HOTEL REVIEW |


ABOVE: The main dining outlet, Hai Pai, is a four-level hub housing two restaurants, a bar, and private dining rooms TOP RIGHT: Bathrooms feature Toto baths surrounded by stone tiles and roughly hewn rock RIGHT: Éclair serves freshly baked goods OPPOSITE PAGE: In the guestrooms, hardwood imported floors are the immediate draw creating a prevalent design feature


With three landmark Hyatts already in


the city, the decision was made to turn it into an Andaz. The brand avoids ‘boutique’ and ‘design hotel’ labels, rather it looks to be positioned as a more relaxed offering focusing on key neighbourhoods. Here, it is ideally suited to its Xintiandi location, one of China’s first urban regeneration projects taking the traditional brick and Shikumen architecture of the old town and turning it into a tourist-friendly district on the edge of the city’s famous French Concession. Although the property opened last


Autumn, it is still very much in a soft opening period. Interiors were – and indeed are again – being overseen by Japanese design agency Super Potato, who clearly hadn’t bargained on getting two clients out of the one property. The basement spa and


38 Sleeper China 2012


swimming pool opened this spring, however the upper floors, restaurant bar and terrace will only open next year, the spaces being redeveloped from the original Jumeirah plans. Norihiko Shinya, Super Potato’s Vice- President, is very reserved about speaking about his ongoing work. Understandably so, as what he considered as a completed work, has had to be re-evaluated. “Basically more than 80% of the hotel was designed for Jumeirah,” he acknowledges. And walking around the understated, homely lobby it is clear that it would have looked and felt very different had the Dubai-based group not moved out. In keeping with the Andaz ethos of


‘staying at your best friend’s home’, the lobby is a casual affair with features that tap into that home-spun motto. Guests are greeted


by friendly staff and their trusty iPads at informal freestanding islands; a full height fridge is stocked with complimentary soft drinks; and the Andaz Lounge is centred by a large wooden sideboard filled with books, flowers and framed photographs of guests and staff. It’s an oddly endearing touch. Adjacent to Andaz Lounge is Éclair, a


patisserie serving freshly baked goods, while the main dining outlet is Hai Pai, named after a local phrase meaning ‘modern Shanghainese spirit’. The four-level hub houses two restaurants, a bar, and private dining rooms, which cast a beckoning light accross the street. With terrace views overlooking Xintiandi, Hai Pai aspires to be a friendly, neighbourhood eatery serving up unpretentious Shanghainese and French comfort food.


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