ZHotel The Somekh Building

This hotel is a renovated old house, and due to the architectural limitations, most of the rooms are quite small. The interior facilities are designed to maximize space. Plus, it's in a prime tourist area, so booking is relatively expensive at any time. Breakfast is a semi-buffet English style, so if you're not used to Western food, you might want to reconsider. If you just want to take photos, you can simply head to the rooftop cafe and grab a coffee.

We upgraded to a Bund-view suite and the view was incredible, facing directly onto the Oriental Pearl Tower. Both the daytime and nighttime scenery were lovely. It's also not far from the subway station, which made getting around very convenient. The room facilities aren't super new, and some areas show a bit of age, but overall it was fine. Unfortunately, we happened to be there during road construction, which was quite noisy, but the hotel provided earplugs. Overall, we were satisfied~

You're definitely paying for the view here, and it is stunning. But if you want to take photos, it's best to request a room on the fourth floor beforehand. The pictures will turn out much better because there won't be any obstructions from the balcony roof, and the tram lines on the ground will be further away. The facilities, however, leave a lot to be desired. I knew the room would be small before I arrived, but I don't understand the sink design – turn the water on even a little, and it splashes everywhere. The bedside tables were so damaged, it made me wonder if they were intentionally distressed. And the room door looked like it had been pried open. For a supposedly new hotel, it's surprising there's no smart toilet; I haven't used such a cold toilet in ages. The on-site service was good, and they even offered a souvenir. The first time I called the hotel before my stay, a male staff member answered, and he was very pleasant. However, when I called again two days before check-in, a female staff member answered. Her attitude was very cold, and she even hung up without an ending, just coldly spoke and then disconnected. I almost canceled my booking because of it.

A pretty average stay overall. I picked this place because I had business near the Bund the next day, and I also wanted to experience staying in a historic building. The room was a bit small but well-equipped. The sink design was a bit impractical, as water would splash onto my clothes when I washed my face. Upon check-in, I was offered an upgrade to a room with a Bund night view and a small balcony. I declined since I was only there for business. The building itself is quite charming at night, and I saw many guests taking photos outside and having drinks at the lobby bar. It's suitable for a leisure trip, but not ideal for a business traveler who needs to work the next day. Given its location on the Bund, the price is understandable. The breakfast ambiance was nice, but the food itself was quite mediocre.

This hotel is super close to the Bund; it's a leisurely 7-8 minute stroll to the observation deck. You can reach the Fairmont Peace Hotel and Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street in just a few minutes, and it's less than a 10-minute walk to the Nanjing East Road Metro Station (Lines 2 and 10), so the location is excellent. The hotel is housed in an old building from 1918, and it attracts a lot of visitors, especially for photos on the 2nd-floor restaurant balcony – if you're not staying here, you need to make a purchase to enter. We stayed during Chinese New Year and booked two rooms with terraces on the 6th floor. The difference between the 5th and 6th-floor terraces is their size; the 5th floor has larger ones, but I think the view from the 6th floor is better. Room 616 offers views of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the 'three giants' skyscrapers, so you can enjoy the night view without leaving your room. The only downside was the breakfast – it was a bit bland and the selection was limited. The menu didn't change at all during our three-day stay, so we opted to eat out on the third day. The room size isn't huge, and the glass bathroom is semi-transparent, which is something to consider if you're particular about privacy. The bedding was quite comfortable, with Atour's signature pillows. The sink was very small, and its sloped design made water splash out easily. The bathroom isn't big and there's no space to hang clothes.

A beautiful hotel with a super picturesque terrace. It's just a few steps to the Bund, an absolutely superb location. The breakfast was also quite good. I'll definitely stay here again next time I visit.

Great location, very close to the Bund, making it pleasant for walks nearby. The hotel itself is also very comfortable. The breakfast tastes quite good, and the Xinjiang restaurant downstairs is delicious too. I stay here every time I visit.