The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai

The club lounge food was very good, with a nice range for afternoon tea, evening service and breakfast, plus several wines and other drinks. The 43rd-floor lounge is connected by an internal staircase to the club rooms on the floors above and below, so you can move between them without taking the elevator. It almost feels like a hotel inside the hotel. I booked lounge access and thought it was well worth it. The staff were extremely friendly and spoke excellent English throughout my stay. I had a great one-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton Portman. The location is very convenient, with lots of shops and restaurants close by. The building is older, but my room seemed to have been renovated fairly recently. It was fairly large, and the bathroom was spacious too. The gym is large and very well maintained. Its machines aren’t the newest models, but they’re in great condition. There’s also an indoor pool and an outdoor pool. For what was offered, I found the value very good and would definitely stay again.

John from concierge deserves a big shoutout for the exceptional service. I left my AirPods case in a didi ride, and he contacted the driver and got it returned. He even went the extra mile and delivered it to my room. Thanks to the whole team, this will be my go-to hotel in Shanghai.

The recent renovations give the rooms a chic, modern feel, and mine had a fantastic skyline view that included the Shanghai Conference Centre. This is a truly historic property, and the first Ritz-Carlton in all of Asia. The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge service was impeccable. Its five daily food presentations felt like a culinary journey. Complimentary pressing and a 2km private limousine service were great added perks, and I had a wonderful evening at the Ritz Bar, which has a really great vibe. The location is unbeatable for shopping and exploring. The hotel connects directly to a massive mall and is a short walk from Jing'an Temple metro station. The pool feels a bit modest for a property this size, but the spacious gym and spa, with sauna and whirlpool, are excellent. One small thing: the lobby feels more like a busy mall than a grand, opulent hotel. That’s part of its unique, energetic character. A legendary Shanghai experience!

I wanted a plush bed and a premium experience on my last night in Shanghai before flying out, so I booked the Ritz Carlton. What a disappointment. The bed was mid-tier at best, and the walls are paper thin. I could hear full conversations from both neighboring rooms and the elevator dings. This was nowhere near Ritz Carlton level.