We have reviewed hotels in Shanghai with the best club or executive lounges to help you decide on the best choice, whether you are traveling as a couple, a family, or as a single business traveler. By reviewing each of these club lounges, in turn, I conclude which hotel club lounge comes in at the top and which hotel I would select as having the best club lounge in Shanghai.
Luxury hotels in Shanghai, China, include the Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, Four Seasons Shanghai At Pudong, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, Park Hyatt Shanghai, The Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai, Capella Shanghai Jian Ye Li, The PuLi Hotel and Spa Shanghai, Bulgari Hotel Shanghai, The Peninsula Shanghai, The Mandarin Oriental Shanghai, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong, Amanyangyun and The Middle House along with numerous Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy properties.
Don’t overthink your hotel choice in Shanghai, as there are so many extraordinary options. The overall favorite for most travelers in Shanghai tends to be The Peninsula Shanghai, ideally in its Grand Deluxe Riverfront Suite or any room with a Bund view or the Four Seasons At Pudong.
The Peninsula Shanghai has some very caring staff members, and the sweeping views beat those at the Park Hyatt just up the street, which would also deliver nice views if it weren’t for the smog. The Ritz-Carlton Pudong is beautiful if more classic in style. The Waldorf Astoria is majestic, formal, and fantastic. The Fairmont Peace has an amazing lobby, and the Puli is a brilliant hotel, too. If you choose one of the top luxury hotels in Shanghai, you can’t go that wrong.
I have compiled a list below containing the club lounges available across luxury hotels in Shanghai. I list the lounges in Shanghai that I consider to be the best of the best. I will be reviewing each of these hotel club lounges in detail in turn so that you know what you will get if you book a room with club lounge access or get upgraded to a club lounge for free because of your loyalty status.
1. Four Seasons Shanghai At Pudong
The Four Seasons Shanghai At Pudong rises high above the Pudong Lujiazui business district. This art-deco-inspired hotel sits in the gleaming 21st Century Tower, surrounded by iconic skyscrapers and bustling city streets lined with luxury shopping, restaurants, and prestigious financial centers. Awaken to panoramic views of Shanghai from your room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoy breakfast at Camelia, then hop into their complimentary house car to whisk your way to meetings or sightseeing adventures with the family.
Unwind with a swim in the infinity pool (my favorite and definitely the best in Shanghai) or at their intimate FLARE Spa before savoring the authentic Cantonese flavors at Shàng-Xí. The disadvantage of this Four Seasons is that the Pudong location isn’t great for leisure travelers, even though this is the newer of the two Four Seasons hotels in Shanghai. You are away from the tourist center around the Bund, which means that although this property is probably the best in Four Seasons in Shanghai, if your primary objective is the perfect location for a vacation, this hotel isn’t it.
One noteworthy feature of this Four Seasons is the breakfast spread, which is spectacular, spread across three different rooms. You get this free if you book via our luxury travel concierge. Pearl view rooms are fantastic, the pool will probably be one of the best pools you have ever experienced, and we love the fact that Four Seasons hotels are always child-friendly if you bring your family on your travels.
Another great thing about the Four Seasons Shanghai At Pudong is the gorgeous club lounge. Enjoy the city’s additional privileges and breathtaking views from the Executive Club Lounge on the Hotel’s 35th floor.
For a nominal fee, all guests have access to enhanced Executive Club services, which include:
- Separate desk for check-in and check-out
- Personalized Concierge services
- Easy access to the Business Centre
- Breakfast buffet
- Light refreshments throughout the day
- Aternoon tea served in the Executive Club Lounge
- Cocktail Happy Hour served in the Executive Club Lounge
- Garment-pressing service
- Complimentary in-room calls
- Wired and wireless Internet access – Standard Package
- Selection of newspapers, magazines, and books in the Executive Club Lounge
- One-hour complimentary use of the boardroom per stay (subject to availability)
- CNY 150 credit for any 60-minute or longer massage or facial treatment at FLARE Spa per person. (Reservations are necessary. Please let Spa Reception know that you are a Club Guest)
- Complimentary shuttle drop-off service within a 3-kilometre radius
This lounge is open every day from 6:30 am – 11:00 pm and offers breakfast, daily refreshments, afternoon tea, and an early evening Happy Hour.
2. Four Seasons Shanghai
The Four Seasons Shanghai rises 37 storeys above a seemingly endless urban landscape. This was the first Four Seasons to open in China and remains a favorite stop for business travelers and families. Set in Shanghai’s historical heart and with a classic feel, this well-located hotel can be found between the Bund and the former French Concession. Surrounded by shikumen architecture and bustling downtown streets that give this lively neighborhood an undeniable charm, you can enjoy Michelin-recommended Cantonese and Shanghainese cuisine at Si Ji Xuan, relax on the landscaped pool terrace or take an exalted trip back in time and tradition at Qin the Spa.
Another great thing about the Four Seasons Shanghai is the gorgeous club lounge. Enjoy a spectacular Shanghai skyline view with personalized services in an intimate environment at the Executive Club Lounge, an exclusive Puxi hideaway on the Hotel’s 37th floor.
For a nominal fee, all guests have access to enhanced Executive Club services, which include:
- Dedicated check-in and check-out
- Personalized Business and Concierge services
- Daily breakfast at the Club or Cafe Studio
- Refreshments and beverages throughout the day
- Cocktails and canapés
- Pressing service during your stay
- In-room local calls and premium internet access
- One hour use of the executive boardroom per stay
- Selection of local and international newspapers, magazines, and books in Executive Club
This lounge is open every day from 6:30 am – 11:00 pm and offers breakfast, daily refreshments, afternoon tea, and an early evening Happy Hour.
3. The Mandarin Oriental Shanghai
The Mandarin Oriental Shanghai is a gorgeous luxury hotel located in Shanghai’s new Harbour City development, a skyscraper-dotted expanse of green in the heart of Pudong’s growing financial district, just minutes away from Shanghai IFC and the Shanghai World Financial Centre. Although the hotel is across the river from the historic city center, it is conveniently located for tourists because it’s only a 10-15 minute walk to Lujiazui metro station and some of Shanghai’s major sightseeing attractions (e.g., Pearl Tower).
The Mandarin Oriental Shanghai is located on the riverside. A one-minute stroll from the hotel entrance takes you to a beautiful riverside promenade lined by lush greenery and excellent restaurants.
Guests staying in one of their 44 suites receive complimentary Club Lounge access, pictured above. Emulating the feel of a residential living room, the large yet intimate space features wood and marble flooring, a dining room, a library, and a wine bar, all of them with panoramic views of the Huangpu River and Lujiazui skyline. The views from this lounge are not as appealing as those at the two Four Seasons hotels, but as you can see from the lounge design pictured above, this is a top-notch executive lounge.
The dining room features table seating and provides access to a private dining room that can accommodate up to eight guests. The adjacent lounge area features a wine cabinet, bar, library, and conference room equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
The club lounge offers breakfast, light lunches, and Afternoon Tea during the day, and later on, evening cocktails served with a selection of European and Asian snacks. The self-service bar is stocked with a range of wines, spirits, and soft drinks.
The benefits of booking a club room with a club lounge are:
- Breakfast, light lunch, and afternoon tea available during the day
- Evening cocktails and snacks
- Discreet and efficient 24 hour check-in and check-out by dedicated Club personnel
- On-call Butler service
- Dedicated concierge service
- House car service within the Lujiazui area in a 2km radius. Available on a first-come, first-served basis
- All-day refreshments served exclusively in the Club Lounge
- Daily complimentary two-hour use of the Club business center and meeting rooms. After this, an hourly rental charge applies.
- Laundry, pressing, and dry cleaning of up to two pieces of garments per day
- Unlimited internet access throughout the hotel
- Please be advised that your room key card is required to access the Club Lounge on Level 2. Kindly note that entrance charges apply for non-club guests
In the hotel’s basement, you will find recreational facilities with a wonderful Spa, a gym (with state-of-the-art equipment), a 25-meter indoor, stylish swimming pool (with jacuzzi), and an excellent spa.
The hotel has three restaurants on-site, all of them featuring excellent and high-quality food. Fifty 8° Grill focuses on modern French cuisine, Yong Yi Ting specializes in regional Jiang Nan cuisine, while the all-day dining restaurant Zest specializes in Asian and International cuisine (with buffet).
4. The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai
Located in the heart of the city on the famous Nanjing Road, The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai is the centerpiece of Shanghai’s prestigious business and residential district. It is located directly across from the Shanghai Exhibition Center and offers stunning views of the Shanghai Skyline.
This award-winning property offers 593 well-appointed guest rooms and suites along with unparalleled service, elegant event space, an extensive health club with a swimming pool, and an outstanding restaurant and bar serving Pan-Asian cuisine and signature libations.
The Ritz-Carlton Club features luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, including four Penthouse Suites on Level 45 and The Ritz-Carlton Suite on Level 44. The club’s meeting room is an exclusive lounge for gatherings, furnished with comfortable chairs, coffee tables, reading lamps, and fresh flowers. Additional personal care toiletries, larger guest rooms and suites, and complimentary suit pressing during your stay are some of the benefits available at The Club. Concierge staff can make travel arrangements, book theatre and restaurant reservations, and plan local itineraries.
In addition to luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, the club lounge features five food and beverage presentations daily. Personal check-in and check-out service are available in the Club Lounge or in the comfort of your room. Business services are available, as well as an exclusive meeting room for 8-10 people, where the first hour is complimentary.
5. Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai
Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai is located in one of the most legendary hotel addresses in Shanghai. First opened in 1929, the Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, was celebrated as the number-one mansion in the Far East. The then-Cathay Hotel had a prime spot and plush amenities that attracted celebrities and ex-pats, especially at its renowned Old Jazz Bar.
Today, the 270-room hotel offers the same allure, although updated, as evidenced by the indulgent Willow Stream Spa, which features a skylit pool. Cathay Room & Terrace offers modern European cuisine with picturesque views of the Bund and Pudong skyline. Dragon Phoenix is the city’s premier Chinese restaurant, and the beloved jazz bar still serves up lively tunes and timeless cocktails.
At the heart of Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, lies the Fairmont Gold Executive Floor, the hotel’s executive retreat. Located on the Fairmont Peace Hotel’s ninth floor, Fairmont Gold envelopes you in an atmosphere of luxury and exclusivity. Book a Fairmont Gold room and experience luxurious interior-facing accommodations featuring high ceilings, 4 piece marble bath, and large closets. The rooms offer a coffee table, soft seating, a writing desk with a chair, HSIA, an iPod docking station, and a flat-screen television.
Unwind in the exclusive Fairmont Gold Lounge, where you can enjoy beautiful views and special privileges, including:
- Deluxe Continental Breakfast
- Daily Afternoon Tea
- Complimentary hors d’oeuvres
- In-lounge bar service
- Complimentary local calls and no service charge applied to long distance credit card calls
- Complimentary high-speed internet and Wireless access
- Complimentary iPad and Laptop are available in the Fairmont Gold Executive Lounge
- Complimentary shoeshine service
- Enhanced evening turndown service is available
- Butler service
6. InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin
I am a major fan of InterContinental club lounges. The InterContinental brand offers some of the best club lounges in London and also offers one of the top club lounges in Shanghai too.
The InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin was formerly the State Guest House of Shanghai and has a rich heritage, having served Chinese historical figures such as Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai. During the War of Liberation, the hotel was the headquarters of the Communist Party in Shanghai. The classically styled hotel is centrally located along tranquil Ruijin Er Road, close to Huaihai Road’s luxury retail, the quaint shops at Tianzifang, and the trendsetting Xintiandi bars and restaurants.
InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin is head and shoulders above the other InterContinental hotels in Shanghai. Pudong is not as luxurious as the Ruijin property and is not in such a good location. InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin is in the French Concession area, which is definitely the place to be.
The hotel itself feels historical, with an impressive and elegant lobby and beautiful twin chandeliers radiating opulence throughout the room and up through the mezzanine of the main building’s nine floors. Views here aren’t noteworthy, but the lovely gardens are so unusual for a city hotel.
Book a club room, and you get access to the Club InterContinental lounge, located within the hotel compound in a low-rise colonial-style building. You get all the usual benefits, including complimentary breakfast, all-day beverages at the lounge, afternoon tea, and evening canapés with a great beverage selection.
The rather special evening spread here includes an ice-filled tray with fresh seafood, including crab and shellfish (mussels and scallops), along with your more usual smoked salmon, cold meats and cheeses, veggies, etc., and cakes and custardy desserts. There is also a wide range of free alcohol in the lounge, from wines and beers to spirits.
7. The PuLi Hotel & Spa Shanghai
The The PuLi Hotel and Spa Shangha is conveniently located in the city’s most vibrant commercial center, the Jing’An district. The hotel melds bustling immediacy with the tranquillity of a luxurious resort.
Unique references to China’s history, from stoneware headrests to Shanghai grey bricks, are juxtaposed with iPod docks and Nespresso machines in The PuLi’s 229 guestrooms. Located on level three of The PuLi, UR Spa offers a luxurious and tranquil sanctuary from everyday life stresses. Directly adjacent is the hotel’s heated infinity pool and 100 m² state-of-the-art Health Club. The Michelin-star restaurant Phenix Eatery & Bar, by award-winning Chef Michael Wilson, presents an innovative, modern French menu.
The PuLi takes immense pride in its unique Club Floor Concept, one in which the traditional club lounge is deconstructed, and exclusive club benefits are delivered to guests in the privacy of the Club Rooms/Suites. What does this mean? It means that you get extra benefits by booking into a room on the club floor but no actual lounge. Instead, you eat in the Phoenix eatery & bar and drink in the Long Bar for free at the allocated times.
Benefits for Club Guests include daily breakfast at PHÉNIX eatery & bar, Long Bar, your guest room, or on the go. Afternoon tea at Long Bar. Evening cocktails and canapes at PHÉNIX bar, plus soft drinks, coffee, and tea all day at Long Bar, too.
- Early check-in / late check-out
- 24-hour dedicated Guest Service specialist
- Choice of non-alcoholic welcome drink
- Fully stocked mini-bar with daily replenishment
- Daily in-room aperitif
- Luxe bathroom amenities
- Daily laundry or pressing service
- 2-hour use of private meeting room
- Priority reservations at PHÉNIX eatery & bar, Long Bar and UR SPA
- One reward night for every 10 paid club room stays
- Daily RMB300 food and beverage credit
- 10% off limousine transfers
- 15% off Personal Training service
- 10% off Health Club retail items
- 20% off UR SPA treatments
The above privileges are extended on a per-person basis, as determined by the room rate; for a single occupancy rate, benefits are extended for one guest. For the double occupancy rate, benefits are for two guests.
8. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai
Ritz-Carlton hotels often offer the best club lounges in most cities, but this is not the case in Shanghai, as there are so many excellent hotels in Shanghai offering club lounges. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai is situated just across the majestic Huangpu River from the heart of downtown Shanghai, in its emerging eastern extension, Pudong. Historically a verdant agricultural tract, Pudong has been transformed almost entirely in just two short decades by the Chinese government’s creation of a Special Economic Zone within its borders. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, situated on the upper floors of an ultra-modern 58-story tower, enjoys a prime location overlooking The Bund.
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, occupies the top 18 floors of the Shanghai IFC, connected to a luxury shopping mall. The rooms overlook the Bund and the Huangpu River, and the hotel houses the world’s most intact collection of Art Deco architecture. There is also a fitness studio, spa, and indoor infinity swimming pool. Dining options include the stylish Scena for Italian cuisine and Michelin-star Jin Xuan Chinese Restaurant. While this is an excellent hotel, the other Shanghai Ritz-Carlton is in a better location for leisure travelers.
285 well-appointed guest rooms and suites from the 39th floor to the 51st-floor feature twice-daily housekeeping attention with evening turndown service as well as TV screens in all bathrooms, a lighted makeup mirror, iPod docking stations, complimentary morning newspaper, complimentary overnight shoeshine, and more.
Book a Club Room with access to the 24-hour Club Lounge and five food presentations daily. Located at level 49 of the hotel, the Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge features floor-to-ceiling windows, offering magnificent views of the Bund and Huangpu River. This exclusive area comprises a buffet area, a sofa lounge section, two workstations, and two meeting rooms. Appealingly furnished interiors provide a perfect backdrop to enjoy martinis at the bar sitting area or experience the hotel’s chefs’ unmatched culinary distinction through five food and beverage presentations daily.
The caviar night is one of the prime attractions of staying on The Club level. The Club invites guests for a caviar tasting every Friday evening, where the culinary team will present a selection of refined caviar canapés. With Chef’s creation, the Caviar Tasting menu is different from week to week and always full of pleasant surprises for all caviar lovers. Before retiring for the evening, The Club also features cordials and chocolates.
The Club Lounge opens 24 hours a day with the club concierge team available from 6:30 am – 11:00 pm and with five complimentary food & beverage presentations, including breakfast, light lunch, afternoon tea, hors d’oeuvre, dessert and cordials, complimentary alcoholic beverages, and fine selections of coffee and tea available whenever needed.
9. Grand Hyatt Shanghai
If you are looking for luxury, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai is not in the same league as the hotels outlined above, but this is all taken into account in the price. This is one of the cheapest luxury hotels in Shanghai, with a decent club lounge.
The Grand Hyatt is located inside Jin Mao Tower, which is really, really tall. It’s right across from the Shanghai World Financial Center, where the Park Hyatt is located, and which used to be the tallest hotel in the world. This hotel is not one to choose if you don’t like heights. check-in is on the 54th floor, and then above the main bar area is a big hole in the center of the building that all the corridors face out upon. The corridors basically have a balcony side to them instead of a wall, and the other side is the doors to the rooms. So when you step out of your room, you are out on this horrendously high balcony, and you can peer straight down from a massive height to the people (who look more like ants) having a drink in the foyer.
The rooms are large and comfortable, but it is really the building’s ridiculous height that stands out here. Your window will showcase just how far in the sky you are, and the heights are just dizzying.
The Grand Club Lounge at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai is definitely worth the paid upgrade. It is located on the 83rd floor and consists of a couple of different rooms. The breakfast spread is good, with loads of smoked salmon, bread cheeses, cold meats, cereals, muffins, fruit, salad, and eggs cooked to order by a real-life omelet chef. During the day, cookies and fruit, along with soft and hot drinks, are available.
The evening happy hour (or 3 hours from 5:00 – 8:00 pm) spread consisted of salad, cold cuts, cheese, fresh veggies, sushi, crab legs, soup, dim sum, plus plenty of hot dishes, including beef, rice, and soup, plus a pasta station, where a chef-prepared custom made pasta dishes. There is also a nice spread of desserts.
While we prefer the Hyatt Andaz location in Shangai, as there’s more to do in the immediate area, the design of the Park Hyatt is stunning. The Grand Hyatt has a superb club lounge and is a bit cheaper than the Park Hyatt across the road.
This Grand Hyatt costs 15,000 World Of Hyatt loyalty points per night for a club room or 21,000 World Of Hyatt loyalty points per night for an ordinary room if you want to redeem a stay here.
The Park Hyatt Shanghai is 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night. The Park Hyatt is a much more luxurious hotel, but it does not have a club lounge.
10. Langham Shanghai
The Langham Shanghai is conveniently located in Xintiandi, an old shikumen neighborhood of tightly-packed alleys, low-rise buildings and terracotta rooftops and is a great example of this luxury hotel brand. The London Langham offers probably the best club lounge in London, and this lounge is equally impressive.
Inspired by the Victorian era’s traditional private clubs, the exclusive Langham Club pampers guests with exemplary service and food delivered to Shanghai skyline views. Located on Level 27, guests can experience seamless service from the personalized check-in to the welcome drink served in The Langham Club.
Guests who book a Club or Suite guestroom can enjoy complimentary access to The Langham Club. The Langham Club is also available for other room guests who pay a daily supplement in addition to the daily room rate. They can enjoy the special privileges and benefits of the Club.
Within the lounge, you can enjoy free breakfast, all-day deluxe refreshments, and afternoon tea. In the evening, sit back and enjoy fine wines or premium brand beverages. Club guests can also enjoy the complimentary pressing of three garments, printed complimentary international newspapers, and access to the boardroom for up to two hours with no extra charge.
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