Bulgari Hotel, Shanghai

"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."

"Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet is a destination restaurant for sure; I would also recommend Bao Li Xuan in Bulgari Hotel, as well as Otto e Mezzo Bombana."

"The past 18-odd months have seen a bonanza of hotel openings in China’s largest city, notably the Capella in the French Concession, the Middle House in the central Jing’an district, and the astonishing Amanyangyun on the outskirts. Bulgari stands out for its ability to channel the city vibe without losing a sense of the brand's Italian DNA. Foster + Partners designed the tower as a shiny mirror in which to reflect Shanghai’s wild eclecticism and energy. Inside, an immaculately choreographed tussle between Italian and Chinese design is enacted in marble and bronze versus silk and lacquer. There are marvelous views in every direction, though there is no need to take an ear-popping elevator ride to the upper levels to peep at Shanghai’s history. Those familiar with the brand will notice hallmarks of the jewelry house’s other five properties here. The exterior shimmers like a case filled with gems. The 82 rooms—including the ornate Bulgari Suite, said to be the biggest in the city—follow a palette of dark wood and balanced monochrome. Chef Niko Romito’s lasagna, like at the Bulgari hotel in Beijing, is the dish to order at Il Ristorante; you’ll also want to do lemon gelato at Il Giardino, prosecco at La Terrazza, and a knockout negroni at Il Bar. Directly across from the garden is Shanghai’s former Chamber of Commerce, also part of the hotel and redone with a whiskey bar and a superb Chinese restaurant. Doubles from about $770." - CNT Editors