This page continues on from a detailed guide to Nanjing Road and here we’ll cover the top places to stay. The area is a fantastic place to base your stay in Shanghai, transport is convenient, it’s central to major attractions, and it’s where you’ll find some of the top hotels located.
If you stay near to a metro station on line 2 it’s quite convenient as you can catch a metro train and get off anywhere along Nanjing Road, and right to the Bund, and across to the attractions of Pudong, and both airports at either side of the city (Hongqiao Airport in the west and Pudong Airport in the east).
Let’s start off with a map these hand-picked hotels, following which I’ll break them into two groups, being those along the pedestrian section and those along the west section, with brief reviews of each.
On the map below Nanjing Road is outlined in orange and the pedestrian section (the main shopping and attraction area) is outlined in blue.
The Top Hotels near Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
Here are my picks for the top hotels along the pedestrian section of Nanjing Road. These are all 4 and 5-star hotels and all of them consistently receive top reviews from past guests.
All of these are no more than a block away from the pedestrian street section of Nanjing Road so you can easily wander and enjoy the sights in this amazing area. An added bonus is that they are all within walking distance of metro stations along line 2. Line 2 is the metro (or subway) line that runs east to west through the central key areas, such as the Science and Technology Museum, the skyscrapers of Pudong, the Bund, along Nanjing Road, Jing’an Temple, and connects to Pudong Airport in the east and Hongqiao Airport in the west. For tourists, it’s the most important of all the metro lines.
Sofitel Shanghai Hyland
4 Star – The Sofitel Hyland is located right on Nanjing Road, and right in the middle of the pedestrian section. You can’t get any closer to the heart of the action than this. The hotel is four star rated and facilities include sun terrace, spa, gym and sauna. They offer a range of room options and some have great city views and also offer access to the Executive Lounge.
Fairmont Peace Hotel On the Bund
5 Star – The historic Fairmont Peace Hotel is located right next the Bund and is a short 5-minute walk from Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. The hotel features 6 restaurants and bars, Willow Stream Spa, fitness centre, indoor pool and more. If you’d like to stay in a building that is an iconic part of Shanghai’s history and be close to the Bund and Nanjing Road, then this is a top choice.
Grand Central Hotel Shanghai
5 Star – The Grand Central Hotel is located on Jiujiang Road which runs parallel to Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. It is also very near to Century Square a green space which provides an escape from the fast moving city. The hotel features a Cantonese and French restaurants, plus an indoor pool, spa and wellness centre for massage and treatments, fitness centre and sauna.
Majesty Plaza Shanghai
5 Star – Located on Jiujiang Road towards the western end of the pedestrian street it is within walking distance to Peoples Square Metro Station which enables you to utilize line 1,2 and 8 of the metro. It’s also a very convenient location to walk and visit Peoples Square which also features Shanghai Museum, Municipal Government Mansion, Grand Theater and the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. The hotel features an indoor pool, gym, sauna and four restaurants.
The Yangtze Boutique Shanghai
5 Star – The Yangtze Boutique Shanghai is located 30 m from People’s Square metro station (line 1, 2 and 8) which offers the same location benefits as the Majesty Hotel above with an even closer proximity. The hotel offers a gym, spa and three onsite restaurants.
The Peninsula Shanghai
5 Star – The Peninsula Shanghai is a little further away than hotels listed so far, but still within walking distance. I include it here because it is one of the nicest hotels in Shanghai. The hotel offers rooms with river views, gym, Peninsula Spa by ESPA, indoor pool, two restaurants, and bar.
The Top Hotels Along Nanjing West Road
Once the pedestrian section finishes Nanjing Road becomes a normal city street, but this stretch of the road is still packed with shopping opportunities, loads of restaurants, and is also home to one of the cities must see attractions being Jing’an Temple.
Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World
5 Star – Located very near to Peoples Square and People’s Square Subway Station (Line 1, 2 and 8) at the beginning of Nanjing West Road and the end of Nanjing Pedestrian Road. The hotel offers five different dining options including the 24hr Windows on the Park. Facilities include an indoor pool, spa, gym and more.
Jin Jiang Park Hotel
4 Star – Located 5-minute walk from People’s Square Metro Station. The hotel offers an in-house Beijing cuisine restaurant, bar, spa, gym, and sauna. The building also has some historic value, being built in 1934 it was the tallest in Asia at its time.
JW Marriott Shanghai at Tomorrow Square
5 Star – Hotel features indoor and outdoor pool, massage services, gym, sauna, a buffet restaurant and a la carte restaurant, bar and more. The hotel occupies the higher floors of a building known as Tomorrow Square which is the 8th tallest building in Shanghai, so, as you’d expect some rooms have fantastic views. The outdoor pool is something not to miss, it’s a rooftop pool offering superb views and a great place to laze away an afternoon in style.
CACHET Boutique Shanghai
5 Star – Housed in a stylish refurbished 1920’s building the CACHET Boutique offers something different. Described as ‘modern and chic’ the hotel offers a 24hr gym, self-serve laundry, Afternoon Tea and Daily Cocktail Hour in the Lobby Lounge and more. It has a super convenient location being just steps away from West Nanjing Road metro station (line 2, 12 and 13), and, right amongst a prime shopping area of Nanjing West Road that features retailers such as UNI QLO, H&M, shopping malls inc. Plaza 66, Citic Plaza and Isetan, and Wujiang Road.
The Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai
5 Star – Facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpool, spa, a gym and a squash court. There are 4 restaurants onsite and a bar. It’s located very near the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Plaza 66, Citic Plaza and Westgate Mall. It’s about 10 minutes walk from Jing’an Temple. This hotel recently won Conde Nast Traveler China’s award for Best Business Hotel.
The Puli Hotel And Spa
5 Star – The Puli Hotel and Spa has a very peaceful yet convenient location being right beside Jing’an Park, and across from Jing’an Temple and Jing’an Metro Station. There are shopping malls nearby inc, Joinbuy and Parkplace offering retail and luxury shopping. There’s plenty of dining options in the area too. Facilities include Anantara Spa, indoor pool, hot tub and gym.
Paramount Gallery Hotel
5 Star – Superbly located adjacent to Jing’an Temple and the metro station, and occupying the twelfth floor of the Paramount Building it offers superb views of the area. The rooms are noted as being quite spacious and luxurious.
Jing An Shangri-La
5 Star – Located near the Kerry Center and minutes walk from Jing’an Temple Station. The Hotel offers spa and wellness centre, an indoor pool, gym, and four restaurants offering Western and Chinese cuisine.
Swissôtel Grand Shanghai
5 Star – Located minutes walk from Jing’an Temple and the metro station. The Hotel offers a fitness centre, spa and wellness centre, an indoor pool, restaurants and bar.
Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre
5 Star – Located minutes a short walk from People’s Square metro station. The hotel offers superb views, spa, sauna, gym, Chinese restaurant, Japanese restaurant, heated pool, and more.
I hope you enjoy your time shopping and exploring Nanjing Road, and remember if you have any suggestions or tips you’d like to share please send them our way. And be sure to read my detailed guide to Nanjing Road and check out my other suggestions for hotels throughout Shanghai if these don’t suit you 🙂
These lists are based on shared local knowledge, suitability for foreign guests, and past visitor reviews: