Shanghai Night Food Tour: Street Kitchens, Xintiandi and a Riverside Dinner

Shanghai eats late and in public. From about six in the evening the pavement kitchens and small counters open, and by nine the streets around the old city and the concession districts are at their best. This route follows that clock: it does not start until the food does and it finishes at a proper table rather than with a snack.

The first hour is spent grazing - hand-pulled noodles, dumplings steamed to order, grilled skewers, fried eel noodles and cold dishes sold by weight - with the guide ordering a course at each stop and explaining what is in season. The middle of the evening moves into Xintiandi, where the Republican-era shikumen lanes were conserved rather than cleared and which has been the city's showcase of outdoor dining since it opened in 2002.

The evening closes at a table on the river, with the Bund's frontage on one side and Lujiazui on the other. Everything eaten on this route is payable locally and is not included in the price shown; the restaurant booking is ours.

• The one-dish pavement counters that open from about six in the evening
• Seasonal ordering - freshwater crab in autumn, shepherds purse in spring
• Xintiandi's shikumen lanes, the city's showcase of outdoor dining since 2002
• Dinner on the Huangpu, with the Bund's 52 historic buildings opposite
• A guide who orders and explains, with the car following throughout

• Meals as listed in the daily itinerary (breakfasts and lunches as shown)
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver throughout
• English-speaking local guide (Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian or Japanese on request)
• All entrance fees for the sites listed, including shuttle buses, eco-buses and cable cars where the site requires them
• Local handling and coordination service throughout the programme
• Bottled water (2 bottles per person per day) and audio headsets where group size requires them
• Travel accident insurance for the duration of the tour

All food and drink on this route is payable locally on the day and is not included in the price shown. The street stops are inexpensive and the riverside dinner is priced from the menu you choose; your guide settles each stop with you and can keep the evening to a budget if you set one.

What this evening is. A guided food walk that ends at a booked table, not a restaurant booking with a car. Expect to stand and eat at the first two or three stops; the car follows throughout, so anyone who wants to sit out a stretch can do so without missing the group.

Practical notes. The evening runs from about six until ten. The riverside can be windy and cold from November to March and the promenade is uncovered. Ask the guide before photographing stallholders. Tell us in advance about allergies, and about whether the group prefers to eat early or late - both work, but the street kitchens thin out after about nine.

Q: Is this tour private or shared?
A: It is a private tour. Only your own party travels with the guide and vehicle, so the pace and the order of stops can be adjusted on the day.

Q: What is the best season for this itinerary?
A: April to June and September to November bring the mildest weather and clearest light. The programme runs year round, and we adjust the daily timings in mid-summer and winter.

Q: Can you handle dietary requirements and accessibility needs?
A: Yes. Vegetarian, halal, gluten-free and allergy-aware menus are arranged when you tell us in advance. Step-free and low-mobility versions of the route can also be planned.

Q: How do we book and pay?
A: Send us your travel dates and group size for a same-day quotation. A deposit confirms the booking, the balance is due before arrival, and prices are guaranteed for 7 days.