Apoli Itabakery – Is this Fairytale Café in Shanghai Worth Visiting?

If you’re heading to Shanghai, then you need to add the Apoli Itabakery to your bucket list.

It’s a magical café that looks like it’s been plucked from the pages of a storybook.

Not only does it have enchanting interiors reminiscent of a fairytale, but it serves up a mouthwatering range of sweet treats and drinks. 

It’s often called a Harry Potter bakery, and for good reason. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another world! 

As a lover of all things fantasy, I was blown away by this place, and I would go back in a heartbeat.

Here is a complete guide for visiting Apoli Itabakery, a whimsical eatery in Shanghai. 

What is Apoli Itabakery in Shanghai?

Apoli Itabakery is an Italian-style bakery and one of the most popular cafés in Shanghai.

It has magical interiors reminiscent of a fantasy world, and so it often goes viral on social media. 

But, it’s not just the enchanting setting that people love; it also serves up a delightful range of freshly baked goods every day.

From bagels to croissants, pretzels to tiramisu, their magical offerings fly off the shelves. 

It’s also surprisingly affordable with quick service. So, you should definitely add this bewitching bakery to your China itinerary.

Where is the Apoli Itabakery located?

This magical bakery is located in the former French Concession of Shanghai off Wukang Road.

It’s just around the corner from the famous Wukang Mansion, which is a popular photography location in the city.

The easiest way to get there is by using the Shanghai Metro on Line 11 and getting off at Jiaotong University Station (Exit 7). 

Then it’s a short 500 metre walk away. Just note that Google Maps doesn’t work in China, so download AMap to guide you. 

I highly recommend having Alipay downloaded before your visit to pay at the café. You can also download a local travel card on there for public transport. 

Do you need to make a reservation?

No, you cannot make a reservation for the Apoli Itabakery; it’s a case of showing up and waiting for a table.

As this fantasy café is very popular, it can get very busy throughout the day and draw huge crowds.

My advice would be to visit as early as possible, preferably as soon as it opens, for the best experience. 

Arriving at Apoli Itabakery

You’ll know when you’ve arrived at the Apoli Itabakery as the crowd levels on the street will start to get bigger.

It’s just around the corner from Wukang Mansion, and so you’ll find heaps of tourists lining up to take photos on the busy intersection. 

Luckily, the bakery is tucked away down a side street, and so it’s a little bit quieter than the main thoroughfare.

The café does look pretty from the outside with its cream facade, snail logo and al fresco tables perched on a balcony.

But nothing prepared me for what the inside of the bakery would be like. It honestly took my breath away. 

What is it like inside?

The interiors of Apoli Itabakery look like they’ve been plucked from the pages of a storybook.

This magical eatery is often called Shanghai’s Harry Potter bakery, and it’s easy to see why.

It feels like you’ve stepped inside a castle with the stone walls, wooden tables and whimsical decor. 

You’ll find twinkling lanterns hanging from the ceiling as well as flowers, baskets, herbs and pampas grass. 

The bakery section has two sides, and each one is laden with fresh cakes, pastries and savoury bakes.

As someone obsessed with fantasy worlds, I was in my element here, and I couldn’t wait to try their magical treats. 

What do they sell at Apoli Itabakery? 

I have to admit, I was overwhelmed by the enormous choice of baked goods served here. 

There were endless pastries, including chocolate snail rolls, pistachio croissants and pastel de nata (including chocolate ones). 

A whole row of sliced sweet cakes, including chocolate, strawberry, matcha and lemon. They had pots of tiramisu and cheesecake. 

If you don’t have a sweet tooth, they also serve up savoury bagels, ham & cheese thick toast, brioche and loaded pretzels. 

Plus, they have a whole range of iced coffees, teas and matcha to pair up with your treats. 

I definitely had eyes bigger than my stomach and ordered way too much food! But, everything looked too good to resist. 

How do you order?  

Due to the number of people who want to eat at this café, it can be a little bit overwhelming to navigate. 

So, I’ll try to prepare you. But the main thing to note is that it’s entirely self-service. 

How it works is once you enter, you pick up a tray, a paper sheet and tongs on the left side. 

You then pick up any pastries you would like from the bakery with the tongs and then pop them onto your tray. 

Once you’ve finished selecting everything, you then pay at the till and order any drinks you’d like. 

On my visit, the queue was at the back by the pastries, and so it was a little awkward leaning around people in line to grab things.

Thankfully, when it got too busy, they moved the till queue to the front of the café, which made it a little easier to browse the cakes. 

Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive a number for any drinks you’ve ordered. 

I would then use that time to find a seat, as the drinks do take a while to be prepared due to the number of orders. 

Once seated, you can then pick up your drinks at the window in the right-hand corner. 

Seating & ambience 

The bakery has indoor seating, which looks like you’ve been transported to a fantasy world.

With the wooden tables and stone walls, it feels like you’re sitting inside a castle. It honestly reminded me of Hogwarts from Harry Potter.

If the weather is nice, they have outdoor seating with some floral arrangements, too. 

There were also tables facing the street that were very popular. But note that you’ll be sitting beside people queuing to pay.

Although I visited well after opening time, I luckily managed to snag a table in a quiet corner.

I was so glad to be tucked away as the long lines and small space mean the queues often spill over the seating area.

There were also people standing around hovering for tables, and so the atmosphere can be a little chaotic at times. 

Personal space also isn’t a thing in China, which can be a little hard to adjust to once you first arrive. 

What is the food like? 

I had heard mixed reviews about the Apoli Itabakery before my visit. 

Of course, the enchanting interiors always received rave reviews, but the taste of the food didn’t live up to the hype for some.

I’m happy to report that everything I ordered was delicious and so affordable too! 

The loaded ham and cheese pretzel was soft and just the right amount of salty, and my pot of tiramisu was so rich and creamy.

But the real prize has to go to my chocolate and pistachio pastel de nata. It was so crispy, sweet and delectable. I’d go back just for that!

My entire plate, including my iced coffee, came to just over £12 (110 CYN), which was a bargain, especially with the fairytale setting. 

Is the Apoli Itabakery worth visiting? 

Yes, this magical café is well worth visiting in Shanghai. It’s the perfect pitstop to add some whimsy to your China itinerary.

Due to it often going viral on social media, it can draw huge crowds throughout the day, which can feel overwhelming.

But I feel that the enchanting interiors and quality of the baked goods are worth waiting for. 

Don’t skip the Apoli Itabakery in Shanghai, it’s a sweet escape to another universe. 

Opening times

The Apoli Itabakery is open from 9 am to 9 pm, and so there is plenty of time to visit.

As it’s so popular, you can expect long queues to pay and a wait for tables (though they do move quite quickly).

I recommend visiting at opening time so that you can easily get a seat and have a more peaceful experience. 

My top tips

• This bakery often goes viral on social media, and so it is usually PACKED throughout the day. 

• There can be long queues, and the small space makes navigating this place a little chaotic.

• I would get here around opening time for a quieter(ish) experience, but note that not all the pastries will have been displayed early on.

• Seating is limited, so you will most likely be waiting for a table. If there are two of you, divide and conquer with seating and ordering.

• I recommend spending around an hour here for the best experience. You simply cannot rush in this busy bakery. 

• You cannot always pay with a card in China, so have both the WeChat and Alipay apps downloaded to pay for things before you arrive.

Things to do nearby 

After you have finished dining in this storybook bakery, you can explore more of the former French Concession area.

Apoli Itabakery is just around the corner from one of the most famous buildings in Shanghai, Wukang Mansion (although I didn’t get the hype).

I would then take a stroll down Anfu Road with its gorgeous rows of Plane Trees, European-style villas, eateries and clothing boutiques. 

Definitely check out 13 DE Marzo Café while you’re here; you can get your coffee served with a teddy bear on the cup. 

Jing’an Temple is a great stop to experience some culture, and you can visit Tianzifang, a tourist market filled with shopping stalls. 

Also, I would stop by Gentle Monster / Haus Nowhere / Nudake to see the moving robot faces, quirky statues and giant croissant display.

I highly recommend downloading a transport card on Alipay and using the Shanghai metro to get around. Or, use DiDi (Chinese Uber) to save time. 

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