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Peninsula Hotel - Shanghai, China | Hotel Review

A must see, must stay, must experience!

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Peninsula Hotel - Shanghai, China: Touted to be Asia's most stylish and avant-garde city, Shanghai now boasts of a newly opened Peninsula property, which is another feather in its already overflowing cap of glittering skyscrapers and a luxurious landscape. Located in the historic Bund region, the Peninsula manages to converge a contemporary look with that of a wealthy 1920 merchant’s home. With unapologetic luxury, state of the art amenities, excellent service and suites offering spectacular vistas, the property encapsulates the spirit of Shanghai to the core. It is forward looking, stately and modern yet holds on to its exquisite tradition with remarkable steadfastness.

Peninsula Shanghai is a part of the large Peninsula conglomerate operating in nine world-class cities all over the globe since 1928. The luxury five-star brand has become synonymous with superlative service standards, high-end opulence and state of the art amenities for added indulgence.

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We stayed there less than a week after the property’s official opening and everything went smoothly like a well greased machine, perfect!

First Impression/Lobby: We were greeted by a uniformed bellman who warmly welcomed us and promptly arranged for the transfer of our bags to our room, before escorting us to the entrance.

As soon as you enter the hotel, you find a grand entrance with The Lobby Restaurant located immediately in front of you and reception located down the corridor. With its stately appeal accentuated by lofty ceilings, lavish furnishings (in pristine white, cream, gold and dark brown nuances) and grand adornments, the lobby of the Peninsula looks nothing less than a well-heeled noble house of the early 20th century.

Keeping with the Peninsula tradition, The Lobby Restaurant has a gorgeous balcony where live music is played, making it a perfect setting for an afternoon tea. Guests can be spotted enjoying their snacks and drinks in the backdrop of the soothing music. In a nutshell, the lobby was absolutely stunning and exquisite, pure Peninsula stuff!

Reception: Once at the reception we were quickly escorted to out Deluxe Suite where the registration formalities were completed without any hassles and we were given a complete tour of our suite.

The Suite: Flagrantly luxurious, exclusive and beautiful, the Grand Deluxe Suite is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful suites I have ever seen.

Done up in hues of ink blue, cream, taupes and browns, the living room sported an elegant, well-appointed and aesthetic look, which is accentuated by the large windows, a striking huge mirror along one wall making the large living room feel even more spacious.

There was a cushy taupe couch and neat dark blue side chairs along with a center table holding eye-catching pieces of artifacts, fresh flowers, candles and incense sticks. Oriental scriptures adorned the white walls along with a dark wood showcase directly facing the mirror (which held lovely pieces of art as well). The curtains and a few cushions were pleasantly upholstered in a lovely combination of off-white and gold. Gorgeous table lamps and a stunning chandelier helped to complete the classic and gorgeous décor. I don’t know the last time I’ve seen a suite so well accessorized.

With its huge windows offering a peek into the soul of the celebrated Shanghai landscape, the living room features several vantage point views of the chic Bund region along with the Hunagpu River and the Pundong. The vista, especially in the scintillating night sky backdrop of the Shanghai landscape, is priceless.

To complete the area, the there was a small dining table with four chairs and a large work desk. For the working professional, the Peninsula Shanghai offered free Wi-Fi, a fax/copier and free VOIP long distance calling.

Despite several embellishments, the suite didn’t look overtly made up or flashy. It was designed spectacularly and arranged in an orderly fashion to create the right blend of elements.

The master bedroom was a work of art in itself as well. Decorated in white, beige, taupe and blues, the bedroom was spacious and bright, thanks in part to the large windows that stretched partway across the outer wall. Accenting the king-sized bed were two day chairs with ottomans and a large built-in wall panel holding the large flat screen TV and various coffee table books. An Asian themed painting adorned a side wall and a large light fixture dangling from the center of the ceiling topped off the Asian feel of the room.

Around the corner from the bedroom was a dressing room and an extensive closet and luggage storage area.

The bathroom exuded a plush vibe similar to the rest of the suite. There was a separate shower area, a deep soaking bathtub, twin sinks, of course lots of marble and artistic tiling adoring the area above the bathtub.

Room Service: As expected from a Peninsula property, room service was top notch, professional and perfect to the core. The staff was well-informed, efficient, got us our orders on time and went out of their way to offer friendly, personalized and attentive service.

Housekeeping: From the extremely relaxing unpacking and packing service to the daily and evening turn down service, housekeeping at the Peninsula Shanghai surpassed all our expectations. They were efficient without being intrusive and just went about doing the job brilliantly.

Concierge: Concierge service was knowledgeable, professional, well-organized, prompt and knew exactly what they were talking about. They returned calls immediately and did exactly what they said they would and when they said they would do it. Very impressive, but this is what we have come to expect from the Peninsula.

Restaurants: The only meal we had at the Peninsula Shanghai was the breakfast in their sprawling and art deco lobby restaurant, The Lobby Restaurant. The place had a majestic feel to it, with sharply dressed waiters and well-heeled patrons dining in a formal setting. The imperial looking place was enhanced by huge, imposing pillars, an elevated ceiling and square four-top tables with straight lined chairs strategically placed.

Breakfast was slow to be delivered but when it did arrive, the food and presentation was flawless, pure five-star caliber.

Another stylish, art deco style fine dining restaurant at the Peninsula was the Sir Elly’s Restaurant. Done up in hues of bright red, deep brown and white, the place exuded class throughout its premises which included a main dining area, private dining rooms and a bar counter with lovely high red stools.

The restaurant offers a spectacular view of Shanghai’s skyline and features a European inspired menu to cater to a global palate.

Yi Long Court is a Michelin Star fine dining restaurant that serves authentic traditional delights by using the famous Cantonese flavors and cooking technique. Guests can feast on everything from the celebrated dim sums and Peking duck to the Barbeque Pork and signature desserts like Chilled Sesame Pudding. There are an array of special teas and chef’s special preparations to pick from. The décor is simply stunning and elegant, with a few private dining salons adding to the swanky appeal.

Salon de Ning is one of the most exquisitely designed dining places I have ever seen. The place sports the signature elegance and opulence of the 1930’s. Everything about the place, right from its chocolate brown furnishings and gold accessories to the plush and vibrant couches (with equally attractive cushions) created a rich and sophisticated look. There were huge chandeliers, innumerable bright paintings, a stately bookshelf and comfortable chairs.

The chic lobby level Compass Bar, which is directly accessible from the Bund region, is a cozy, informal place for getting together for a couple of drinks in the evening. The furnishings are done up in deep blue and purple tones to lend the bar a spirited and effervescent look. There are deep brown timber floors along with nautical embellishments to create a fun, glamorous setting.

They have a well-stocked bar with an extensive array of drinks along with a small snack menu that serves local as well as international food delights.

Pool/Spa/Activities: Peninsula Shanghai has a large, gorgeous lap pool (be sure to see the picture, it’s amazing) along with a Neo-Classical French décor spa offering luxurious treatments by ESPA. They also have a well-stocked state of the art fitness center with all the latest equipments.

Check-Out: The check out like the service throughout our stay at the Peninsula Shanghai was quick, easy and highly efficient.

Overall Impression: From the superior service in all areas of the property to the all out luxurious and gorgeous suite, the Peninsula Shanghai is Fantastic Bombastic all the way! If you are headed to Shanghai, then a stay at the new Peninsula Shanghai is a definite must.

Click on the links below to read other five-star and luxury hotel reviews.
Aman at Summer Palace – Beijing, China
Marco Polo Parkside Hotel – Beijing, China
Peninsula Hotel - Beijing
Amanfayun Resort – Hangzhou, China

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