless deals on sangria (185RMB) and margaritas (210RMB).

No brunch list would be complete without this Shanghai classic. Highline is doing what they’ve always done best, serving up one of the most beloved brunches in the city. Eggs benedict, breakfast sandwiches, chicken and waffles… you name it. So, make your reservation, grab your sunnies and enjoy a meal on their huge terrace while sipping on a Bloody Mary or espresso martini from their free-flow cocktail menu (188RMB for two hours).

Feeling like having different cuisines from around the world for a change? Situated deep in The French Concession in a cosy space, Ginger is known for serving tasty, clean, and healthy delicacies around the globe. Their current special is the Nasi Padang (see above), which highlights an array of different flavours from Southeast Asia. Thinking of getting some exotic cocktails? Ask for The Turmetic Sour, Ginger’s owner/operator Betty Ng’s personal favourite, made with gin, turmeric, yuzu and kalamansi.

Heritage by Madison is offering its brunch special. Think pork belly hash smeared in hollandaise atop a fluffy brioche bun and topped with a poached egg. If that doesn’t have you drooling, tuck into cornbread egg waffles topped with fried chicken and slathered in honey butter. Pick any three dishes from abstract sounding categories like Yolk (egg-based dishes), Light (some soft starters), Hearty (mains and meats) and Sweet (we’ll let you guess what’s in this one). The classic brunch menu will set you back just 200RMB. Dish out a bit extra and you can chow down on one of the specialty dishes from their Luxe category, like grilled lobster or country fried steak covered in white gravy. Free-flow options are also available.

Located in a picturesque courtyard on Yuyuan Lu, The Cannery is serving up their weekend brunch which has everything from omelette topped with ricotta cheese and mushrooms to sliders loaded with beef and bacon oozing with cheese. Their sampler deal for 198RMB allows you to choose three of any of the 14 select brunch items on the menu. Looking to drink? They’ve got you covered with plenty of specialty cocktail and mocktail options to choose from. To top it all off, the venue is pet friendly on the inside and out, so feel free to bring along your furry friend.