Shanghai, ChinaSouth Bund
The Waterhouse at South Bund
Industrial dockside warehouse
Industrial dockside warehouse
A 1930s dockside headquarters turned nineteen-room boutique hotel, modeled on Shanghai alleyways that deliberately blur public and private life.
“The original concrete structure had three storeys, which were largely kept intact, Neri & Hu added a fourth in Corten steel.”
What it’s good at
Notable
Stripped concrete walls and internal cutouts beneath a weathered Corten steel rooftop addition.
Notable
A 1930s Japanese army headquarters and dock warehouse, preserving stripped concrete and brickwork.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and Wallpaper*.
revamping a former army compound on the Huangpu River into an industrial but welcoming 19-room guesthouse with rough-hewn concrete walls and mid-century furniture.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The Cool Docks sit right next door, and the riverfront looks directly across to the towers of Pudong.
The rooms
Internal windows cut through raw concrete walls, looking straight down into the dining hall and lobby below.
Restaurant
Table No. 1
Dark timber tables sit across grey brick floors, serving modern European sharing plates beside an illuminated open bar.
How it began
Lyndon Neri left the concrete walls so raw that local officials questioned the project for two years before embracing it.
Shanghai
More like this
Fairmont Peace Hotel
“Jazz-age Bund heirloom”
Shanghai EDITION
“Art Deco social showpiece”
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund
“Restored Bund landmark”
The Langham Yangtze Boutique Hotel
“Jazz-age Art Deco landmark”
The St. Regis on the Bund, Shanghai
“Deco riverfront revival”
Andaz Xintiandi Shanghai
“Curved stone outpost”
Hotel Indigo Shanghai on The Bund
“Eclectic dockland roost”
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
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.