For August, we've spanned the city and a range of price points. From the far reaches of Pudong to the nongtangs of Taikang Lu. From a lush buffet and a dip in the pool to a cheap and cheerful mid-afternoon hangover remedy. ***

Si Ji Xuan

Si Ji Xuan in the Four Seasons Hotel has a terrific weekend dim sum deal. The menu offers plenty of the usual suspects, like ha gau (shrimp dumplings), barbecue pork buns, pan-fried turnip cakes, Macao-style egg tarts, as well as several varieties of rice rolls from classic combinations like you tiao to shrimp and truffles. The soups are superb -- light, delicate, consummately Cantonese. There are some specialties you don't see elsewhere around town, like wild rice stem (also known as "water bamboo") stir-fried with a briny shrimp roe sauce or shrimp and taro spring rolls. On top of that, the service is stellar -- polite and attentive. And here is the best part, it's all you can eat for only 128rmb+15%. That includes a pot of standard green tea, but if you're a connoisseur, you can upgrade to varietal teas like keemun, pu'er, or tie guanyin for 50rmb per person. The place tends to fill up on the weekends, so reservations are essential. Call at least a day ahead. Sat-Sun: 11.30am-2.30pm Full brunch listing here.

Casa 13

We checked this out on a baking hot Saturday and despite the crowds in Tianzifang, the dining room was almost empty at around 1pm. Normally that spells trouble, but here, in this pleasantly creaky old lane-house, it was just what we wanted -- cool, dim and calm, with sunlight filtering in through the greenery outside. The deal: 120rmb buys you two courses with coffee and juice or a smoothie; 140rmb gets you three courses, or add free-flow mimosas or bellinis for 98rmb. The food, however, has gone downhill since Eduardo Vargas was turfed out by the landlord. The Caesar salad was acceptable, though a little over-dressed. The full breakfast had those pasty white sausages, and they had barely been grilled. The bacon was the cheap, processed kind, and a token lump of spinach was overdone. More successful was the salmon hash, a poached egg sitting on a fried mix of salmon chunks, potatoes, capers and dill. Decent hangover food, we suppose. The dining room, however, remains pleasant enough. It is, by far, the highlight Casa's brunch experience. Still, if you've got a particular palate, you might be better off with one of our other options. Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm Full brunch listing here.

Infinity Restaurant, Radisson Blu, Pudong

If you’re in the area, the Radisson Blu does a decent hotel buffet brunch with plenty of seafood, fresh-shucked oysters, steam trays of Sichuan dishes (nice to see frog at a brunch buffet) and roast beef with three types of gravy. That’s 268rmb+15%, with juices. The only fizz they have by the glass is a drinkable Prosecco at 65rmb. But the best reason to go is the hotel’s pool, which brunch guests can use for free on Sundays. The hotel has full changing areas with a sauna on the second floor and they provide towels. The pool isn’t huge (we have a photo of it here, in our pool round-up), but it’s surrounded by grass and decking. We were there on a baking hot Sunday and it wasn’t busy, but there are only about a dozen loungers right by the pool, so you might have to drag up a chair or lie out on a towel if you’re not an early riser. On Saturdays from 5-10:30pm they do a BBQ by the pool. That’s all-you-can-eat plus pool use for 338rmb +15%. Sun 11:30am-3pm Full brunch listing here.

A.E. Kitchen

We're not sure how sold we are on the presentation (who puts scrambled eggs and Nutella crepes with syrup on the same plate?), but we're willing to forgive A.E. Kitchen. Their all-day breakfasts are a bargain, with combo plates hovering around the 40-kuai range. On our visit, we opted for one of their seven three-egg omelets –- spinach and mushroom, served with home fries, diced tomatoes and two fluffy American-style pancakes, and a cup of coffee for only 38rmb. And for that price, it was surprisingly good. Haunted by memories of rubbery, cold eggy excuses we've been served elsewhere, this omelet had a pleasing degree of gooeyness, a generous filling and tasted fresh from the pan. Pancakes were passable –- airy enough and with plenty of syrup. If only the atmosphere were as satisfying as the food –- all bland interiors and elevator music, it's kind of dull. There's decent wi-fi, though, which ensures the Mac brigade are there in force. Go there, be loud, turf 'em out and this place could easily become a cozy, convivial Jing'an gem. Also good to know, not only is all of the above also available during the week, they offer weekday breakfast sets until 10.30am: two egg options for 15rmb, or a bagel, cream cheese, and bacon for 25rmb, inclusive of tea or coffee. Bargain. Sat-Sun: 8am-5pm Full brunch listing here. Find all of SmartShanghai's brunch listings here.