On a cloudy winter’s morning in Shanghai, I soaked in the bracing air and peaceful Huangpu River views from the balcony of my room at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan.
The night before, I had been walking along The Bund across the river, jostled by tourists and hustled by photography touts. To be surrounded by a calming silence was surreal and a welcomed respite.
Shanghai joined Doha and Dubai as the only cities in the world with two Waldorf Astoria properties each when the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan opened in October 2025. In contrast to its older sibling Waldorf Astoria Shanghai On the Bund, which is housed in a Renaissance-style building originally constructed in 1911, the new build is located in the New Bund area, where businesses are still moving into towering commercial complexes, and human and vehicular traffic are sparse enough to make traffic lights feel redundant. Right across the hotel’s entrance is the beautiful Youcheng Park, part of a 45-kilometer stretch of open riverside space and waterfront greenery.
In this property, New York-based architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox and Shenzhen-headquartered interior design specialist Cheng Chung Design pay tribute to Shanghai’s Art Deco heritage in contemporary forms.
The hotel stands out in its futuristic cruise ship design, with 204 rooms and suites spread out across nine cascading floors, each flexing space – the smallest room starts from 54 square meters – and panoramic river views that blend seamlessly with the interiors. The Waldorf Suites have outdoor hot tubs, perfect for those who like to have a private soak in fresh air with a magnificent skyline to match. In the rooms, white veined marble, light wood and fluted surfaces convey classic grandeur while emerald and amber-toned furnishings imbue a modern vivacity and warmth.
There are no harsh lines here. Graceful curves and figurative sweeps of a peacock’s tail mark the common areas, from the statement marble Astoria Staircase to geometrical details on backings of chairs in the Peacock Alley. The legendary Waldorf Astoria New York clock sits in the lobby as a golden “eye” installation inspired by celestial movements, an abstract interpretation by Chinese contemporary artist Zhan Yan.
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Artistic contemplations aside, the hotel gets the basics right. There is no need to dash to the breakfast room before 10:30am – the first meal of the day is served until 2:00pm on weekdays and 3:00pm on weekends at modern European restaurant Arame. The local dishes were clear hits: Noodles tossed in scallion oil or served in a seafood “shacha” broth, along with side dishes such as tea eggs, preserved vegetables with shredded pork, soy milk with fried dough sticks, and dim sum.
On the hotel’s top floor, Fu Cheng, helmed by Justin Yang of one Michelin-starred Hokkien Cuisine in Chengdu, serves homely, refined Min cuisine from Quanzhou, the hometown of the entire kitchen team, including Yang. On a Saturday afternoon, it was mostly multigenerational families and large groups filling up the tables in the dining room dressed in marine hues and sleek curves. There is no fancy plating, only ingredients delicately prepared and presented to bring out their best natural flavors, such as deep-fried eel with finger lime, boiled pigeon leg in a peppercorn brine, and Buddha Jump Over the Wall. The eel dish is a family recipe that air-dries the eel over 36 hours before frying and is finished with a honey glaze and zesty lime. Tea sommeliers highlight tea pairings tableside, such as Yancha cultivated in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian province, and Pu’er from Yunnan. On the same floor is the exclusive Starlight private dining room with a spacious private terrace for bespoke menus.
In the afternoon, tuck into savory bites, pretty sweets that are as delectable as they look, and freshly baked scones at the elegant Peacock Alley lounge. Vintage green rattan, beige linen, and subtle geometric peacock and floral embroidery on wall coverings give the sense of being ensconced in a secret garden, with riverfront views completing the serene setting.
For a good workout, there is a well-equipped 24-hour fitness center with multi-functional training zones and a 25-meter heated indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling views of The Bund and comfortable loungers. A spa with four treatment rooms opened in May, including one dedicated to watsu therapy, a passive warm water treatment that integrates Japanese shiatsu, and fluid aquatic therapy techniques.
As far as ideal bases go, the hotel is more for guests who have already experienced Shanghai’s high energy and want a less pulsating vibe to their vacation. The nearest shopping mall Taikoo Li Qiantan is a 15-minute walk away while getting into The Bund across the river is a 20- to 30-minute Didi ride, depending on traffic. But if you want an urban retreat that sits nicely between park strolls and the occasional party night out, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan fits like a glove.
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