Review: St. Regis Shanghai Jingan

I stayed at the St. Regis Shanghai Jingan as one of the final hotels on my whirlwind SAS Millionaire trip. I splurged on hotel stays towards the end of my 2-week stint on the road to give my body some mercy, and just like the Park Hyatt Guangzhou, this property delivered on every level.

Booking

I booked my one-night stay at the St. Regis Shanghai Jingan with cash as I had a surplus of Marriott Bonvoy gift cards, thanks to some Amex Offers. Generally, the nightly rates will hover around $350 CAD or 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, so you’re not getting optimal value when redeeming points.

Check-in

I stayed the night before in an airport hotel, so I was able to arrive early and maximize my time basking in luxury. Arriving at the hotel is quite an event as it’s architecturally striking with consistent theming all the way to ground level.

Arriving in the lobby, you are met with a stunning view of a huge chandelier and then ushered to a private check-in area.

There was a bit of confusion with the gift cards, but eventually it was sorted out, and I was given breakfast as my Marriott Bonvoy welcome gift and told I would have butler access for my stay. 

After getting that squared away, I made my way up to the room and was immediately impressed with the opulent elevators. Each elevator had a different piece of art in it, as well as “jewel” buttons.

Location

The St Regis Shanghai Jingan is in a very walkable location next to transit.

I had some extra time in Shanghai and ventured out to get a scallion pancake from a local market.

Parking

Self-parking at the St Regis Shanghai Jingan costs 160 CNY per day, which is equal to about 32 CAD.

Room – Superior Deluxe Room, 1 King, City View, High Floor

High floor is an excellent way to describe this room, as I was fortunate enough to be on the 42nd floor of this fantastic property.

The rooms here are classically luxurious, and you feel that the moment you step in. The Superior rooms are larger and located on the corners of the hotel.

Upon entering, you’ll find a spacious walk-in closet immediately to your right, complete with a robe, St. Regis slippers, a safe, shoeshine, and laundry bags.

Walking into the bedroom area, you’re greeted with sweeping views of Shanghai and an extremely plush carpet. The accent lighting is also beautiful in the room, with warm ambient lights adding a touch of comfort to something usually boring, like a ceiling.

Next to those incredible views is a sitting area with a chaise lounge and a small office space. On the table of the sitting area was a handwritten welcome letter and some oranges as a welcome gift.

The bedside tables included master light switches and international power ports. When I returned to the room in the evening, the blinds were drawn and a full turndown service was completed.

Across from the bed is the TV, and the minibar is delightfully integrated into it. Complete with signature St. Regis stir sticks, a touch I thought was excellent.

The prices were not outrageous, but I didn’t opt for anything from here. As a reminder, 10 CNY is roughly $2 CAD.

The final feature of the room before we move into the bathroom was this lavish vanity for beauty prep, complete with a hair dryer.

It might sound strange, but the bathroom was one of the highlights of the room for me!

Complete with a full tub, dual vanity, and corner window views of the sunset, it was stunning. The amenities were the same brand as what I had experienced at the St. Regis Toronto, which is a consistency I love in the Marriott portfolio.

The shower and toilet chamber are lavishly decked out in marble from top to bottom, and the shower is huge.

With the bathtub being placed right next to the west window, it had some exceptional views during sunset. The bathroom also had another robe ready to go and some perfectly folded towels.

Restaurants & Bars

The St Regis Shanghai Jingan has a total of nine dining establishments, so you’re a bit spoiled for choice!

Social – Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Complimentary Breakfast

I had a very early flight from Shanghai to Seoul that I couldn’t afford to miss, but I was able to pop in for a quick bite and some pictures of the breakfast I was entitled to as part of my Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status. The interior is decorated just as lavishly as the rest of the hotel.

The breakfast here is served buffet-style, including the coffee service, which I thought was a little strange. However, that may have been because it was so early in the morning.

The buffet spread was huge, offering a wide variety of Western and Eastern flavors, both hot and cold.

The St Regis Patisserie

Located just before the guestroom elevators, as an excellent test of willpower, sits the patisserie.

I failed this test of willpower and opted for a pistachio donut to enjoy in my room, which was delicious. I paired it with an iced coffee, compliments of the butler service.

The Drawing Room

The Drawing Room doubles as a bar and a meeting place for afternoon tea. I chose to eat and drink outside the hotel, but the entrance certainly looks enticing!

Yan Ting

Yan Ting is open for brunch and dinner and serves contemporary Chinese food. I opted to dine outside the hotel, so I didn’t have a chance to sample any of the six different dinner options.

Seki-tei

Seki-tei is a Japanese fine dining establishment featuring only 4 private rooms. I’m sure this is a spectacular meal!

St Regis Bar

The St Regis Bar is open in the evening for cocktail service. It’s just as stunning and classically luxurious as every other St Regis I’ve been to!

Bespoke

Bespoke is St Regis Shanghai’s Italian dining option. They open only for dinner.

Downtowner

Downtowner is a grab-and-go food option at the St Regis Shanghai. It is only open from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Manor

The Manor is perched on the high floors of the St Regis Shanghai. It’s open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Facilities

The gym, pool, and spa are all subterranean here, and you’re greeted with more opulence as you check in. I found the check-in area here to be more straightforward and easier for a Westerner to understand compared with the Park Hyatt Guangzhou, but that was also the first Chinese spa area I entered.

Fitness Center

The gym is labeled the Athletic Club at this property, but I opted for a swim in the pool instead of a workout. It’s a pretty complete facility!

Pool

The pool was a highlight for me here; opulence was fully expected by now. The entrance to the locker rooms looked like something you would find in an “old world” hotel in Europe.

The locker rooms were not as lavish as the Park Hyatt I stayed at just a few days prior, but they included showers, a sauna, and, importantly, a bathing suit spinner to dry out your trunks.

The pool was gorgeous as well, with more marble statues and comfy loungers readily available.

Spa

As a 5-star hotel, it has a spa, but I didn’t opt for any treatments, even though I probably should have, given my 27 flights in 15 days!

Conclusion

The St Regis Shanghai Jingan is an excellent hotel that provided a luxurious break from my grand adventure of chasing 1,000,000 SAS EuroBonus points. I particularly enjoyed the oversized Superior Deluxe Room and think it’s worth paying the small premium for. I would love to spend more time here as a home base the next time I explore Shanghai!