Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Shanghai

Towards the end of summer, I stayed at the Bvlgari Hotel for one night with my two children. The hotel generously offered a complimentary extra bed service and an additional free breakfast! This was absolutely fantastic value for money! The breakfast spread was so good, we were completely stuffed – all three breakfast sets we tried were incredibly delicious. Manager Jack was incredibly warm, attentive, and charming. He was extremely helpful, patiently answering all our questions, and was always very polite. We are truly grateful!

For my birthday🎂 this year, I chose to stay at J Hotel Shanghai Tower🏨. Firstly, it's the highest hotel in the world, and secondly, I've already checked off two of Shanghai's 'Three Sisters' hotels – Park Hyatt and Grand Hyatt Jin Mao – so this time I absolutely had to experience the tallest one🏨. A day before check-in, the butler called☎️ to discuss my room preferences. Knowing it was for a birthday, the hotel arranged a small birthday cake🎂, a card, and some fruit🫐🍇 in my room, which was very much appreciated😊. The room itself is quite spacious, but the view felt a bit ordinary. There's a noticeable distance between the room and the outer glass, and due to the double-layered glass, the city lights at night appeared rather dim. For sunrise🌅 and sunset🌄 views, you can head to the Tian Zhi Jin restaurant on the 120th floor, where the view is much better👍. The bathroom features a double vanity, and there's a TV📺 above the bathtub🛁 so you can watch while soaking. The shower room has a long bench design, suitable for elderly guests🧼. All the toiletries are Diptyque, which I really like, and the hairdryer is a Xiaomi. The walk-in closet is also spacious enough. In the mini-bar, everything except the liquor🍾, chocolates🍫, and snacks is complimentary, and you can even take home anything you don't finish! There's also a capsule coffee machine with three different coffee☕️ flavors to choose from, and a wide variety of tea bags. The turndown service was excellent; a bathmat and slippers were placed by the bed, and two bottles of water were left on each side of the headboard. Each room comes with a mini iPad to control services, lighting, and curtains. I particularly loved the square room key card and asked to keep it as a souvenir when checking out✌🏻. Breakfast is served on the 101st floor🍽️. I found a window seat and enjoyed a leisurely meal. It's a semi-buffet style; you can order from the menu or help yourself from the buffet. The selection is very rich, and the freshly squeezed juice bottles are beautiful😻. Both Chinese and Western breakfast options are generally well-covered😌. After check-out, in-house guests can report their license plate and room number at the concierge desk on the first floor for free parking🅿️.

This hotel offers outstanding service! I've stayed in many luxury boutique hotels, many of which are known for their service. But Capella felt a cut above the rest. You feel like when you need something, you don't even have to speak – a glance, a hesitant expression, and someone immediately comes to assist. When you don't need anything, you won't feel disturbed at all. Every staff member at the hotel prioritizes solving customer needs and is extremely knowledgeable about the property; there are no new hires here. Any question you ask receives an immediate, detailed answer, no matter how specific. If you have any requests, they can immediately offer the best solution, making communication incredibly easy. The hotel itself is a renovated Shikumen (traditional Shanghai stone-gate house), with each room being a private unit with its own courtyard and terrace. Crucially, the surrounding neighborhood is super quiet, making for a wonderfully comfortable sleep. The breakfast is very generous, with an unlimited à la carte menu, and they even serve mini versions of the top-selling baguette and croissant from their famous bakery. The chef also comes out to greet guests.

Our stay at Aman Yangyun was an unforgettable experience for our family. We arrived at the hotel by taxi from the airport, but we encountered a problem as we couldn’t complete the payment due to issues with our Alipay setup. The hotel staff quickly stepped in, escorting us to the lobby and taking care of the payment on our behalf. Moreover, since the taxi driver had charged us an unreasonably high amount, the staff even negotiated a reduction for us. Their swift and thoughtful actions gave us a great sense of relief. While every aspect of our stay was exceptional, the following experiences left a particularly lasting impression: 1. **Calligraphy Workshop with the Kids** We participated in a calligraphy session as a family, where we learned the techniques of writing and created beautiful pieces under the guidance of the instructor. 2. **Cycling Adventures** We rented bikes and explored the vast forest adjacent to the hotel. The cycling experience was incredibly refreshing and rejuvenating. 3. **New Year’s Fireworks** At midnight on New Year’s Eve, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the sky. The sheer volume of fireworks was astonishing—far beyond what you’d expect from a single hotel. It was a truly satisfying experience, and we could tell that a great deal of effort and expense had gone into the celebration. 4. **Peaceful Landscape with Wildlife** The hotel grounds were home to deer, black swans, and a beautiful river, creating a serene and idyllic landscape that was both calming and delightful. This stay will remain a cherished memory for our family.

Before school started, I took my kids to Zhujiajiao for a stroll and booked a one-night stay at Ahn Luh. I was a little worried after reading so many complaints on Xiaohongshu. But the experience was fantastic. As soon as I entered the garage, a staff member showed up to guide me. I had parked in the wrong spot, far from the lobby. The staff patiently pulled my suitcase through the garage and guided me to a spot near the lobby. Angel, the lobby check-in agent, was incredibly welcoming. She immediately fetched me a bottle of mineral water when my kids said they were thirsty. She was very attentive, guiding us to our room and even bringing us food. The breakfast was incredibly filling; we couldn't finish it all. The only thing was that the room had a slight odor, which would have been better if I'd opened the door and aired it out immediately. But it's hard to avoid that on a first-floor floor. At breakfast today, my mom even suggested we stay again next time. It was a great experience. Overall, I had a wonderful two days!

The grandeur of old Shanghai can still be vividly imagined through the Peace Hotel. Many hotels ask if you'd like your luggage sent to your room, but the Peace Hotel doesn't. From the moment you arrive at the entrance and say ”checking in,” your bags are taken care of all the way to the walk-in closet in your room. If you get lost inside (like I did), don't worry about not finding help; staff members are everywhere, proactively approaching you to ask if you need anything. Our twin room wasn't huge but was cozy and comfortable. The S-shaped layout ensured the room was very quiet. In fact, the entire guest floor was quiet and elegant, with a lovely sweet cinnamon scent. **Amenities**: Great water pressure, pleasant-smelling toiletries, delicious breakfast, large bathtub. The pool is a bit small but rarely crowded, and the gym is also empty, with equipment offering views of Nanjing Road. Parking is available but very limited, and the access road is always full of tourists taking wedding or portrait photos, making driving difficult. The location is excellent, right at the Bund end of Nanjing East Road, a five-minute walk from the subway. **Cleanliness**: Extremely clean. **Service**: Excellent.

Overall, I think the hotel experience was quite good. Even though we arrived at the hotel after 9 PM on a Friday night, as repeat guests, the hotel gave us a signed photo of Chip 'n' Dale. However, my dissatisfaction this time stems from Trip.com. I had contacted the hotel through the Trip.com platform in advance to ask if they could arrange a small celebratory cake for our wedding anniversary and provide a higher-floor room. Trip.com never responded. When I arrived at the hotel, they said they hadn't received any of my requests. If we had arrived earlier, we might have been able to get a higher-floor room, but since we arrived so late, only a second-floor room was available, and it was a 'tail-end' room, incredibly far from everything. I've used Trip.com for so long, always thinking it was cheap and convenient, so this was genuinely disappointing. **Early Park Access (up to 1 hour prior to opening):** You can enter the park an hour early, but it depends on your room key card. You need the red key card. We brought the wrong one and had to rush to the service center, which took a long time. I think this is a bit unnecessarily complicated. **Shuttle Bus/Wishing Star Lake Ferry:** The ferry is very convenient, direct point-to-point, and gets you to the hotel quickly. The biggest surprise was being able to watch the Halloween fireworks from the hotel balcony. Plus, hotel parking is free, you just need to show your reservation.

Peninsula and Four Seasons are brands I trust worldwide, but this Shanghai location, to be honest, is a bit dated, haha. The front desk service lacked warmth, with robotic answers. I also don't understand why they deducted a few yuan as a handling fee from my deposit during checkout 🤔. The breakfast taste was pretty average, Waldorf completely outshines it ✌️. The only good food was what's pictured! The hair salon downstairs is a total rip-off; even after explaining I was a tourist, they insisted I top up a membership or else they'd charge a 15% service fee! Hair wash, blow-dry, and Kérastase treatment usually cost around 2300-2500 RMB across China, but they charged 4500 RMB this time, really dragging down the hotel's service quality. It seems they're desperate for money 😂. I suggest replacing them!

The hotel experience was really good. The location is excellent, right by the Lujiazui Central Green Space, making shopping, dining, and subway access very convenient. The service was also great; we had someone guide us to the front desk upon check-in, and deliveries could be sent directly to the room. The concierge service was excellent. It was just a cloudy day, so I hope to visit again when the weather is better. I'll definitely choose the classic Ritz-Carlton next time I stay.

Ten thousand thumbs up! Choosing the Regent Shanghai on our anniversary was the best and most regret-free decision I've ever made. To sum it up in one sentence: Regent Seagull is the best hotel in all of Shanghai, and Priscilla is the best hotel butler in all of Shanghai. I usually don't proactively write reviews; once I've stayed, I've stayed. But if a hotel is truly exceptional and worth it, I feel compelled to write a good review, otherwise, it would be a disservice to such a wonderful place. I've stayed in many so-called luxury and ultra-luxury hotels in Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. It's no exaggeration to say that the experience at Regent Seagull absolutely trumps many hotels of the same caliber; it's leagues ahead. First, let's talk about the hotel itself. Hardware-wise: the hotel's location is undoubtedly prime in Shanghai. It truly lives up to its reputation as the hotel with the best and most premium Bund views. Up close, you have the Monument to the People's Heroes and the riverside promenade. Directly in front is the Waibaidu Bridge and the Suzhou River estuary. Looking further, the entire Bund architectural complex and the Lujiazui skyline are framed perfectly, making every casual photo look like a city magazine cover. Open the balcony door, and the surging Huangpu River rushes towards you, the Oriental Pearl Tower glimmers brightly before you, and the 'Lujiazui Three-Piece Suit' (referring to the three iconic skyscrapers) feels within reach. The view alone is worth the room rate. Since the hotel opened just within the last year or two, the decor and furnishings are also excellent—gentle yet luxurious. Compared to the dated feel of some older five-star hotels, Regent Seagull offers a modern and stylish ambiance. The bathroom system is the best in Shanghai, incredibly convenient and effective, and the rooms are impeccably clean. The breakfast is also fantastic, easily rivaling the Peninsula's and once again outshining many other luxury brands. Regarding opening hours, they're thoughtful on weekends, staying open until 11 AM. I especially recommend Regent's Shanghai pan-fried dumplings; they are truly delicious. In short, there are virtually no flaws in terms of hardware. However, what truly moved me was the service at Regent Shanghai. From the moment you step into the lobby, you can feel the warm welcome from all the staff at Regent Seagull. It felt like coming home, even though it was my first stay. Below, I want to give special, special, special praise to Butler Priscilla. Priscilla is truly the best hotel butler in all of Shanghai. From the moment we checked in, she greeted us warmly and thoughtfully prepared a welcome hot tea. She guided us to our room, and Priscilla is genuinely gentle, beautiful, and considerate, with a very soft and pleasant voice and a sweet, slightly playful smile. On the way to the room, Priscilla meticulously explained the hotel facilities and various注意事项, leaving no stone unturned, even considering details for a hotel wedding banquet and taking the opportunity to wish us good luck (I have to say, Priscilla is truly a master of conversation; a genuinely good conversationalist can make you feel utterly comfortable and connected with just a few words). Once in the room, Priscilla demonstrated all the room's features, how to open the terrace, use the minibar, and the laundry service access, and thoughtfully asked if we needed bath bombs. What deserves special commendation is that I mentioned in my reservation notes that we were celebrating our anniversary, and Priscilla truly took it to heart. She prepared a greeting card, balloons, rose petals, and a cake, and repeatedly wished us a happy anniversary. Throughout our stay, Priscilla also emphasized multiple times that we could contact her anytime for anything we needed. Indeed, no matter how busy she was, she would thoughtfully respond to every message from guests, without any hint of perfunctoriness. You could say that a hotel's hardware determines the lower limit of a guest's experience, but the staff can determine the upper limit. Butler Priscilla's warm and thoughtful service has infinitely elevated the Regent Seagull's upper limit in my mind. You can truly feel that she loves her job and genuinely cares for her guests, so she deserves all our praise. Butler Priscilla is simply the best! Unlike some luxury hotels that leave no lasting impression due to a lack of such excellent staff (while not warranting a bad review, I silently decide not to return), Regent Seagull is different. If the management of your esteemed company sees this, I hope you'll commend her profusely. Such an excellent employee deserves both spiritual and material rewards, a promotion, and a raise! Regent Shanghai is absolutely worth experiencing, and I look forward to my next stay.