Luxury hotels in Shanghai: 10 palaces between Bund Art Deco and Pudong towers

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong occupies the upper floors of a glass tower in Lujiazui, Shanghai's financial district. We reach the rooms via rapid lifts, and the view shifts from floor to ceiling depending on the level. Light marble dominates the lobbies, lines are clean, the atmosphere stays hushed despite the height. The indoor pool overlooks the Bund and the Huangpu River, one of the few vantage points this direct onto the old colonial waterfront. The spa and fitness centre occupy a separate wing, calm even during the day. Expect 595 € a night for a standard room, a rate consistent with this level of service in Pudong. The real differentiator remains this wide view across both banks of Shanghai, rare at this price. 😌✨

The Peninsula Shanghai closes off the northern perspective of the Bund, the only new building authorised on this historic bank for nearly a century. The Art déco granite grey façade takes up the codes of the neighbouring colonial banks, massive columns and vertical proportions. Inside, the lobby plays on generous ceiling heights, light marble and dark wood panelling, without ever falling into pastiche. The rooms, among the largest in Shanghai with an average of 50 m², look either onto the river and the towers of Pudong, or the old city, the gap in prestige between the two views is clear. Count on 462,78 € per night for the entry-level, a rate that remains in the upper average of the Bund rather than at the top. The service, rated 9.4/10 on 613 reviews, confirms a palace rigour more than a particular warmth. Ideal for an exceptional night, less thought out for a long daily stay 😌.

The Shanghai EDITION occupies an address at 199 Nanjing Road East, right in the historic centre of Shanghai. The rating of 9.4/10 from 551 reviews clearly says that the house delivers on its promises, which is no small feat in a city saturated with 5-star properties. We find an indoor pool, a fitness centre and a spa, three solid arguments for those who want to unwind between meetings. Free Wi-Fi covers all spaces, rooms as well as common areas, with no dead zones reported. Non-smoking rooms throughout, facilities for disabled guests provided, and room service that avoids going out as soon as you arrive. Rates start at 379 € per night, consistent with the EDITION positioning in Shanghai rather than with the palaces of the Bund. Free parking, rare in the Chinese city centre, remains the detail that surprises the most 😌.

The Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai stretches lengthwise along the Huangpu, facing the illuminated skyline of the Bund. Five storeys only, which is rare in Pudong, surrounded by a garden planted with bamboo. The rating climbs to 9,3/10 on 944 reviews, sign of a loyal clientele more than passing tourists. We sleep there from 262 € the night, a fair rate for a Mandarin Oriental in mainland China. The outdoor pool with direct view on the towers of Lujiazui remains the strong point, especially at sunset when the neons light up. The spa and the fitness centre complete a coherent wellness offer, without being excessive. On the dining side, no signature table stands out in what is communicated, the hotel plays rather the card of calm than that of spectacular gastronomy.

The Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai occupies a modern tower on Middle Yan'an Road, right in the business district. The rating of 9.3/10 from 585 reviews says mainly one thing: the consistency of the service, not the surprise. From 326 € per night, the establishment remains in the lower range of Shanghai's international five-star hotels. The lobby, as often with Shangri-La, bets on light marble and generous ceiling heights rather than on eccentricity. We appreciate the indoor pool and the spa centre, welcome after a day of negotiations or long-haul flights. Family rooms and facilities for disabled people broaden the clientele beyond the business traveller alone. Nothing exotic in the architecture, but efficiency and cleanliness are there 😌

The Fairmont Peace Hotel on the Bund occupies the former Cathay Hotel, opened in 1929 at the tip of the Bund. We enter through an Art déco hall with black marble columns, beneath a glass dome that filters golden light in late afternoon. The rooms blend dark wood panelling with contemporary touches, offering views over the Huangpu River or Nanjing Road depending on the floor. The detail that truly sets the address apart: the Jazz Bar, where a group of octogenarian musicians replay the standards of the roaring twenties each evening. The indoor pool and fitness centre complete a discreet wellness offering, without any claim to an oversized spa. Expect from 311 € a night, a rate that remains reasonable for a palace so steeped in history. The service, formal and attentive, fully embraces the heritage rather than smoothing it over 😌.

The Park Hyatt Shanghai occupies floors 79 to 93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center, the tower nicknamed 'the bottle opener' that dominates Pudong. The reception hall, all in light wood and grey stone, opens on the 79th floor to a hushed silence, far from the tumult of Century Avenue below. The rooms, signed John Pawson, focus on clean lines, solid oak and bay windows that frame the Huangpu River or the Bund skyline. The indoor pool on the 85th floor remains the argument that tips the booking, we swim among the clouds on certain misty mornings. The minimalist style, almost monastic, may leave cold those seeking the usual glitz of Pudong towers. Count from 279 € per night for a standard room, a rate that rises quickly as soon as the view opens up. Discreet and precise service, more hushed than flamboyant 😌✨

The Shanghai Marriott Marquis City Centre occupies an address that leaves no ambiguity about its intentions: a stone's throw from Nanjing Road, right in the commercial heart of the city. The 2336 cumulative reviews and the score of 9.2/10 tell of a hotel that keeps its promises over time, not just in the photos. We find an indoor pool, a fitness centre and a spa, enough to catch one's breath between meetings. The Wi-Fi covers the entire building, even in the common areas, a detail that counts for business travellers. Family rooms and facilities for disabled people broaden the audience beyond the corporate segment alone. The private parking on site simplifies arrival in a city where driving remains an exercise in patience. From 194 € per night, the value for money remains solid for a 5-star hotel this central 😌.

The St. Regis on the Bund, Shanghai occupies a rare position, at the junction of the Huangpu River and the towers of Pudong. The rating climbs to 9.2/10 from 384 reviews, a solid score for a hotel of this size. The building stretches upwards, glass and smooth facades, in the style of hotel towers built on the Bund quays. The indoor pool and fitness centre occupy the floors dedicated to wellness, away from the noise of the avenue. The spa completes the offer, without public data specifying its size or signature treatments. Count from 315 € per night, a rate consistent with the 5-star standard of the business district. This is not an intimate boutique hotel: it is a standing address for business and long stays, with the river as a backdrop 😌.

Amara Shanghai settles in the Pu Tuo district, at a respectable distance from the frenzy of the Bund. The rating of 9,1 from 859 reviews intrigues for an establishment listed from 105,69 € per night, a rare rate for a Shanghai 5-star. The non-smoking rooms dominate the set, with family options for group stays. The indoor pool remains the differentiating asset, accompanied by a fitness centre accessible to guests. The on-site restaurant covers daily meals without aiming for gastronomic discovery. Room service and equipment for people with reduced mobility complete an offer designed for efficiency rather than spectacle. On-site parking facilitates arrivals by car, an appreciable detail in a metropolis where traffic does not forgive.