17 Places to Buy Birthday Cakes in Shanghai

By Betty Richardson

Friends: everybody needs 'em. Make sure yours know what kind of a pal you are by fixing them up with a birthday cake that doesn't suck. 

We've searched high and low to find the best damn dangao Shanghai has to offer. There's even a vegan, gluten- and sugar-free option for that allergy afflicted/clean eating buddy in your life.  

Just remember, the golden rule is 24-48 hours in advance. However, if you need cake on the day, scroll on down to the 'Left It to the Last Minute' section at the end. 

24-Hours in Advance...

You're a moderately organized friend with discerning taste in patisserie. The luxury of time will afford you plentiful selection from Shanghai's superior cake-vending outlets. 

Al's Baking Co.

One word: cheesecake. New York-style baked cheesecake (above), to be precise. This is our absolute favorite in town, and it can be ordered whole for people whom you really like. Each feeds at least 20 people. Other cakes include chocolate layer sponge (below), red velvet, carrot cake, crème brûlée tart, and pumpkin pie.

They sometimes have whole cakes available in-store on the day, so it's worth calling up and asking if you need it in a hurry.

How to Order: 24-hours in advance, order in-store, email ([e-mail]) or by phone. 

Price: cakes RMB378; cheesecake: RMB428

Al's Baking Co., 174 Xiangyang Nan Lu, by Fuxing Zhong Lu 襄阳南路174号，近复兴中路

HoF

One of the pioneers on the dessert scene in Shanghai, HoF (House of Flour) is a dessert shop and brasserie specializing in decadent chocolate creations. Their 'Death by Chocolate' cake is a classic, but they also offer seasonal specialties too. Right now it's a fraisier (strawberry, above) cake updated with a creamy chocolate mousse and vanilla mousseline crème.

How to Order: 24-hours in advance. 
Price: from RMB278 (six-inch; feeds 4-6) to RMB408 (eight-inch; feeds 6-10).

HoF (Pudong): B1/F, DBS Building, 1318 Lujiazui Huan Lu, by Dongyuan Lu 陆家嘴环路1318号新展银行B1层，近东园路; HoF (Sinan), 30 Sinan Lu, by Huaihai Zhong Lu 思南路30号，近淮海中路

Chikalicious

This New York export does so much more than offer dessert tasting menus at their Xintiandi store – their celebration cakes are also tippety top notch. We can vouch for the excellent and light-as-air yuzu sponge cake; but other choices include their famous 20-layer crêpe cake (matcha, jasmine flavors or vanilla, shown above), and white chocolate sponge.

How to Order: 24-hours in advance, by phone [phone]) or in-store. 
Price: RMB528-858; sizes vary. 

Chikalicious, Shop 205a, Bldg 5, Xintiandi, 123 Xingye Lu, by Madang Lu 新业路123号新天地5座205a室，近马当路

Bobo Lee

Another top drawer option in the 'Hai, Bobo Lee are famed for their stunningly lifelike sugar flowers and mirror-finish icing – you can literally see your face in it. We love their signature milk chocolate rum mousse cake (above) with dark chocolate mirror icing and a sugar camellia on top, though the white chocolate raspberry mousse (below) is also de-lec-ta-ble.

Their website is available in English, but the ordering page requires a little knowledge of Chinese. Alternatively, English service is available via their hotline. 

How to Order: 24-hours in advance (before 5pm) via website, WeChat account or phone. Delivery from 1-9.30pm.
Price: RMB368-668 (16/18cm).

(http://www.boboleecake.com/en/ ; 400 910 1314) 

Strictly Cookies

Perfect for the cookie-obsessed friend/spouse/colleague in your life, Strictly Cookie's celebration offerings come in the form of a giant cookie (above) available in any flavor. They can also write your name on it, just like they did for Usher when he was in town. Yeah!

For the truly decadent occasion, check out their new behemoth frozen cookie pie (below) – consisting of a mixed base of chocolate chip cookies, graham cracker and Oreos along with a frozen cream cheese filling, and topped with dark chocolate and cookie crumbles.

How to Order: via website, next-day delivery only (before 3pm). 

Price: RMB150 regular cookie cake (feeds 10-12); RMB300 for cookie pie (feeds 10-12 insanely hungry humans).

Strictly Cookies, 1160 Yan'an Xi Lu, by Panyu Lu 延安西路1160号，近番禺路 (http://strictlycookies.com/)

48-Hours in Advance...

Your organizational skills are formidable, and you never forget an important cake-worthy occasion. In fact, you deserve a cake just for being so efficient. 

Shanghai Bakery

Hands down one of our favorite bakeries in the city, these guys have recently rolled out a selection of celebration cakes that are tailor-made to fit the occasion. For birthdays, prepare to answer a few questions about the birthday girl/boy's personality and flavor preferences. 

Vegan, sugar- and/or gluten-free cakes available upon request. Coconut cream FTW. 

How to Order: via WeChat, 48-hours in advance.
Price: RMB388 (4-5 people); RMB488 (8-10 people).

(186 1677 1048)

Farine

Sure you know Farine for their bread, patisserie and coffee, but did you know their excellent tartes and cakes can be ordered whole for celebrations? 

Choose from tarte aux framboises (raspberry), pommes (apple), citron passion (lemon passionfruit), choco-banane (chocolate banana), fruits de saison (seaonal fruit), chocolate caramel (above) and gâteau au fromage blanc (cheesecake); each feeds 6-8 people. 

For larger parties, cakes like the classic fraisier (strawberry and crème pâtissière, below) feeds 25-30 (RMB800) or 50-60 people (RMB1,600).

How to Order: 48-hours in advance, via email ([e-mail]) or in-store at any of their shops. 
Price: tartes from RMB210-270.

Farine Lab(Xuhui) - 888 Huashan Lu, by Fuxing Xi Lu 华山路888号，近复兴西路；Farine(Wukang Lu) - 378 Wukang Lu, by Tai'an Lu 武康路378号，近泰安路；Farine(IFC) - LG2-22, IFC mall, 8 Shiji Dadao, by Lujiazui Huan Lu 世纪大道8号国金中心LG2-22，近陆家嘴环路；Farine(Hubin Dao) - 1/F, Hubin Dao Mall, 150 Hubin Lu, by Jinan Lu 湖滨路150号1楼，近济南路

Lollipop Bakery

These guys got their first start selling custom cupcakes, but have since expanded to a range of elaborate and whimsical celebration cakes too. Choose from adornments like popcorn, ice cream cones, macarons, fresh flowers, candy and more – sky's the limit here, and toppings are included in the quotation price. 

How to Order: 48-hours in advance via email ([e-mail]), phone [phone]) or in-store. 
Price: six-inch RMB349-499; eight-inch RMB449-599. 

Lollipop Bakery, 966 Changle Lu, by Wulumuqi Zhong Lu 长乐路966号，近乌鲁木齐中路

Bread Etc.

Bread Etc. made a big splash when they opened their first café and bakery last year, charming their way into Shanghai's good graces with crusty breads, patisserie, brunch plates and now a small selection of mille-feuille celebration cakes too. Available in rum and vanilla, chocolate or strawberry flavors, the gateau consists of crunchy layers of pastry sandwiched together with créme patissier and fresh fruits. 

How to order: 48-hours in advance, via phone or in-store.

Price: RMB320

Bread Etc., 500 Xiangyang Nan Lu, by Jianguo Xi Lu 襄阳南路500号，近建国西路

Left It to the Last Minute...

Ok, so it's the last available minute, but the thought is still definitely there. Your options are slightly limited, but fear not, cake is still within your grasp. Naturally, we can't guarantee availability, but in our experience these are reasonably safe bets.

COVA

This chain of premium Italian tea shops usually have a selection of whole celebration cakes that can be picked up in-store. Expect flavors like tiramisu (above), mango 'dome,' oatmeal sundae and so on. You can also pre-order by calling the shops directly. 

How to Order: in-store, advise calling your nearest branch to reserve. 
Price: RMB400+ (feeds 10-12).

COVA(IFC) - Room 30, 1/F, IFC Mall, 8 Shiji Dadao, by Lujiazui Huan Lu 世纪大道8号1楼30室，近陆家嘴环路; COVA(K11) - Room L210, 2/F, K11 Mall, 300 Huaihai Zhong Lu, by Huangpi Nan Lu 淮海中路300号2楼L210，近黄陂南路;  COVA(iamp) - Room 146, 1/F, IAPM Mall, Huaihai Zhong Lu 999, by Shaanxi Nan Lu 淮海中路999号1楼146室，近陕西南路; COVA(Xintiandi) - Room 01A, Lane 181, Taicang Lu, by Madang Lu 太仓路181弄01A，近马当路; COVA(Nanjing Xi Lu) - 2/F, 1266 Nanjing Xi Lu, Plaza 66, by Shaanxi Bei Lu 南京西路1266号2楼，近陕西北路

21 Cake

Specializing in square cakes, 21 Cake offers a vast selection of flavors on their website and app. Flavors include peanut brownie, Napoleon, Jameson whisky mousse, matcha (above), chestnut, cheesecake and dozens more. 

You'll need a rudimentary understanding of Chinese to navigate their website/app, but the plus side is that they offer same-day delivery given at least six hours' notice.

How to Order: via website/app. 
Price: from RMB198+.

21 Cake(SOHO Xintiandi) - Room E106, Fuxing SOHO Plaza, 388 Madang Lu, by Fuxing Zhong Lu 马当路388号，近复兴中路；21 Cake(Minhang) - 588 Chunzhong Lu, by Yindu Lu 春中路588号，近银都路

Gourmet, Pudong Shangri-La Hotel

This chic little patisserie shop in the Pudong Shangri-La stocks a range of whole celebration cakes that can be picked up on the day, prepared in-house by executive pastry chef Beat Loeffel and his team. 

Find creations like the 'Forest Berry Charlotte' – vanilla strawberry bavaroise, pistachio sponge and chocolate meringue topped with strawberries, raspberries and blueberries (above.) 

How to Order: in-store. Custom orders accepted with 24-hours prior notice. 
Price: whole cakes from RMB228. 

Gourmet, Level 1, Grand Tower, Pudong Shangri-La, 33 Fucheng Lu, by Lujiazui Huan Lu 富城路33号香格里拉酒店2号楼1楼, 近陆家嘴环路

Al's Baking Co.

Preferably you'd be ordering from these guys 24-hours in advance (see above), but in our experience they frequently have whole cakes in-store early in the day. Again, call ahead to guarantee/reserve. 

How to Order (same-day): in-store
Price: subject to availability.

Al's Baking Co., 174 Xiangyang Nan Lu, by Fuxing Zhong Lu 襄阳南路174号，近复兴中路

HoF

Another bakery that occasionally has whole cakes available in-store. Chocolate cakes are something of a specialty, and are filling enough to feed at least 10 people. Above is their 'Death by Chocolate' number. 

How to Order: in-store, call ahead to confirm/reserve.
Price: subject to availability. 

HoF (Pudong): B1/F, DBS Building, 1318 Lujiazui Huan Lu, by Dongyuan Lu 陆家嘴环路1318号新展银行B1层，近东园路; HoF (Sinan), 30 Sinan Lu, by Huaihai Zhong Lu 思南路30号，近淮海中路

Baker & Spice

These guys are known more for their breads, patisserie and sandwiches, but their whole cakes have been known to save our asses on more than one emergency birthday occasion. The whole cakes are smaller than most others on this list (each feeds 5-6), and come in simple yet yummy flavors like deluxe carrot cake, red velvet and chocolate. 

How to Order: your nearest store; call ahead to confirm/reserve. 
Price: RMB137 each. 

Baker & Spice(Anfu Lu) - 1F, 195 Anfu Lu, by Wulumuqi Lu 安福路195号1楼, 近乌鲁木齐路; Baker & Spice(IFC) - LG1-16 Shanghai IFC mall, 8 Shiji Dadao, by Lujiazui Huan Lu 世纪大道8号，近陆家嘴环路; Baker & Spice(Kerry Parkside) - 1378 Huamu Lu, by Fangdian Lu 花木路1378号，近芳甸路; Baker & Spice(K11) - 300 Huaihai Zhong Lu, by Huangpi Nan Lu 淮海中路300号，近黄陂南路; Baker & Spice(Grand Gateway) - 1 Hongqiao Lu, by Huashan Lu 虹桥路1号, 近华山路

Pantry's Best

Specializing primarily in cupcakes adorned with hefty dollops of cream cheese icing (mint choc chip is our fave), Pantry's Best also has whole celebration cakes with flavors like red velvet, mocha, chocolate and strawberry. They nearly always have whole ones in their K11 store that can be bought on the spot, but if your Chinese is up to scratch hike on over to the website for the full range. 

How to Order: in-store or online
Price: cakes from RMB210
Pantry's Best, K11 Art Mall, Room 241, B2, 300 Huaihai Zhong Lu, by Huangpi Nan Lu 淮海中路300号B2层241室，近黄陂南路

Mvuke Tokyo

Mvuke Tokyo is one of our best-kept secrets in Shanghai. We love the dessert ~salon~ in Xintiandi (enormous portions and a made-to-order menu), but their takeaway shops happen to make our favorite Napoleon cake. Seriously, it's Napoleon's messenger on earth (and available in single portions for the solo connoisseur). They also usually have cream-covered confections if for some reason the former doesn't appeal to you. 

How to Order: in-store or online (Chinese only)
Price: RMB88-450

Mvuke Tokyo(Zhongshan Park) - K5-K6, B/2, Cloud Nine Shopping Centre, 1018 Changning Lu, by Kaixuan Lu 长宁路1018号龙之梦B2层K5-K6, 近凯旋路; Mvuke Tokyo(iapm) - LG2, iapm Mall, 999 Huaihai Zhong Lu, by Nanchang Lu 淮海中路999号LG2，近南昌路; Mvuke Tokyo(Jing'an) - B/1, Everbright Mall, 1618 Nanjing Xi Lu, by Huashan Lu 南京西路1618号B1层，近华山路; Mvuke Tokyo Salon&Bar - Shop No. 104, 159 Madang Lu, by Taicang Lu 马当路159号，近太仓路

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