Introduction
Park Hyatt Shanghai reigns over floors 79-93 of the 101-floor Shanghai World Financial Center. The building is so tall that on a clear day you would be able to see it from 30km away at Pudong Airport. There can’t be many places in the world where you can see your hotel room in the heart of the city from the airport! High above the clouds, the view is nothing short of breathtaking. This luxury hotel offers a front-row seat to the city's dizzying skyline, where the futuristic shimmer of Lujiazui CBD meets the historic charm of the Bund across the river. The floor-to-ceiling windows make you feel suspended in air, as if you’re floating above one of the world’s most dynamic cities. At sunrise, the light pours in like liquid gold; by night, the city glows with a kind of electric romance. Whether you’re sipping tea in a serene suite or watching the city flicker from the hotel’s sleek bar, the experience is part dream, part modern marvel.
Panoramic views from every corner
Naturally, boasting such a lofty address, the Park Hyatt is all about the views. From breakfast time to bedtime; from swimming time to social time, you are never far from a panorama thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows that frame virtually every space in the hotel. Looking out from the west side, your eyes wander across the neighbouring sea of (mainly lower) neighbouring financial district skyscrapers before being greeted by that classic sweep of the Huangpu River and colonial Bund architecture. Looking out from the east side, what seems like infinite urban sprawl unveils before you, the buildings almost too far below to be distinguishable.
Sky Pool
The name of the Park Hyatt’s spa is “Water’s Edge,” a reference to the ethereal picture of the waterline of the infinity swimming pool morphing seamlessly into the clouds that lie just beyond the windows. The water is heated to a decadently toasty temperature, so perhaps lends itself more to luxuriating and savouring the views than pumping out laps, but the pool is large enough to accommodate either activity! Unwinding above the clouds and looking over the city is such a magical feeling.
A world of enchantment inside and out
We stayed at the Park Hyatt Shanghai in early April, perfectly timed with cherry blossom season. Just outside the hotel, delicate cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, their soft pink petals creating a gentle, almost ethereal contrast to the towering steel and glass skyline of Lujiazui (the glamorous financial center of Shanghai). It was a striking scene—this quiet, romantic display of nature unfolding at the foot of one of the world’s tallest buildings. Day and night, the blossoms softened the urban intensity, their presence lending a dreamy calm to the otherwise fast-paced energy of central Shanghai.
Dining
The Park Hyatt’s restaurants include a Western steakhouse – suitably elevated for the sky-high surroundings – and a duo of Chinese restaurants, one Cantonese and one Jiangnan. 100 Century Avenue houses the steakhouse on one side and the Cantonese restaurant on the other. The Dining Room – just down the corridor on the 87th floor – is the Jiangnan restaurant.
The Dining Room is truly exceptional. Jiangnan cuisine refers to the culinary traditions of the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. It's one of China's most refined and elegant regional cuisines, known for its light and delicate flavours with an emphasis on natural taste, seasonal ingredients drawn from the region’s rich rivers and fertile land and artistic presentation. Real Chinese cuisine requires hours of artisanal care (something rarely seen outside China, sadly leading to many people inaccurately perceiving Chinese food as “take out food”). If you visit China, then visiting a good Chinese restaurant like this would be a core memory, trust me - it offers real Chinese food, where each dish uses quality ingredients, well-crafted by an expert to bring out incredible flavours.
Breakfast at the hotel feels like a calm, elegant start to the day—quiet, unhurried, and set against one of the most incredible views in the city. The spread is a thoughtful mix of local and Western favorites: you’ll find delicate Xiaolongbao and potstickers that are somehow both comforting and refined, silky congee with all the right toppings, right next to buttery croissants, fresh fruit, and eggs cooked just the way you like. You get the sense that up here, above the rush of the city, breakfast still matters.
Decor
With its earthy tones, clean lines, slick wood panelling, moody indirect lighting and curated modern art collection, the décor here is classic Park Hyatt. The Shanghai property is not only a luxury hotel but also an art gallery in the sky, featuring vintage furnishings and art pieces throughout. The art collection itself is eclectic and runs the gamut from gold lettered aphorisms gilded onto the walls to modern sculptures and more classical Chinese pieces.
“A man travels the world once in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” Words of solace indeed for the weary traveller.
The sculpture at the hotel’s entrance is Gao Xiaowu’s “Standardisation Service”, using a classical form to provide whimsical commentary on social conformity and the ritual of politeness. The 3 figures bow with joyful expressions, frozen in a moment of affected civility. The repeated gesture across the panels subtly highlights the performative aspect of social etiquette and routine deference.
Walking the hallways here has the feel of an exclusive member’s club.
This beautiful watercolour piece at the valet’s desk by the Chinese artist Paul Ching-Bor evokes the luminous grandeur of the Shanghai Bund waterfront through a veil of fluid abstraction, its washed-out textures echoing the presence of water that defines the city. The blurred golden hues capture Shanghai not as a fixed skyline, but as a reflection in motion.
Thoughtful hospitality is in the details
I am always impressed when a hotel’s welcome gifts incorporate local touches in a subtle yet sophisticated way, such as these chocolates marbled with ink art brushstrokes to echo the aesthetics of Chinese porcelain. There is also a bottle of artisan cocktail for your room intriguingly entitled “Cloud Mystery”, which uses traditional European distillation techniques to brew gin from local Mongolian juniper berries and integrates 18 types of local spices and fruit aromas.
Park Salon
Situated on the 86th floor, 350m sqm Park Salon is what, in a larger and less exclusive hotel, would be the Club Lounge. Here in the Park Hyatt, with just 173 guest rooms, the Park Salon is accessible through payment of a CNY388 (c. US$53) fee. This buys you all day access (the lounge is open from 11 am to 8 pm); free-flow wines, spirits and soft drinks; light snacks from 11:30am-2:00pm; afternoon tea from 2:30-5:00pm; and dinner from 5:30-7:30pm with delicious hot dishes, antipasti, make-your-own salad bar and free-flowing champagnes.
With its soaring ceilings and magnificent windows, the Park Salon is a sun trap by morning and a noir city pad by night. Its Chinese name translates as “the edge of the cloud”, so called because it offers a tranquil and exclusive sanctuary from – but breathtaking views of – the hustle and bustle of the city below.
Prime location in the heart of Shanghai
The hotel enjoys a prime location for visitors to explore the city, as it is close to public transport and within walking distance of some of Shanghai’s top attractions, including the Oriental Pearl Tower and IFC Mall.
Right outside the hotel is a beautiful 17-kilometer waterfront promenade, which is one of my favorite spots in all of China. Lined with leafy trees and manicured gardens, this serene area provides a tranquil oasis where locals and tourists alike can stroll leisurely while enjoying panoramic views of the Huangpu River and the iconic skyline beyond. The promenade's design incorporates traditional Chinese landscaping principles with modern amenities, featuring relaxing benches, shaded pavilions and the occasional al fresco cafe.
The Lujiazui area where the hotel is located is incredibly walkable and beautiful, especially at night. As dusk settles, the area transforms into a magical space illuminated by the glittering lights of the city's skyscrapers as well as old heritage buildings across the Bund. The juxtaposition of nature and urbanity creates a captivating ambiance, making it a popular spot for evening walks and romantic outings. Whether during the day or at night, this area serves as a picturesque symbol of Shanghai's blend of modernity and cultural heritage, inviting all to savour its beauty and serenity.
