Sense 8 誉八仙 is a gorgeous old-school Cantonese tea house that’s been my favourite brunch spot for a while now. From hairy crab shumai to truffle mushroom dumplings, you can find every style of dim sum and Cantonese delicacy at Sense 8.  The name 誉八仙 comes from the old Chinese legend of “Eight Immortals” and brings a dreamy element to the restaurant’s decor.

Walking into Sense 8 is quite a lavish experience. Filled with Chinese antiques and hues of red and gold, the main dining room is constantly buzzing with servers refilling teapots and carrying bamboo baskets of fresh dim sum. It is said we often feast with our eyes and in that way, Sense 8 is a crowd-pleaser and Shanghai gem. Many have asked me for my favourite dim sum spot in Shanghai so here it is finally!

Similar to a traditional tea house, you’ll have a separate dim sum menu where you note down your order and hand back to the servers

Dim sum spread begins! Most dim sum are in a trio so best to double the order if you have more than 3 people

In front, you have the crab and pork shumai and in the back, the scallop and black garlic shumai

Fatty and succulent char shiu pork, this is a must get for meat lovers

Shrimp har gau is possibly my favourite dim sum–simple but excellent when done right

In the bamboo basket up front is the assorted mushroom dumpling topped with truffle; the beautiful translucent jade green comes from spinach juice

Pan fried radish and taro cakes are classics and great with Sense 8’s special chili sauce

Notice the teapot and background antiques are decorated with the characters from the tale of “Eight Immortals”– a nice nod to the restaurant’s dreamy name

Sense 8’s old-school opulent interiors

Sense 8 is best during brunch time where fresh dim sum is served. Sometimes you’ll even find servers walking around with off-the-menu dim sum that the kitchen whipped up. Everything on the dim sum menu is excellent in my opinion. Particularly, the shrimp har gau, crab roe shumai and assorted mushroom dumplings with truffle are must-get’s. While Sense 8 serves alcohol if you’d like a boozy brunch, I like to opt for pu’er tea which is served in a beautiful “Eight Immortals” themed teapot.

À la carte dim sum is not served during dinnertime but there is a dim sum platter with some of their classics and most of my favourites are on there. So if you cannot make it for brunch, be sure to ask for the dinner dim sum basket.

Closing out the year with a Shanghai favourite of mine. It’s been a hectic year and I haven’t posted on this blog as much as I would’ve liked. Posting more will be on my list of New Year resolutions for 2019! A lot of you have asked me for recommendations and contacts in Shanghai, Yunnan and other parts of China. I’m always happy to share some local favourites–just drop me an email.

Happy holidays from Shanghai with love,

Jade

Sense 8 誉八仙
Address // Lane 8 Xintiandi, 181 Taicang Road
Tel // 6373-1888

Breakfast is served from 8am-10.30am daily and Brunch from 11am-3pm.