5-Star Hotels in Shanghai

The room was comfortable, clean, and hygienic. The housekeeping staff were warm and sincere. The location is convenient, and overall the experience was excellent. The front office service manager left a deep impression—highly professional, capable, and efficient in handling complex issues in a timely manner, truly commendable. Sincere, conscientious, and highly competent, they add immense value to the guest experience. They are also adept at anticipating guests' genuine needs, patiently introducing the facilities at the fitness center, swimming pool, and tennis center with great thoroughness. Their comprehensive skill set is exceptional, and their leadership qualities truly stand out.

An absolutely wonderful experience. Every staff member we met at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong greeted us warmly. Since I booked the Oriental Pearl view room for my girlfriend's birthday and requested it in advance, they even arranged a cake and decorations—huge thanks to Rosy and her team. We also booked dinner ahead of time, and they decorated the table with rose petals, which was a very thoughtful touch. The breakfast offered a great variety, and the food tasted exceptionally well-prepared and delicious. The only minor drawbacks were that the first round of the minibar wasn't complimentary and parking wasn't free, though there might be some objective reasons for this; however, these small flaws didn't overshadow the overall excellent experience. Thanks again to Rosy and all the wonderful staff at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong~

A month before the National Day holiday, I started planning our family trip with our 2.5-year-old. He's not really suited for crowded tourist spots, and as low-energy parents, we're not up for intense 'special forces' style parenting either. So, I opted for a 'staycation,' which is super popular on Xiaohongshu (xhs). I'd bookmarked several highly-rated family-friendly hotels, and Pudong Kerry stood out as the most satisfying from my research. It offered family rooms, a kids' playground, and direct access to a mall – incredibly convenient! I quickly booked a stay on Ctrip, full of anticipation. We checked in on the evening of the 3rd. The front desk lady was very polite and answered all my questions in detail. When I asked if an additional adult could accompany my child into the playground (the package included entry for one adult and one child, but I was worried I wouldn't have enough energy and we'd need to take turns looking after him 🤣), she agreed without hesitation. I'm really grateful for that, and it proved to be a lifesaver in the playground – we truly couldn't keep up with our child! He had an amazing time, and we parents were exhausted. Upon entering the room, we immediately saw the special tent, a highlight of the family suite. Forget kids, even I, a 30+ adult, wanted to crawl in and hang out for a bit! For the two days we stayed, this little tent became his 'secret base.' When we were relaxing in the hotel, he'd be in there watching Qiaohu (Chuckle) or playing with his toys. The hotel also gifted him a little kangaroo plushie. Wow, it completely won him over and became his 'best buddy.' Every night before bed, he'd ask, 'Where's my best buddy?' Hahaha, the innocence of a child really touches your heart every single moment. The kangaroo T-shirt was a bit big, but that's fine; he can wear it when he's older and we can come back to the Kerry Hotel again. During check-in, the bed rail and children's toiletries were all prepared, which was very thoughtful. The first round of the mini-bar was free, and they even provided cookies, which tasted pretty good. The only suggestion I have is that the bed rail felt a bit unstable. At the head of the bed, it was fine because of the cabinet propping it up, but the foot of the bed felt loose; if you nudged it slightly, it felt like it would fall. Later, I was worried he might roll off in the middle of the night if the rail gave way, so I stuffed pillows along the side of the rail, which solved the problem. Hotel breakfast is on the 1st floor. Booking a family room includes two breakfasts. The breakfast spread was extensive, with Chinese and Western options, noodles, wontons, bread, and pastries – everything you could want, and it all tasted good. Next to the kids' playground was a gym, which looked very good with plenty of equipment, but I didn't get to experience it as I was with my child. This trip was very satisfying, and I look forward to returning to the Kerry Hotel to unlock new experiences.

The river-view suite at The Peninsula Shanghai is undoubtedly the gold standard for a luxurious stay in the magic city. Situated in a prime location at the source of the Bund, the suite offers an unobstructed panoramic view of the winding Huangpu River and the dazzling Lujiazui skyline, featuring its iconic 'three-piece suit' of skyscrapers. Especially as night falls and the city lights up, enjoying this breathtaking night view from the comfort of your room or private terrace creates an incredibly immersive atmosphere. In terms of hardware, the suite perfectly blends understated luxury with retro charm. The spacious room design cleverly incorporates Art Deco style with old Shanghai aesthetics. A separate walk-in closet, a marble double bathtub, underfloor heating, and a highly tech-savvy bedside control panel all demonstrate an extreme pursuit of detail. Despite being open for over a decade, the hotel meticulously maintains its facilities, and the quality remains impeccable. Furthermore, the dining options within the hotel are not to be missed. Whether it's the exquisite cuisine at the Michelin-starred restaurants or the highly ceremonial English afternoon tea in the lobby, both offer an ultimate culinary delight. A stay in a river-view suite at The Peninsula Shanghai promises an unforgettable journey through luxury. Special thanks to the helpful young lady with glasses at the front desk (I was in a hurry to check in and forgot to ask her name) who kindly upgraded my reserved garden-view suite to a river-view suite for free. I also have a small suggestion: for example, the portion size of the waffles for breakfast is three times that of The Peninsula Beijing. It would be great if guests could be recommended à la carte options, as a smaller, more refined breakfast would reduce waste.

The hotel boasts an excellent location, and its blend of a magnificent historic building with East-meets-West interior design imbues every detail with profound depth and elegant charm. The guest rooms are spacious and comfortable, offering superb views of both sides of the Huangpu River. All the staff I encountered were well-trained, friendly, and provided efficient and attentive service. The breakfast buffet, featuring both Western and Chinese options, was abundant and authentic in taste. The Long Bar on the ground floor of the old building is highly recommended; it has been meticulously restored to its original appearance from a century ago, exuding a vintage yet exquisite ambiance. On Friday nights, live jazz musicians enhance the already fantastic atmosphere.

The hotel is right next to the North Square of Shanghai Railway Station and close to Metro Lines 3 and 4, making transportation extremely convenient. The housekeeping staff provides attentive service, the rooms have great soundproofing, and the shower water pressure is strong. A minor drawback is that there aren't many dining options in the immediate surrounding area. It's ideal for travelers who need to catch a train and prioritize convenient transport and a quiet, restful stay.

The Conrad Shanghai has a fantastic location and excellent front desk service. It's within a 2 km walking distance to the Bund, and very close to the City God Temple and Yu Garden. With the pedestrian street right downstairs, it's super convenient and surrounded by shopping malls. The service from Loreina, Quain, and Ivy was wonderful and warm, and the breakfast was great with a rich variety of choices.

I had a wonderful stay in the Fabulous Bund View Twin Room (Room 3016) at W Shanghai - The Bund. The room offers an angled view where you can see Lujiazui's famous trio and the Oriental Pearl Tower, while the right side overlooks the historic architecture of the Bund—the night view is especially stunning. The hotel breakfast offered a great variety with plenty of options. A special thanks to Estelle at the front desk; her warm and attentive service made me feel truly welcome. Overall, it was a relaxing and pleasant stay. If I visit Shanghai again, I would definitely consider staying here.

When I booked the Bellagio, I saw on Trip.com that its price was slightly lower than other hotels around the Bund, so I thought it would offer good value for money. However, the check-in experience was a huge disappointment. A customer service representative contacted me in advance, and I clearly stated that we would check in at 4:00 PM. Yet, when we arrived at the hotel at 4:30 PM, we were told the room was still being cleaned. After waiting for over ten minutes, we finally got in, only to find the cleanliness appalling. There was a lot of dust—the white dots in the pictures below are all dust, and there are quite a few spots like that. There was also a stale odor left by the previous guest, and standing water on the floor of the bathroom shower room. As for the swimming pool, just as the reviews mentioned, the water was very murky, though the jacuzzi water was clean. The murky pool water was likely due to a lack of a water filtration system or infrequent water changes. Honestly, the only redeeming quality of this hotel is its location near the Bund and Suzhou Creek.

Decent stay, but several misses for a 5-star property My stay at the Pullman Shanghai Central was a mixed bag—nice in some areas, but disappointing in others. Check-in: The staff were very friendly and welcoming on our first day. However, I was surprised that they wouldn't let me check in until 3:00 PM. At most other hotels, I'm usually able to get an early check-in (even if I arrive at noon), so this felt a bit rigid for a property of this level. The Room: The room itself was comfortable—the bed was soft and the shower pressure was actually perfect (not too strong, not too weak, just right). Unfortunately, the room smelled strongly of cigarette smoke upon arrival. To their credit, when I called the front desk, they immediately offered to change my room, which was very professional of them. Breakfast: This was the biggest letdown. The breakfast buffet felt more like what you'd expect from a 3-star hotel rather than a 5-star Pullman. The quality and selection just weren't there for me. Overall: It was an okay stay—nothing terrible, but nothing exceptional either. I wouldn't rate it a 10/10, more like a solid 6. Good service from the staff, but the check-in policy, smoke issue, and food really held it back.