Kimpton Qiantan Shanghai, an IHG Hotel — Hotel in Shanghai

Location & Introduction:||Pudong District—Shanghai’s modern financial powerhouse—has continually expanded since the 1990s, first around Lujiazui and now extending south into Qiantan. This emerging urban subdistrict, marked by high-rises, luxury shopping centers, and the Oriental Sports Center, is home to one of IHG’s most ambitious new projects in Greater China: Kimpton Qiantan Shanghai.||Overlooking the Huangpu River, this 2023-opened flagship Kimpton is redefining boutique luxury in Shanghai. With 143 rooms and suites, the hotel blends fashion-forward French and Shanghainese design by Studio Carter and features a rooftop infinity pool, two stylish bars, and the signature Le Chloé French Brasserie. It’s also renowned for its brand collaborations with Bentley, Calzedonia, Hefang, and more.||The hotel is managed by veteran hotelier Matthew Cooper, whose leadership has helped Kimpton Qiantan make a bold and elegant entrance into the Chinese hospitality scene. As a frequent Kimpton guest (this was my 11th property), I was eager to return after a previously disrupted stay—and thanks to Matthew’s gracious invitation, I enjoyed a truly unforgettable second visit.||Pre-Arrival & Booking:||I coordinated my return stay directly with Matthew, who made sure everything was prepared for a memorable visit. Originally, I had booked a 1 King Essential Room for ¥1,788 ($245 USD) without breakfast. Rates now start at about ¥1,598 ($222 USD) on IHG and occasionally dip to ¥1,388 ($192) on third-party platforms—excellent value for this location and amenities.||For IHG Gold, Platinum, Diamond Elite, or Kimpton Inner Circle members, the hotel provides a high-touch pre-arrival experience, often including a personalized email and a pre-arrival call to confirm preferences.||On both visits, Matthew extended generous upgrades—first to the 90sqm Chez Chloé Suite, and this time to the La Petite Suite, a stunning 108sqm corner suite with panoramic views of the Huangpu River.||Arrival & Welcome:||Upon arrival, I was welcomed by Director of Rooms Stefenie Wang, whom I had met previously, along with introductions to the hotel’s top leadership team including Executive Chef Duncan Feng and Director of Marketing Eva Zhang.||The spacious ground floor lobby, with its fireplace, leather sofas, curated art, and coffee bar, sets the tone for the hotel’s Paris-meets-Shanghai aesthetic.||Suite Experience – La Petite Suite:||Suite 599 offered an expansive, elegantly furnished space:||- Bedroom: King bed on a designer frame, retractable Samsung TV, LED fireplace, Bluetooth speaker, and a scent diffuser.|- Bathroom & Closet: INAX electric toilet, glass-partitioned bath/shower with fogging tech, interactive smart mirror, vanity, and signature Atelier Bloem amenities.|- Living & Study Area: Two designer leather couches, fur blanket, abstract art, minibar, and a separate powder room.|- Welcome Amenities: A personalized letter, fresh fruit, and a custom cake designed in collaboration with Shanghai’s White Rabbit Candy—a delightful surprise.||Signature Kimpton Facilities:||Leisure Hall (5th Floor):|A stylish river-facing lounge with black leather seating, spiral staircase, and a cozy library—used for the Kimpton Social Hour.||Social Hour (5PM–6PM):|Daily complimentary cocktails and gourmet snacks. Bar Manager Kathy made my visit extra special with custom mocktails and warm hospitality.||Living Room Lounge:|A quieter, equally chic lounge space ideal for relaxed conversations or reading.||Infinity Pool:|An acrylic-glass rooftop pool with views of Xuhui Binjiang—spotlessly clean, temperature-perfect, and well-supervised. Don’t forget your swim cap!||Fitness Center:|Compact but efficient, open 24/7, and equipped with a thoughtful array of machines and amenities.||Lobby Lounge & Morning Kickstart:|Coffee and light bites served daily in a high-ceiling lounge next to reception—perfect for early departures.||Outdoor Patios:|Terrace spaces styled with Parisian café flair—lush, tranquil, and photogenic, especially the 8th-floor garden patio.||Bars & Dining:||Le Salon Chloé Bar (8th Floor):|A chic nightlife-style bar with plush seating, terrace access, and custom cocktails crafted by Kathy and her team. IHG elites receive a welcome drink voucher worth up to ¥120 (~$16 USD).||Upper Deck Bar (Hidden Gem):|Accessed via staircase through French art displays, this intimate bar offers a private rooftop river view and chandelier centerpiece—an exclusive experience.||Le Chloé French Brasserie:|The hotel’s only restaurant, headed by Black Pearl-awarded Chef Duncan Feng. The menu fuses Shanghainese and Parisian inspirations, with plans to expand into Chinese-Western fusion.||I was invited to preview a test tasting menu that included:||- Bread Basket with truffle butter|- Foie Gras “Opera Cake” with Coca-Cola jam|- Guizhou-style tomato soup|- M5 Tenderloin with soy-truffle reduction|- Chili-spiced chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream|- A pot of aged Pu’er tea||It was an incredible creative process to witness and partake in.||Breakfast with Matthew:||I joined Matthew for breakfast and an industry chat over an impressive buffet selection. Highlights included Eggs Benedict with truffle hollandaise, Shanghainese wontons, fresh-cut fruit, and a carrot-watermelon vitamin booster. The variety and quality of the spread reflect the brasserie’s high standards.||Departure:||As my stay came to a close, the management team—led by Matthew—gathered to bid farewell and take a group photo. He even contacted the next hotel I was heading to, ensuring a warm handoff. That level of thoughtfulness is rare and deeply appreciated.||Final Thoughts:||If you’re new to Kimpton or curious about its future in China, this is the hotel to start with. The design is inspiring, the amenities thoughtfully curated, and the service—led by Matthew and his passionate team—absolutely top-tier.||With future Kimptons on the way in addition to Suzhou, Hainan, and beyond, Kimpton Qiantan Shanghai sets the gold standard for boutique luxury in Greater China.||Highly recommended. A must-stay when...

Outstanding Customer Service of Msiss Sherry’s and the hotel staff at Kimpton.I trust this message I am writing to share my exceptional experience with the customer service of Sheryn at Kimpton Hotel. My family and I had the plan to go to Walt Disney Shanghai so I checked this hotel I that was Brand New and just opened so I decided make the reservation; During my all time staying in the hotel I was truly impressed by the high quality and fancy decoration Hotel also the location super convenient near by the mall and obviously the level of service provided and dedication on especial to Miss Sheryn that helped me to settle down my Disney Tickets. From the moment I arrived, the staff exhibited unparalleled professionalism, attentiveness, and a genuine commitment to ensuring a positive guest experience. The attention to detail, courtesy, and prompt assistance were evident in every interaction.Notably super kind and professional as soon as I saw Miss Sheryn I immediately remembered her face, “She was working as a manager in other Hotel in Hongqiao area” that always had super attitude to helped me and my colleagues during the pandemic to get PCR test QRs etc (for sure too many foreigners and Locals must remember Miss Sheryn)… attitude and kindness to help maintain until nowadays specially because with people that we don’t speak Chinese…. The exemplary customer service skills and willingness to accommodate requests left a lasting impression.I believe that exceptional service deserves recognition, and I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the outstanding hospitality provided by your team. Please extend my appreciation to everyone involved.I will undoubtedly recommend this Hotel and your services to my friends, family, and colleagues seeking a remarkable hotel experience. Thank you for setting the standard for exceptional customer service.(Sorry I did not take too many photos)Sincerely Yours ,Luis LOPEZDimond...

This Kimpton hotel is really-really cool: opened in September’23, it has fresh amenities, sleek contemporary design, beautiful scenery from the upper decks and remarkable dine & drink options. The staff is friendly and helpful, with fair level of English, which is not that common even in Shanghai.Rooms have spacious bathrooms, high-tech control system and comfy bed with orthopedic (!) pillows. The surrounding areas are fresh from the reconstruction, conveying nice Singapore-style staycation feel - great choice even for those living in Shanghai.The only major area of concern was the pool.Don’t get me wrong, it’s a really beautiful rooftop pool at a scenic spot of Huangpu river, but it’s regulated by the most ridiculous rules you can possibly think of. First, there is no service by the pool, so forget about the joy of having a coffee, a cold beer or a juice at your sunbed. There’s a forced shower at the entrance which cannot be turned off - protecting your phone an belongings would require agility. And the most stupid of all - you must wear a swimming cap even if you don’t dive. There is no information of it ahead of check-in, so you can either rent a cap at the place, or enjoy the pool in observer’s mode if they’d ran out of those (happened to us).Having stayed at over 30 hotels across all China, it was the first time I met regulations like that. It’s not a sports pool, where caps and absence of service could be assumed. It’s a really nice rooftop leisure pool, beautifully furnished and with pleasant soundtrack. Well, could have been. Dear Administration, please benchmark the other hotels in town. A properly serviced rooftop pool is not just a source of joy for your guests, it’s also a revenue stream for...