THE smell of freshly baked bread right out of the oven is for many the smell of home.

Tired of buying the same kind of bread at Shanghai supermarkets? Mass produced bread may be consistent in terms of quality, but can be boring.

Artisan bread, on the other hand, is baked with fine ingredients and without preservatives. Such bread has become more popular in recent years. Though each loaf tends to cost more many people prefer the natural taste.

Here’s a guide to bakeries that craft artisan bread in Shanghai.

Farine

This little French bakery on Wukang Road is one of the most popular in Shanghai. Even on weekdays the cozy shop is crowded with customers buying bread and desserts.

The name Farine is French for flour and the bakery makes various breads, cakes, tarts and other bite-sized treats.

Many fans of the bakery claim the baguettes and croissants are the best in town.

Farine’s menu also includes gluten free orange cake and a selection of good sandwiches.

The store also serves fresh coffee, espresso and tea and is a good place to enjoy a coffee break or weekend brunch.

Recommended: baguettes, butter croissants, lemon or raspberry tarts

Average price per person: 60 yuan (US$9.7)

Address: 378 Wukang Rd

Opnening hours: 7am-8pm

Johan

This is one of the most interesting bakeries in Shanghai as it’s a blend of Japanese and French styles. All breads are handmade and baked daily with fresh ingredients.

The baguettes are lighter and fluffier than usual.

Try the Mentaiko baguette, which has two layers of marinated pollock roe. It’s got a strong kick to it, but fish fans may just love it.

The bakery also has special seasonal breads. In the past they have sold buns stuffed with sautéed potato, enoki mushroom and smoked duck, or bread layered with broccoli and smoked salmon.

You can find bite-sized cheesecakes, pineapple buns and chocolate croissants.

Recommended: chocolate sauce swirl buns, Gugelhupf, sea salt crust rolls, red bean buns, garlic baguettes

Average price per person: 25 yuan

Address: B1 West Gate Mall, 1038 Nanjing Rd W.

Opening hours: 10am-10pm

Brioche Doree

This bakery now has two locations that offer good quality homemade loaves, baguettes, croissants and brioches. It’s also known for great quiche.

The French bakery originated in Brest, France, in 1976 when Louis Le Duff opened the first outlet. Now it’s the second largest coffee bakery chain in the world with more than 80 shops.

Brioche Doree also serves sandwiches, pizzas, healthy salads and coffee.

Recommended: baguettes, brioche chocolate and brioche red bean

Average price per person: 50 yuan

Address: 7 Donghu Rd or 98 Yanping Rd

Opening hours: 7:30am-9pm

Jen Dow

This vegetarian bakery behind Jing’an Temple is part of the Jen Dow Vegetarian restaurant from Taiwan. All bread is labeled with all ingredients so those with food allergies or strict requirements can make an informed choice.

The bread is made with all-natural ingredients. The yeast is also natural.

The most popular item is purple bread, which is made with purple rice, walnuts and grapes.

Recommended: purple bread, purple sweet potato bread, brandied grape walnut

Average price per person: 20 yuan

Address: 151 Yuyuan Rd

Opening hours: 11am-9pm

Top Pot Bakery

Also from Taiwan, Top Pot Bakery is similar to Jen Dow that it has a fusion style, but the biggest difference is that it’s not vegetarian.

Recommended: Chinese wolfberry bread, Okinawa brown sugar bread, French chestnut bread, chocolate buns

Average price per person: 30 yuan

Address: B2 Réel Mall, 1601 Nanjing Rd W. or 353 Fujian Rd M.

Opening hours: 10am-10pm

Bread Society

This store in IAPM Mall has a wide selection of breads and desserts.

The signature is a chocolate chestnut loaf, made with chocolate dough with chocolate chips and chestnuts.

Wild about mushroom is a flat bread topped with mushrooms and drizzled with a creamy sauce, an unconventional creation worth trying.

Earl grey lychee is a chewy bun made with fresh lychee.

Recommended: chocolate chestnut bread, spinach cheese rolls, onion cheese bread, chocolate bagels

Average price per person: 30 yuan

Address: 228-229, LG2, IAPM Mall, 999 Huaihai Rd M.

Opening hours: 10am-11pm

Panificio Roma

This small Italian bakery makes artisan bread and pastries. It also offers sandwiches and coffee, but bakes no cakes.

Recommended: chocolate croissants, ciabatta

Average price per person: 20 yuan

Address: 620 Huangjincheng Rd

Opening hours: 7:30am-9:30pm

La Brioche

A popular destination for afternoon tea, La Brioche sells fresh baguettes, loaves and dinner rolls along with yummy cakes.

Recommended: French bread, olive ciabatta, almond croissants with cream

Average price per person: 40 yuan for bread, 92 yuan for afternoon tea set

Address: 102, No. 35 Sinan Mansions, 523 Fuxing Rd M.

Opening hours: 11am-10pm

Green & Safe

This organic restaurant includes a market of organic farm products as well as a selection of artisan breads.

Recommended: French country bread, raisin bread and whole wheat rye with sunflower seeds

Average price per person: 30 yuan for bread, 92 yuan for meal

Address: 6 Dongping Rd or 403 Takashimaya Shanghai, 1438 Hongqiao Rd

Opening hours: 10am-9:30pm

Baker & Spice

This bakery cafe chain based in Shanghai sells various healthy breads from sourdoughs to Danish rye breads.

The cafe also has a coffee and meal menu as well as homemade desserts.

Recommended: seven grain seed toast, bagels, Turkish pride, Danish poppy seed bread

Average price per person: 50 yuan

Address: 1376 Nanjing Rd W. or 195 Anfu Rd

Opening hours: 7am-10:30pm

More places in Shanghai for bread lovers

Nice Meeting You So Sweet

Nice Meeting You So Sweet is the name of a desert store found by Han Han who is a bestseller author, a Rally driver, a blogger and a film director. The walls are painted in Tiffany blue with artsy decorations, making it ideal for dating or for afternoon tea with friends. The shop sells home-made cookies, cupcakes, macarons and cheese cakes. Wi-Fi is available in the shop.

Address: 513 Haifang Rd

Website: www.idealshanghai.com/venues/16954/

Hinata Ya

This Japanese bakery on Chengjiaqiao Road is paradise for bread lovers in a rustic, European-style cottage atmosphere. The cozy spot is a magnet for residents and visitors who smell fresh bread right out of the stove. All breads are baked in the morning, some using the owner’s recipes from her hometown in Japan. In addition to bakery basics, it offers Japanese-flavored breads, such as mentaiko bread (9 yuan/US$1.3), pork sandwich with mashed potatoes (12 yuan), fried ham sandwich (12 yuan), sweet bean whipped cream bread (9 yuan) and cinnamon rolls (9 yuan). The teddy-bear shaped chocolate bread (8 yuan) are always kids’ favorite.

Address: 3212 Hongmei Rd

Website: www.idealshanghai.com/venues/2519/

Sunflour (Anfu Rd Branch)

From pastries to cakes, from macaroons to tarts, this cafe offers you multiple choices. Its bakers were trained in France and they use imported ingredients to ensure the authentic taste of their goodies. Tucked away in a narrow lane, the cafe is a quiet place to bury yourself in books or just to idle away the time.

Address: Rm 104, 308 Anfu Rd

Website: www.idealshanghai.com/venues/11438/

Fuwa Pulu

Fuwa Pulu is named after the Japanese sound of fluffy (Fuwa) and quiver (Pulu). The eastern name is not the barrier to its global DNA. Multinational desert designer and materials help Fuwa Pulu collect all the advantages of eastern and western food and make it agreeable with Asian taste. Signature desert, Tiramisu, is softened for Asian taste, which slips without spoon’s work. The patient trial and investigation over the world makes the happiness of dessert in Fuwa Pulu.

Address: Rm107, 1/F, 245 Madang Rd

Website: www.idealshanghai.com/venues/11858/

Check more venues on www.idealshanghai.com.