The busy streets of Shanghai zip past us in our hotel car as we make our way between history and modernity to get to our destination. Tucked behind the busy main roads in the vibrant Jing’an district, we have come to our private oasis inside the largest city in China. Past the welcoming bamboo, we have found ourselves at our home for a few nights – our family sanctuary at Upper House Shanghai.
For our first visit to Shanghai, we knew that we needed to find a spot that would really extend a warm embrace to our jetsetting little family. We are no strangers to the Upper House back home in Hong Kong, where we celebrated our babymoon during the COVID-19 pandemic, so it felt right to bring our little bean to the Upper House in Shanghai. And boy were we in for a treat.
Upper House is luxurious, but not in an aggressive in-your-face way. They are luxurious in their minimalist designs that feel like a tasteful, contemporary home instead of a hotel. When traveling with little ones, having a place that feels like home means a lot to families, especially parents. Little bean was treated like a star from the moment we set foot on the curb outside the lobby, and she was immediately welcomed with an Upper House horse (for Year of the Horse) and some chocolate. She was so touched that she asked if she could take flowers out of my birthday bouquet and give them to the staff at Upper House. One by one, she handed each person a flower, with our host happily placing his in his lapel which remained there for the rest of the day.
The impressive family treatment did not stop there, with touching surprises found inside our cozy room overlooking Shimen Road (and the famous Louis Vuitton flagship store just below our windows). Every single corner – from inside the room to inside the bathroom – was covered with little bumpers to protect little bean’s head from getting hurt. There was also an anti-slip mat in the shower for her, but once little bean saw the giant bathtub we knew we were never going to be able to get her to take a shower. With the Upper House also providing child-friendly toiletries and a toddler sized robe just for her, little bean was clearly the primary focus of the staff.
Upper House Shanghai really feels smack in the middle of the best parts of the city, so what better place to make our home for a few days while exploring. It’s just a 15-minute taxi ride to the North Bund (the better, less crowded viewing spot for the iconic Shanghai skyline), a 10-minute taxi ride to the famous Yu Gardens, or a 10-minute taxi ride to the former French Concession. It’s also in the heart of Jing’an district, which is famous for its plethora of gastronomic experiences that really spoil you with the best of Shanghaiese cuisine.
Just around the corner from Upper House Shanghai is Adacong Fried Cake, which has spent several generations perfecting the famous scallion pancake (also known as 葱油饼 – cōng yóu bǐng). If you see a red little shop with a lengthy queue along the sidewalk, you have reached the spot. Inexpensive and freshly made on the spot, it’s a delightful snack of dough and scallions cooked on the griddle until a gorgeous golden brown. It was worth the wait, and even little bean loved it too.
After spending so much time walking, exploring, and eating practically everything, we enjoyed having a much needed break in Upper House Shanghai’s heated swimming pool. While the beau and little bean played some hilarious water games, I found myself enjoying the sauna and steam room for a little “me time.” I did just celebrate my birthday, and I loved that the beau encouraged me to take some time to myself. I came back to find little bean relaxing in the massage chairs in the warmest pool, so I think she was also enjoying some time to herself.
For our last night at Upper House Shanghai, we decided to head to the bar for some pre-dinner drinks before having our dinner at Café Gray Deluxe. At the bar, I was eager to try some more Chinese wines and so I decided to start my evening with a glass of white wine from Ningxia before moving on to a delicious red wine from Yunnan. I love pairing a delicious red wine with a burger, so that’s what I ordered for dinner alongside some french fries and burrata cheese. It was a good way to end a few days in Shanghai.
Will we be back to Upper House Shanghai? That’s a resounding yes. We have had the honor of staying at so many incredible places around the world, but Upper House Shanghai’s attention to detail when it came to our daughter was beyond what we expected. Not only are children warmly welcomed, Upper House goes the extra mile to make sure children have the comforts of home while traveling which is no easy feat! A big thanks to Upper House for really being a home for us in Shanghai.
And while we cannot wait to bring little bean back one day, the beau and I are thinking of trying some mom-and-dad getaway time to Upper House Shanghai where we can stay up just a little bit later and I can finally get a turn in that gorgeous deep bathtub.
Thanks to Upper House Shanghai and Swire for partnering on this post. Although we were guests of Upper House, all opinions are my own.
