The Peninsula Shanghai

Our recent stay at the Peninsula Shanghai over the Holidays was perfect. The hotel exudes classic elegance, with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The service was impeccable, especially from Josie and the guest relations team. She anticipated our needs and made us feel truly special, especially our children. Afternoon tea was a highlight, a real indulgence in a sophisticated setting. The location is perfect - we loved exploring the city and then returning to the comfort and world class service of the Peninsula. We highly recommend for a truly memorable Shanghai experience!

Sad to say, very disappointing. I was really shocked to find the level of English spoken really not up to standard for an international hotel. A lot of miscommunication. We stayed over Christmas and had high expectations, choosing to stay here to celebrate over other options available. If I had the choice again, I would choose elsewhere. Overall the hotel has a funny layout and set up. There is nowhere to sit and relax, no lounge area. Only the lobby restaurant which is right infront of the main door. If you want to sit in here you have to order food and accept that a million people will be in and out of the doors. There is a rooftop bar, but no kids allowed. Being Christmas and the marketing that surrounds the hotel, crowds are expected. There is a steady stream of non-resident guests dressed to the absolute nines coming in to do a full blown photoshoot infront of the Xmas tree. I’m talking 100 photos in every position, it’s like watching soft porn. The staff were visibly frustrated and we also found it very annoying. Everything was much quieter on 26th! Sadly the Xmas trees and decor came down overnight and everyone made a mass exodus. Atmosphere vanished. Room was comfortable and furnished nicely. Housekeeping team were lovely, so kind and helpful. Danny on the concierge desk was very helpful. At check in we were told we would have to wait 2 hours as the room we reserved wasn’t ready. This was at 13:30 and we had already been in the hotel for 2 hours by then. Seeing my disappointment they insisted on upgrading us to a suite that was already ready. As nice as this gesture was, it didn’t have a view of the river as I had hoped and planned for our stay. Our view was actually the sidewalk and on the 4th floor, quite close to the ground. Unfortunately the hotel has not partnered with any toiletry brands and instead offers its own brand toiletries. This was another disappointment, very poor quality. The pool was truly stunning, however the temperature of the room and water was really cold, this put us off going back. There were also people coming in to “view” the pool and walking around with their shoes on which I found very unhygienic. One even dipped his shoed foot into the jacuzzi water, goodness knows why! I brought this to the attention of the pool attendants and they didn’t get what the fuss was about. Festive buffet lunch was limited. Meat and shellfish heavy with rich sides mostly including meat. It was a tiny selection and lack of variety meant it was uninteresting and quite boring. Not as I expected. Had to ask for bread -2 staff members didn’t understand the word “bread.” Felt ripped off here. Maybe it’s because we had a recent stay at the Waldorf Astoria and their festive lunch buffet was absolutely incredible. Take the Waldorf over this place any day! Breakfast was ok. Semi buffet where you order items from a menu and have an additional buffet. I found the quality to be ok. Everything was very restrained which is maybe the style here, but I found it very limiting. It would have been nice for buffet items to have a rotation for more variety. Having the same foods everyday was a bit boring. Service was very slow. Dinner: Again, I found the service in the lobby restaurant questionable. When eating we ordered plain pasta, but were changed for bolognese. I did query this on principle as a charge of over 30gbp is massive for plain boiled spaghetti. When the manager came he really embarrassed me by saying they would not change the price and that many people have order adjustments but they did not change the price. During the same meal my nearly fully glass of wine was spilled accidentally and was not refilled. I found this very poor taste. I was charged the full amount at 25gbp per glass. When we got up to leave I noticed about 3 tables dining and realised why the place was empty. A shame as they had a lovely live jazz band playing, but no atmosphere or hospitality. In spite of everything, we really tried to enjoy our stay here, revisiting the restaurant and interacting with the staff on multiple occasions. I was expecting to feel warmth and welcome as mentioned in previous reviews, but it just didn’t show up. We most certainly won’t be returning.

This place understands the art of hospitality. The common areas are beautifully maintained with fresh flowers and elegant décor. The pool area feels like a private retreat, and the attentive pool staff ensures you never have to lift a finger. The rooms are spacious and well-thought-out, with premium toiletries and linens that make you feel pampered.

From the moment you enter the building the Peninsula staff are outstanding. We arranged a car with the hotel to collect us at the airport and it was well worth it. When we arrived at the hotel check in was taken place in our room. The room was well equipment with a very comfortable bed. The WhatsApp service was great. The lobby was beautifully decorated with a massive Chanel tree and Chanel decorations. I had lunch alone whilst my husband was on business and I was looked after very well. The hair salon was 5star! I would definitely recommend their blow dry. The gym was clean and had everything you need - note, you need your room key to check in before you can enter. The only reason I’ve knocked a star off is because I think the rooms are in need of a refurb. The bath tub was scratched and had just been painted over which looked bad. Also, one of the bedside charging points didn’t work. If you need more waters just call.

This hotel understands that luxury isn't just about expensive furnishings - it's about creating moments. The bartender who remembered our drinks, the housekeeper who noticed I prefer extra pillows, the front desk staff who helped plan a perfect day - every interaction felt special. The restaurant's atmosphere was sophisticated yet comfortable, and the morning coffee service was exceptional