Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
789 Nanjing Dong Lu
T
33189999,
W
www
.starwoodhotels.com. See map, p.48.
The
excellent location, five-star services and the
discreet style of this new high-end venue at
the Renmin Park end of Nanjing Dong Lu
makes it set to give its competitors a scare.
Owned by Starwood, it perhaps has the edge
on the group's other Shanghai property, the
Westin. The building is one of the city centre's
landmarks, with 66 floors and what look like
antennae on the roof. The rather cavernous
reception, which has something of a Bond
villain's secret base about it, is on the 11th
floor. Ask for a room as high up as possible
to take full advantage of the views from the
wall to ceiling windows.
9
Metropole
新城饭店
xīn chéng fàn diàn
180 Jiangxi Lu
Chaplin line the walls; they too may have
wondered why the lift was so slow - never
mind, the staircase is magnificent. Rooms
are surprisingly large but they vary so ask to
see a few. The views aren't great and the
restaurant should be avoided, but overall
this is the best of Shanghai's historic hotels;
think of it as a batty maiden aunt with some
good stories and forgive its eccentricities.
5
Seagull
海鸥饭店
h
i ōu fàn diàn
60 Huangpu Lu
T
63251500,
W
www
.seagull-hotel.com. See map, p.51.
Gull
statuary, pink-uniformed staff and a chintzy
lobby give this place an air of campness,
but it does offer recently refurbished rooms
with great views of the Huangpu for less
than you'd pay elsewhere. The area is not
very exciting but you're only a five-minute
walk across the bridge to the Bund.
7
Westin
威斯汀大酒店
weī sī tīng dà fàn diàn
88 Henan Zhong Lu
T
63351888,
W
www
.westin.com/shanghai. See map, p.48.
Chinese
luxury hotels usually try to impress with either
a water feature or palm trees in the lobby;
the over-the-top Westin goes for both. So is
it the best? Well no, but it's not bad. It scores
for having good on-site restaurants such as
the Stage (see p.116) and a nice little bakery
(see p.113), for the Banyan Tree spa (see
p.31), and for its location behind the Bund,
but loses a few points for the Vegas
ambience and the lack of views from most of
the rooms. Decor is modern with a few flash
touches such as rainforest showerheads and
mood lighting.
9
www.metropole
hotel-sh.com/l-en.htm. See map, p.48.
Just off
the Bund and dating from 1931, this is one of
the more affordable of the older hotels, but it
also suffers from uninspired renovation and
old-fashioned service. There's a great Art
Deco lobby and exterior, but the rooms are
plain. Go for as high a room as possible as
the street is quite noisy. High prices in the
business centre are a rip-off - go elsewhere
to use the Internet or receive faxes.
6
Peace Hotel
和平饭店
hé píng fàn diàn
Junction of the Bund and Nanjing Dong Lu
T
T
63213030,
W
www.shanghaipeacehotel.com.
See map, p.51.
As the Cathay Hotel, this was
the most famous hotel in Shanghai, with a
list of illustrious guests that included Charlie
Chaplin and Noel Coward (see p.52). These
days, though, its glories have faded, the
rooms - despite the prices (doubles start at
¥880) - are poky and cluttered with chintz,
and the service is definitely not up to it.
Come to visit the Art Deco lobby and Jazz
Bar (see
W
63216888,
People's Square
See the map on p.58 for the location of the
two places reviewed here.
JW Marriott
明天广场JW万怡酒店
míng tiān gu
ng ch
ng JW wàn yí ji
p.125) but don't stay.
7
-
9
Pujiang
i diàn
Tomorrow Square, 399 Nanjing Xi Lu
T
p
jiāng fàn diàn
15 Huangpu Lu
T
63246388,
W
www
.pujianghotel.com. See map, p.51.
Formerly the
Astor Hotel and dating back to 1846, this
www.marriott.com.
Housed in
the top floors of one of Shanghai's most
uncompromising landmarks (something like
an upraised claw), this swanky venue boasts
more than 200 serviced apartments for
stressed executives, who will at least always
be able to find their way home. With its
excellent location and magnificent views it's
one of the best of the top-end destinations,
53594969,
W
l
pleasingly old-fashioned place, just north of
the Bund across Waibadu Bridge, has the
feel of a Victorian school, with creaky
wooden floors and high ceilings. Portraits of
past guests such as Einstein and Charlie
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