The Bund Shanghai, China
Renovated
2010
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Classic SocialOutside the door
The house
AccorJazz-age Bund heirloom
Octagonal rotunda glass, gilded ceilings, and marble corridors set a grand tone where dressed-up patrons gather under Lalique reliefs.
“In a city packed with new construction, this Art Deco landmark remains a fixture of the Huangpu River…”
What it’s good at
Exceptional
1929 Sassoon House Art Deco icon with a green copper pyramid roof, Lalique glass, and on-site museum.
Remarkable
Nightly sets by the veteran Old Jazz Band, Sunday afternoon tea dances, and historic ballroom galas.
Notable
Crowds gather for vintage cocktails in the storied ground-floor bar, complemented by sunset riverfront terrace drinks.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Forbes Four-Star
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Originally the Sassoon House, later the Cathay Hotel, this Twenties Art Deco building, one of the first skyscrapers in Shanghai, is now a perfectly modern luxury hotel.
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Set directly where Nanjing Road meets the Bund, the hotel looks across the Huangpu River to the modern Pudong skyline.
The rooms
Art Deco interiors feature mahogany cabinetry and marble bathrooms with soaking tubs, while front-facing suites overlook the Huangpu River.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A heated indoor lap pool sits beneath a natural glass skylight and stone archways in the rear wing.
The spa
Willow Stream Spa has eleven private treatment suites, offering heated bamboo bodywork and traditional herbal therapies.
The gym
The first-floor fitness centre houses Technogym cardio machines, free weights, and a private yoga studio.
Restaurant
The Cathay Room & Terrace
On the ninth floor, European dining opens onto an open-air stone terrace looking out over the Huangpu River.
The hotel features an octagonal marble lobby with a glazed dome ceiling and silver murals depicting Bund streetscapes…
Restaurant
Dragon Phoenix
Carved red pillars and gilded dragon reliefs set the scene for Cantonese dishes overlooking the Oriental Pearl Tower.
At the table
Downstairs at The Jazz Bar, the veteran Old Jazz Band plays 1930s standards alongside classic cocktails.
How it began
Tycoon Victor Sassoon opened the hotel as Sassoon House in 1929, hosting Noël Coward when he wrote Private Lives here.
“Gilded ceilings, stained glass, and a hushed tone fill the massive lobby and public corridors, all lined with historic art...”
Good to know
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Shanghai
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.