The Peninsula Shanghai 

I recently saw a video about the design concept of the Peninsula Shanghai, which can be summed up in two words: elegance. This was the first Peninsula I stayed at, and only after checking in did I truly understand the weight of those two words. If the Peace Hotel was the king of old Shanghai, then the Peninsula Shanghai, just two streets away, is the "trophy wife" hotel of the newer generation. It's not my favorite hotel - that award goes to SOWAKA in Kyoto, but it's among the most beloved in my book. We booked a Deluxe River-view Room. The Big Three of Lujiazui caught our eye immediately as we entered the room. The room looked a bit dated, but it was very well maintained, and I absolutely adored the use of Art Deco as its main design inspiration - it made even the traces of wear look particularly stylish, exuding a weathered yet refined charm. Like other Peninsula hotels, the room had everything: from a hygrometer to a fax machine, to various stationery items, everything a guest could possibly need, they provided. The walk-in closet was also extremely spacious and had a luggage compartment large enough to fully accommodate a 30-inch suitcase. The turndown service mat had "Goodnight" written on the side facing the bed and "Good Morning" on the other side, which was super cute. My only critique would be the hairdryer, costing around 200 RMB on Taobao, and my girlfriend burned her scalp while using it. The service was professional and efficient, but somewhat distant. It's understandable, though, as given the hotel's size, you can't expect the personalized service of a boutique hotel. I asked for an iron and an ironing board, and housekeeping delivered them within minutes, which was super impressive. If I had to nitpick, it would be that I emailed the concierge before check-in to request a late check-out using Peninsula Time, but received no reply for a week until I got in touch with Amex, who helped to put through my request to the hotel. Compared to the Peninsula Beijing, breakfast featured more à la carte options, with the buffet mainly offering pastries and fruits. Although the breakfast venues for both hotels were in the main lobby, the atmosphere here was significantly quieter and more intimate, perhaps due to fewer guests around Chinese New Year. The à la carte items were all of excellent quality. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Singaporean-style soft-boiled egg, something I hadn't had since leaving Singapore 7 years ago. The only downside was the large portions: unless you are a competitive eater, one à la carte dish is usually enough to fill you up, which isn't ideal for guests who wish to try a few items. The night before checking out, we went to Sir Elly's Bar and ordered a few cocktails and brought them back to the room, which the staff kindly helped to arrange. I can't find a better hotel in Shanghai that embodies the spririt and vibe of the city better than the Peninsula Shanghai, and for that, I will most definitely be back.