The Wandering Tofu
Google
If malls had a VIP lounge in heaven, Shanghai IFC Mall would probably be on the guest list. Opened in 2010, right in the beating heart of Lujiazui’s glittering financial district, it’s the kind of place where skyscrapers flex and wallets get nervous.
You’ve got the famous Apple Store here - the one with the glass cylinder entrance that feels like stepping into a Bond villain’s lair, except instead of world domination, you just walk out with a new iPhone and a lighter bank account). Inside, it’s a wonderland of luxury brands—Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton—all waiting to test your willpower. Even the escalators feel like they’ve been polished with Versace perfume.
And yet, in the middle of all this glam, you can still do something as wonderfully practical as… buy your groceries. Tucked away is City’Super, the poshest supermarket where you’ll find imported cheeses that could probably tell better stories than your travel blog.
It’s the kind of mall where you come for a window-shopping “adventure” but end up mysteriously holding shopping bags. A place where you say, “I’m just here for coffee,” and walk out wearing sunglasses that cost as much as a plane ticket.
Perfect for: people-watching, brand-spotting, and occasionally pretending you’re in a music video while walking past the marble floors.