Brace for a multi-sensory feast at this high-octane, sky-high playpen, which pulls in fashionistas and hip young thangs with its spectacular posi, funky aesthetic, stellar hospitality and vibrant party atmos.
Perched on Shanghai’s iconic waterside boulevard, from the moment you step inside the soaring steel W Hotel Shanghai – The Bund, the energy is palpable; the lobby is abuzz with neon-lit installations, pulsating tunes and stylishly clad staff who are friendlier than Yue Minjun’s smiling subjects.
Towering above, the hotel’s teched-out 374 rooms are bedecked with the W’s signature pizazz. Eye-popping hues, bold patterns and uber-mod furnishings with silky chinoiserie accents feature playful motifs – such as oversized xiaolongbao and chopstick-shaped pillows – which nod to the hotel’s surrounds, but it’s the unobstructed views of Shang’s cityscape via a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that truly seal the deal. To further up the ante, consider upgrading to a higher-level Fabulous Room to take em’ in from your very own standalone sunken tub.
With such kitted-out abodes, it’s tempting to spend your entire stay holed up in your room, but the W’s various drink n’ dine options are well worth leaving it for. Neo-industrial all-day brasserie The Kitchen Table and Cantonese diner YEN are fast becoming foodie-faves, while vibey WooBar and alfrisky poolside WET Bar kick on a lil’ later.
For those looking to nourish mind n’ soul, there’s a superb fitness centre, in and outdoor dippers (the latter offering yet more wow city panos), while the heavenly AWAY Spa has an array of indulgent East-West treatments spanning hot stone massages to aura-restoring facials. Just perfect for the post-party recovery…
W Hotel Shanghai – The Bund, 66 Lvshun Rd, +86 21 2286 9999. Wshanghaithebund.com
Should you want to explore, these three LUXE picks are but a zippy cab ride from The W…
RockBund Art Museum
This six-storey multi-media giant rotates through big and new names from the Chinese contempo scene. Head to the Chipperfield-redesigned Art Deco edifice at the north end of the Bund to scope out the sixth floor terrace cafe and pretty interior atrium.
The Nest
Flaunting design-led good looks, a chic loungey ambiance and stunning views, this Bund-side beauty is perched next to RockBund. Come for the crafty, Grey Goose-infused cocktails and seafood snacks; stay for high kicks n’ hair whippin’ as the night unfolds.
8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana
Chef Umberto’s famed, Michelin-spangled, sophisti-modern northern Italian flavour bombs take Shanghai with serious swagger. Freshly baked bread and homemade pastas star alongside house-cured meats and heavenly imported cheeses. The walk-in wine cellar boasts 3,000+ bottles.
For more fab sleep, eat n’ drink spots, nab yourself a copy of the LUXE Shanghai guide…
