I am planning a short trip to Shanghai. I would like hotel and dining recommendations.

Also- anyone have any University contacts there?

Visa info?

I'm bringing this thread back up, hoping that someone will respond this time. I'm thinking of going to Shanghai over Thanksgiving - can get a very cheap fare on UA. Any opinions on Sheraton? Hilton? Intercontinental? Hyatt? What is the best location for a hotel?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Check Out

http://www.worldexecutive.com

http://www.shanghaiguide.com

http://www.thatsshanghai.com

Should get all your hotel requirements and restaurants here. Obviously hotels are a matter of budget, location and preference so its hard to make any reccomendations.

HOTELS: I'd pass on the Sheraton for sure (terrible location). IIRC, the Intercontinental is also pretty inconvenient (Pudong Road, right?). The Hilton is a bit run down, but sometimes they offer very good prices on suites. The Hyatt is certainly the most impressive hotel in Shanghai, but having to rely on that silly tunnel can be a real drag (I live in Lujiazui, myself). Basically, the PORTMAN (at Shanghai Center) is still the nicest hotel in Shanghai right now and I'd certainly stay there if you can get a decent rate -- they run specials all the time. If you want to save $, you might consider the Peace Hotel (right on the Bund), the RuiJin Hotel (probably the hippest hotel in Shanghai right now -- great location in Ruijin Park), or maybe the Sofitel or 4 Seasons. I don't have a good handle on the sub $50/night market right now, but would be happy to do a little digging if you're interested.

FOOD
As for food, I don't like Chinese food so you'll have to get those recs elsewhere, but I do consider myself an expert on other culinary options in SH. My favorite dining experience here is the Sunday brunch at the Portman for Y400 -- free flowing Moet, caviar, fresh oysters, crepes, souflets, filet mingon, you name it. (All the hotels have brunches, but this one's the best.)

At Xiantiandi (very touristy and yuppified, but you have to go there), lunch at Paulaner is good (great beer), as are burgers at Kabb and Cuban grub at Che. It's hard to really go wrong at Xiantiandi -- just check the menu before deciding because some of those places are a bit pricy.

Nearby, you might want to check out Park 97, where you'll find sister restaurants to some of the more popular places in Lan Kwai Fong in Hong Kong, including the very-popular California Club and Tokio Joe's. There's also a nice Italian place nearby called Di Marco -- reasonable prices.

Moving west, you'll come to Ruijin Park (see Ruijin Hotel above), which is between Ruijin 2 Rd. and Mao Ming S. Rd. The buildings there are pretty cool, and a lot of people like the Thai restaurant (La Na Thai) there and of course FACE, which is probably the most popular bar in SH these days.

Continuing west, there are lots of good eateries near the Shanxi Road subway station, including Tandoor (expensive Indian), Hai Zhi Xing (cheap sushi, all you can eat/drink), Just Be It (fondue), Sasha's (steaks++, nice atmosphere), Bali Laguna (Indonesian food in Jing An Park; great ambiance), plus lots of Brasilian BBQs.

In Pudong, you'll have to check out the Hyatt (Jin Mao Biulding) of course. I suggest cloud 9 (the appetizer platter is pretty good) for the view or the Itialian restaurant on the 54th floor (a very good value considering what you get). I'm also a big fan of the SunTory Lounge (Japanese), which is close by.

I suppose that's enough for one post. Feel free to email if you have any more questions.

Oops! I just realized this thread is over a year old.

[This message has been edited by moondog (edited 11-06-2002).]

Yeah, the thread is a year old, but now that it's been revived....

I stayed on a six-night HHonors award stay at the Shanghai Hilton (also called the Jing'An Hilton). It was fine -- no evidence of being "rundown" at least in the room I got or in the public areas. The location in the French Concession is very good; an interesting neighborhood in its own right, and subway line 2 is nearby. (Shanghai traffic is such that sometimes the subway is faster than a taxi!)

As an HHonors Diamond I had access to the executive lounge and the food there (both the breakfast and evening snacks) and service were very good.

FWIW, in Shanghai there is a branch of the famous Beijing restaurant Quan Ju De whose specialty is Beijing Duck; it's located on Huahai Road. Delicious!

Kathy

I will be staying in Shanghai for a couple of nights in February and I want a hotel that overlooks the river etc.
The Hyatt is one , but I believe that it is sometimes in the clouds, can any Ftalkers help?
Rgds

If you're looking for character, I'd recommend the Peace Hotel, North building.
http://www.shanghaipeacehotel.com/indexe.htm

Decent rates at http://www.asiatravel.com/china/shanghai/peacenorth/index.html
Rich

Have a 5 day stay to plan at the St Regis and was wondering, when it is the best weather there. Like warm days without humidity. Spring? Early summer?

Thanks.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Gus:
I want a hotel that overlooks the river etc.
The Hyatt is one , but I believe that it is sometimes in the clouds, can any Ftalkers help?</font>

You are correct about the Hyatt. For a very similar view from Pudong across the river to the Bund the place to be is the Shangri-La. I stayed there many times before the telecoms industry slump forced us to use cheaper places. The rooms are good (especially the higher floor, Bund-facing ones) and the service fine. I also like the Japanese restuarant and B.A.T.S, the bar in the basement which had much better live music than is usual in Asia.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by classy:
Have a 5 day stay to plan at the St Regis and was wondering, when it is the best weather there. Like warm days without humidity. Spring? Early summer?

Thanks. </font>

The climate here is similar to Washington DC. Fall is the nicest, followed by spring. It starts to get hot and muggy in early May. I really like the St. Regis, but be warned that it's in a very inconvenient location. I suggest you stay somewhere else and try to grab a dinner at the Itallian restaurant (best view I've seen anywhere in SH!). I'd go for the Hyatt over the Shangri-La if you can get a good rate. IMO the rooms and restaurants are nicer and it's just a classier place. Plus, the Shangri-La feels a little isolated because it's trapped between the mall and the river. Of course, the same goes for anywhere in Pudong (where I live) -- the YanAn Tunnel is my greatest enemy in SH.

PS - If you have St. Regis credit to burn, you might want to consider doing so at the Beijing location. Many people feel that the St. Regis is the nicest hotel up there these days.

[This message has been edited by moondog (edited 11-28-2002).]

Thanks for the fast response.

Is the Mall like in shopping?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by classy:
Thanks for the fast response.

Is the Mall like in shopping?

</font>

Er, not in the sense that it is usually understood in the US, no http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Personally I prefer the Shangri-La to the Hyatt - the Hyatt is just too over-the-top pretentious: the staff are too busy preening themselves in their oh-so-trendy black uniforms to actually give you any decent service. They also seem to expect outrageous (i.e. American) levels of tipping.

The Shangri-La is much more welcoming. Yes it is an older building, but not that old. Shangri-La consistently wins "best hotel chain in Asia" awards for good reason.

And the best way for a tourist to get across the river from the Shangri-La (or the Hyatt for that matter) is the metro or the ferry and then pick up a taxi on the other side.


[This message has been edited by christep (edited 11-29-2002).]

Christep,
Thanks for the info, I'll try the Shangri-La,definitely sounds better than the Hyatt.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by classy:
Thanks for the fast response.

Is the Mall like in shopping?

</font>

Different than the US concept yes, but not that different. Here's a link:

http://www.superbrandmall.com/

At present, the SBM is still growing up, but it promises to be an awe-inspiring place (good or bad, is anyone's guess) once it really takes off. The best US comparison I think of is the Beverly Center, only much bigger, more crowded, and loaded with strange architectural features (such as coffee shops and bars that span multiple floors at angles).

A few more thoughts on the Shangri-la. I was there this morning and learned that they have a special rate of $160/night through 2-28, including breakfast (which is quite nice). I'm guessing you could get a room for about 20% less than that with good negotiating skills and/or a corporate account to reference.

The construction on the Shangri-la extension really is quite unsitely -- be sure to get a river view room.

As far as getting across the river's concerned, the boat is okay, but is a 1km walk from the hotel, you'll have to wait around 7 minutes, and once you get to Puxi, you're really not much better off with respect to traffic. The subway station is only around 300-400m away -- the main problems there are the excessive crowds and the possiblility of having to change trains at People's Square. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if you were only there for a few days, but these are the breaks I deal with on a regular basis that so often keep me on the east side of the river when I would otherwise go some place more interesting. The bottom line is that Puxi is much more interesting than Pudong so you might seriously consider staying over there. (The view of the bund is nice, but might not be worth the hassel.) As far as the Hyatt v. Shangrila debate is concerned, Christep's points are all valid. I just like the Hyatt because its uniqueness and facilities almost justify staying in Pudong.

Moondog,
Thank you for being so helpful, although I am now a little confused where to stay.
I am having a reward flight to Shanghai with Virgin, and I wanted to visit for a couple of days because way back in 1967 I visited Shanghai when I worked on a ship, yes in the Chairman Mao days. If I remember correctly we were only allowed to visit a couple of places in Shanghai in those days.
I love ships and the sea and I want to stay somewhere in Shanghai which has a great view of the river and all the different types of vessels etc. For my evening activities it doesn't matter if they are a little quiet as I am also visiting, HKG, BKK and Pattaya !!!
So I'll have a quiet visit to SHA, visit a few places and sip a cocktail or two and watch the world go by from my room.
Rgds

Gus: I didn't intend to come down so hard on the Shangrli-La. I actually spend quite a bit of time there myself. If the view is your primary consideration, then the logistical inconveniences that trouble me aren't that big a deal. (My perspective is different; I've gotten used to the interesting ships, but have yet to befriend the tunnel.)

That's no problem moondog, is it safe to walk through the tunnel? if taxis transit the tunnel do they get held up in traffic jams or have you just been through there so many times you get fed up with it. I quite fancy going across on the ferry.
I'm certainly looking forward to returning to Shanghai, it was a culture shock for a 22 year old in 1969.I believe I may still have some Mao badges in the loft!
I need to book a one way flight to HKG, I don't know if you know where I can find a good deal.
Rgds

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Gus:
That's no problem moondog, is it safe to walk through the tunnel?
</font>
No, but there is a tourist tunnel with tram that takes you across the river and provides a light show to boot. It is pretty painless, leaves from near the Shangri-la, but is very expensive. Worth doing one round trip certainly. (You can use your return ticket whenever you want.)
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
if taxis transit the tunnel do they get held up in traffic jams or have you just been through there so many times you get fed up with it.
</font>
Taxis are not allowed in the tunnel AT ALL during morning and evening rush hours. Going is relatively smooth after 9pm, but afternoon and evening (immediately before and after the official rush hour) are pretty slow going.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
I quite fancy going across on the ferry.
</font>
Based on your interests, I can't imagine that you wouldn't enjoy the ferry. Cost is only .5RMB. There are also site seeing tour boats that leave from the funny pyrimid thing on the bund (the ferry on right in Pudong goes right there).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
I'm certainly looking forward to returning to Shanghai, it was a culture shock for a 22 year old in 1969.I believe I may still have some Mao badges in the loft!
I need to book a one way flight to HKG, I don't know if you know where I can find a
good deal.
</font>
You might consider going to Shenzhen (only about Y620) and taking the express bus/ferry to Kowloon. Any TA here can book this fare for you. Let me know if you want some numbers or else just check out thatsshanghai. To fly directly to HKG is around $200.

I'll revive this thread as well.

It looks like I might be shipping off to Shanghai for 4-5 weeks in March/April, and, if the proposal comes through, I'l be spending the majority of my time working AT the airport (Pudong).

Any of you have a hotel recommendation that balances airport convenience and good access to what Shanghai has to offer? It's highly likely that I'll be spending the majority of my time in a windowless office, but it would be nice to have relatively easy access to the outside world if I get a break.

Thanks.



[This message has been edited by snorkmaster (edited 02-19-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by snorkmaster:
[B]Any of you have a hotel recommendation that balances airport convenience and good access to what Shanghai has to offer? It's highly likely that I'll be spending the majority of my time in a windowless office, but it would be nice to have relatively easy access to the outside world if I get a break.
[B]</font>
The St. Regis and the Holiday Inn are the two closest hotels to PVG, but "close" is a relative term (35 minutes v. 40 minutes). Given this and that there is nothing around either of the aforementioned properties, I suggest either the Hyatt or the Shangri-La because Lujia Zui is increasingly interesting and you'll be reasonably close to the action in Puxi.

Thanks moondog.

Are there any hotels that are truly "close" to PVG? Given the nature of the assignment, I wonder if I'll be forced to stay on/near airport property.

Also, what's the incremental difference in "commute time" between St. Regis/PVG and Hyatt/PVG?

Thanks again.

EDITED TO ADD: Looks like I'm going -- maybe even next week. I really can't find anything detailed about the maglev train service -- is this now operational? Is the Longyang Road station in an interesting area and/or near any of the aforementioned hotels?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by moondog:
The St. Regis and the Holiday Inn are the two closest hotels to PVG, but "close" is a relative term (35 minutes v. 40 minutes). Given this and that there is nothing around either of the aforementioned properties, I suggest either the Hyatt or the Shangri-La because Lujia Zui is increasingly interesting and you'll be reasonably close to the action in Puxi.</font>


[This message has been edited by snorkmaster (edited 02-21-2003).]

I'll be making my first trip to Shanghai March 23-29. Moondog, thanks for all of your advice! As it turns out, I'm booked at the Hua Ting - any comments on what to expect?

Any other restaurant recommendations greatly appreciated as well.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by snorkmaster:
Thanks moondog.

Are there any hotels that are truly "close" to PVG? Given the nature of the assignment, I wonder if I'll be forced to stay on/near airport property.
</font>

They could be lying (i.e. defining "hotel" in their own terms), but the Holiday Inn purports to be the closest hotel to PVG.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Also, what's the incremental difference in "commute time" between St. Regis/PVG and Hyatt/PVG?
</font>
Hyatt is aprox 5 minutes further away (35 v. 40 min).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
I really can't find anything detailed about the maglev train service -- is this now operational?
</font>

TMK, Maglev won't be up and running until the end of this year.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Is the Longyang Road station in an interesting area and/or near any of the aforementioned hotels?
</font>

No. It's terribly uninteresting. Frankly, I'm perplexed as to why they chose it for the terminal of their fancy train (I guess they're planning on running it all the way to Hongqiao eventually and felt that the southern route was less congested). If interested in the Maglev and the Shanghai master plan, you might want to try to stop by the urban planning museum when you're in town. I've heard it's very interesting.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JHunter:
I'll be making my first trip to Shanghai March 23-29. Moondog, thanks for all of your advice! As it turns out, I'm booked at the Hua Ting - any comments on what to expect?
</font>

The Huating isn't fancy, but has comfortable rooms and nice ambiance. You might want to try to get a quote from the Hengshan Hotel as well -- same price range and always running specials, but in the heart of the French Concession.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Any other restaurant recommendations greatly appreciated as well.
</font>

Let me know what kind of food you like (best to use email since I haven't been able to check FT too often of late) and I'll get to work on it. Also, be sure to check out the following websites:

http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/entertainment/shanghai
http://www.thatsshanghai.com/

Moondog, thanks for all the great Shanghai information, especially on the restaurants! I am going to print this out for my trip to Shanghai in June. I used to live in Shanghai in the early 90's and am amazed at the wide variety of food options now.

Gus, Please give us your report on your trip after you go! I would be interested in hearing your reactions to the new Shanghai after not having visited in such a long time.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by moondog:
My favorite dining experience here is the Sunday brunch at the Portman for Y400 -- free flowing Moet, caviar, fresh oysters, crepes, souflets, filet mingon, you name it. (All the hotels have brunches, but this one's the best.)</font>

Realizing that some of you are using my food recs to help guide your dining choices, I wanted to mention that I've recently switched my brunch vote over to the Westin. While I'd still probably do the Portman if I was only in town for a short stint, the Westin is nice because it offers basically the same food (and a magic show) for half the price -- the champagne is Clicquot.

OK. I'll bring this one back from the dead ("The Thread that wouldn't die" http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif).

I'm going to be staying at The St. Regis (Poor location, but an unbeatable deal on a two room suite meant I couldn't justify paying the Hyatt $60 more per night for a far worse room).

Any advice on the current vote for best Brunch? Apart from Cloud 9 and the St. Regis' own Italian (Ironically I thought the Italian Restaurent of the same name in the St. Regis Beijing was poor even by Asian Standards, and was charged at Western Prices!) are there any other Gastro highlights?

Thanks.

Regards,
Alex

see below

[This message has been edited by moondog (edited 07-15-2003).]

The St. Regis isn't that strong IMO because they use a set meal format and try to inject too much Chinese flavor into their "Italian" dishes. My advice is to eat dessert there at night with a nice bottle of wine -- the atmosphere is hard to beat.

As for my votes, my opinion hasn't changed since my 2-28 post: Portman for quality, Westin for value. The 4 Seasons is a happy medium.

If you don't drink champagne, then the Hyatt and Shangri-la are okay, but not quite worthy of being ranked in tier 1 IMO. Speaking of champagne, Moet is still the brand of choice at most of the top establishments; the Westin, Radisson, and a few others serve Cliquot, while the St. Regis offers a pretty nice Pol Roger. BTW, I read somewhere that when the Portman and Swiss first initiated their free flowing champagne policies several years ago, they accounted for over 60% of the Moet consumption in China. I'd be curious to see how much they're paying per bottle.

WARNING: The Westin is located about 3 blocks from the Bund, but many taxi drivers will take you to the Sheraton Honqqiao if you say "Westin" because that hotel used to be a Westin. The brunch at the latter is not worthy of commentary.



[This message has been edited by moondog (edited 07-15-2003).]

Thank you! Very useful indeed.

Regards,
Alex

Hey I am trying to check out online hotel info for the Hengshan and the Ruijin Hotel per previous recommendations on here. Any suggestions on where to get rates/make online reservations?

has anyone stayed at 88 Xintiandi before? looks very nice from the outside, but i'm interested to hear some independent reviews. thanks.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dynasty:
Hey I am trying to check out online hotel info for the Hengshan and the Ruijin Hotel per previous recommendations on here. Any suggestions on where to get rates/make online reservations?</font>

I like this site for the user reviews:

http://www.asiahotels.com/

.....but, it isn't very comprehensive AND the prices are about 20-25% higher than what can be attained by speaking with the manager directly. Other than Priceline, I don't know of any booking sites that give really good rates in Asia these days.

In other words, you'll probably come out on top if you call the hotel directly and on top of the top (to borrow an old Chinese expression) if you get a Shanghai native to negotiate on your behalf.

Moondog,

What is your take on M on the Bund these days? I have heard mixed reviews - great view but okay food. I will be in Shanghai in two weeks (after a 7 year hiatus) so like the idea of going to a restaurant with a fantastic view of the Bund. Any other view recommendations (you suggested St. Regis in one of your previous posts - how does this compare?)

Thanks!

I've never eaten at M, but the drinks are as good as anywhere (decent champagne prices too).

It's hard to compare the view with the St. Regis', but if I had to choose one over the other, I'd probably go with M just because it's more uniquely Shanghai.

Handel Lee's new complex -- 3 on the Bund -- is supposed to be pretty fly. I'll try to check it out before I leave on Wed.


<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dynasty:
Moondog,

What is your take on M on the Bund these days? I have heard mixed reviews - great view but okay food. I will be in Shanghai in two weeks (after a 7 year hiatus) so like the idea of going to a restaurant with a fantastic view of the Bund. Any other view recommendations (you suggested St. Regis in one of your previous posts - how does this compare?)

Thanks!</font>



[This message has been edited by moondog (edited 08-02-2003).]

Couple of links I posted a few months ago:

http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/Forum42/HTML/000006.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/Forum42/HTML/000005.html

More on Ruijin Hotel:

I have some friends that want to stay at Ruijin in October so I went over there today to do a little recon and negotiation. Unfortunately, there weren't any managers around when I stopped by so I didn't make substantial progress on the latter front, but I did check out a few rooms and get the web address:

http://www.shedi.net.cn/outEDI/Ruijin/

The rooms were quite good in my opinion, better equipped than all but the nicest renovated apartments I've seen in the same neighborhood and very large.

I also got the current rack rack rate list: $85 for standard single, $150 for superior standard, $225 for executive superior, $300 for deluxe suite, $400 for complex suite.

The girl at the front desk immediately slashed 20% off of those rates, but my goal is to get them below Y500 for the superior standard.

Edited to add: a friend of mine recently got a standing commitment for Y350, which is a pretty sweet deal (and ostensibly transferable).

[This message has been edited by moondog (edited 10-21-2003).]

Radisson Plaza Xing Guo Hotel: Has anyone stayed here? What's it like?

Thanks.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by edcli:
Radisson Plaza Xing Guo Hotel: Has anyone stayed here? What's it like?
</font>

I haven't stayed there, but go there on occasion as part of my buffet circuit. The grounds and facilities are top notch and serene; the chef is very good; and the staff seems reasonably competant. The bad news is that the location, while preferable to Hongqiao/Gubei, isn't very good, IMO probably not worth it if you're paying anywhere north of $125.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by moondog:
I haven't stayed there, but go there on occasion as part of my buffet circuit. The grounds and facilities are top notch and serene; the chef is very good; and the staff seems reasonably competant. The bad news is that the location, while preferable to Hongqiao/Gubei, isn't very good, IMO probably not worth it if you're paying anywhere north of $125.

</font>

Thanks for your help! It's part of a cheap travel package. So I guess I'll deal.

I've got one more question relating to airport departure tax:
I'm traveling to Qingdao after my Shanghai visit. On my return back to HKG, i'm going through Shanghai (Pu Dong) to switch planes. Can I
(a) just purchase the international tax or
(b) do I have to pay both a domestic tax at TAO and international tax at Pu Dong.

Thanks in advance.

I think I'll resurrect this puppy. I will be in Shanghai for six nights in mid-November. I'm considering staying at the Rui Jin. Any opinions? Also, should I try phoning directly to book? Any ideas about what rate I can expect to pay? I do have a couple of Mandarin-speaking co-workers who can do the bargaining for me. Regarding hotels in general, is phoning directly likely to yield a better rate than using a hotel Web site or Priceline? If the Rui Jin is on the outs, I'd appreciate other hotel recs. up to say $125 or $150 per night (although I'd prefer a little lower) TIA.

I have a friend who's going spring of next year. He's a bit of a food hound (I'm not), so I was wondering if anyone knew of any good sites for finding high caliber restaurants? Or if anyone has any particular recommendations? He's pretty much open to anything in terms of cuisine, despises chain restaurants, dislikes noise and bustle and pushy waiters, and wouldn't want to go to somewhere that had great food but lousy decor.

In your hotel conceige, you should be able to pick up some free Shanghai magazines. In it, you will be able to find listing of the restaurants and review.

I have tried the following restaurants and found the nice and decor to be nice (based on my personal experience). As the addresses I have are in Chinese, you may wish to call them to find out the directions for going there and as well as to make a reservation:

A) South Beauty Restaurant Co. Ltd
Tel: 021-50471817/1917
You should try the one at Pudong SuperBrand Mall. It has nice view of the skyline of Shanghai while dining. Reservation is strongly recommended. It serves Chinese food and price is reasonable. You can visit the website for details at:- http://www.qiaojiangnan.com/

B) EEST Crystal Garden Restaurant at Westin Hotel
Tel: 021-63351787
Usually, they will have buffets (International food - Chinese, Western, Thai, Japanese) and it is usually in the price range of RMB200 per person, which is a little on the high side. But quality of food is nice and quiet & comfortable decor, coupled with excellent service. If you are a member of Asia Miles FFP, you can earn miles for your meal by presenting your Asia Miles card at point of payment.

C) Shintori Restaurant
Tel:021-54045252 / 021-64660505 / 021-54040707
There are several outlets for this restaurant. It is originated from Taiwan. It has quiet environment coupled with unique chinese food. Price is reasonable and after you have finished your dinner, you can proceed to the wine bar to unwind yourself till late at night.

D) Simply Thai
Tel: 021-64459551
This is a Thai restaurant which is pretty popular. However, prices can be a little expensive especially so if you compare to the prices that you can get in Thailand. Nevertheless, it has nice settings and if you are craving for Thai food, you can give this place a try.

Well, hope that these 4 places will give your friend a good start in Shanghai.

I think I'll resurrect this puppy. I will be in Shanghai for six nights in mid-November. I'm considering staying at the Rui Jin. Any opinions?

i've recommended the rui jin in the past (earlier in this thread, i think) and stand by my sentiments. the location is great, the gardens' serene, and the mystique "old shanghai". that having been said, getting one of the big rooms is an imperative (they cost more).

be advised that if money is no object up to your threshold, you can stay almost anywhere in the city, provided you are a decent negotiator and/or can reference any corporate agreements. if i were in that boat, i'd probably go for the portman because i like the gym or the jw marriott because it is new. i would pass on other places within striking distance (shangri-la, hyatt, westin, st. regis) because i think they're overrated. the 4 seasons would be a decent pick as well, though not necessarily better than the portman (except for the rooms) and probably not less than 150.

i started a thread on shanghai restaurants (do a search) earlier this year in which i reposted and commented on the "that's shanghai" restaurant awards. all my thoughts, in addition to those from other fters, are contained therein. (btw, i'm no food expert, but i do eat out almost every meal so i have lots of data under my belt.)

i've recommended the rui jin in the past (earlier in this thread, i think) and stand by my sentiments. the location is great, the gardens' serene, and the mystique "old shanghai". that having been said, getting one of the big rooms is an imperative (they cost more).

be advised that if money is no object up to your threshold, you can stay almost anywhere in the city, provided you are a decent negotiator and/or can reference any corporate agreements. if i were in that boat, i'd probably go for the portman because i like the gym or the jw marriott because it is new. i would pass on other places within striking distance (shangri-la, hyatt, westin, st. regis) because i think they're overrated. the 4 seasons would be a decent pick as well, though not necessarily better than the portman (except for the rooms) and probably not less than 150.

Rui Jin was sold out for my first night, and quoted my Beijing-born co-worker $120/night (with discount) for the other nights for the deluxe room. I called back at night (in english) to get another mgr, but she quoted me the $150/nt from the Web site (and a price above the Web site for the smaller room!). I decided to book the Crowne Plaza using points for my first three nights (out of the way, but cabs are cheap). My co-worker had his China-based brother call the Rui Jin for me, and he got me the deluxe room for $95/nt for my last three nights. My co-worker called the Portman and was quoted over $200 + tax. Thanks for your help moondog.

shanghai peace hotel (http://hotelguidechina.com/product_info.php?products_id=31) is a good choice,
or you can check the shanghai hotels map (http://hotelguidechina.com/index.php?cPath=16) for more detailed guidance.

I am planning a short trip to Shanghai. I would like hotel and dining recommendations.

Also- anyone have any University contacts there?

Visa info?

You are correct about the Hyatt. For a very similar view from Pudong across the river to the Bund the place to be is the Shangri-La. I stayed there many times before the telecoms industry slump forced us to use cheaper places. The rooms are good (especially the higher floor, Bund-facing ones) and the service fine. I also like the Japanese restuarant and B.A.T.S, the bar in the basement which had much better live music than is usual in Asia.

I have been to Shanghai 10-12 times. I have stayed in most of the places everybody speaks of in this forum. In the past 4 years I have exclusvily stayed at the Grand Hyatt. The service, rooms, food, and bars are simply the best. I am a SPG Platnuim member and could easly stay at the St.Regis or the Weston. The Weston has nice a location but niether of these hotels are of the Hyatt standard.
One side point is the Shangri-la Pudong is a very nice hotel and I have never stayed there but have been there for meetings many times.

Check Out

shanghai peace hotel (http://hotelguidechina.com/product_info.php?products_id=31)

shanghai jinjiang hotel (http://hotelguidechina.com/product_info.php?products_id=32)

shanghai park hotel (http://hotelguidechina.com/product_info.php?products_id=247)

Should get all your hotel requirements and restaurants here. Obviously hotels are a matter of budget, location and preference so its hard to make any reccomendations.

Now that this thread has been bumped I will move it to the China forum.

Regards,
Gary
aka gleff
Senior moderator

I stayed at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai last month and it gets a :td: from me. Althouh pictures on their web site makes it look good and it's rated as a 5 star in reality it's barely a 3. Lobby and rooms were somewhat dated and shabby, no internet access from the rooms either, if that is a consideration. We ended up moving to the Westin - guess your decision to stay at the Peace or not will be driven by the price you pay. Good luck to you ^ :)

In my opinion, Shanghai is not a typical tourist place for foreigner traverllers, it's a commercial center in China, before time Xiangyang Market was attractive, but it's gone now. Xitiandi is also famous but it's not that special to most westerners. But the foods and restaurants in Shanghai are worthy to mention, you can find any flavor or style food you want here, as a cosmopolitan city, you can taste any food you want if you got enough money. If you want to locate the restaurant with specific flavor you want, just go to google typing "Shanghai restaurant" or "Shanghai food" to seach, then there will be a list of links for your choosing.