French Concession food tour Shanghai: Street food at night

Eat where locals eat, in the neighborhoods they live in

A three-hour food tour through Shanghai's French Concession at night, with a professional guide and multiple tastings at neighborhood spots full of locals. You walk the back streets, see early 20th-century villas and the site of the First Communist Party Conference, then eat at places where the food is cooked in front of you: no high-end restaurants, no tourist markup, just the cooking Shanghai residents choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening culinary and cultural tour

• Stroll French Concession park
• Admire early 20th-century villas
• Explore back streets of Shanghai
• Enjoy local street food
• Relax in Tianzifang area
• View Shanghai night skyline

The experience

The French Concession is where you spend the evening. You start by walking through the neighborhood's intricate facades and botanical gardens, then move into the back streets where you catch the rhythm of local Shanghai life. The guide points out the villas and apartments built in the early 20th century and the famous figures who lived in them, and you pass the site of the First Conference of the Communist Party. This is the setup (the place and its history) before the food becomes the focus.

The eating happens at multiple stops, all of them full of locals. The food is cooked in front of you, which means you see what goes into it and you know it is fresh. You taste what Shanghai residents eat when they are not in restaurants built for visitors. The guide speaks English, Spanish, French, German or one of two other languages, so the ordering and the stories behind the dishes come through clearly. You also get leisure time in Tianzifang, a warren of galleries and cafes tucked into the old neighborhood, so you can wander on your own if something catches your eye.

The night view of Shanghai frames the whole thing. You are eating and walking while the city lights up around you, and the guide is there to explain what you are seeing and tasting. Three hours is long enough to hit multiple food stops and move through the neighborhood without rushing, but short enough to fit into an evening without eating up the rest of your day.

What’s included

• Professional guide in your choice of English, Spanish, French, German or another available language.
• food tastings at multiple neighborhood stops throughout the evening.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 18:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by MoreFunAsia Shanghai Tours

Is this one for you?Three hours leaves your evening open before or after. Book this if you want to eat like a local without the restaurant formality, and still have time to explore Shanghai's nightlife or return to your hotel at a reasonable hour. The walking is steady but not strenuous, and all the food stops are in the neighborhood, so you are not covering long distances between tastings.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What neighborhoods do you walk through on this food tour in Shanghai?

The French Concession is the main area. You walk the back streets and see the early 20th-century villas and apartments, pass the site of the First Conference of the Communist Party, and spend leisure time in Tianzifang, a local arts and cafe quarter tucked into the neighborhood.

How many food tastings are included on the tour?

The tour includes multiple tastings at different stops throughout the three hours, all at neighborhood spots where locals eat. The exact number varies, but you visit several places and taste the food cooked in front of you at each one.

What is the difference between this tour and eating at a restaurant in Shanghai?

This tour takes you to the neighborhood spots where Shanghai residents eat, not high-end restaurants. The food is cooked in front of you, the places are full of locals, and there is no tourist markup. You get authentic cooking at the prices locals pay.

Is there time to explore on my own during the tour?

Yes. You have leisurely free time in Tianzifang, a neighborhood of galleries, cafes and shops, so you can wander and explore at your own pace before or after the food stops.