The 10 Best Hotels in Tianzifang, Shanghai

The Howard Johnson chain has a big presence in Shanghai, with hotels scattered all over the city. Their Huaihai hotel is located within walking distance of Tianzifang, as well as being ideally located for the popular Nanjing Road and Xintiandi districts. As you’d expect from the chain, the recently renovated rooms come with modern decor and floor-to-ceiling windows. There are also seven suites on offer, plus an on-site fitness centre and La Galerie, a cosy wine bar with an excellent drinks menu.

If you’re looking for a self-catering option in Tianzifang, this one-bedroom flat comes highly recommended on Airbnb. Surrounded by cobbled lanes and bars, this superhost property is in the centre of Tianzifang and located close to subway routes, too. With a kitchen that offers ample cooking facilities, a spacious bedroom, bathroom and separate living area, it’s a great and cost-effective option for couples.

Walk a mere 730 metres (800 yards) from the hub of Tianzifang and you’ll reach Pullman Shanghai Skyway, a modern, upmarket hotel that offers multiple dining options (including Gingembre 15, which provides western fare, and Hua Fan for Shanghai dishes), spa facilities and spacious rooms that overlook the skyline. Although a bit pricey, it’s well worth paying a bit extra for access to the hotel’s executive lounge on the 52nd floor, which comes with complimentary drinks, snacks and incredible city views.

Just a short stroll from Tianzifang gets you to the Intercontinental Shanghai Ruijin, a tranquil, scenic hotel with plenty of history. Dating back to 1917, the Intercontinental’s European-style villas are cocooned in over a hundred acres of perfectly landscaped grounds. If you can, opt for a garden-view room, which also comes with a balcony. With such stunning surroundings, it’s hard to imagine all the delights of Shanghai that are still within just a few minutes’ walk.

Adjacent to the scenic Fuxing Park, this eight-storey boutique hotel is mere footsteps from Tianzifang. Its 52 European-style rooms feature the work of local artists, along with flat screen TVs and huge bathtubs.

Livo Ergeng is a Japanese hotel that’s a mere 511 metres (550 yards) from Tianzifang’s many shops and cafés. Once you step inside the provincial-style building, you’ll feel transported to Japan. Not only is there a Japanese-style spa, teahouse and library in the hotel, but all 22 rooms feature traditional Japanese decor. Expect traditional murals, minimalist design and low wooden beds.

It might be located on one of Shanghai’s major shopping streets (Huaihai road) but this hotel still manages to offer a much-needed respite from the commotion of the city, with large private grounds. The Art Deco lobby is a nod to the hotel’s history (it was built in 1926) while the small but perfectly formed rooms overlook the gardens. Ride the outside glass elevator to the 33rd floor to have drinks at the Sky Bar or dine at the hotel’s revered teppanyaki restaurant.

Perfect for solo travellers, this charming hostel is only 300 metres (328 yards) from the bustling alleyways of Tianzifang and offers a great option for budget travellers. The bright and spacious single-sex dorms come with private lockers, free Wi-Fi and a shared lounge area with flatscreen TV and a kitchen area.

For luxury seekers, the five-star Langham Xintiandi offers visitors the best of both worlds: its location is in the centre of an upmarket dining area, but Tianzifang, Fuxing Park and Huaihai Road are all within walking distance. Boasting a 24-hour fitness centre, a two-Michelin-star restaurant (T’ang Court, which serves Cantonese delicacies) and contemporary guest rooms that come with spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows, this hotel is truly the epitome of luxury.

A world away from Shanghai’s skyscrapers, Hotel Massenet is a collection of luxury villas that date back to the 1920s. With accommodation ranging from single rooms to four-bedroom luxury chalets, all rooms open up onto terraces, with some offering dedicated cooking facilities. If that wasn’t enough, the hotel also offers private gardens, a gym and a continental breakfast.