Although we have not stayed in this hotel, but it was one of our first stops in Shanghai, while looking for some information, city maps and fresh water.
The lobby is very elegantly decorated and staff is very friendly.
Its location is its great quality: just on the Nanjing street, the large pedestrian street downtown near the central square and near the Bund and a step away from Pudong.
The Hotel Sofitel Hyland is one of the finest in the area $$$$ But their concierge was very helpful. They have a Brew House there with good German food. If I am not mistaken, they had an all you can eat schnitzels and beer sausage night.... Thursday I think with 2 for 1 draught beer.
It is refreshing to go back to this hotel to see it has done a complete renovation and the new lobby is fabulous. Friendly & helpful concierge, housekeeping staff was great. Bed was really comfortable with the fluffy duvet to get a good sleep. The buffet at Mosaic was extensive. Value for money and wifi is available from the lobby.
Have stayed here several times when in Shanghai and although quite expensive the location on Nanjing Road is great. Definitely worth considering if on business and your trip includes a weekend stop in Shanghai - much more happening round and about the hotel than in Pudoung area. Despite mixed reports in various travel forums I have always found rooms and facilities to be excellent and staff very welcoming and helpful. Hotel has several restaurants and a bar but these tend to be quiet as, given location, most guests prefer to eat out.
The Sofitel Shanghai is on the Mall. Forget anywhere describing itself as near bund, 5 mins from bund etc. Sure the Bund is important but the mall is king. And of course where does the Nanjing Mall lead to, the bund of course.
I stayed here for 3 nights in August 2006. The hotel in the past was given an absolute pasting from reviewers and well I want to set things straight. These reviews are usually old and from about 2002/2003 or so.
The hotel. It looks rennovated in most spots. They were still in the process of rennovating one of the restuarants while I was there but you wouldn't have guessed but for the fact they had a sign redirecting those interested in dining there.
The rooms are big and the cleaning staff very efficient. I had a look at the facilities. They seemed fine. The foyer was nice.
Alas I also didn't eat here. With so many choices so close I didn't have the chance to.
The negatives. I asked for a non smoking room. Alas it was not. And then the airconditioning was on overdrive. Whoa was it chilly. I'd have to flip the thing off at night to warm up.
But for the price I paid (1000 yuan upto 1200 per night) it was great. Look for the specials around especially on their own website.
It’s impossible to find a better location to the hotel, right in Nanjing road, halfway from the Bund and People’s square, both at walking distance. It’s impossible to have a complaint about the room or breakfast, all five stars. We had no time to test other facilities of the hotel, the only slight disappointment being dinner. We had a light dinner, and paid… too much. I remember that we were not in the best mood at the time, but the menu was… frustrating, and didn’t help.