Charmant

Charmant is open until 4 a.m. and you’ll rarely find it short of hopping. It's among the best late-night options for Shanghai’s sweet-toothed masses; in fact, the desserts are quite possibly better then the dishes on the regular dining menu.

There are a couple of must-tries, but topping the list is a mountain of a peanut "smoothie," an intensely fragrant concoction of creamy peanut butter and finely shaved ice.

If you don't like peanut butter, try the new condensed milk chua bing (ask for extra condensed milk) with taro and sweet yam, or the luscious (there’s really no other word to describe it) watermelon sago with coconut.

As temperatures drop, pair Charmant's frozen treats with a mug of thick, hot chocolate paired with marshmallow. It might truly be a dark chocolate bar melted into a cup -- exactly how hot chocolate was meant to be.