SLH Sukhothai Shanghai -REVIEW MASTER THREAD
 

Searched the forum but didn't see a thread on this property. Seems fairly new but is now part of Hyatt's portfolio.

Anyone stayed? Seems to be getting rave reviews on TripAdvisor.

The location is pretty decent, within walking distance to the French Concession and Nanjing Road. It's across the street from the Four Season and literally the site where I went to middle school. You can see the historical looking, now vacant school building next to the hotel.

While I realize that the former French Concession extends all the way to river, the in tact parts (that people visit) are much further west.

It's within walking distance to Huaihai Road which has lots of shops and restaurants. Also within walking distance to Found 158

[Essential Guide]: Nightlife | SmartShanghai

Stayed three nights at the Sukhothai Shanghai last week, on a booking made via Hyatt.com. Rate was 10% higher, but in line with the Park Hyatt. Booked a Premier King room, and was proactively upgraded to a Studio King upon check-in. Similar layout to a Junior Suite, but very effective use of space. Arrived to the hotel at 3:00pm, so did not have the opportunity to test the early check-in perk. The 2:00pm late checkout was also confirmed, without my need to request. Was told that I would receive full-breakfast for two people each morning, and complimentary internet. Buffet was simple, but very high quality, and enjoyable for three mornings in a row. No need to sign check at the end.

Room and hotel were minimalistic themed, but extremely high on quality. Grown Alchemist toiletries in all bathrooms. Fitness center was top-notch, and huge step above the Andaz. Enjoyed dinner at Urban. Phenomenal food and service, and reasonably priced. My one complaint would be there there wasn't much ambiance. Did not get a chance to try out Zuk Bar. Taikoo Hui center across the street has great shopping and casual dining (try Hunter Gatherer for a quick and easy lunch). The Middle House up the street has a great bar (Cafe Grey) and dinner restaurant (Sui Tang Li). One of the best cocktail bars in the city is a five minute walk, el Ocho at 99 Taixing Lu.

Points and elite nights were not automatically credited. Sent an email to my Hyatt Concierge, who submitted for a manual adjustment, which was processed in approximately three days. Previously used the Andaz as my home base in Shanghai (Pudong is not convenient to my client locations, and too isolated). The Sukhothai is definitely a huge step up, and my new go-to property.

Arrived Pudong at 16:00, and was in the hotel around 17:45.

Booked the base Executive Room, and was pre-upgraded (since last week, and told to me via email) to a Premier Room. My rate for CNY 1,500. Booked for one guest, but at check-in, I was told my complimentary breakfast was for up to two people, and I could invite non-hotel-guest to join me if I wished.

English proficiency of the Reception staff was excellent. Went through the check-in formalities quickly, and was then escorted up to the room.

Pictures will follow when I have the chance.

Some first impressions:

• the room has a "residential" feel about it. (In fact, when the Reception escorted me to my room, upon opening the door, she said "Welcome Home!" I think they are trained to say this.) The room is quite similar in design and feel to the Shanghai EDITION.
• the room makes good use of space. I like the idea of the desk being placed behind the bed.
• room has wood flooring instead of carpeting. Exactly my preference.
• bathroom is good design and quite functional. Did not like that the shower did not have a sliding door. My pet peeve. Hate getting water splashed out to the bathroom area.
• bathroom amenities are Grown Alchemist (albeit, the bottled-in-China version).
• water pressure of the shower and the sink is on the low side.
• non-alcoholic soft drinks are free in the minibar. Four Nespresso capsules and three Nespresso-machine-compatible tea capsules are provided.
• went down to the gym this evening. Has a good choice of equipment. Walked around the changing room, which does have sauna, and other facilities. Quite nice.
• did not try the restaurants for dinner tonight. Met at friend at the huge Starbucks Reserve at the Taikoo Hui shopping mall (next to the hotel).
• internet is on the slow side.

Will comment more tomorrow. Will have breakfast at the hotel, as well as an afternoon meeting in one of the F&B facilities (to be decided).

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Lift lobby
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Hallway leading to rooms
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Room entrance. Quite simplistic.
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Floorplan

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I quite like the idea of the work desk being behind the bed. Frees up space in front of the TV or along the window.
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This tea set was placed on the bed when I entered the room.
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Complimentary minibar.
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Night-time view
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Night-time view
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That is the Four Seasons.
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This is the console beside the bed (both sides). Light and curtain controls are clear. Power supply and two USB ports.
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Temperature controls are easy to manage. Aircon is not on at this time of year, even though the settings indicate "COOL".

Sorry for the small photos, above. Set the wrong "export" settings on my computer. Anyway, you get the idea.

Some comments on the F&B outlets.

URBAN Cafe
On the Ground Floor. This is supposed to be a Thai-style restaurant for lunch and dinner. I didn't try it. I only visited this restaurant for breakfast. It is a good-quality buffet, but not as many choices as some other hotels' expansive buffets. For me, I prefer quality over quantity, as I am a small breakfast eater. The bottled juices looked disgusting. I have not seen orange juice before which had the orange pulp settling on the bottom (about half the bottle) and water on top (the other half of the bottle). Seriously...looked like oil sitting on water, and not mixing. A green veggie juice looked similar, as did another variety. I didn't take any.

Had breakfast at 9:00am today, but the restaurant was not full. When I passed by around noon time and also at dinner time, I only saw 2-3 tables occupied during each time.

URBAN Lounge
On the Ground Floor. In the day time, whenever I passed this Lounge, it only had two or three guests sitting at the sofas chatting. At night time, and with live entertainment, the Lounge was almost full. Seems like a good atmosphere. I didn't sit here. I just passed by and overheard the music.

Beans & Grapes
On the 2M floor, at the same level of the footbridge linking The Sukhothai to the Taikoo Hui mall. B&G is a casual dining experience...coffees, teas, juices, sandwiches, soups, salads, and pastries. Have about 8-10 small round tables with two seats each, and a long ten-seater table by the window. We took the long table for half the day today for a casual business meeting. Just kept refuelling with food and drinks from the counter. Most of us commented that the coffees are not good here; my cappuccino tasted like hot milk, with no coffee whatsoever. A second round was also the same.

La Scala
On the ground floor. This is the Italian restaurant. Booked a dinner gathering here for 6:00pm, and had to push back to 7:30pm due to guests delayed arriving. Only four tables (including our table of 6) when we were dining. The food is good. I had the roasted tenderloin, and it was delicious; the meat was juicy and tender. The a-la-carte menu is on The Sukhothai's website, so you can peruse accordingly. Prices are reasonable for a meal of this calibre, and in a five-star hotel.

Next time you stay there, I encourage you to check out the restaurants on Dagu Lu (one block south). Masala Art is one of my favorite lunch spots in town, Urban Thai is pretty solid, Taipan massage is a great value, and there are a handful of decent bars. The short of it is that the local area is much nicer than any other Hyatt property in Shanghai.

Yes, I have not been back to this immediate area for quite some time. Stayed at the Four Seasons when it first opened, and didn't like it at all. So, never returned. The closest has been at the Jing An Shangri-La, where I still regularly stay if I need to be in the area. Didn't like the St. Regis either, so have only done that hotel once. Portman Ritz-Carlton is getting old. As of now, my preference is still on the Jin An Shangri-La, but the possibility to earn membership credits for WOH at The Sukhothai may sway my future stay decisions in its favour (at least, until I hit Globalist for the year again).

Thanks for the tip on the dining options around the hotel. I would have planned for dinner outside the hotel if it were not for my various guests trickling in throughout the morning and afternoon from their incoming flights to Pudong and Hongqiao. Just made it easier to have our meeting at the hotel, and then a casual dinner in-house. I know that some of my guests would have been too tired to even walk one or two blocks outside! :)

Some last remarks...

Had breakfast at URBAN Cafe again this morning. The kitchen does change some of the hot dishes. About half were different from the previous day's breakfast offerings.

During yesterday's breakfast, I did see a gentleman walking around the restaurant and socialising with guests. Went from table to table to pass his name card, to chat, etc. I thought to myself, "that is a very good F&B Manager or Restaurant Manager".

During today's breakfast, the same gentleman was actually at the restaurant reception, and it was he who took me to my table, and then greeted me. He was all out of business cards, but introduced himself at the General Manager of the hotel! Good for him, I thought. To be so proactive with guests each morning. He wished that I enjoyed my breakfast, and would like to chat with me again before I leave. When I had finished breakfast, indeed the GM did come up to my table again. He sat himself down in the seat beside me (I didn't even offer yet); I was quite taken aback since I believe that service staff regardless of seniority/level should never engage so informally unless prompted and offered by the guest. He then sheepishly removed a card with a QR code on it, which I then saw was a link to TripAdvisor. He said that the hotel was in a partnership with TripAdvisor (whatever that means) and that he needed to get some good reviews. I politely declined to post. This is the first time I have been confronted with a hotel GM so actively trying (at least, to me) to solicit such reviews. I must say...I didn't enjoy the conversation that much from that point on.

No class or tact. Wow. Just shameless. I definitely don't enjoy being harassed or nudged into doing something like TA and wouldn't after he disturbs my breakfast like that.

My interest in this property just took a dive.