4 great new bakeries to get your carb fix

Having said goodbye to Farine months ago, all you pastry lovers have likely been searching for a replacement spot to get freshly baked breads and fancy French desserts. Lucky for all, the world of bread and sweets has no shortage of new openings in Shanghai. Here are four great new spots to get your carb fix.

1. Pâte

Sleek patisserie Pâte at Fuxing SOHO Plaza is more stylish dessert bar, less traditional bakery and pastry shop. Find glass bell jars filled with a range of French and European sweets, all with little twists.

None disappoint. Try the rich and smooth avocado cheesecake, the mango-coconut or salted caramel religieuse (pastry puffs filled with crème pâtissière), or the coconut-coated pink- and purple-shaded berry Lamington (that should really be called a unicorn cake). The fabulously tangy lemon thyme tart with meringue topping is another winner.

Pâte Room E107, SOHO Fuxing Plaza, 462 Hefei Lu, near Madang Lu, Huangpu district.

2. Shanghai Bakery at The Gatehouse

Over on Jinxian Lu, Shanghai Bakery is selling loaves of crusty bread and tasty homemade sweets from a little gatehouse just outside La Maison restaurant. Walk up to the window for freshly baked loaves, slices of blueberry bread, biscuits, drinks and more.

The 'pastries' on offer are biscuit sandwiches filled with icings – try the coconut biscuit with coconut cream filling or the sweet and tart lime with lemony cream. Another piece of advice? Don't skip on the bakery's awesome sourdough bread.

Shanghai Bakery 210 Jinxian Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu, Huangpu district.

3. Madeleine, Jingan Kerry Centre

The latest branch of this classic French patisserie chain fills up a bright and welcoming space in Building 3 of the Jingan Kerry Centre – but the cosy, summer-perfect outdoor seating area will have you forgetting you're in a downtown shopping complex in no time. 

There's a lot to choose from here, and although a bit pricey, it's hard to go wrong with any of the sweet or savoury options on offer at Madeleine. Plus, there are samples of everything out on the counter. Love that. The Banoffee tart is a shining example of what any banana-toffee dessert should be, the flaky millefeuille with tufts of whipped cream (praline or classic) is great, the Opera cake is rich and velvety. And, of course, the patisserie's namesake lemon madeleines are little pillows of deliciousness.

Madeleine, Building 3, First floor, Jingan Kerry Centre, 1515 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Changde Lu, Jingan district.

4. Bread etc. (2.0)

Now there are two spots to get Shanghai's best shakshuka (and loads of crusty bread to sop up that sauce). If you're a fan of the first (who isn't?), check out Bread etc.'s second location in Jingan. With its contemporary design and giant outdoor terrace space, it's a lovely spot to stop for a coffee and pain au chocolat.

On the menu and in the bakery cases, find all of the same delights that you love from the original location – flaky pastries, fruit-laden tarts, fresh sandwiches and rustic breads galore.

Bread etc., Jingan 1486 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Tongren Lu, Jingan district.

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