Regent Shanghai Pudong5

The hotel offers an atmosphere of elegant seclusion amid the gleaming skyscrapers of Shanghai's financial center. Rebranding this former Four Seasons location, the creators preserved the classic spirit of luxury, complementing it with modern touches. The hotel's standout features are the incredible panoramic pool on the 41st floor and the exceptionally pleasant perks like complimentary laundry and minibar. However, guests often encounter contrasts: excellent service from individual staff members coexists with sluggishness at the front desk, and in summer months, some rooms develop a stubborn musty odor.

Key Observations

Stunning Panoramic Pool: The infinity pool on the 41st floor with a Jacuzzi offers incredible views of the Oriental Pearl Tower and Lujiazui skyscrapers, which guests call the hotel's top visual highlight.

Regent Privileges: A complimentary first-stock minibar and daily free laundry service make the stay exceptionally comfortable and a great value compared to competitors.

Summer Mustiness Issue: Guests staying in summer 2026 reported a pronounced musty or moldy smell in some rooms, forcing room changes in the middle of the night.

Contrasting Service: While certain employees (like assistant Max or administrator Christina Vine) generate genuine enthusiasm, the overall performance of the front desk and spa sometimes feels cold, and the language barrier hampers quick problem resolution.

Main Pros

• Spacious, modern rooms with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and captivating city or Oriental Pearl Tower views.
• Legendary pool on the 41st floor, Jacuzzi, and an excellent wellness area with saunas.
• Generous bonuses: complimentary minibar at check-in and daily free laundry (up to three items per guest).
• Superb location in the Lujiazui financial center, within walking distance of metro station, IFC Mall, and Shanghai Tower.
• Selected staff members demonstrate an outstanding level of care, helping with delivery of dozens of Taobao parcels straight to the room.

Main Cons

• Recurring issues with dampness and moldy odors in rooms during Shanghai's humid summer.
• Inconsistent front desk service: some guests noted indifference, lack of friendliness, and slow response to requests.
• Language barrier: some staff in the spa, business center, and club lounge have poor English skills.
• Breakfast receives mixed reviews, ranging from 'magnificent' to 'meager and lukewarm' for a hotel of this caliber.
• No room service or robot food delivery (Taobao or Meituan couriers cannot come up to the room without a signed waiver).

Overall Grade: B

Hotel Overview

Basic Information:

• Name — Regent Shanghai Pudong (上海浦东丽晶酒店)
• Address — No. 210 Shiji Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 200120, China
• Contact — Tel. +86 (21) 2036 8888
• Positioning and category — Luxury five-star business hotel in the financial district

Description: An elegant high-rise hotel, formerly operating under the Four Seasons brand, offers guests the atmosphere of a secluded urban oasis amid the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong. The design combines Art Deco touches and classical luxury with modern technology (such as smart Toto toilets). The concept's main highlights are the panoramic floor-to-ceiling views, the magnificent Regent Club lounge on the 35th floor, and premium service with personalized perks.

Target Audience: Business travelers coming to the Lujiazui financial district, as well as couples and families with children looking to enjoy first-class wellness and legendary Shanghai skyline views in a quieter setting than the bustling Bund.

Location & Transport

Location: The hotel is situated in the heart of the Lujiazui financial district in Pudong New Area. This side of the Huangpu River is much calmer and quieter than the historic center (Puxi), with fewer tourist crowds, but life winds down earlier. Three iconic Shanghai skyscrapers tower nearby.

Key Points of Interest: Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and the Oriental Pearl Tower are all within a short walk. IFC Mall and Lujiazui Riverside Park are a 10–15 minute walk away.

Transport: The Lujiazui and Pudong South Road metro stations (Line 2) are a 10–15 minute walk, giving direct access to Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, People's Square, and the park. Taxis are easily hailed right at the hotel entrance.

Walkability: The neighborhood is pedestrian-friendly, with wide, well-maintained, and safe sidewalks.

Grade: A

Rooms & Cleanliness

The rooms are spacious, bright, with superb floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests frequently praise the exceptional bed linen quality, pillow comfort, and bathtubs with panoramic city views. Upper-floor rooms (especially corner suites) offer breathtaking views of the Oriental Pearl Tower. However, some guests note signs of furniture wear, chips and scratches, as well as occasional issues with curtain controls and plumbing (e.g., limescale on shower heads). Housekeeping is thorough, even neatly coiling charging cables. But the main technical issue is poor ventilation in some rooms, leading to moldy odors in summer.

Grade: B

Service

Encounters with staff leave a mixed impression. Certain employees earn personal raves: concierge Max provides invaluable assistance to travelers; front desk staff Christina, Tanya, Albert, and Parker are professional and friendly; and floor managers Amy and Sunny Li show genuine care. The hotel eagerly helps guests with Taobao order logistics. Yet overall organization sometimes falters: the front desk can be slow and cool, guest requests may be ignored or take over an hour to fulfill. Furthermore, serious financial errors occur — for example, charging the full stay price to a card for a points booking and delaying refunds.

Grade: B-

Dining

The hotel features three restaurants: Italian Camelia, Japanese Mi Teppanyaki, and Cantonese Shang-Xi. Breakfast offers a wide selection of both Chinese and European dishes, including fresh pastries and à-la-carte items. However, reviews vary: some call breakfast 'magnificent,' while others find the food mediocre, criticizing wilted herbs and cold dim sum, comparing the level to lower-class hotels. The Club lounge on the 35th floor offers a pleasant evening cocktail hour with a good selection of snacks that can replace dinner, though the food variety there is sometimes called limited as well.

Grade: B+

Facilities & Amenities

The hotel's main pride is the stunning spa area and panoramic infinity pool on the 41st floor with a Jacuzzi, offering the best view of the Oriental Pearl Tower. Pool access is strictly regulated: a swim cap is mandatory (can be purchased on site). Also available are a 24-hour gym with modern equipment, saunas (dry and wet), and a spa with massage services. The hotel's Wi-Fi is patchy in places, drawing complaints from business travelers. Guests note that the spa area needs cosmetic touch-ups in places.

Grade: A-

Important Notes

• Strictly required to wear a swim cap in the pool; if you don't have one, you'll need to buy it on site.
• A strict no-smoking policy is enforced in the rooms.
• Food and parcel deliveries by couriers are not brought to the rooms; orders must be picked up in the lobby, or a special liability waiver must be signed.
• Due to high humidity in summer months, a musty smell may be present in the rooms.

Practical Tips for Guests

• When booking, be sure to choose rooms with a view of the Oriental Pearl Tower – the supplement for this view is entirely worth it.
• Definitely take advantage of the free daily laundry service (a limited number of items per guest), which is very convenient on a trip.
• It's recommended to book access to the Regent Club: the evening happy hour offers excellent cocktails and snacks with a magnificent panoramic view of the Bund.
• Bring your own swim caps for the whole family to avoid extra expenses at the pool.

Final Verdict

Regent Shanghai Pudong offers magnificent views, a great pool, and pleasant bonuses, but the service level and room conditions during peak periods may not meet the high expectations set by the Regent brand.

Overall Grade: B

Breakdown: Location: A | Rooms: B | Service: B- | Dining: B+ | Facilities: A- | Value for Money: B+

Best for: Lovers of beautiful views, connoisseurs of quality spa, and those seeking a calm base in Shanghai's business center.

Not for: Travelers expecting flawless English-language service without hiccups, as well as those sensitive to musty odors or looking for a bustling nightlife right outside the hotel.