Upper House Shanghai

The Residence room was huge, including the bathroom, and the bed was really comfortable. I was surprised by how quickly housekeeping turned things around: I went down for breakfast, put up the “make room” sign, and everything was tidied by the time I got back half an hour later. There’s also a large gym with all the equipment and weights you need. The location is handy, beside Taikoo Hui and facing the LV ship “The Louis”. We had a lovely stay, and Lewis, A. Director of Guest Experience, helped make us feel at home and made my birthday memorable. The hotel’s “Our House, Your Home” idea came through in the warm service and modern feel. For food, I’d say try Shui Tang Li if you want Shanghainese cooking. The restaurant manager knew the menu well and the service was fantastic. A true five-star stay.

After 30-40 trips to Shanghai, where I used to stay at the Peninsula, Bulgaria, or Waldorf, the upper House location has become my favorite. The Bund is pretty, but coming and going from a hotel there gets exhausting, especially in traffic. This spot is central and convenient, right beside the LV flagship store. The rooms are great, and unlike many Chinese hotels, ours had no cigarette smell. The concierge could use some work, but Lynn, who I believe is in charge of guest experience, fixed the issue and got things right. Breakfast was incredibly crowded, yet Mary Fonda made my experience perfect. No hotel is perfect, but the Upper House is lucky to have Lynn and Mary Fonda.

The location worked so well for us. We could walk to lots of places, and there were chic shops, good restaurants, and nightlife nearby. My son was especially excited by the giant Louis Vuitton boat. I was glad we stayed here instead of The Bund or Pudong. The food was great every day. My son went for more adventurous breakfast orders while I stuck with eggs or something simpler, though we both loved the Dan Dan Noodles. Inside, the calm, understated design was everywhere. When we first entered the room, my son was thrilled not to see any corners, if you know what I mean. He also loved the yin-yanging couch, where we spent a lot of nice time together. The bed and linens were so comfortable. I can’t imagine a better hotel in this city.

The facilities, location, front desk, and housekeeping were all beyond five stars. Room service was five stars and the food was four. The doorman team, though, badly let down an otherwise amazing team. When we arrived, the entrance doorman didn’t greet or help us. He just watched while we unloaded the luggage and struggled with the entrance door. When we left, a different doorman wasn’t at the door at all, and was talking to someone else while we fumbled with the door and our bags. In general, the doormen weren’t there to open the door when we needed help. Hotel GM, why have a doorman team if they’re never at the door to help guests?