This 952-room twin tower hotel, situated on the banks of the Huangpu river, is a Shanghai institution. The opulent lobby of the New Tower (which opened in 2005) houses a selection of designer boutiques and upmarket gift shops, including luxury men-and-womenswear outfit Shanghai Tang. Bronze-hued guestrooms have a distinctly Asian feel, and are plush, spacious and sunny, with views over the Bund, the Huangpu or Pudong and upgrading to a suite gives you all the executive trimmings, from Nespresso machines to steam-free bathroom TVs.
With 10 restaurants on-site, dining options are lavish and extensive: iCafe, an open kitchen buffet, which offers everything from cheese and charcuterie items to Malaysian noodles and French patisserie items (the Willy Wonka-style candy station shouldn't be missed); Nadaman, a high-end Japanese joint specialising in a 'Sake Yaki' (sake and teppanyaki) brunch; and the lofty Jade on 36 for full-on glamour and fine dining with fabulous view .
Relaxation comes courtesy of CHI, Shangri-La's own brand spa, whose nine treatment rooms include several enormous doubles for couples seeking to re-balance their relationship qi.
Executive rooms start from 3350RMB (plus 15 per cent service charge); Horizon suites start from 5050RMB (plus 15 per cent service charge).