Shanghai's most WeChat-worthy ice creams

We're not here to judge. It's 2016, and we're gonna guess that you've taken a picture of your food and posted it online before. Whether on your WeChat moments or your Instagram feed, it's always the right time for an ice cream. #truth.

Rainbow ice cream at Alice Crepes

18RMB

With almost 15 unique ice cream flavours, such as Japanese soft ice cream, black sesame, blueberry cheese cake, and durian, you'll be spoilt for choice at Alice Crepes. The rainbow ice cream – made from orangeaccording to the shop – is a little on the sweet side, but the kind of psychedelic, tie-dye vibe that hardly needs a filter.

B2-B-02A, SML Centre, 618 Xujiahui Lu, Luwan district.

Cheese popsicle at Stickhouse

30RMB

Why not mix those cones up with a popsicle? Stickhouse stands out with its display of artisan sweet treats on sticks. Sure, the fruit isn't the freshest, but the looks are A+ and it's frozen anyways, right? Cheese-flavoured ice cream might sound weird, but hey, live a little – it's mild-tasting and moderately sweet with the perfect off-white hue for that neutral toned Instagram profile we known you're dreaming of.

B2, Réel, 1601 Nanjing Xi Lu, Jingan district. Multiple locations available.

Ambiguity at initial

35RMB

One marketed for the ladies (though guys, do it up as you please, please!), this pop-up soft-serve shop by fashion brand initial serves up pale pink and tiffany blue frozen treats. While the blue is certainly photogenic enough, the pink 'ambiguity' ice cream is taking Chinese review site Dianping by storm. Served with dry-ice 'smoke' billowing from the tin base (super solid for that Instagram story or WeChat sight), the ice cream itself is matcha flavoured but coated in pink. Staff were a bit cagey on the source of the pink coating so certainly don't expect an all-natural process.

Third floor, Raffles City, 268 Xizhangzhong Lu, Huangpu district. 

Banan Bailey's at Cin Cin Fresco

58RMB

Not our favourite of the bunch taste-wise, but certainly photo-worthy. The shop features a wide selection ranging from affogato to iCloud (a candy floss invention). Each is an over-the-top visual creation, with prices (from 38-58RMB) to match. Topped with pastry, cookie and banana, the Banan Bailey's arrives with a small dropper (the ones used in Chem class – how nostalgic) filled with Bailey's. The toppings are a bit cumbersome, but it all makes for a top snap.

Sixth floor, Super Brand Mall, 168 Lujiazui Xi Lu, Pudong.

Matcha Soft Serve at Tsuriji

30RMB

The little Japanese dessert shop serves up an authentic Japanese dessert experience. The excellent matcha-flavoured Chiffon Parfait is topped with a bundle of red beans and fat cubes of chiffon cake. With that tinge of bitterness that Japanese matcha is known for, the rich soft serve is complemented with a light crunch from cereal in the parfait's core. What can possibly beat this for a delightful mid-afternoon treat? With its stiff peaks and gorgeous shade of green, the Chiffon Parfait is made for your moments.

1F-CG02, SML Centre, 618 Xujiahui Lu, Luwan district. Multiple locations available.

Wuyun ice cream at Remicone

46RMB

At Remicone, you can customise each aspect of your ice cream: whether you prefer cup or cone, the flavour (milk, salted caramel or chocolate), the toppings, the syrup and more. The South Korean brand also offers ready-mix sets from 30RMB to 60RMB. A whole mess of salted caramel, mango syrup, candy floss, popping candy, and heart-shaped sweets, the Wuyun (乌云) looks like the powers that be decided to rebrand pollution in ice cream form. The grey poof of candy floss cradles heart-shaped sweets. It tastes a million times better than pollution and makes for a great pic.

B1, Parkson Mall, 918 Huaihai Zhong Lu, Huangpu district.

Sunkist ice cream at Lab 21

32RMB

This neon-lit cafe boasts al fresco seating, but the real draw is its wide selection of unique concoctions of liquid nitrogen ice creams, ice creams made with real fruits and others. With most of the ice cream prepared on the spot, you even get to see what goes on behind the scenes – WeChat sight, anyone? Served in half a hollowed-out orange, the Sunkist ice cream is a stunner, visually and otherwise. Fresh and smooth, and in a portion generous enough for two people, the frozen treat is speckled with small bits of orange peel which add texture and extra flavour. #winning.

L1-15, Crystal Galleria, 68 Yuyuan Lu, Jingan district.

Any ice cream at WIYF

25RMB

You made it. Flaunt it. The queue at WIYF pretty much curls around the block on the regs, and if you're going to wait that long, you'd better damn well show the world what you're eating.

2, 202 Wukang Lu, near Hunan Lu, Xuhui district.