I am spending a total of 6 nights in Shanghai. As usual, Hilton properties are my go-to! There is a wide range of properties in Shanghai be it Hilton or not. Hands down the two best Hilton properties in Shanghai would be the Conrad and the Waldorf Astoria. Given that this is my first time here, I would love to check them out and review them. I decided to split up my time between the two of them and will be spending 3 nights in each property! The Waldorf Astoria is the best and it sits right on the bund. I am so excited to check out this flagship property. It is right in the centre of everything. This includes the main pedestrian street and the bund. You can walk right across the road and walk down the promenade. The hotel consists of two different buildings. There is one taller and newer tower as well as the historical building right on the bund which used to be the Shanghai Club.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I booked directly with Hilton and got the base-level deluxe room. I will be staying here for three nights. I got the double queen rooms which will come in handy since there are a total of 3 of us sharing one room. China hotels usually do not charge for additional pax if you don’t get an extra bed. This is true here at the Waldorf too! A couple of days out, I got an automated system upgrade to the city view room which is what I got. I certainly hope to get a better upgrade but it is what it is. This is also a rather busy period for the hotel. This room would have cost around 2800 CNY a night. Waldorf Astoria Shanghai On the Bund comes with 260 guest rooms and suites spread across 13 categories. They have two buildings, one of which is the heritage one and one newer tower. You can check out the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Library Lounge Access | Room Size |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe | No | 45 – 50 Sqm |
| Deluxe City View | No | 45 – 50 Sqm |
| Deluxe River View | No | 50 Sqm |
| Premium Panorama River View | No | 50 Sqm |
| Junior Suite | Yes | 80 Sqm |
| Luxury Suite | Yes | 110 Sqm |
| Bund Heritage Suite | Yes | 65 Sqm |
| Luxury Panorama River View Suite | Yes | 110 Sqm |
| Bund Heritage River View suite | Yes | 65 Sqm |
| Heritage Club River View Suite | Yes | 95 Sqm |
| Heritage Luxury River View Suite | Yes | 120 Sqm |
| Nobel Suite | Yes | 210 Sqm |
| Presidential Suite | Yes | 260 Sqm |
Checking In
I got to the hotel at around 12pm. I was coming over just from the Conrad which is just a short distance away. I got a very affordable ride share. It is not ideal to walk in this cold weather when you have huge baggage. The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai have two entrances. The one on the bund is open from 8am to 12am and is more relevant for pedestrian and light traffic. The steps and busy road don’t make it suitable for arrivals and departures. The main entrance is much more suitable with a proper driveway. On arrival, the staff immediately came over to help me upload the bags and then ushered me over to check in. It is rather busy and crowded. Check-in is a stand-up affair with the reception area found to the side.
I would prefer if they had an elite line over here. My reservations were reconfirmed and all the details were provided. I was told that they could not offer any further upgrade as they were fully booked but I did have one of the better city view rooms which even came with a view of the bund. It is a polished welcome but I won’t go to the extent of it being friendly. Late check-out was also extended till 2.30pm. Details on the library lounge and breakfast were also shared. It is weird not to get any welcome letters here in WA!
To sum things up, I was introduced to a staff to be ushered up to my room. This is very professional and polished. The lady also made small talk on the way up and introduced me to the room and the facilities. I was also informed that they have set up some birthday amenities for my mum. The bund entrance is very charming and more classic. It is right opposite the bund and already decked out in Christmas lighting. It is so amazing in the evening when the lights are on. Do note that this entrance comes with some steps.
Deluxe City View Room
I was assigned a room on the 10th floor. I got room 1003 to be exact. This is one of the base-level rooms here which comes with a city room. It does even get a slight bund view so the stack of 03 should be very nice and go for the higher floors if you can do so. The room is very nice and I am so happy with it. It measures a good 50 Sqm and this can be classified as a junior suite in my opinion with the seating area. That is how nice it is.
My room is at the end of the corridor. It is a rather short walk away. They do not have a huge number of rooms per floor over here. Immediately upon entering the room, you have a very spacious and long entranceway.
To the right is the walk-in wardrobe area. It’s a nice little cosy spot which comes with a luggage storage area. It could probably fit a carry-on size and there are some racks on the left for additional storage. It is also fully stocked with plenty of hangers, bathrobes, bath slippers a safe and ironing kit.
I really love the entrance area which adds a lot of flair to the entire room. There is even a side table by the entranceway. This will be handy for some loose and small items.
Heading on in, you can find a double-door entrance to the bathroom. This is one of the nicest parts of the room. I love the marble and classic look. It is so luxurious. The doors also act as a full-length mirror if you need to check your fit. The bathroom comes with double sinks and a built-in TV in the mirror. It is so luxurious to enjoy your entertainment while washing up and winding down for the evening. Over here in WA, Aesop toiletries are provided and they are super generous with it. You have one set by the showers and another by the tub. These are some of the nicest brands out there. I love the scent! Taking a soak in Aesop is such a thing to do at a WA.
The bathroom comes with both a tub and a standing bath. They are in separate rooms. I am happy to report that there is an automated bidet toilet over here. The heated seats are so crucial especially during this season.
The standing shower is super spacious and come with a little ledge. The water pressure and temperature control are very good for both the handheld shower head and the rainforest shower head. It is a delight getting a shower here.
Moving back to the main space of the room which is in a elongated rectangular configuration. I love the cream finish and warm palate of the room. It is so soothing and a form of understated luxury. They also blend in some traditional Chinese heritage into the design of the place. In the corner is the minibar. It comes with a kettle and a proper Nespresso coffee machine. Coffee capsules, packaged tea and drinking water are provided. They are very generous with it. These are also replenished during daily housekeeping and turndown service. Below you can also find some glassware.
I opted for a room with two double queen beds. It is still very spacious and comes with plenty of space for your belongings. The room can also be connected with the one next door if you have bigger groups. The TV is high quality and comes with a good number of both local and international cable TV channels. This makes it well to view from both the seating area and the living area. Besides just having cable TV channels, they also have plenty of preloaded movies and TV series on them. This is free to watch as well. This is very much appreciated for international travellers who might find it difficult to find entertainment on the local channels.
Below the television there is additional storage and in the chest below is the fridge. The mini fridge is fully stocked with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The room comes with two spacious queen-sized beds. The bedding is so plush and comfortable. The mattress is on the softer side but still provides excellent back support. I had a good sleep. The pillows were top-notch notch too. They did not have a pillow menu but I requested some firmer ones and they brought by these orthopaedic pillows which were amazing to sleep on. In the middle of the two beds, they have a nightstand. This comes with touchscreen controls which you can use to adjust the lighting, temperature and blinds. Power outlets are also within reach. Happy to report that the air conditioning works very well. This can be very underwhelming when properties switch to central controls in the winter season.
The second half of the room comes with a little lounging and seating area. There is also a work desk which is a spacious one. You have all the ports and power outlets here. The Wi-Fi also works well in the room with a strong connection. Do take note that the usual China wifi blockage applies. They even have a brand new set of stationery here.
I love the cosy little seating area. This will fit 3 pax comfortably on the couch. It surrounds a coffee table. It is always nice to have a separate sitting error even though you’re not in a suite and just a normal room The television can be pivoted towards the sitting area.
Coming to the highlight of this room would be the awesome view. While this room is technically categorised as a city view room, you do get a slight view of the bund area too. You can even see the famed Shanghai TV Tower. The view is memorizing both in the day and in the evening. I appreciate that the blinds and sheers over here are electronically controlled.
Given that we are celebrating my mum’s birthday. The hotel actually did some special set-up in the room and arranged some surprises. I am very impressed with it! The left some decorations, a personalised card, a cake and even a fresh bouquet of flowers! This got to be my first time getting fresh flowers at a luxury hotel! I love how thoughtful they are! During breakfast, the staff also came over to wish us happy birthday.
Besides this, fruits in the room were also replaced daily! Turndown services were also offered automatically in the evening. This is one of the best luxury hotels I ever stayed in. It is one of the best in town and even in China. The hardware is top-notch and modern with a classical charm. I love the history of the hotel too.
Fitness Centre
The Gym is open 24 hours and located on the 3rd floor of the Waldorf Tower. You can use it anytime you want during your stay. It is a nice place with a little view of the surrounding area. Everything is well maintained and clean. The place is staffed and they go around to sanitize everything and tidy the equipments. There are the usual treadmills, lifts, bikes, weights and exercise balls.
Swimming Pool
The swimming pool is open from 6am to 11pm. It is similarly located on the 3rd floor. It is an indoor and heated pool. The pool comes with a Jacuzzi as well. It is quite a nice spot and comes with a view too. It would be better if it is higher up. How amazing would this be if they can have an outdoor pool with a view of the bund. That will surely be the best pool in town.
The pool is a huge regular size pool which allows you to get laps done. They have some day beds and cabanas on the side which are available on a first come first. Water and towels are provided too.
Library Lounge
Waldorf Astoria properties don’t usually come with an Executive Lounge. It is no different over here. However, the WA Shanghai does have something rather special. They have a Library Lounge. This is a special space offering some snacks and drinks. It is open from 10am to 7pm. It is said that there are some snacks in the evening from 5pm to 7pm. Access is offered for Hilton Diamond Members, American Express Centurion Card Holders, Guests in Suites and Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund VIPs. Here are some pictures of the space.
There are some soft drinks, coffee and tea during the day. It is quite a cosy spot but nothing too fancy.
I was actually out on all the evenings during my stay. I didn’t get a chance to check it. From what I heard from my friends, there are some red and white wines. That’s about it. With that being said. I still appreciate them going the extra mile.
Breakfast at Grand Brasserie
Breakfast is served at the hotel’s main restaurant which is one level below the main floor. It is offered from 6.30am to 10.30am on weekdays and till 11am on the weekends. Complimentary breakfast is extended for Gold and Diamond Members. Breakfast usually costs 320 CNY per person. If you add it the night before, you pay just 230 CNY. The restaurant is in the middle of two buildings and opens up to the floor above. The place is pretty classic. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and shown to a table. Breakfast consists of both a buffet and an ala carte menu.
You can find the menu here!
Hot drinks are also served by the staff. I am glad to see that the coffee is made by a proper barista coffee machine. They were excellent and even came with the Waldorf Logo.
Other drinks can be found from the buffet line, they had sparkling wine too and juices in these little bottles. They were fresh. The item that really impressed me was VOSS mineral water being served. They had both still and sparkling options. I enjoyed the artisan water. Top-notch on this aspect!
Let me introduce what you can find on the buffet line. You have some continental options and then salads, cold cuts, smoked fish, cheese, yoghurt. There are some steam items, porridge, Chinese stir frys and Western selections. The fried rice is pretty good!
Heading on there are freshly cut fruits and pastries. The Danish and croissants were top notch. It was so flaky and delicious.
Throughout my stay, we tried several items from the a la carte menu! The dishes were excellent. I love the Scallion Oil Noodles and we also got freshly sliced avocados from them. That is how I start my day with VOSS and a cup of coffee every morning here.
Breakfast was really good, I really enjoyed it! Considering that it goes for 320 CNY, your status comes in handy. With the special price, it might be worth paying for breakfast if you want a spread in the morning. For coffee, artisan water and food, it is worth it. I did wish that they could switch things up a little from day to day.
Conclusion
The hotel certainly isn’t perfect, but it’s as close as it is here. There are small touches here and there that they could improve on but this is already very good. I wish that they could have a house car like some WA or a welcome drink. The rates are not cheap over here but it will be a treat if you can swing it. The location and the view make it so ideal for tourists. Service is also excellent. I love the breakfast and look forward to it every morning. Even without a significant upgrade, the base-level rooms are superb! I would also like to commend their guest team for making my stay especially sweet with the birthday amenities. That bouquet got to be a first among my more than 100 hotels in the world! I will have no qualms about coming back for another stay the next time I am back in Shanghai. The options in this city are limitless.
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