The Portman Ritz-Carlton, truly Shanghai style

The city of Shanghai has been hailed as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ and is a delight for travelers and tourists alike. Intellectuals and writers have also been enchanted by the city. These have included Bertrand Russell, Rabindranath Tagore, and Bernard Shaw, to name a few. Shanghai’s tenacity is truly remarkable; it has bounced back with incredible vigor from the brink of war and economic setback to emerge as an industrial force that the rest of the world cannot help but pay attention to. The city is a curious mix of east and west with something for everyone.

And smack dab in the middle of it all is The Portman Ritz Carlton Shanghai, just beyond the majestic Bund buildings, which rise up to 45 stories.

The Portman Ritz Carlton Shanghai five-star luxury hotel is quite large with 610 suites and rooms, all of which have an amazing view of the city skyline. The interiors are luxurious and comfortable, evoking contemporary Chinese design. Each room features beautiful artwork, large closets, bedside lighting controls, 32-inch LCD TVs, high-speed Internet, and more.

When you take the lift to the top floor of this luxury hotel, you will come across the Penthouse Suites designed by Australian architects and decorators. While Chinese artifacts adorn these two-bedroom suites, their finish is distinctively Italian. Each of these rooms offers a luxurious environment and exclusivity that reach the guest in a warm and welcoming environment.

You can go out to any of the cafes in the city or dine in any of the restaurants within this luxurious five-star hotel.

If you land in Shanghai on a Sunday morning, you might want to take advantage of the Sunday Champagne Brunch with a lavish buffet at the restaurant called, somewhat tersely, Tables. On other days too, the food served is excellent. Try the fragrant Thai-style roast duck red curry and Won Ton noodle soup. However, Tables doesn’t just cater to Asian cuisine. The purely western style pistachio crusted grilled fish fillet has to be tasted to be believed. And if you’re specifically into Italian, we suggest trying the pastas Tables has to offer.

For the trendy crowd, there’s the Ritz Bar in a truly luxurious and modern setting. While sipping a cocktail and nibbling on an exciting assorted cheese platter, you can have a great evening listening to modern jazz every night of the week from Monday to Saturday.

And if you can’t live without some seriously amazing sushi, we suggest you try the 9-seat Sushi Bar at Hanagatami, which has won multiple awards for its sophisticated Asian cuisine. Aside from the sushi portions, their teppanyaki and kaiseki offerings also come highly recommended. Guests revel in its refined Japanese and modern décor as they sample such tasty and tempting food.

During your stay at The Portman Ritz-Carlton, don’t miss out on its luxury spa for a day. Its luxurious sauna and solarium, not to mention beauty treatments and massages, will lure you away from the cares of the world and into a mode of meditation and relaxation. And all Shanghai style!