Perhaps one of the most evocative stays in Shanghai, Capella Shanghai captures the city’s layered identity in a way few hotels can. Set within the last remaining cluster of traditional Shikumen architecture, the property offers something far beyond a place to stay - it is a living narrative of Shanghai’s past, reimagined for the present.
Located in the historic Xuhui District, Capella feels both central and quietly removed. Designed by the late Jaya Ibrahim, the hotel seamlessly blends 1930s heritage with contemporary refinement, where Chinese craftsmanship meets a subtle French sensibility. The result is a timeless and elegant space that you won't find elsewhere in the city.
We stayed in their two-bedroom Shikumen villa over two nights, and it felt less like checking into a hotel room and more like having our own private townhouse - beautifully designed, contemporary and slightly minimal, yet incredibly cosy given the townhouse-style layout. Spread across four floors, the villa opens onto its own private courtyard - a quiet, verdant pocket of calm - before leading up to a main living and dining area that manages to feel simultaneously grand and lived-in.
The second floor offers its own dedicated lounge with a day bed and a well-stocked minibar, while the third houses two generously proportioned bedrooms: a twin with its own walk-in wardrobe and vanity, and a king suite with a full ensuite. The fourth floor leads to your own private terrace - one we didn’t make too much use of. What makes these villas so special isn’t just their layout, but the feeling they evoke. There’s a sense of stepping into a different time, of imagining life within these walls decades ago, yet with all the comforts of modern living seamlessly integrated. It’s rare to find a space that feels both historical and entirely liveable.
What truly distinguishes Capella Shanghai is its philosophy around guest experience. Each visitor is assigned a personal Culturalist - part concierge, part cultural guide, part Shanghai insider - whose role is to ensure no moment of a stay goes to waste. Through Capella Curates, the hotel's proprietary experience programme, guests can access a thoughtfully assembled menu of immersive activities that go well beyond the typical hotel offering.
During our stay, we spent one afternoon hand-grinding dried flowers and herbs to craft our own scented sachets - a genuinely meditative and memorable experience for the whole family. A couture session at H Couture, the partner boutique on the hotel grounds, was another highlight: after an introduction to the stunning gowns and designers on display, we were invited to create our own couture sketches using dried florals. The children loved it - this is exactly the kind of open-ended creative freedom that stays with you long after check-out. We also had the opportunity to dress in traditional Chinese clothing borrowed from the spa's retail store, taking family portraits along the picturesque villa corridors before capturing a polaroid in the hotel's Living Room which was awash with old newspapers and quiet nostalgia.
Capella's award-winning Auriga Spa has well and truly earned its reputation. We were recommended the Chinese Traditional Massage and it was one of the most restorative treatments we've experienced. Rather than a standard aromatherapy massage, this focuses on the body's meridian points to systematically release tension, making it particularly wonderful for anyone carrying aches and pains. While the hotel does not feature a full swimming pool, it offers a well-equipped gym and a serene plunge pool - simple, but thoughtfully designed for balance and recovery.
Dining at Capella is an experience in its own right. Led by three-Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire, the hotel’s signature restaurant delivers a refined yet approachable interpretation of French cuisine.
It serves breakfast with a range and finesse that makes choosing between soup dumplings, eggs Benedict and what we can only describe as the most exquisite French toast a genuinely difficult task. Come lunch and dinner, the kitchen shifts into something more ambitious - French technique filtered through a creative, cross-cultural lens that bears Gagnaire's unmistakable signature. We'd highly recommend non-guests booking a table too. In the evenings, the hotel's own Happy Hour is a ritual worth embracing: cocktails and mocktails of the day with light snacks, the perfect prelude to dinner and a surprisingly convivial way to wind down. Meanwhile, the on-site boulangerie and Living Room offer more casual moments, from coffee breaks to afternoon tea.
Capella Shanghai is ideal for those wanting an indulgent stay in a charming, design-led hotel with second-to-none service, in a location that feels convenient yet entirely cocooned.
It’s for those who want more than luxury in the traditional sense. For those who appreciate detail, history, and spaces that evoke emotion. With its beautifully restored villas, deeply personalised service, and thoughtfully curated experiences, it offers something rare: a stay that feels both indulgent and meaningful.
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