Shanghai — Traveler Guide
These Shanghai hotels were practically designed for your feed. From jaw-dropping infinity pools and art-filled lobbies to bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling views and architecturally stunning facades, every corner is a photo opportunity waiting to happen.
Quick Answer
These Shanghai hotels were practically designed for your feed. From jaw-dropping infinity pools and art-filled lobbies to bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling views and architecturally stunning facades, every corner is a photo opportunity waiting to happen.
6 hotels reviewed · Price range: $$$, $$, $$$$ · Last updated March 2026
About This Guide
Shanghai offers exceptional options for travellers seeking instagram hotels, and we've curated the very best. Each property has been selected for its outstanding facilities, prime location, and the quality of experience it delivers. Leading our list, The Middle House excels with its exceptional attention to detail and commitment to the instagram experience. URBN Hotel Shanghai offers a compelling alternative with its unique approach and distinctive character. Whether you're a first-time visitor to Shanghai or returning for another stay, these hotels represent the gold standard for instagram accommodation in the city. Each has been independently evaluated for quality, location, and value.
Insider Tips
Book directly with the hotel for the best rate guarantee and potential upgrades.
Read recent guest reviews for the most up-to-date assessment of facilities.
Consider visiting during shoulder season for better rates and fewer crowds.
Ask the concierge for local recommendations — they know Shanghai better than any guidebook.
Our Picks
6 hotels · Updated February 2026
Former French Concession
Piero Lissoni's design is all amber travertine, warm oak, and library walls of curated books — a hotel that feels genuinely residential on leafy Jinan Lu. The rooftop pool, the Grill restaurant, and the House Collective service philosophy create a stay that regulars return to more as a favourite home than a hotel.
Jing'an
China's first carbon-neutral hotel occupies a converted factory complex in Jing'an — exposed brick, reclaimed timber, and salvaged industrial fittings create a warmth that purpose-built hotels rarely achieve. The courtyard garden, the excellent cocktail bar, and the genuinely warm service have made it a cult favourite with repeat visitors.
The Bund
The 1910 Shanghai Club building is one of the Bund's most storied addresses — the legendary Long Bar, once the longest bar in Asia, still anchors the ground floor. Rooms in the heritage wing retain original marble fireplaces and ornate plasterwork, while the tower addition offers Huangpu River panoramas that confirm why the Bund remains Shanghai's defining spectacle.
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.
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.
Rising from the banks of the Huangpu, the Mandarin Oriental Pudong delivers unobstructed Bund panoramas that make it the obvious choice for guests who want to face the spectacle rather than be part of it. The Fifty-Eight bar on the 58th floor and the MO Bar are essential sundowner destinations for the city's most dramatic light show.
Keep Exploring
Common Questions
All photo-worthy areas are available to hotel guests. Some properties welcome non-guest visitors to restaurants and bars, which often feature the most Instagrammable spaces.
Hotels generally welcome photography in public areas and guest rooms. Some properties even have designated photo spots or offer photography experiences.
More Destinations
Prices and availability change daily. Lock in the best rate by booking early — most of our top picks offer free cancellation.
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