Suite Talk: Andaz Shanghai
Despite having only been open since September of last year, it’s common that you’ll see a crowd of people mingling around the Andaz Shanghai’s outdoor terrace almost any evening of the week (especially on Fridays with the 6 - 8pm happy hour and DJ set).
And the diverse crowd that come here speaks as loudly a reason as any for our recognising the Andaz as this month’s Suite Talk. It seems that the Andaz has won over such popularity, especially in the last few months, because of its trendy, contemporary image, with splashes of colour and flairs of architectural excellence courtesy of renowned architects Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, making it one of the most stylish places to be in town.
And this extends to the suites, of which there are 15 at the Andaz Shanghai, all approximately 80 square metres in size. Walking down a corridor decorated with colourful paintings and works of contemporary graphic art to get to one of these rooms, you arrive in a large, spacious enclosure bursting with colour, with LED mood lights on the bedroom ceiling and bathtub, meaning that you can choose the colour of these while you’re unwinding with a book, depending on your mood.
A small selection of photography books can also be found within the suite next to a long, mahogany office desk (complete with complimentary high speed wi-fi) and a tea-making set with a selection of aromatic teas from local tea company, The Bund Tea Company. There are also Lorenzo Villoresi bathroom cosmetics, which smell irresistible and are the perfect teaser before falling into the room’s king-sized bed for a restful night’s sleep, and a complimentary mini bar of soft drinks and assorted snacks.
Still, these are perhaps all expected touches for a boutique hotel (as well as the free fitness centre and swimming pool privileges, and access to the hotel’s lobby level restaurant Haipai for an inclusive breakfast of international and local Chinese fare alike). What makes the Andaz Shanghai Suite particularly special is its little personal in-room gym, each room coming with either an exercise bike, or a treadmill on which the guest can surf the internet, while looking out over the glittering Xintiandi skyline. Yes, that’s surf the internet while running on a treadmill – meaning that you have to put a bit of work in, in order to earn your Weibo privileges!
Still, if unwinding with a glass of wine and listening to your iPod is more your thing, then the suite’s JBL Onbeat Xtreme sound system is not to be missed. Compatible with any piece of Bluetooth technology, music lovers will embrace being able to blast their beats out on this impressive state-of-the-art stereo system.
Satisfying us more than enough that the Andaz Shanghai has got more than what it takes to bring a bit of warmth and colour to your own face.
RMB 3,700 + 15% upwards per night in Andaz Suite. Andaz Shanghai. 88 Songshan Lu, near Taicang Lu. Tel: 2310 1234. Web: http://shanghai.andaz.hyatt.com
