The first Ritz-Carlton to open in China, this Jing'an District address is legendary for its concierge service—staff once flew to Hong Kong to procure cigars for a VIP guest. The Shanghai Centre complex houses the property alongside fashion boutiques, Baker & Spice bakery, and the on-site theatre hosting acrobatic performances. Nanjing Xi Road's shopping corridor lies steps away, while complimentary Wi-Fi extends from guest rooms to spa and pool areas.
Foster and Partners' architectural vision frames a 180-degree panorama of the historic Bund from this riverside landmark, where a 32-foot lobby inlaid with jade and marble sets the tone for art deco opulence throughout. Seventy-two commissioned artworks, anchored by Shi Qi's wall-sized abstraction of Shanghai, animate interiors adorned with ten varieties of jade, crystal, and silk. The 21st-floor balconies capture both Pudong's futuristic skyline and the Old City's shikumen rooftops in a single sweep.
Glass lifts framed by red and white neon ascend to a lobby that sets the tone for this 374-room tower on the north Bund: playful, energetic, and designed for adults. Most rooms command Huangpu River and Pudong skyline views, echoed by the outdoor pool's cinematic backdrop. Chopstick and xiao long bao pillows add a whimsical Shanghai signature, while the spa, sauna, and jacuzzi cater to travelers seeking both spectacle and substance.
Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li preserves 22 rows of 1930s shikumen stone-gated lane houses across 23,000 square meters, a rare surviving fragment of Shanghai's architectural heritage. Jaya Ibrahim's three-story villas blend Shanghainese and Parisian influences, each exceeding 100 square meters. Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire marks the Michelin-starred chef's mainland China debut, while Auriga Spa centers traditional Chinese therapies around lunar cycles. The repurposed iron water tower stages nightly illuminations above the compound's secret gardens.
The Peninsula Shanghai anchors the Bund with a soaring art deco lobby—celadon-green walls, black marble floors—that recalls the city's golden age while high-tech guest rooms offer iPad controls and jetted tubs. Sir Elly's delivers some of Shanghai's finest Western dining, Yi Long Court excels in Cantonese fare, and The Peninsula Spa by ESPA pampers with heated treatment floors and carved wood interiors. A restored 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom completes the century-spanning appeal.
Born from a decade-long rescue mission, Amanyangyun relocated fifty Ming and Qing dynasty houses stone-by-stone from Fuzhou, alongside ten thousand ancient camphor trees, creating a 25-acre forest retreat designed by Kerry Hill Architects. The 30,569-square-foot spa houses both Russian banya and Turkish hammam across ten treatment rooms, while Yinlu restaurant serves floating afternoon tea and outdoor hotpot beneath the centuries-old canopy. Thirteen antique villas and 24 courtyard suites offer contemporary luxury within historic architecture, seventeen miles southwest of Shanghai.
Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel's design marries a restored 1916 Chamber of Commerce building—housing the Whisky Bar, Bao Li Xuan Cantonese restaurant, and a vast ballroom—with a 48-story tower whose upper floors command sweeping Bund and Pudong views. Bronze accents, matte black granite, and hallways lined with archival Bvlgari sketches anchor the aesthetic, while Il Ristorante Niko Romito and a rooftop terrace with cabanas draw Shanghai's cosmopolitan crowd.
Perched along the Huangpu River in Pudong's financial district, this modern sanctuary pairs 4,000 curated artworks with floor-to-ceiling river views in every room. Chef Richard Ekkebus helms Fifty 8°, bringing credentials from his acclaimed Hong Kong table, while the butterfly-themed spa sprawls across dedicated foot massage lounges, tepidarium chairs, and a crystal steam room. The Presidential Suite claims 8,000 square feet of garden terrace and panoramic vistas—the city's largest.
Art Deco grandeur meets contemporary polish at this Pudong skyscraper, where cream-and-latte marble bathrooms gleam with gold accents and every vantage feels cinematic. Flair, the 58th-floor rooftop terrace, commands sweeping views of the Bund, while the ESPA spa on the 55th floor pairs floor-to-ceiling windows with immaculate treatments. Families appreciate the Junior Hotelier Program and complimentary babysitting; style devotees head straight for the direct mall entrance to Gucci and Badgley Mischka.
Architects Neri and Hu shaped this 201-room property with minimalist restraint—natural materials, floor-to-ceiling windows, and subtle Thai accents like elephant-covered chedis in the garden. The URBAN Lounge stocks over 120 gins with an herb trolley for custom botanicals, while TeamLab's interactive digital installations animate the public spaces. A Thai-style Thermae spa, heated indoor pool, and LEED-certified sustainability credentials complete the picture for design-conscious travelers.
Chef Umberto Bombana's third venture brings refined Italian technique to Shanghai with two Michelin stars earned through precise execution of classic dishes and a seafood-focused tasting menu. The glass-enclosed wine cellar offers exceptional selections by glass or bottle, while the balcony delivers commanding views over the city. Handmade pasta and bread anchor the experience, alongside a glitzy cocktail bar for pre-dinner aperitifs.
This two-Michelin-starred outpost of the Brusaporto family's fifty-year seafood legacy arrived in Shanghai with its original Italian team and kitchen equipment intact. The menu centers on precision-driven dishes like warm steamed fish salad and the signature Egg 'à la egg' crowned with caviar, though pigeon and lamb loin offer equally refined alternatives. Save room for the house tiramisu—a final nod to Lombardy.
Pierre Gagnaire's first mainland China venture occupies a restored shikumen villa within the Capella estate, its interiors channeling 1930s Shanghai through polished concrete and vintage lighting. Under Romain Chapel—son of the legendary Alain Chapel—the kitchen delivers refined French technique with Shanghainese inflections: blue lobster fricassée, frogs Poulette, a six-course progression from caviar to veal Milanaise. The vine-draped terrace evokes Provence amid the city.
Occupying the 13th floor of The Peninsula Shanghai, Sir Elly's delivers modern French-Asian cuisine against floor-to-ceiling views of Pudong's skyline and the historic Bund. Chef de cuisine Hans Zahner applies Old World techniques to Asian ingredients—truffle-stuffed smoked frog leg with black garlic cream, Irish blue lobster carpaccio with red pepper sorbet—while the opulent 1920s art deco interior, punctuated by red accents, creates an intimate setting for special occasions.
Perched on the 87th floor, this Jiangzhe specialist delivers a creative regional menu rarely encountered elsewhere. The signature steamed belt fish with fermented grains showcases the kitchen's inventive touch, while xiao long bao arrive with perfectly pleated skins and umami-rich broth. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping river views, yet home-style furnishings and booth seating ensure an unexpectedly intimate atmosphere within the soaring space.
Regional dim sum traditions receive contemporary interpretation at this light-filled hotel dining room, from xiao long bao with marbled skin to inventive preparations incorporating Iberico ham and beetroot juice. The signature Yunnan duck tagine delivers delicate meat with Sichuan pepper heat and a garlic accent, accompanied by house-made duck dumplings. A wine list composed in rhyming verse adds a literary dimension to the French-inflected menu.
Chef Stefan Stiller's three-Michelin-starred counter-dining concept merges German precision with bold Asian inflections—kimchi, curry, Shanghainese technique—across ten- or twelve-course menus that rotate every few weeks. Island-format seating places every guest at the pass, immersing them in the kitchen's kinetic rhythm. Since 2016, this Changning fixture has drawn Shanghai's discerning diners with deftly layered flavors, textural finesse, and a Michelin Green Star nod to sustainability.
This two-Michelin-starred Cantonese specialist brings the tradition of Foshan's residential banquets to Shanghai's Bund, helmed by a chef with two decades of experience. Seasonal set menus showcase time-honored techniques, anchored by a signature sweet and sour pork that pairs the cut between loin and belly with house-made fruit vinegar—a study in texture and balance that exemplifies the kitchen's meticulous approach to Guangdong classics.
This two-Michelin-starred Shanghainese table reimagines plant-based gastronomy through a Zen lens, where vegan cooking becomes a philosophy lived across serene, minimalist dining rooms. Seasonal set menus spotlight local ingredients in masterfully plated courses, some drawn from historical recipe archives, while an extensive tea selection deepens the contemplative experience. Every element reflects the conviction that veganism extends beyond the plate.
The Former French Concession offers tree-lined streets and boutique properties near cafés and galleries. Jing'an suits those wanting flagship hotels with easy metro access. The Bund provides heritage buildings with river views, while Pudong appeals to travellers seeking modern towers and direct airport links via the Maglev.
Autumn brings hairy crab season, a local delicacy served steamed with Zhenjiang vinegar. Spring offers pleasant walking weather for exploring the Concession's lane houses. Summer can be humid but coincides with outdoor terrace season along the Bund. Winter sees fewer crowds and robust clay-pot dishes in traditional Shanghainese restaurants.
Pudong International Airport connects to central Shanghai via the Maglev train in eight minutes to Longyang Road, then metro or taxi onward. Most high-end hotels offer airport transfers. English signage is standard in tourist areas, and international payment cards work at upscale establishments, though mobile payment via Alipay or WeChat remains dominant locally.
The Bund's art deco facades face Pudong's towers across the Huangpu River, a visual shorthand for Shanghai's split personality. The Former French Concession — platane-lined streets around Wukang Road and Fuxing Park — draws visitors seeking early twentieth-century villas converted into intimate guesthouses. Jing'an delivers a different register: flagship spa hotels rise above Nanjing Road West, while converted shikumen laneways host speakeasy bars and omakase counters. Across the river, Lujiazui's vertical skyline holds observation-deck restaurants where regional Chinese cuisine meets international technique.
Dining here divides between Shanghainese tradition — xiaolongbao, hairy crab in autumn, red-braised pork — and a wave of chef-driven kitchens earning Michelin recognition. The gastronomic scene spans Cantonese fine dining in Xintiandi, kaiseki-influenced tasting menus in the Concession, and farm-to-table concepts in repurposed warehouses along the West Bund. For travellers with families, the family-oriented properties cluster near People's Square and along Century Avenue, offering easy access to the Shanghai Museum and the riverside promenades. Whether your priority is heritage architecture or contemporary design, this city delivers both in concentrated density.
