A former love of mine used to live in Shanghai and this brought me to the Chinese megacity several times. And within the rise of boutique and industrial hotels, Waterhouse Hotel opened in 2010 and immediately turned into an insider place to be with its stunning rooftop terrace. Until today, it’s one of my favorite places to return to. Because of its timeless interior and the cutting-edge atmosphere in this boutique hotel which is part of Design Hotels for a reason.
ABOUT THE WATERHOUSE AND THE ARCHITECTS
The rough exterior of this hotel, located at the Bund in Shanghai, is owed to its former life as a warehouse in 1930 and the amazing creative minds behind the redesign. Neri & Hu, winner of many international awards and one of the most important forces in contemporary Chinese aesthetics, have chosen a challenging project with creating this hotel in Shanghai.
The building was a huge shell with a dozen staircases that led to nowhere. But of course, the team succeeded: Waterhouse offers 19 exquisite hotel rooms with decent interior, a unique rooftop bar with the most stunning view over the river and a distinct, timeless design.
THE ROOMS
Those of you who know me well, know that I’m not a big fan of countless pictures on the walls, tons of cute decoration or extremely colored wallpapers. So, lucky me, the interior of this hotel totally fits my sense of design. Modern and decent, everything decorated in shiny whites and light wood. Some of the suites have a bathtub in the middle of the room and a private balcony with a view over the Huangpu River. All in all, the rooms are about exposed brick walls, black and white furniture and an abundance of smooth natural wood. A calm relaxation for sore eyes, which may have suffered from the colorful vividness of the days and nights in this vibrant city.
THE ROOFTOP
Looking for a nice place to have a drink and enjoy the view? Head to the L-shaped rooftop bar at the Waterhouse and be amazed by the Pudong skyline, the financial district of Shanghai. But right now, you have to wait until summertime, because the roof is only open in the warmer months of the year.
THE COURTYARD AND THE FUNCTION HALL
The hotel owner, Loh Lik Peng, wanted to keep some of the specific interior features of the former building. He masterfully achieved this by keeping the rough spaces intact and adding some contemporary touches with wooden details and leather accessories. The combination of the old and the new can be seen in the courtyard and in the function hall of the hotel, which can be booked for special occasions.
THE RESTAURANT
On the ground floor of the hotel, you find the restaurant “Table Nº1”. It offers a unique communal dining experience which encourages guests to not just enjoy their food, but to get in touch with other guests of the restaurants. And the food is as good as it sounds. Our recommendation: fresh creamed corn as a side dish, seared scallop with saffron potato and fennel. For dessert you have to try the pumpkin panna cotta.
If you’re still up for some drinks afterwards, go to the Lobby Bar. In the evening, select from a list of never-tasted cocktails. Or skip drinks at night and come back in the afternoon for a lovely tea session which is also served in the Lobby Bar.
If you need further recommendations what else to see in Shanghai, read this 24 hours guide from THE BETTER PLACES.
Address: Maojiayan Road No 1-3, Zhongshan Road South, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200010, China
More information: www.waterhouseshanghai.com
The rooms look amazing! Definitely a design hotel after my fancy. Thanks for the nice post!