Pentahotel Shanghai

The location is the strongest point: it’s next to the metro and transit station, with plenty of street restaurants, Cloud Nine shopping mall nearby, and two coffee shops on the corner, including Starbucks. Metro line 2 goes straight downtown and to Pudong Airport. If you can get the advanced deal at Pentahotel, it’s a good place to stay. Pentahotel Shanghai and the New World Hotel next door are sister hotels connected by adjoining doors. Go through the revolving doors and turn left for Pentahotel. Its lobby feels modern and trendy, with lounge seats, a bar, cafe and restaurant, a pool table, and games. The rest of the building looks older and perhaps recently remodeled, with some decor that has a 70's-80's feel. My fifth-floor room had a nice city view, though there were stains on the floor and signs of wear. Overall, it was a nice room, but the bathroom was small. It came with a toothbrush and toothpaste, two bottles of water, a kettle, hot tea but no coffee, a safe, iron, hair dryer, and TV. Three English news channels were available, with the rest in Chinese. Service was okay, though staff English wasn’t very good. Next door at the New World hotel, you can use their business center, concierge, and spa, but there’s no pool.

Breakfast is the highlight, with both Western and Chinese choices: pork bacon, sausages, eggs made to order, bread and spreads, fruit, and bircher oats with fruit, grains, and raisins, plus dumplings, congee, fried noodles, and stir-fried meat and vegetables. If that doesn’t appeal, small local shops nearby serve local delicacies. The hotel looks fun, though the bar counter also serves as reception, so you could miss it on your first visit. My room was a little tired but clean. Unfortunately, the bed had a big dip in the middle, as if a really huge guy had sat there.

Mr. David Omland, the Pentalounge Manager at Penta Hotel, was especially helpful and professional during our stay. The staff were professional, and the food was delicious. The hotel was comfortable and very clean, and art and music lovers should enjoy it. Prices were very reasonable. Penta Hotel of Shanghai went beyond what I expected from a top quality hotel.

I had a great time at this beautiful, very comfortable hotel, with a lovely view of the city skyline. The downside was being charged for WiFi I hadn’t used. At the time, the login details were your surname and room number, and those weren’t hard to find because they were written in various places, like when going for breakfast or borrowing an umbrella.