Ahh, Mid-Autumn Festival, a time to spend with family and friends, engage in some moon appreciation and perhaps most importantly, eat some moon cakes. Considered a staple during this time of year, these round pastries are fairly small in size (around ten centimeters) but can pack a huge flavor punch. And if you’ve yet to try one, there’s certainly never been a more perfect time than now! You’ll find them everywhere here in Shanghai, but there are certain places that elevate the typical moon cake into a delicacy. Traditional flavors are being replaced with exotic new combinations that tantalize the taste buds and boggle the mind. So grab a cup of tea and chow down on some of the tastiest moon cakes in town.

Marriott HongqiaoView In Map
Oddly enough, some of Shanghai’s best moon cake offerings can be found at upscale hotels. Case in point is the Marriott Hongqiao, where they offer six fillings: traditional red bean paste, white lotus seed, mixed nuts, cranberry yogurt, taro and my personal favorite, creamy coconut. These are primarily designed to be given as gifts and you can choose from two specially packaged gift boxes: one includes 16 moon cakes for 268 RMB and the other includes 12 moon cakes for 188 RMB, both of which include all flavor varieties. This is a great place to try both traditional and more modern flavors.

Add: 2270 Hongqiao Lu (near Jianhe Lu), Shanghai
地址：上海市虹桥路2270号 近剑河路
Tel: 021 6237 6000
Website: www.marriott.com/shaqi
Price: 188 RMB (box of 12), 268 RMB (box of 16)

Whampoa ClubView In Map
While the Whampoa Club dinner service suffers from mixed reviews, there is very little dispute that this “Three on the Bund” member is the king of the moon cakes. Known for mixing things up in the flavor department, these moon cakes are not for the faint-hearted. This year’s six varieties include some tamer options like bean paste with walnuts, chestnut paste and the traditional egg yolk and lotus seed paste. For the adventurer, try the Osmanthus and Longjing Tea, truffle and bacon or mixed nuts with ham moon cakes. Choose a variety of all six or stick to one flavor (truffle and bacon, anyone?) for 188 RMB. Your mouth won’t know what to do.

Add: 5F, Three on the Bund, 17 Guangdong Lu (near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu), Shanghai
地址：上海市广东路17号，外滩三号5楼， 近中山东一路
Tel: 021 6321 3737
Website: www.threeonthebund.com
Price: 188 RMB (box of six)

Millennium Hongqiao HotelView In Map
This Gubei-area hotel has made a name for itself by specializing in traditional but tasty moon cake offerings. The Millenium Hongqiao Hotel’s egg yolk and white lotus paste cakes pretty much embody what the Mid-Autumn Festival is all about, while their black sesame paste has an earthy, nutty flavor that’s downright addictive. They also offer the red bean paste and ham with mixed nuts option. You can get a box of eight pieces for 228 RMB; this is the assortment I would recommend for the traditionalist in life.

Add: 2588 Yan'an Xi Lu (near Shuicheng Lu), Shanghai
地址：上海千禧海鸥大酒店, 延安西路2588号, 近水城路
Tel: 021 6208 5888
Website: www.millenniumhongqiao.com 
Price: 228 RMB (box of 8)

LarisView In Map
David Laris has gotten quite a reputation for his food, so why should his moon cakes be any different? As with all his restaurants, Laris likes to put a twist on traditional style and he does it almost flawlessly with flavors like rose and red bean, chocolate, taro and double coconut. I’d definitely recommend their gift boxes if you happen to have a Chinese significant other and are looking to make an impression (and willing to drop some serious cash). Sets include: nine chocolate moon cakes for 138 RMB, 36 moon cakes for 260 RMB, 36 chocolate moon cakes (with a half-bottle of champagne) for 728 RMB or, for a real splurge, you can try the 144-piece chocolate moon cake box for 1,688 RMB. With that many moon cakes, you’re sure to be the hit of the party (or office, or house or…).

Add: 6F, Three on the Bund, 17 Guangdong Lu (near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu), Shanghai
地址：上海市广东路17号，外滩三号6楼 近中山东一路
Tel: 021 6321 9922
Website: www.threeonthebund.com
Price: 138-1,688 RMB

The PeninsulaView In Map
Known for a lighter, more custardy moon cake than most other places, The Peninsula was originally housed in Hong Kong – so you know their baking is going to be good! This is the place to go if you want variety. They’ve got everything from duck egg yolk and sunflower seed fillings to XO (aka: spicy seafood) sauce and pineapple paste flavors. The price depends on how many you get, but expect to pay anywhere from 230 RMB to 580 RMB. Who ever said flavor comes cheap?

Add: 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (near Beijing Dong Lu), Shanghai
地址：上海市中山东一路32号, 近北京东路
Tel: 021 2327 2888
Website: www.peninsula.com
Price: 230-580 RMB

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Keywords: Shanghai Moon Cakes Best Mooncakes Shanghai Mid Autumn Festival Shanghai Chinese Mooncakes Shanghai