"The first Andaz—Hyatt’s line of spirited, urban properties—in Asia, this curved tower with a webbed-style exterior sits in the entertainment hub Xintiandi, known for its traditional Shanghainese Shikumen architecture (narrow homes typified by stone gateways). This new 28-story building, opened in 2011, features 307 rooms with wood floors, boldly upholstered walls, and what Andaz calls DigiValets—iPads that control room functions such as lighting, temperature, and curtains. Suites add TechnoGym exercise equipment to the mix. The fifth-floor Garden Pavilion, an ovoid glass structure with wraparound city views, is a popular venue for wedding ceremonies and cocktail parties."

"Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai Why we love it: An Italian-inspired gem with some of the biggest guest rooms in Shanghai The Highlights: - Room perks like 24-hour butler service and sweeping city views - A massive spa with premier products - An Italian restaurant from a Michelin-starred chef The Review: This over-the-top property opened its doors in June 2018, making it the most recent addition to Bvlgari’s hotel portfolio, which also includes locations in Milan, London,Dubai, Bali, and Beijing. Situated on the riverfront, it forms part of SUHE CREEK, an urban revitalization project comprised of residential, retail, and art spaces in Shanghai’s North Bund Area. Seven different types of rooms and suites are available for booking and boast a variety of covetable features, including walk-in rain showers, Toto heated toilets, and 24-hour butler service (not to mention floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the historic Bund and iconic Oriental Pearl Tower). Elements like black lacquer cupboards and Tuscan Calacatta marble tabletops come courtesy of renowned Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, who worked to blend classic and contemporary Chinese and Italian design throughout the 48-story tower. Rooms here are among the most spacious in the city—a stateliness that continues at the 21,527-square-foot Bvlgari Spa and fitness center, where eight treatment rooms, an 82-foot pool, and a lineup of luxurious La Mer products await. When hunger strikes, guests can choose from two main dining options: Il Ristorante, a 47th-floor eatery with modern Italian fare from Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito, and Bao Li Xuan, a Chinese fine dining restaurant on the hotel’s third floor."

"Housed in a 1920s stone building, the former JIA hotel was made over by New York–based designer Jay Godfrey and rebranded as Cachet Boutique in 2014. The refurbishment includes updated rooms, a gym with new machines, and a partnership with Art + Shanghai and Hong Kong ’s Llamart to unveil a new art lobby, complete with a gallery and digital art wall. Accommodations come with kitchenettes, large writing desks, and bathrooms finished in Italian Bisazza mosaic tiles. As an added perk, in keeping with the hotel’s strong art ethos, guests receive free tickets to the Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai."

"In a city packed with new construction, this Art Deco landmark remains a fixture of the Huangpu River—just as it has for more than eight decades. A favorite of visiting celebs and dignitaries, the Fairmont Peace Hotel is divided into North and South buildings. Complete with acopper-sheathed roof, Italian marble floors, and Lalique glass artwork, the 1920s North building—known as Sassoon House for its British businessman owner Sir Victor Sassoon—was once home to the Cathay Hotel; guests included Charlie Chaplin, George Bernard Shaw, and Noël Coward, who completed Private Lives here. The 1850s Renaissance South Building, formerly the Palace Hotel and once the tallest structure on Nanjing Road, was occupied by the Japanese during World War II. The two buildings combined to become the Peace Hotel in 1965, operating continuously until closing in 2007 for an overhaul of the exterior, interiors, lobby, and guest rooms by Hirsch Bedner Associates. Today, Art Deco influences and romantic flourishes are evident throughout the 270 rooms and suites, many of which boast Bund views. Fairmont Gold rooms come with private check-in and lounge access, while the each of the opulent Nine Nations Suites is named for a different country and features corresponding décor. The Dragon Phoenix and Cathay Room serve Shanghainese–Cantonese and European cuisine, respectively, and the legendary Jazz Bar takes you back to a 1920s-era private club. After a day spent exploring the city or shopping along nearby Nanjing Road, take refuge in the Willow Stream Spa, which has 11 treatment rooms and a skylight-lit pool."

"Opened in 2012, the Four Seasons Pudong resides in what’s known locally as the Jewel Box—the 50-story, 21st - Century Tower, a rectangular prism in the heart of the Lujiazui business district. Art-filled interiors pull their inspiration from Shanghai ’s 1920s and 1930s golden age. The lobby wows with a dramatic grand spiral staircase with an underbelly of Maccasar ebony, and a suspended, 1,000-strip metal sculpture created by Japan’s Studio Sawada Design that looks like a dangling collage of willowy twigs. Rooms offer prime views of Pudong’s evolving skyline and come with fresh flowers and Lorenzo Villoresi bath products. The decor is inspired by Shanghai Art Deco, with an intense palette of rouge, glossy black, and textured gray, coupled with smoky glass and metallic accents. In the bathrooms, a custom wall and glass panel mimic Coco Chanel’s iconic No. 5 perfume."

"Opened in 1996 in the heart of the Lujiazui finance and trade zone as Pudong’s first five-star hotel—and the first InterContinental in mainland China—this tower resembles a book with a gleaming glass spine. Its location places it a five-minute walk from Century Avenue metro station and close to Fuxing Road East cross-river tunnel, allowing easy access to the city. Inside, the soaring atrium lobby creates a sense of openness, while contemporary rooms come in light, calm tones; select accommodations come with a sunken tub in the bathroom."

"Hotel heavyweights Kohn Pederson Fox Associates and Hirsch Bedner Associates masterminded the look and feel of Shangri-La’s third property in Shanghai , opened in June 2013 on the Puxi side of the Huangpu River. The centerpiece of the 4.8-million-square-feet mixed-use complex Jing An Kerry Center, located near Metro Lines 2 and 7, the property occupies the top 29 floors of the 60-story tower. In rooms, pops of color and rosewood paneling accent the silvery design scheme, and bathrooms have heated marble floors, satin glass, beveled mirrors, and separate bathtubs and stand-alone showers. Crystal appears liberally throughout the property—more than 4 million pieces of it, from the canopy of lighted crystal rods above the porte cochere to the floating crystal clouds that appear over the Event Center’s driveway. More than 200 pieces of art by 50 international artists further enliven public areas."

"This property opened in March 2011 under the direction of Arata Isozaki, the mind behind the design of Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium and the Los Angeles MOCA. The hotel’s shape represents the ancient Chinese ritual object called y u cong. The outer square symbolizes the earth, the inner circle heaven, and the cylindrical atrium a connecting passageway. Drawing on Piet Mondrian’s neoplasticism movement, the facade mixes bold primary colors and rectangular shapes, while interiors were styled by KCA International, whose portfolio also includes the Burj al Arab in Dubai. Room design veers toward contemporary Chinese."

"The first JW Marriott in mainland China occupies floors 41 to 59 of the 60-story multi-use Tomorrow Square development. One of the city’s most distinctive buildings, its shape is often likened to the drill bit or a fountain pen. Rooms offer a sense of openness, courtesy of the architectural mirror adjacent to the headboard, and frosted glass on the closet and interior bath doors. Walls use fiddle-back makore (the wood used to make violins) in panels and silk-textured wallpapers as embellishment. Studio Suites have elongated horizontal bay windows to take full advantage of the property’s elevated setting. By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"

"Four thousand modern art pieces throughout public areas and guest rooms liven up this Pudong waterfront hotel, which opened in April 2013. The highlight is the lobby’s Glass Murals, made from almost 72,000 mosaic tiles and inspired by local artist Miao Tong’s painting Sound of the Wind . Elsewhere in the lobby, guests will encounter Chinese screens, sculpted furnishings, and bronze tones that mimic the glow of sunset on the river. Rooms have taupe furnishings, with flashes of indigo and lotus-green, and abstract ink paintings of traditional Chinese garden landscapes. Some have hypnotic Huangpu River views. As with many hotels in Pudong, the property is set within a larger complex, in this case the 61-acre mixed-use Harbour City development."

"The tallest hotel in mainland China occupies floors 79 to 93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center, the 101-story skyscraper made by Mori Building, developer of Tokyo ’s Roppongi Hills complex. As expected, any room or public area in the property likely has jaw-dropping views. Interiors mirror the aesthetics of a cultured modern Chinese residence, with sequences of gates, halls, and chambers as thoroughfares, and earth tones complementing natural materials. Monochromatic rooms have walls finished in linen, lacquer, and slatted-wood panels, with generous daybeds, 24-hour butler service, and plasma televisions embedded in the bathrooms’ vanity mirrors. But really, no amenity can top the incredible views."

"This huge property comprising two towers—the River Wing and the Grand Tower—showcases Huangpu River views from its position by the riverside promenade. The Grand Tower, designed by New York–based Kohn Pedersen Fox, features 375 rooms and suites, while the more classic River Wing has 577 rooms. High-style restaurants and bars sit between the two. Rooms have crystal chandeliers and a mural of Chinese flowers above the bed. The Gallery, in the Grand Tower, exhibits paintings and sculptures from up-and-coming artists, which rotate each quarter."

"One of Pudong’s marquee buildings, the Cesar Pelli–designed Shanghai IFC, is the setting for this 285-room property. Occupying the top 18 floors of the South Tower, the Ritz-Carlton opened in June 2010 during the World Expo and was meant to usher in Shanghai ’s status as a global powerhouse. Its design skews modern with hints of 1930s Shanghai, while views take in panoramas of the Bund. Guest accommodations start at a roomy 540 square feet, have Art Deco themes, and include Asprey amenities."

"The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi Housed in a 100-meter-tall, concave building in the heart of Xintiandi, the 24-story property has rooms with enduring views over the neighborhood’s Shikumen storefronts. Accommodations combine dark woods, floor-to-ceiling windows, green and gold wool carpets with a paisley-like motif, and dual-basin bathrooms with oversized bathtubs. Shanghai ’s Art Deco period and Xintiandi’s courtyard houses inspire interiors, while color schemes of black and green appear throughout, from the dark local granite used as flooring and walls to green glass detailing. Another recurrent theme is the horse, a key Han symbol, laser-cut into large lobby columns and bronze beams to resemble bark on a tree."

"The first new building to be constructed on the Bund in 60 years, the terraced, granite Peninsula opened in October 2009. Celebrating the city’s Roaring Twenties, the standalone hotel creates a grand sense of arrival with a sweeping driveway. Art Deco design elements occur throughout the property, and traditional decor employs lacquer, marble, granite, wood, andoriginal art. Rooms and suites come with spacious dressing rooms with a full-length valet box for discreet delivery of laundry and packages; they also feature Peninsula’s industry-leading, intuitive in-room technology, with room functions controlled at the touch of a button, and VOIP telephones that allow guests to make free local and international calls. For arrival and departure in style, book the hotel’s Rolls-Royce Phantoms or 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II. The property also has China’s first hotel private yacht, a British-built Princess 54 model."

"As the centerpiece of the Shanghai Center complex on Nanjing Road, the 45-story Portman Ritz-Carlton melds contemporary Chinese with traditional European-style decor. Textiles in guest rooms echo the materials used in the qipao . Accommodations in light browns and creams also have 300-thread-count bed linens, and down pillows and duvets. Rooms feature modern Chinese decor, bathrooms with sliding rosewood doors, and Asprey Purple Water amenities. A traditional candle-lighting ceremony takes place in the lobby to re-create a ritual held in big mansions in the era before electricity. At the Ritz Kids Academy, children can take classes on social etiquette, covering such key subjects as table posture, tea manners, and self-confidence."

"This urban luxury resort in Shanghai has a polished, cool contemporary feel, mixing Eastern and Western sensibilities. Interiors lean toward dark tones and clean lines, with clever landscaping providing a sense of escape. Organic materials include liberal use of wood, stone, and marble. Large windows bring in natural light, and decor mixes contemporary with touches of traditional Chinese. Environmentally sensitive practices take multiple guises: Solar panels gather energy for hotel operation. The heatproof facade limits the need for air-conditioning. And sunshades in each room open and close automatically to let in or keep out the sun’s light and heat. Rooms also have dragon-scaled screens and cast bronze basins. Club rooms come with the perks of 24-hour check-in/check-out and butlers."

"Why we love it: A glamorous tower with a popular nightclub and chic spa for recovery The Highlights: - Michelin-starred dining at Shanghai Tavern and HIYA - An onsite nightclub that channels Studio 54 - An innovative spa with Asian-inspired treatments The Review: Located in the heart of Shanghai’s Bund Historical and Cultural Landscape Area, this polished property is one of the latest to join the EDITION portfolio, a luxury hospitality company with nearly 10 locations worldwide. Here, guests find 145 elegantly outfitted rooms, complete with custom imported linens, rainforest showers, and bespoke EDITION bath products. Enjoy the city views right from your room, or take them in at any of the hotel’s eight dining and drinking outlets, including HIYA (a Japanese izakaya on the 27th floor), Canton Disco (for Cantonese small plates), Shanghai Tavern (a European brasserie from Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton), Punch Room (inspired by London’s 19th-century private clubs), and Roof Garden (where alfresco movies and lawn bowling await). Those looking to dance the night away needn’t go far—Electric Circus Nightclub is the EDITION’s answer to retro revelry, welcoming guests with velvet banquettes, LED grid displays, and soulful tracks throughout the night. The next morning, recuperate with a visit to the spa, a sixth-floor sanctuary with treatments that incorporate Asian healing traditions and advanced technology."

"Situated east of the city’s old town, in an area known as Shiliupu—the focal point for shipping and trading activities in the 1800s—this converted 1930s army barrack opened as a hotel in 2010. The design blurs internal and external, public and private, with public spaces opening to glimpses of guest rooms, and accommodations looking onto public areas. The look is industrial-mod, with exposed brick walls, steel beams, and stone floors. Additions over the existing concrete structure, built out of Cor-Ten steel, reflect the industrial past of this working dock. Furniture includes pieces by Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Antonio Citterio, and Kana Ishikawa (a former designer with Yoji Yamamoto). Each room is different, but all are based on the traditional Shanghainese nong tang , or alleyway. Stairway rooms provide a view of the hotel courtyard; other rooms with French windows have vistas of the Huangpu River."

"Occupying a former factory in the tree-lined Jing’An District, this sleek property uses recycled and locally sourced materials in its design, including reclaimed gray bricks from old Shanghai houses. A wall of antique suitcases salvaged from Shanghai street markets greets guests in the lobby, while rooms and suites have Thai silks, charcoal velvet upholstery, natural woods, and slate bathrooms. The custom mattresses, made with cactus fiber, seaweed, and coconut husk, are topped in 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. The hotel partners with Art + Shanghai art gallery to exhibit a seasonally rotating collection of works throughout the public spaces and penthouses."

"Comprising a neoclassical building completed in 1910 and a modern 24-story tower, with a courtyard and promenade in between, this property has an enviable position right on the Bund. The heritage building formerly housed the exclusive Shanghai Club. European-style interiors include a grand lobby with dark-veined white marble and Palladian columns, sculpted rooftop cornices, and crystal chandeliers. Original fixtures include the city’s large triangular manual elevators. Peacock Alley, the promenade that connects the two buildings and looks onto the courtyard, houses restaurants and lounges. Rooms in the tower come with spellbinding Bund, Huangpu River, and Pudong views, while the 20 suites in the heritage building have painted timber panelling, hardwood floors, and polished mahogany furnishings."