Capella and the Red House are a perfect match—unlocking Parisian romance in Shanghai

As a seasoned travel expert who’s always on the road, I’ve stayed at countless trendy hotels, but Shanghai’s Capella Jiaye Li still makes my heart skip a beat—I want to keep it a secret. When French luxury hotel DNA meets Shikumen red brick walls, this is probably the most poetic way to experience Shanghai. 📸 A French love letter inside the Red House The moment you step into the Jiaye Li alley, it feels like traveling back to the 1930s: bare red brick walls, black lacquered wooden doors, arched doorways, and 55 row Shikumen villas nestled among sycamore trees creating their own scenic charm. Capella hasn’t done any harsh renovations but quietly infuses French elegance with copper door plaques, Art Deco wall lamps, and velvet sofas—every snapshot looks like a scene from In the Mood for Love. 💃 Stay in an “old Shanghai private mansion” The basic room type is a full 110㎡ villa! Open the lattice wooden door, and sunlight slants over bamboo shadows on white walls in the private courtyard; the three-story space hides a reception room, bedroom, and terrace, with BOSE sound system, Diptyque amenities, and a four-poster bed draped in satin bed runners… every detail screams “ultra-luxury.” My favorite is the bathroom’s black-and-white mosaic floor tiles and vintage brass bathtub—when soaking, open the wooden window and hear the old lady selling white magnolia flowers in the distance. This is the soul of old Shanghai! 🍷 Savor Shanghai-style flair at the Michelin restaurant Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire in the hotel is one of Shanghai’s hardest-to-book French restaurants! The chef cleverly blends confit duck leg with Shanghai smoked fish, paired with a glass of Burgundy red wine—it feels like dining with Eileen Chang on Paris’s Left Bank. Breakfast is even better—sit in the courtyard, serve salty soy milk and rice cakes on enamel plates, French plating meets local flavors, and the ritual is fully elevated. ✨ Nearby activities: from the French Concession to local life • Walk 5 minutes to Yongkang Road and squeeze into a trendy café for a “Shikumen special” drink; • Bike through Yueyang Road and snap photos of the Shanghai Symphony Hall’s red wall dome; • When night falls, stroll to Jianguo West Road next door to buy fresh meat mooncakes and watch the uncles play mahjong under street lamps. 💡 Tips: ✔️ Be sure to experience the “Cultural Concierge” service—they’ll take you to hidden spots like alleyway tailors and antique clock shops; ✔️ The 4 PM slanting sunlight is perfect for capturing red wall silhouettes on the villa terrace; ✔️ Off-season rates start around ¥8000+/night, including daily breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails—worth every penny! When French leisure meets Eastern flair, the chemistry between Capella and the Red House is probably Shanghai’s most addictive “fusion aesthetic.” Next time you visit Shanghai, skip the Bund—staying in a Shikumen villa is the real way to play! 📍 Address: 480 Jianguo West Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 🚇 Subway: 10-minute walk from Shaanxi South Road Station on Lines 1/10/12