Shanghai — Traveler Guide
Discover the best families hotels in Shanghai — handpicked by our team of expert reviewers who visit every property anonymously. From design-driven boutiques to grand dames, here are the stays worth booking in 2026.
Quick Answer
Discover the best families hotels in Shanghai — handpicked by our team of expert reviewers who visit every property anonymously. From design-driven boutiques to grand dames, here are the stays worth booking in 2026.
6 hotels reviewed · Price range: $$, $$$$, $$$ · Last updated March 2026
About This Guide
Shanghai offers a remarkable range of families accommodation options. Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning, the right hotel makes all the difference. Our families picks balance location, design, service, and value — every property on this list has been personally vetted by our review team.
Insider Tips
Book at least 2-3 months ahead for peak season stays in Shanghai.
Consider staying slightly outside the main tourist zone for better value — many of Shanghai's best hotels are in residential neighborhoods.
Always check the hotel's cancellation policy before booking, especially during high season.
Ask the front desk for local restaurant recommendations — hotel concierges in Shanghai often have excellent taste.
If you're visiting for the first time, a central location is worth the premium — you'll save on transport and have more time to explore.
Our Picks
6 hotels · Updated February 2026
Former French Concession
A boutique gem on the quietest stretch of Fuxing Road — eleven individually designed rooms in a restored 1930s villa, each one a careful blend of Shanghai Art Deco and contemporary French sensibility. The intimate scale means service feels almost private, and the neighbourhood restaurants and bars are among Shanghai's finest.
The Bund
Occupying the 1928 North China Daily News building at the northern tip of the Bund, The Peninsula Shanghai is the Bund hotel that generations of Shanghai romantics have dreamed about. Grand Art Deco rooms, a rooftop bar with the Pudong skyline as backdrop, and the finest afternoon tea in China make this the standard against which every other Bund hotel is measured.
The Bund
The 1929 Sassoon House — green pyramid rooftop and art deco grandeur at the Bund's centrepoint — is one of Shanghai's greatest buildings, and the Fairmont's stewardship has preserved every inch of its theatrical character. The Jazz Bar, where the Old Jazz Band has played since the 1980s, offers nightly performances that feel less like entertainment than time travel.
Former French Concession
A hushed oasis of pools, pavilions, and gardens transplanted from Bangkok to the former French Concession — an unlikely combination that works brilliantly. Generous room sizes, a 25-metre outdoor pool flanked by tropical planting, and La Scala restaurant serving refined Italian cuisine attract Shanghai's most discerning leisure travellers.
Former French Concession
Thirty meticulously restored 1930s shikumen townhouses gathered around cobblestoned lanes in the Former French Concession. Each residence is an individual villa with private garden or terrace; Capella's service — butlers available around the clock, a private cinema, a tea house — wraps it all in unhurried elegance. The antithesis of the tower hotel.
People's Square
The soaring Tomorrow Square tower puts guests in rooms starting at the 38th floor — wake-up views that take in Pudong, People's Park, and the full sweep of the city on a clear morning. Highly efficient, well-positioned for both the commercial centre and the old neighbourhoods, and a consistent favourite with business travellers who want genuine comfort.
Common Questions
Based on our anonymous reviews, Le Phénix Hotel stands out as the top families choice in Shanghai for 2026, offering exceptional quality in its category.
March–May and September–November offer the most comfortable conditions.
Prices vary significantly by season and location. Budget options start around $80-120/night, mid-range runs $150-300, and luxury properties command $400+.
More Destinations
Prices and availability change daily. Lock in the best rate by booking early — most of our top picks offer free cancellation.
View All Shanghai Hotels