The 10 Best Boutique Hotels in Shanghai

The Waterhouse Shanghai oozes industrial rustic chic. Housed in a three-story building that was once the Japanese Army HQ in the 1930s, this boutique hotel is a shockingly beautiful contrast of old and new. Architects Neri and Hu explain: “This is a hotel that puts the emphasis on the traveller in search of some meaning, and not just the luxury component of living.” Each of the 19 bespoke rooms offers a coffee machine, a minibar, a refrigerator, a seating area with a sofa and more.

Only five minutes from the Shanghai New International Expo Center, the Century Park Crowne Plaza is a boutique-style luxury hotel in central Shanghai. The suites enjoy five-star decor and furnishings like marble bathrooms and spacious sitting areas, as well as access to a 24-hour fitness centre, the relaxing Spring Spa, the authentic Heji Chinese restaurant and childcare services. Also, the panoramic views of Shanghai are to die for.

When China’s richest man creates a boutique hotel, he doesn’t mess around. Wang Jianlin’s pet project bills itself as Shanghai’s first ‘seven-star’ hotel, with over-the-top opulence around every corner. The 190 guest rooms are designed in two distinct styles – the modern Art Deco ‘trendy’ suites and the wood-lined ‘noble’ rooms – and Wanda Reign also boasts a range of impressive restaurants and lounges.

This hotel might be housed in an old bank, but it’s anything but boring. The stylish boutique has overseen Nanjing Road’s transformation into one of the world’s elite shopping precincts over recent years and these days, guests of the 165 four-star suites are provided a front row seat to the world-class retail action with state-of-the-art amenities and a super central location.

Nanjing Road is Shanghai’s premier shopping district and this five-star property is the premier boutique hotel in the area. Inhabiting a lavish Art Deco building that dates back to the 1930s, the Yangtze’s 96 rooms exude old-world charm and all boast balconies overlooking the skyline, while the 24-hour fitness centre and spa services are waiting to pamper guests around the clock. The location is enviable as well, just steps from People’s Square and Shanghai’s hottest shops.

The name of this five-star property harks back to the halcyon days of the French Concession, as do the 168 decadent suites. Situated in downtown Shanghai perched high above the 16th-century Yu Gardens, Les Suites Orient features an array of huge guest rooms with glitzy marble bathrooms, a cutting-edge fitness centre, plus a high-end cigar bar and Cafe DongXi, serving both Asian and Western cuisine.