The cutting-edge Kimpton Hotel at Shanghai's Qiantan area

Membership Level: IHG Platinum Benefits: Only one level upgrade to a Modern Room by default, includes social time (similar to happy hour), breakfast for two, a 60 RMB cocktail voucher, and complimentary minibar in the room 🍎Introduction: As the first Kimpton brand showcase in Shanghai and the second Kimpton hotel in China, it is definitely worth a visit. Kimpton is known for its personalized service and local design integration within the IHG group. Overall, the experience is over 90 points. The hotel's overall black and gold color scheme has the old-money style of Shanghai, and although it uses a lot of red gold, it doesn't come off as gaudy. The French restaurant Le Chloé French Brasserie on the 8th floor adds a different charm to the hotel. However, the hotel is located in the Qiantan area, and despite the addition of Taikoo Li Qiantan, it still feels somewhat desolate. 🌟Highlights: As a hotel that emphasizes personalized design, there are several must-visit spots in this Kimpton: 1. Lobby area: The main design is 'the writer's living room,' with two lazy blankets draped over the large leather sofas, complemented by the towering bookshelves and faux fireplace behind the front desk, understated yet luxurious. 2. The lounge: Located on the fifth floor, the lounge is the public area with the best view in the entire hotel. The triple-height ceiling is astonishing, and the four triple-height bookshelves fit perfectly with the 'writer's study' theme. The huge brewing equipment also hints at the social nature of this space. 3. The rooftop infinity pool: Currently not open, but you can go upstairs to visit. The huge infinity pool, combined with the excellent view, perfectly interprets the seamless blend of sky and sea at Qiantan. 🛏️Room Experience: The rooms are full of pleasant surprises. First, upon entering the room, you won't see the traditional minibar, TV, or writing desk. At this point, the butler will hand you a round remote control to 'bring them out.' The shower wall hides a mirror that controls the bathroom lights and volume, equipped with a direct drinking machine, and also has a square bathtub that can accommodate two people side by side 🛁. The toilet and shower are on opposite sides of the hallway due to the wet and dry separation design. The bed is equipped with a custom Bluetooth speaker and aromatherapy machine, and the yellow glass-designed fireplace is also unique. The wine-red sofa also has a soft blanket, which is the perfect match for the floor-to-ceiling windows. 🍔Dining: The hotel only offers one restaurant, Le Chloé French Brasserie on the eighth floor. This time, I experienced both dinner and breakfast. Starting with breakfast, it is usually semi-buffet, occasionally full buffet. The overall quality of breakfast is disappointing, with few choices and mediocre taste. The scallion oil noodles had no flavor, which was unexpected... In contrast, the dinner experience was worlds apart. For dinner, I ordered steak, vegetable salad, and Wagyu pasta. The pre-dinner bread was baked to a crisp texture, and they proactively replaced it with warmed plates before the main course. The steak was cooked to perfection, and the accompanying sauce was very good. So don't be put off by the taste of breakfast; it's worth trying the dinner. Another feature of the hotel is the bar, where you can enjoy a drink and some cold dishes during Kimpton's unique social hour from 17:00 to 18:00. 📌Conclusion: The Shanghai Kimpton is genuinely good. Aside from the hotel's location, it can be said to be a must-visit for hotel enthusiasts. Both the public areas and rooms have a very old-money vibe, and it's also worth checking out the restaurant and the rooftop pool. However, the breakfast offerings need improvement, and I will return after the pool opens.