Enfant terrible Jean-Georges Vongerichten has wowed diners from Chicago to Hong Kong with his upscale Vong brand. Now he has opened a sublimely designed, high-class restaurant in Shanghai, which serves French cuisine. The dining room is chic and sensual and the food is sensational.

Opened in the late 1990s, M on the Bund remains a Shanghai pioneer - and the first upscale restaurant located along the Bund. Australian-owned, and sister to Hong Kong's M at the Fringe, the cuisine melds Mediterranean and Australian styles. The stylish atmosphere, unbeatable terrace views and good wine menu make this Shanghai's number one venue to impress visitors.

Hidden in a secret location (diners meet at Mr and Mrs Bund, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu), chef Paul Pairet’s Ultraviolet is as much about the sensory experience as it is the food. The epic tasting menu features 20 courses with matching art and sound installations. The food is French, but that’s only the half of it. Book early: the waiting list here is by the month rather than the minute and it has no phone number.

Gather up a boisterous bunch of friends for a fun-filled meal at this typically chaotic and cavernous Shanghai institution, which has lines out the door late into the night. Try the excellent lion’s head meatballs, lotus-leaf roasted duck or the baoluokaoman (baked eel).

This is a resident expat haven for great salads, pasta, juices and comfort food as well as one of the most popular Sunday brunches in Shanghai. Clean, spacious and with a nice terrace for summer eating, Element Fresh serves good-sized portions and the waiting staff are extremely attentive. Now expanding across the city, this small chain has plenty of other Shanghai branches.

The smell of bacon, eggs and tomato frying on an open grill attracts punters to this Shanghai courtyard restaurant on Sundays when home-style breakfasts are served all day – hash browns included. The barbecue also fires up on Wednesday evenings. On sunny days it's best to get here early. Kommune also serves a hearty lunch menu including salads and ciabatta.

If you like your Chinese food scalding spicy, Guyi Hunan is a good bet. A vast menu and ubiquitous use of chilli make this one of the hottest regional restaurants in Shanghai. Most people opt for a personal hotpot and a gallon of lager. The food is well-prepared, good value and always tasty. Expect to queue without a reservation on the weekends.

Hidden away in a little mall near the former French Concession, Southern Barbarian specialises in food from Yunnan province. The emphasis is on barbecue, with succulent meat cooked in flowers and spices. The range of craft beers available here is also impressive.

shengjian (fried dumplings) is a traditional street food in Shanghai, and this place is widely considered to be the city's 'most famous fried dumpings'. Be prepared to queue as tourists and locals all love these little parcels filled with a juicy meat centre.