Italian

Bottega

Incredibly popular casual dining restaurant and bar, originally from Beijing and now with two locations in Shanghai. A lot more lively than some of the other more traditional Italian eateries mentioned here, probably partly because they have a DJ later at night and a very impressive-looking bar and wine room. They don't take bookings so you have to wait for a table at busy times, but they have a dedicated waiting area and you can enjoy some pre-dinner drinks while you wait. The pizzas have won various awards and they pride themselves on using authentic, imported ingredients for their pizzas and the dough is fermented for 24 hours. They also have pastas and other dishes. I was pleasantly surprised to see Brussels sprouts as a side dish which was delicious.

Address:
Kwah Centre, 108 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu
嘉华中心1楼, 襄阳北路108号, 近淮海中路

Da Marco

One of the oldest Italian establishments in Shanghai, I first started dining here in 1999 when it was one of only a few Italian options. We often has to wait even with reservations, but it didn't matter because they would provide free Prosecco while you waited. Now there are so many other choices and long waits for tables are rare (but booking is still advised), but Da Marco remains one of my favourites and is still very popular with both expats and locals. Admittedly, part of the appeal is its proximity to my apartment and the familiarity of being regulars means we always get complimentary Prosecco on arrival and an apple juice for my son. But the vibe here is also great, the food is good and prices are very reasonable. You can still occasionally see the original chef / owner Marco Barbieri who has been in Shanghai since the mid 1990s.

Address: 
1/F, Golden Bridge Garden, 103 Dong Zhu'anbang Lu, near Jiangsu Lu, Changning District
东渚安浜路103号1楼, 近江苏路

The Fellas

Just across the road from The Waldorf Astoria Hotel, if the weather is nice, The Fellas has a lovely terrace with a nice view of The Bund. They also have an Italian restaurant on the first (ground) floor called Goodfellas, but if you're visiting, you'll probably prefer the stunning views offered upstairs.

Address:
7 Yanan Road East, 7th Floor
延安东路 7 号 7 楼

Pass Residence

I like this place because it offers more small bites. As someone who is trying to eat less, this allows me to have a selection of dishes without overeating. They also have a decent wine selection in the form of a walk in wine cellar, so this is the perfect place for some casual bites and some wine, or an Aperol Spritz. The dishes aren't really your classic Italian staples, but they do have pizza, pasta and a variety of other dishes such as beetroot with goat's cheese and freshly made flatbread which they make to order.

Address:
318 Julu Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu, Huangpu District
黄浦区巨鹿路318号, 近茂名南路