It would be an understatement to say that Shanghai’s summers are hot. Temperatures can rise into the 40s, and humidity makes air-con an absolute must. In this sort of weather, the last thing you feel like eating is a big, stodgy meal, so we’ve selected some of the city’s best summer salads for you to satisfy your appetite without overheating.

1)  Element FreshView In Map

With its focus on healthy, high quality ingredients, Element Fresh is a firm favourite around Shanghai, and consistently wins awards for its food in local magazines. Salads range from the classic Cobb (¥78) to the eclectic Savona (¥68) with chicken, blue cheese, walnuts and sun dried tomatoes. Seasonal specials this year include Chilean grilled beef salad (¥88) and Summer Caesar (¥68). If you fancy something a bit more filling, try the chicken, goat cheese and laffa bread salad (¥68) which you can turn into a wrap.

Add: 1/F, Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Xikang Lu, Shanghai (other branches around town)

地址：上海市南京西路1376号 上海商城1楼, 近西康路

Tel: 021 6279 8682

Open: 07:00 – 23:00 Sun - Thu, 07:00 - midnight Fri - Sat

Web: www.elementfresh.com

2)  Zest ExpressView In Map

Wujiang Lu used to be a street food haven before Expo arrived, but now it has been gentrified into a collection of lunch joints and shops. One of the best is Zest Express, a fresh organic salad bar. Produce is brought in daily from an organic farm, and salads are made to order while you wait. Sizes are either small or regular, and flavours include classics like Caesar, Greek and Niçoise as well as the more adventurous pearl barley and chickpea (¥28-38 for small, ¥38-58 for regular). Zest’s loyalty deal means that you get your ninth salad free.

Add: 1/F, Inpoint, 169 Wujiang Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu, Shanghai

地址：上海市吴江路169号，近石门一路

Tel: 021 6218 3199

Open: 08:00 – 22:00 daily

Web: www.zestexpress.cn

3)  Organic Kitchen Shanghai

If you don’t feel like moving out of the air-conditioned haven of your office or apartment, order your salad from Organic Kitchen, and they’ll deliver it to your door. Salads range from ¥55 to ¥68 and include innovations like Robert’s Fitness: lettuce, spinach, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, walnuts and pumpkin seed. There’s also a classic Greek on the menu, along with Oriental sesame chicken, Hyde Park pesto salad, and mixed beans over leafy greens.

Tel: 021 6288 3312

Open: 11:30 – 14:30, 18:00 – 22:00 daily

Web: www.organickitchenshanghai.com

4)  AmokkaView In Map

Part of Anfu Lu’s unofficial expat enclave, Amokka is a firm all-round favourite for coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks. Their goat cheese salad (¥64) is something of a legend among those in the know, and is the most frequently ordered Amokka dish on Sherpa’s. Four slices of grilled baguette spread with goat cheese, flecked with roasted almonds and drizzled with honey rest on a bed of rocket and lettuce. Divine. Amokka also does a mean Caesar (¥46), grilled vegetable salad (¥50) and tuna Niçoise (¥68)

Add: 201 Anfu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu , Shanghai

地址：上海市安福路201号, 近乌鲁木齐路

Tel: 021 5404 0998

Open: 07:30 – midnight daily

5)  Iiit!View In Map

Shanghai’s dining scene wouldn’t be the same without Kelley Lee and Eduardo Vargas, and theirs are the names behind Iiit! Hidden in the clubhouse of an apartment block on Wulumuqi Lu, the café is a tranquil haven and a well-kept secret. Their Asian soba salad (¥45) is a popular choice, along with the California chicken (¥45) and roasted veg (¥35).

Add: The Summit Clubhouse, 99 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, near Changle Lu, Shanghai

地址：上海市乌鲁木齐路99号, 近长乐路

Tel: 021 5404 2837

Open: 08:00 – 20:45 daily

Web: www.iiiit.cn

6)  WagasView In Map

The mighty Wagas chain has 14 branches around Shanghai, but the Jiaozhou Lu shop was the first. Executive chef Craig Willis bans the use of MSG, additives, and preservatives in all his restaurants, meaning that what you eat at Wagas won’t harm your health. Popular salads include the Thai beef (¥52), tuna Niçoise (¥48), and Wagas (¥50) which features roasted vegetables, beetroot, nuts and seeds, and a sun dried tomato vinaigrette.

Add: 265 Jiaozhou Lu, near Xinzha Lu, Shanghai

地址：上海市胶州路265号, 近新闸路

Tel: 021 6272 0353

Open: 07:00 – 23:00 daily

Web: www.wagas.com.cn

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