- Ian Schrager, the American visionary and pioneer of boutique hotels, brings the celebrated EDITION brand to the metropolis of Shanghai, with an unprecedented blend of leisure and entertainment within one luxury hotel.
- The development comprises a refurbishment of one of the city’s finest buildings — the art-deco former headquarters of Shanghai Power Company on Nanjing Road, built in 1929.
- The historic building is home to the public areas and amenities of the hotel: restaurants, bars, rooftops, spa and meeting and events areas.
- The Power Building has been fused to a new skyscraper, which houses the 145 guest rooms of the hotel, creating a multi-dimensional old-to-new space.
- Restaurants, bars, and entertainment include: Shanghai Tavern, Michelin Starred Chef Jason Atherton’s all-day dining, brasserie style restaurant and HIYA, a new Japanese restaurant, also by Atherton; Punch Room, the sophisticated cocktail lounge first made famous at The London EDITION; Canton Disco, a traditional Cantonese restaurant concept, with a contemporary update; The Club Room – a gentleman’s club-inspired lounge area that exudes a sense of warmth and exclusivity; and Electric Circus, a fresh kind of club and VIP lounge and nightclub, in the tradition of Ian Schrager’s first venture, Studio 54.
- Other communal spaces include a series of modular meeting and event floors, a fully landscaped tropical Roof Garden and one of few urban green spaces in Shanghai, equipped with a bar and cinema; the Urban Lobby, the threshold that connects the heritage building and the postmodern tower, a swimming pool sunk in stone and overlooking the urban landscape; a gym, spa, and multiple terraces.
- The Shanghai EDITION embraces Schrager’s vision of “simple sophistication” which translates into “understated luxury” showcased in its constant attention to details – in the design, service, food and quest for perfection.
Yet, it was essential that the hotel’s spaces and interiors were infused with a contemporary, sophisticated design vernacular. In Schrager’s signature style, The Shanghai EDITION possesses a dynamic fusion of old and new, embodied by the dual nature of the buildings’ development. The striking Lobby and main entrance to The Shanghai EDITION features a centerpiece light custom designed by the French architectural and decorative designer Eric Schmitt. The glowing sphere, held delicately in the grasp of gently curved metal prongs, hangs elegantly like a piece of jewelry in the center of the lobby. The atmospherically designed space includes a programmable LED feature on the underside of a cantilevered canopy, which welcomes guests in from the cobblestone driveway. The 9.5 meter high Grey stone walls establish sense of grandeur and solidity in contrast with rich walnut fittings which provide a sense of intimacy and warmth. This dichotomy is a signature of the EDITION brand. In keeping with Ian Schrager’s philosophy of the hotel lobby as ‘a new kind of gathering place’, the Lobby Bar, one of nine in The Shanghai EDITION is inset with a bespoke plaster relief artwork inspired by carvings typically observed on Shikumen (stone-gated) housing, which is unique to the fast-disappearing, traditional Shanghai urban typology.
Beyond the home-away-from-home accommodation, guest amenities raise the stakes of contemporary hotel offerings. On level 5, the swimming pool has been modelled as though carved from a solid mass of Pietra Serena from an ancient Roman mountainside, and overlooking the urban landscape. The gym, meanwhile, on level 7, does away with the crowded utilitarian standard of contemporary gyms, and combines wellness and holistic design into the need for physical exertion, open 24 hours. The state-of-the-art gym equipment was selected, no expenses spared, by renowned fitness experts, and installed on a smoked oak skin that lines the floor and walls. The indoor gym gives onto a large outdoor terrace, where guest can rest, meditate and practice tai chi, yoga, and cardio against an urban backdrop.
On the 27th floor of the skyscraper sits Jason Atherton’s HIYA a Japanese lzakaya-inspired restaurant, designed by Neri & Hu. Meaning ‘Clouds in the Sky’ HIYA is slick, sophisticated and glamorous, taking cues from Atherton’s London restaurant, Sosharu, to become a nighttime destination for Shanghai’s elite. Rising up the grand spiral staircase from the Shanghai incarnation of The London EDITION’s award- winning Punch Room, a modern reincarnation of London’s 19th-century private clubs, and on the Mezzanine is the ROOF. As guests enter the Roof they behold one of the most spectacular panoramic views of Pudong from the Bund. The main bar and high seating is enclosed within a wooden trellis intertwined with climbing ivy, where an open-air lounge area offers guests a comfortable and intimate setting for casual drinks with a view. From here, a range of EDITION’s classic and innovative libations will be served, focusing on champagne and champagne-based cocktails.
The threshold that connects the heritage building and the postmodern tower is the Urban Lobby. Acting as a portal between the accommodation section and the public entertainment sections of The Shanghai EDITION, this magnificent space is home to a hanging garden, its lush greenery suspended from the ceiling. The back wall is covered by an awe-inspiring 7-story antique mirror, sourced and refurbished specially for this space, heightening the spatial illusion that one is walking beneath a floating, indoor forest. As a spectacular centerpiece to the contemporary space, the bronze spiral staircase winds continuously down three floors from the rooftop garden, giving access to a spectacular 3-level eating and drinking area with commanding views of the Bund.
The heritage building accessed through the hotel’s Urban Lobby and through a separate public entrance plays host to multi-level experience for dining, drinking, dancing and amenities starting with Shanghai Tavern, Jason Atherton’s all-day dining, brasserie style restaurant located on the first level. Drawing on Elliot Hazzard’s period architecture and magnificent coffered ceiling, the design seeks to reference the layers of history behind the Shanghai Power Company Building; a communal space that has been interior designed for pocketed intimacy. One floor above hosts Canton Disco, a traditional Cantonese restaurant concept by the celebrated Black Sheep Group, with a contemporary update at its fore. The high energy atmosphere, addictive cuisine and unpretentious service paints a perfect picture of modern Shanghai throughout the main dining room as well as the five exclusive private rooms. The next level provides a dedicated multi-purpose space for meetings and events for up to 200 guests followed by the Club Room on level 5- a gentleman’s club-inspired lounge area that exudes a sense of warmth and exclusivity. The sophisticated Club Room features two indulgent lounge areas, with a nine-seat bar as well as a screening room and a KTV karaoke room.
The Spa at The Shanghai EDITION on level 6 reflects a sophisticated approach to beauty, wellness and wellbeing with an inspired blend of luxury and comfort. The Spa features a total of 6 treatment rooms and suites, manicure and pedicure services, sauna, an expansive relaxation area with fully equipped bar and a retail boutique. Showcasing the best wellness and beauty practices, The Spa delivers authentic Asian treatment inspired by western rituals featuring top-shelf products by Amala and Intraceuticals – designed exclusively for EDITION’s well-travelled and elegant guests.
Level 7 plays host to the brand new nightspot: Electric Circus, a fresh kind of club and VIP lounge for Shanghai. Conceived in the Studio 54 tradition, with its dramatic lighting, otherworldly interior and signature EDITION cocktail mixology, Electric Circus will play host to some of the world’s top DJs and performers, destined to become an unmissable venue in the Shanghai nightlife scene. For discerning guests requiring the utmost in discretion, Electric Circus houses the city’s ultimate private room with its own dual-access private entrances to maintain privacy.
On the magnificent rooftop, situated on the 8th level of the modern building, sits a fully landscaped Roof Garden, a perfect oasis, and one of few urban green spaces in Shanghai. Composed of a patchwork of brick and lawn terraces of differing heights, the roof garden mixes Chinese greenery with luscious, tropical horticulture. The richly planted rooftop features an under-the-stars movie theatre, a games area for lawn bowls and croquet, daybed seating, as well as the service of a full bar with, food and snacks on the roof.
Reservations are now open, with rates starting from CNY1,788 ($262) per night subject to service charge and tax. To make a reservation email reservations.sha@editionhotels