The best luxury hotel in Shanghai in 2026 is Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li, a 55-suite hotel set in restored 1930s lane houses and rated with two Michelin Keys, followed by the Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai and The Peninsula Shanghai. This top 10 covers the city’s best five-star stays, from restored heritage villas to towers in Lujiazui. Shanghai has more than 24 million residents and keeps adding luxury rooms, so we rebuilt the ranking for 2026.
| Rank | Hotel | Area | Key fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li | Xuhui | 55 villa-style suites in restored 1930s lane houses; opened 2017; two Michelin Keys |
| 2 | Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai | North Bund | 82 rooms and suites; opened 2018; two Michelin Keys; two Michelin-starred restaurants |
| 3 | The Peninsula Shanghai | The Bund | Opened 2009; Bund-side flagship |
| 4 | Mandarin Oriental Pudong | Pudong riverside | Yong Yi Ting holds a Michelin star |
| 5 | Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund | The Bund | Opened 2010; 252 rooms and 20 suites; six restaurants |
| 6 | Fairmont Peace Hotel | The Bund | Opened 1929 as the Cathay Hotel; reopened 2010 |
| 7 | Park Hyatt Shanghai | Lujiazui | Floors 79 to 93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center |
| 8 | J Hotel Shanghai Tower | Lujiazui | Opened June 2021; high in the 632 m Shanghai Tower |
| 9 | The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong | Lujiazui | In the IFC towers |
| 10 | Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai | Pudong | Jade-shaped complex by Arata Isozaki |
Which are the best luxury hotels in Shanghai?
1. Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li: restored 1930s lane houses
Capella takes the top spot because nothing else in the city feels like it. Instead of a tower, it occupies restored three-storey brick-and-stone lane houses in Xuhui, with traditional horse-head gables and interiors that mix Chinese elements with 19th-century French style. It opened in 2017, and Michelin lists it with two Keys, its “exceptional stay” rating. It has 55 villa-style suites, a French restaurant run under the Pierre Gagnaire name, and the Auriga Spa inside two of the lane houses.
Why it ranks here: scale, character and independent recognition. A villa hotel with two Michelin Keys wins on all three.
2. Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai: Italian design on the Suzhou Creek
The Bvlgari hotel opened in June 2018 with 82 rooms and suites, in the redevelopment around Suzhou Creek near the North Bund. Michelin gives it two Keys. Two restaurants hold Michelin stars: Bao Li Xuan, the Cantonese restaurant on the third floor of the historic Chamber of Commerce building, and Il Ristorante Niko Romito, serving contemporary Italian cooking.
Our reasoning: a small room count, two starred restaurants and a high Michelin rating make it the strongest dining hotel on the list.
3. The Peninsula Shanghai: the Bund’s grand address
The Peninsula opened in 2009 on the Bund and is the group’s second hotel on the Chinese mainland. It is known for service, a fleet of luxury cars (historically including Rolls-Royce models) and a prime river-front location. Its dining has reportedly included Michelin-starred restaurants.
The case: location and service reputation put it ahead of larger tower hotels. Room and dining numbers should be checked on the hotel’s own site, as they change.
4. Mandarin Oriental Pudong: riverside Lujiazui
Mandarin Oriental sits on the Pudong side of the Huangpu River at 111 South Pudong Road. Its restaurant Yong Yi Ting serves Jiangzhe cuisine in a room styled after Jiangnan water towns and has been recognised with a Michelin star in the Shanghai guide.
Placement: our earlier edition put it first. The new entries above it have a clearer independent rating, but this remains one of the best-run riverside hotels in the city.
5. Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund: a heritage building plus a tower
The Waldorf Astoria opened in 2010 and occupies the neoclassical Shanghai Club Building on the Bund, joined to a 24-floor modern tower. It lists 252 rooms and 20 suites and six restaurants. It remains one of the best places to stay for Bund views.
Verdict: heritage address and range of dining, held back by its large size.
6. Fairmont Peace Hotel: the Bund’s Art Deco classic
The building was erected by Victor Sassoon, and the Cathay Hotel inside it opened in 1929. Guests in its early decades included Charlie Chaplin, George Bernard Shaw and Noël Coward. After a closure for a major renovation from 2007, it reopened in 2010 under the Fairmont name with about 270 rooms and suites.
What decides it: unmatched history, with a rating that depends on whether you want a heritage stay over the newest design.
7. Park Hyatt Shanghai: high in the World Financial Center
Park Hyatt occupies floors 79 to 93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center in Lujiazui, with roughly 174 rooms and suites depending on the source. Its draw is the height, with skyline views from every room.
The trade-off: spectacular views, but several newer hotels now rank above it on service and independent recognition.
8. J Hotel Shanghai Tower: the new high point
J Hotel opened on 19 June 2021 in the 632-metre Shanghai Tower, with hotel floors high in the tower and a restaurant on the 120th floor. It is promoted as the world’s highest luxury hotel by height above ground. Our earlier edition said the Grand Hyatt held the title of highest hotel, which is no longer correct.
Position: new, remarkable and reportedly the highest, with a track record that is still short.
9. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong: tower luxury in the IFC
The Ritz-Carlton occupies upper floors of the IFC towers in Lujiazui, with skyline and river views from a Lujiazui address. It stays on the list for consistency of the brand’s service.
Why not higher: dependable, but with less personality than the villa and heritage hotels above.
10. Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai: art and architecture in Pudong
The Jumeirah Himalayas hotel sits inside the Himalayas Center, a complex designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, and is reported to draw on jade and Feng Shui motifs. The complex includes an art museum and shopping.
The edge: strongest on architecture and art, with a location a little removed from the central river-front areas.
Also considered
The Grand Hyatt Shanghai, which occupies floors 53 to 87 of the 420.5-metre Jin Mao Tower and has 555 rooms, fell off the top 10 because it is large and no longer the highest. Andaz Shanghai ITC opened in early 2026 with 267 rooms as the first luxury hotel in Xujiahui, but it has too short a track record for a ranking. We removed InterContinental Pudong and JW Marriott Tomorrow Square from the top 10 because newer, smaller hotels now rate higher.
Keep reading
- what it costs to live in a hotel: useful if a luxury stay turns into a long one
- mindsets that travel teaches: the case for spending on trips
FAQ
What is the best luxury hotel in Shanghai?
Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li tops our 2026 list. It has 55 villa-style suites in restored 1930s lane houses and two Michelin Keys.
Which Shanghai hotels have Michelin-starred restaurants?
Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai has two, Bao Li Xuan and Il Ristorante Niko Romito. Mandarin Oriental Pudong’s Yong Yi Ting has carried a Michelin star in the Shanghai guide.
What is the highest hotel in Shanghai?
J Hotel Shanghai Tower, which opened in June 2021 in the 632-metre Shanghai Tower, is promoted as the highest luxury hotel in the world by height above ground.
Where should I stay in Shanghai: Pudong or the Bund?
Stay on the Bund for historic views and walkable promenades. Stay in Pudong for towers and skyline views. The Peninsula, Waldorf Astoria and Fairmont Peace Hotel are on the Bund.
Which Shanghai luxury hotel is the oldest?
The Fairmont Peace Hotel. It opened in 1929 as the Cathay Hotel in Sassoon House and reopened in 2010 after a renovation.
Did anything change from the last version of this list?
Yes. We added Capella, Bvlgari and J Hotel Shanghai Tower, demoted Mandarin Oriental from first, and removed InterContinental Pudong, JW Marriott Tomorrow Square and the Grand Hyatt from the top 10.
How we put this list together
We ranked on setting, scale, character, dining and independent recognition such as Michelin Keys. Hotel details change often, so check current rates and room counts with the hotel before you book.
Last updated: October 2026.
