6 International Buzzworthy Cakes to Eat in Shanghai
One of our biggest dreams as dessert lovers is to be able to try all of the different desserts available from around the world - regardless of price, calories and location. We value how each dessert is made, how local culture can influence a dish and, more importantly, how it tastes. Today, we’ve rounded up 12 of our must-try dessert spot picks across the globe, six of which can actually be found in Shanghai.
All of them are considered to be hot favorites in their own way, so take notes and add these to your wishlist of places to hit up!
Pierre Hermé
By famous French pastry chef Pierre Hermé
Origin: Paris, France
Est: Since 1998
Signature: Macaron
Price Range: 7 pieces for 20 euros, 12 pieces for 33 euros
Popularity: ★★★★☆
Chef Pierre Hermé started his culinary career at the tender age of 14 and has, since then, built himself and his brand as legends in the dessert world, going as far as earning the title of “Picasso of Pastry” by Vogue.
By infusing his creativity and using common ingredients, Hermé creates dessert masterpieces that are both delicious and beautiful to look at.
Every year on March 20th - Macaron day in Paris - many people can be seen queuing outside his store for the intricate dessert in commemoration of the holiday, including famous French politicians and celebrities.
Is it available in Shanghai? Sadly not, but we’re keeping our hopes up for an appearance in the future!
LeTAO
Popular Hokkaido dessert brand
Origin: Hokkaido, Japan
Est.: Since 1998
Signature: Double-layered cheesecake, Stuffed cheese biscuits, Strawberry chocolates
Price Range: RMB 100 - 200
Popularity: ★★★★★
LeTAO Tower
Hailing from Hokkaido, LeTAO epitomizes Hokkaido desserts and is often considered a great Japanese gift and souvenir. Founded by Mr. Seigou Kawagoe in June 1998, a beautiful tower was built in Otaru at its tourist center and named LeTAO (La Tour Amitié Otaru).
The brand also has a strong following on Instagram and is often regarded as a popular dessert choice in Hokkaido amongst both tourists and locals.
Signature Double Layered Cheesecake
In 2017, the brand was awarded the Yahoo Search Award and is known for selling a dessert every 10 seconds, hitting a record of RMB 2.5 million revenue annually.
The cheesecake here has a half-baked top layer and a baked bottom layer, thus creating an interesting texture and flavor.
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Apart from the signature double-layered cheesecake, we recommend you try their other delicious treats like the stuffed cheese biscuits, milk rolls, chocolate, and more.
Is it available in Shanghai? Yes! LeTAO will be opening its first store in the commercial district of Xintiandi this August, so stay tuned to Shanghai WOW! for more details.
Ladurée
High-end Parisian dessert brand
Origin: Paris, France
Est.: Since 1862
Signature: Macaron
Price Range: 6 pieces 17.10 euros, 8 pieces 19.5 euros
Popularity: ★★★★☆
Founded in 1862, the famous luxury dessert brand Ladurée is no stranger to the limelight.
Known worldwide for their macarons, this Parisian brand has over 20 different types of macaron flavors and is a must-try if you ever plan to make a trip over to Paris.
Is it available in Shanghai? It used to be until August 2016 when Ladurée decided to withdraw its operation entirely from Shanghai. So, if you’re looking to taste their desserts, you’ll have to do so in the city of love.
Pierre Marcolini
The Louis Vuitton of Chocolate
Origin: Brussels, Belgium
Est: Since 1995
Signature: Bespoke chocolate
Price Range: RMB 100 - 200
Popularity: ★★★☆☆
Helmed by a world champion baker, Pierre Marconi built his own chocolate brand over the span of 10 years.
With his flagship store in Place du Grand Salon in Brussels, the store is both modern and dreamy, vintage and elegant and quickly earned the top spot in many chocolate lovers’ hearts.
Priding themselves for quality products, Pierre Marconi collects ingredients from all over the world to make his rich and smooth chocolates and injects his creativity into giving them different looks and flavors. Some of his special flavors include pepper, coumarin, and mint.
Is it available in Shanghai? Yes! Pierre Marconi opened at K11 in June 2016 and has since expanded to Grand Gateway Shanghai and Plaza 66.
Lady M
Treasured American dessert brand
Origin: New York, U.S.A
Est.: Since 2004
Signature: Classic crepe cake, matcha crepe cake, strawberry sponge cake, passion fruit crepe cake
Price Range: Single slice RMB 68 - 75
Popularity: ★★★★☆
Famous for their beautiful French cakes, this elegant brand from New York is seen as the modern-day version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Lady M perfectly blends Western and Eastern influences into their desserts and represents a trendy, fashion-forward New York City.
Lady M’s first New York Store first opened on the Upper East Side in 2004, the brand has since expanded all over the world in over 10 years while making sure that each outlet stays true to the brand’s style and values.
Lady M is particularly famous for its crepe cake which comes in different flavors and is made up of 20 thick slices of French crepes layered with light cream.
Is it available in Shanghai? Yes! The brand opened its first store in Shanghai IFC Mall back in September 2017. Three months later, they opened their next one in Xintiandi. In February 2018, they opened their third Chinese branch in Hangzhou Wanxiang City and a fourth in Nanjing Deji Plaza the following June. This Autumn, they will open yet another branch in Chaoyang Joy City in Beijing!
Fauchon
High-end Parisian dessert brand
Origin: Paris, France
Est: Since 1886
Signature: Macaron, foie gras jam, éclair
Price Range: RMB 80 - 130
Popularity: ★★★★☆
Starting out as a fruit stand in Place de la Madeleine, Fauchon grew to fame in the 1980s as a French gourmet company that became known for its contemporary French cuisine.
As a luxury brand, it has collaborated with high-end fashion brands like Givenchy and Thierry Mugler over the years and is now considered a way of life by many in France.
The brand has a wide variety of beautifully-crafted desserts, including the Paris-Brest eclair which is filled with praline mousse cream.
Is it available in Shanghai? Sadly not, but one can always hope.
Cova
Italian century-old high-end dessert brand
Origin: Milan, Italy
Est.: Since 1817
Signature: Mango Cake, Oat Cake, Mont-Blanc Cake
Price Range: RMB 48 - 98
Popularity: ★★★☆☆
Cova Old Photo
Every major city usually has that one standout dessert that is well-loved by locals and and is representative of local culture. In Milan, one such dessert is made by Cova. Founded in 1817, the brand celebrated its 200th-anniversary last year and has won the hearts of many stars over its lifetime including Marilyn Monroe, Ernest Hemingway, Brigette Lin, Chua Lam and Leslie Cheung.
Signature Oat Cake
The brand was created by Antonio Cova near the Teatro all Scala theater in Milan after World War II. However, due to the massive destruction in the area, Cova moved to the northeastern district of Montenapoleone in Milan.
In 2013, the brand was bought over from the Faccioli family by LVMH, thus becoming the company’s only high-end dessert brand. It joined the ranks of high-end brands such as Celine, Fendi, Givenchy and Louis Vuitton - all part of the French conglomerate. The signature desserts here are the Oat Cake and Mango Cake, which hold classic flavors that withstand the test of time.
Is it available in Shanghai? Yes! The store opened its first outlets in Shanghai inside the Shanghai IFC Mall and in Xintiandi in May 2011. As of today, they now have six branches throughout the city.
Bengawan Solo
Popular Singaporean snack brand
Origin: Singapore
Est: Since 1979
Signature: Pandan Chiffon Cake
Price Range: SGD 15/Cake
Popularity: ★★★★☆
This Singaporean brand boasts a menu of Southeast Asian desserts that includes their famous Pandan Chiffon Cake - which topped the country’s food list in 2003 and was titled the “Singaporean National Cake” by CNN.
The Pandan Chiffon Cake is made from Pandan extract, a common tropical plant, and incorporated with a chiffon cake batter to give it a light and fluffy but rich pandan and coconut flavor that is too delicious to resist!
Is it available in Shanghai? Sadly not… But Singapore is only a flight away…
Black Star Pastry
Popular "new-generation" dessert brand
Origin: Sydney, Australia
Est: Since 2008
Signature: Watermelon and Strawberry Cream Cake
Price Range: AUD 8/slice
Popularity: ★★★★★
Based in Sydney, Black Star Pastry is famous for their watermelon and strawberry cream cake. This dessert blew up Instagram feeds when it first launched and topped many food critic lists, ultimately winning Time Out’s “2016 Australian Dessert of the Year” award.
The great reviews that dessert has received over the years are not only due to the cake’s appearance, but also because of the rich textures and creativity that is put into the cake itself. Some of the ingredients that can be found within the cake include passionfruit and roses, making it a perfect summer treat.
Is it available in Shanghai? Sadly not…But you can try similar desserts from other brands in the city.
Angelina
Parisian dessert for royalty
Angelina’s Flagship Store in Paris
Origin: Paris, France
Est.: Since 1903
Signature: Mont - Blanc Puree, éclair, hot chocolate
Price Range: RMB 48 - 88
Popularity: ★★★☆☆
Founded in 1903, Angelina is well-loved by many iconic stars including Coco Chanel, who visit the store on a weekly basis. Having been established a century ago, Angelina counts branches all around the world and has retained Paris as its global headquarters.
Signature Mont-Blanc Cake
Known for their hot chocolate and Mont-Blanc cake, the desserts just happen to be Coco Chanel’s favorite as well. The hot chocolate here is made from a traditional secret recipe and the cocoa powder is made from four different types of African cocoa beans and sugar-free cream, giving it is silky texture.
The Mont-Blanc Cake has a vanilla cream center, a sweet egg white base and pureed sweetened chestnut to top it all off. For those who don’t enjoy sweet desserts, you can ask to remove the egg white base for a not so sweet taste.
Is it available in Shanghai? Sort of. Despite having opened two branches since 2015 - one at the Shanghai Center and another in Shanghai Times Square, only the one in Times Square remains.
POMPI
King of Tiramisu
Origin: Rome, Italy
Est: Since 1960
Signature: Tiramisu
Price Range: 4 euros/portion
Popularity: ★★★☆☆
Founded in 1960, Pompi is run by an Italian family has since then established itself as a classic Tiramisu brand known for their silky rich and aromatic desserts.
With over 10 different types of Tiramisu, the brand makes their famous dessert from quality Mascarpone cheese and Arabica coffee beans, with each dessert priced at an affordable 4 euros per serving.
Below the logo reads “Il Regno del Tiramisu” which translates to “King of Tiramisu”, an emphasis on their signature Tiramisu dessert in Italy and the dessert world.
Is it available in Shanghai? Sadly not.
Café Sacher
Origin: Vienna, Austria
Est: Since 1832
Signature: Chocolate cake
Price Range: RMB 30 - 50
Popularity: ★★★☆☆
Founded in 1876 in Vienna, the café is located in Hotel Sacher - a landmark in the city - and is famous for its Sacher Torte cake. The brand is not only well-loved by local residents, but also by more notable figures, including Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Many tourists come from all over the world to try the famous Sacher Torte cake.
Today, with a rich history of 180 years, the brand averages revenues of RMB 360,000 annually from their Sacher Torte cake alone. The decadent dessert is often drizzled with chocolate and packs a sweet fruity flavor complimented with the rich milky flavor from the cream.
Is it available in Shanghai? Sadly, not.
*Some of the photos featured have been taken from individual users' or the brand’s Instagram page.