YaTi by Artyzen Hongqiao Shanghai

The staff were friendly and professional, and when something went wrong they tried to fix it. I also found the small fee for early check-in useful: my flight arrived early, so I could get into my room six hours before the usual time. There were good places to sit, relax, work, or meet people, and even though the hotel was busy, it didn't feel that way. The decor was fresh, vibrant, and distinctive, and I enjoyed the atmosphere. My room wasn't large, but it was laid out well and had the basic amenities. The smart TV and iPad supported streaming, though I didn't get a chance to try them. Wi-Fi was easy to connect to and had a strong signal. There was no coffee or tea setup in the room, but the lobby and lounge had a better one. Breakfast was a small spread with the basics, including Western and Asian options, good coffee, fresh yogurt and pastries, congee, and eggs. I'd certainly return, or consider another Citizen M elsewhere. The main drawback was that drivers had trouble finding the hotel in its relatively new complex. Getting into the mall next door was complicated too, but a staff member walked me there to show me the way. After that, it was fine, and the mall connects to metro line 10.

I was happy to hear CitizenM had opened in Shanghai, since I travel here often for work and had stayed at its other locations. This time, though, I'm really disappointed. I'm still here for eight more nights. If any managers see this, please contact me. I'm happy to leave if I can get a refund. The rooms are tiny. I'd be fine with that in a compact European capital, but not here. The bed and cleaning are good, and the designer furniture and decor look attractive, but the design feels formulaic and overdone. The hotel is difficult to find, tucked away in a shopping mall car park. It's also advertised as convenient for Hongqiao railway station, but that hasn't been my experience. The metro station is about a 12-minute walk away, then you have to change trains because there are no direct trains to the station. The journey takes around 40 minutes. Staying in a nicer area like Shanghai library, or somewhere more central on line 10, would take about as long to reach the station. There's a nice bar and lounge, but expect London prices for a drink. The food was completely unacceptable by any standard. I couldn't eat the chicken with mashed potatoes. Even the waiter acknowledged the food was bad, saying they don't have a proper kitchen. DO NOT ORDER FOOD HERE. Nicolas

Jessie at the front desk deserves special thanks for her kindness and great service. I'm a regular guest, and she always makes my trips great. Thanks, Jessie!

It's a quiet place, and the room is cleaned every day. Walking to the highway is a bit far if you're a foreigner.