The Peninsula Shanghai

Shanghai, China

Peninsula Shanghai, which opened at the quieter end of The Bund in 2009, remains a beacon of hospitality. The Art Deco landmark is set amongst the gardens of the former British Consulate, allowing guests to momentarily forget they’re in the epicentre of the city. The facade takes you straight back to the 1920s and 1930s, to a glamorous era when the city was called the ‘Paris of the East’. Inside, retro accents abound, from the golden period-style lifts to the Pierre-Yves Rochon-designed, triple height lobby, which opens to a terrace overlooking the Huangpu River (there’s even a classical pianist who plays during the famous afternoon tea service). The ‘chinoiserie chic’ continues in the rooms and suites, all lacquer, gleaming woods, hand-painted wallpaper and polished chrome. Service is outstanding, whether in the multiple restaurants and bars (Sir Elly’s Restaurant for grandeur and Italian-style fare; Yi Long Court for contemporary Cantonese) or at the sprawling 13,455 sq ft spa, where the indoor heated swimming pool is a work of art. With the shops, museums and galleries of Nanjing Road and Rockbund on the doorstep, there’s plenty to do but, to be honest, you’ll find it hard to leave this glittering grande dame.

Key Information

• Rooms: 235
• Starting Rate: $483
• High Season: April-May September-November
• Dining: Sir Elly's Restaurant and Yi Long Court
• Drinking: The Compass Bar and The Lobby
• At the Hotel: Swimming pool, spa, fitness centre, guided city tours
• 86 21 2327 2888
• Visit The Peninsula Shanghai's Website

Location

No. 32 The Bund 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200002