Capella Shanghai Jian Ye Li

Completely exceeded expectations! Two days before my arrival, the hotel staff proactively reached out. The culture and tourism butler, Ethan, was incredibly detailed and thoughtful in his preparations, even going as far as to ask if my stay was for an anniversary or birthday – that really surprised me. Learning that my birthday was approaching, he specially arranged a small, tasteful decoration. It wasn't overly fancy or gimmicky, just simple and cozy. The check-in process was also very comfortable. A kind lady from the library promptly brought warm tea and snacks, and Ethan personally guided me through, soothing any first-time jitters. I had read reviews about having to go up and down stairs and was worried my mother might find it inconvenient, but after experiencing it, I found the room layout to be very sensible. It was far better than the previous hotel, where I could get lost without even climbing stairs. Upon entering, the subtle aroma was pleasant, and the entire space was bright and clean. The pavilion room was converted into an audiovisual room, the minibar was well-stocked, and when I turned on the TV with the White Rabbit comic series, my mom immediately fell in love. Breakfast was à la carte, with perfect portions and fresh, delicious food. The pre-meal croissant was incredibly crispy. Returning to the room, there was another surprise! Besides the small cake on the first day, there was a proper cake on the second – they are truly so enthusiastic! All the staff members were smiling, friendly, diligent, and responded very quickly. Ethan, especially, replied to messages in seconds. I've experienced other culturally themed hotels converted from old buildings in different cities before, but none have impressed us as much as this one. That evening, my mom immediately decided to change our flights and return here for an extra night after our remaining itinerary. If we didn't have other plans, we would have extended our stay directly. Overall, the value for money is incredibly high. We had a wonderful and unforgettable night here, and we will undoubtedly choose this place again on our next visit to Shanghai!

Overall, it's a 60 out of 100, just barely passing. This score is based on Capella's own positioning as a luxury hotel. Generally speaking, it's not on par with The Peninsula Shanghai, and it's a world apart from Capella Bangkok. I won't go into the good parts, as those are what a hotel of this caliber should deliver anyway. Let me mention some areas for improvement, so they can be addressed. The service was generally up to standard. The concierge, front desk, spa, boutique, cafe, and restaurants were all good. Engineering and in-room dining had slight flaws. As for cleanliness, aside from a hair on the bathroom glass door and some dust in hard-to-reach spots, everything else was acceptable. Considering the high occupancy during Christmas, the overall cleanliness was tolerable. The breakfast delivered to the room wasn't hot right away, indicating that meal preparation times weren't well coordinated during peak occupancy. Finally, let's talk about the room's maintenance... it practically deserves a 0. The nightlight under the bed had fallen off, over half of the LED lights on the closet rail weren't working, and the two vanity lights in the bathroom buzzed so loudly it gave me a headache. The living room air conditioner, even at 32 degrees and maximum fan speed, provided no heating. Both the living room and bedroom intercom systems constantly emitted a buzzing sound while on standby. The most outrageous part was that neither of the TVs in the media room and bedroom worked. We called engineering to fix them, and re-connecting didn't help. Then the engineer actually said the TVs were broken... which is ridiculous. We could see the TV menus, so how could the TVs be broken? It was clearly a cable TV signal issue. Even though the hotel proactively offered solutions, including trying a new TV, guests pay over 6000 RMB a night to stay, not to help the hotel inspect rooms and do repairs. A final, completely unacceptable issue was that the electronic scale in the bathroom showed 'Lo' for low battery. That 'Lo' really showcased the quality of Capella Jian Ye Li from another perspective – a slight 'low' peeking through its seemingly luxurious exterior. The Christmas trees in the lobby and restaurant had a pungent plastic smell within two meters; couldn't they buy a slightly better quality tree? And look at the cable ties – comparing them to Mitsui Kyoto and Capella Bangkok from the same group, the quality is truly beyond words. Luxury hotels compete on details, and Capella Jian Ye Li, Shanghai, has a long way to go!

Our room was a garden villa, which felt just right for our family of three. The windows were the old-fashioned kind when opened, giving it a very nostalgic feel. The breakfast was excellent, with both Western and Chinese options, cooked to order. The bread basket was my child's favorite! The mini-bar in the room was also free, and the staff replenished it promptly every day. Every afternoon, there were small refreshments at the library, and the chocolate chip cookies were absolutely delicious. The hotel's location is superb, within walking distance to Plaza 66 and IAPM, and surrounded by several embassies, making the streets very picturesque. I would definitely choose to stay here again next time I'm in Shanghai.

The Shikumen architectural style of Capella, with its distinctive horse-head walls, creates a truly unique atmosphere. The breakfast setting is also lovely, with many adorable children around. It's wonderful to spend a few unhurried, peaceful days there.

The hygiene was good and the service was prompt. The room layout was a bit inconvenient though, having to go up and down between the 3rd and 4th floors was quite annoying. The main bathroom was too small; you'd easily hit your head when sitting down. Although breakfast was à la carte, you could order whatever you wanted. However, the variety was quite limited and it was the same every day, which felt a bit repetitive for longer stays. The spa experience wasn't great. The area around the hotel was very quiet and it was easy to get a taxi.

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.