Where to get marvellous mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival is around the corner and that means endless thoughts of mooncakes in the air. This year the festival falls on Wednesday 4 October, which means you've got plenty of time to gorge on salted egg yolk-filled pastries and find gifts for all the mooncake-loving folk in your life. Here are the best places in Shanghai to get your treats this season.

Hot tip: Mid-Autumn Festival is a serious business in Shanghai. Make sure you order in advance to get your cakes in time for Moon Appreciation Day.

Wujie

Headed home? Wujie is offering two excellent varieties to split up and share with the whole family (or hoard under you bed). The Moonlight Treasure Box (666RMB) is 666g grams of moreish pastry filled with wild honey, lotus seed paste and egg yolks. The Moon’s Poem (368RMB) includes a selection of Southern Chinese variants, including Orange Zest and Roasted Taro. Also includes a Pu’er tea gift box.

Wujie Fourth Floor, Bund 22, Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, near Xinyongan Lu (6375 2861).

Strictly Cookies

Following resounding success, Strictly Cookies' Mookies are back this year to offer an alternative for people who are less excited by salted eggs or five kernel pork and more into something on the sweeter side. These lip-smacking bad boys come in series of flavours including peanut butter and jam, taro and white chocolate, and Oreo chocolate chip. Sets of six cost 98RMB and come in a quote 'classy AF red box'.

Strictly Cookies First Floor, Store 103, 1166 Yanan Xi Lu, near Panyu Lu (137 889 40337).

The Peninsula

Shanghai’s only two Michelin starred lunar pastries are served in gift sets of eight and are available in three flavours: traditional custard (428RMB), durian (468RMB), and aromatic pandan leaf (468RMB). The historic Bund-side hotel will also be offering a selection of cocktail pairings to compliment each mooncake – the Rendezvous, garnished with caramelised taro, the zesty Luna with sake and Japanese mandarin, and the elderflower Jade Rabbit.

The Peninsula 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Beijing Dong Lu (2327 2888).

Häagen-Dazs

Häagen-Dazs' sweet-scoop take on the Mid-Autumn dessert are crowd pleasers across the board – who doesn't love ice cream? Sets range from an affordable 192RMB to the 888RMB deluxe collection, and include flavours such as vanilla, strawberry, blueberry, and chocolate. For the kids there's Frozen and Mini-Mouse themed packs, the latter of which comes with a cute bag and two tubs of good stuff to boot.

Häagen-Dazs Various locations across Shanghai.

Hyatt on the Bund

For those looking for something truly old school, the hands at the Huangpu Hyatt have prepared a selection of stock Chinese favourites, both sweet and savoury. On the menu are white lotus paste with salted egg yolk, green bean, XO sauce with dried scallops, five kernel nut, egg custard, and caramelised pumpkin. A selection of six can be purchased for 288RMB a box.

Hyatt on the Bund 199 Huangpu Lu, near Wuchang Lu (6393 1234).

Jing’an Shangri-La

A true one-stop for every occasion, the Hong Kong hotelier is offering festive gift sets for every palate and family occasion. The flavours are extensive, but look out for Cranberry and Red Wine, Coconut, Black Chocolate, and Mango with Egg Custard.

Jing’an Shangri-La 1218 Yanan Zhong Lu, near Tongren Lu. 1218 Yanan Zhong Lu (2203 8899).

Westin Bund Center 

True to its, name the Westin Bund Center will be throwing a little Western flavour into the traditional lunar snacks with its red wine and grape paste, and the new Iberico pork mooncake. It will be selling its mooncakes in two gift boxes: the four-piece Classic (208RMB) and 12-piece Platinum (298RMB).

Westin Bund Center 88 Henan Zhong Lu, near Guangdong Lu (6335 1888).

Kerry Hotel Pudong

The Kerry Hotel is serving up batches of four to ten cakes for 168-398RMB. For some real grassroots authenticity in your pastries, go for the Xiang Yue, which features eight regional recipes from around the country.

Kerry Hotel Pudong 1388 Huamu Lu, near Fangdian Lu (6169 8888).

Mandarin Oriental

These fancy autumn treats come served in an elegant box designed to represent a folding fan. Mandarin Oriental has two gift sets: the Classic (198RMB), a box of four traditional Cantonese flavours, and the Deluxe (288RMB), an eight-piece set which includes the above, plus additional coconut, XO scallop, Pu’er tea, and taro.

Mandarin Oriental 111 Pudong Nan Lu, near Yincheng Zhong Lu (2082 9888).

Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai (Daning)

The Chun Yue set (188RMB) contains a four-piece selection of red bean and custard mooncakes. They also sell individual pastries stuffed with fresh pork and Hong Kong-style XO pork (5 and 6RMB, respectively) or boxes of four at 20RMB for the pork and 24RMB for the XO.

Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai 1928 Gonghexin Lu, near Daning Lu (2602 2222).

The Marriott Shanghai

The Marriott’s enticing array of mooncakes pays homage to Mid-Autumn tradition with ten gold keys hidden somewhere in the tasty treats. The intriguingly named Princess’ Mystic Box is a six-piece set with three flavours – custard, durian and chocolate lava – and costs 288 RMB. 

The Marriott Shanghai 15 Xinjinqiao Lu, near Hongfeng Lu (185 5873 6560).

Grand Hyatt Shanghai

Take a rounded bite into tradition with the selection of authentic Chinese flavours available at Grand Hyatt. Varieties include sweet renditions such as lotus with egg yolk, red bean, and coconut. But if savoury is more your slice of pie, try the Sichuan beef, XO scallop or bitter Longjing tea fillings. Six-piece sets include the Reunion Mooncake Box (288RMB) and Deluxe Mooncake Box (588RMB).

Grand Hyatt Shanghai Jin Mao Tower, 88 Century Avenue, near Dongtai Lu.  (5049 1234).

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