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 (kat@graciesconcepts.com) or by phone.
Price: cakes RMB378; cheesecake: RMB428
See a listing for Al's Baking Co.
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).
See a listing for HoF
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 (6333 9233) or in-store.
Price: RMB528-858; sizes vary.
See a listing for Chikalicious
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).
See a listing for Bobo Lee
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).
See a listing for Strictly Cookies
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).
See a listing for Shanghai Bakery
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 (hello@farinebakery.com) or in-store at any of their shops.
Price: tartes from RMB210-270.
See listings for Farine
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 (Shanghai@LollipopBakery.cn), phone (156 1899 8253) or in-store.
Price: six-inch RMB349-499; eight-inch RMB449-599.
See a listing for Lollipop Bakery
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
See a listing for Bread Etc.
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).
See listings for COVA
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+.
See listings for 21 Cake
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.
See a listing for Gourmet
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.
See a listing for Al's Baking Co.
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.
See listings for HoF
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.
See listings for Baker & Spice
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
See a listing for Pantry's Best
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
See listings for Mvuke Tokyo
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