IFC Mall — Local services in Shanghai

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...

This mall has every luxury brand imaginable. It is brightly lid and well maintained. The floor is so squeaky clean, you can even see your reflection from it. That being said, it may be fantastic if management can consider injecting more variety to what is basically a mall comprising of just luxury fashion and beauty labels with a small but adequate list of dining offerings. Regardless, it is still probably one of my favourite malls in Shanghai and easily giving any malls within NYC’s sixth Avenue a run for their money. Deducting a star from them as I think they truly can do better by offering a more robust and diverse set of retail experiences, as well as a more obliging group of...

Really nice shopping mall in Shanghai. Almost all stores are designer. There is not much for a tourist to buy but nice to hang around. Also nice restaurants on the top floor. It would be nice if they have an upscale store that sells Chinese products. Maybe some nice souvs, silk scarves, jade goods, terracota soldiers. Somethings Chinese but not tacky. A store like that will be a great place to shop for the tourists like me looking for upscale but local products. Im not buying Chanel or Prada in China because I can always buy those in the US or anywhere else in the world. However, i still enjoyed walking in the mall but didnt...