Located on the south part of The Bund, The Waterhouse is a cutting edge boutique design hotel set in a 1930s warehouse in Shanghai’s old docklands. It is a 2-minute stroll from the Old Wharf or the Artificial Beach. Singaporean lawyer-turned-hotelier Loh Lik Peng embarked on a total renovation, stocking the interiors with his trademark designer furniture (Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Antonio Citterio et al), which gives the property added polish.

Individually designed, each of the 19 rooms offers a coffee machine, a minibar, a refrigerator, a seating area with a sofa, an in-room safe, a flat-screen cable TV, an iPod docking station and ironing facilities. The en-suite bathroom has a tub or rain shower. Free local calls are available in the rooms. Large windows illuminate the sleek interiors, and many bedrooms have a terrace or a balcony

For dining, several options provide a variety of international flavours. Table N°1 by Jason Atherton serves modern European cuisine set, while The Roof, boasting stunning views of The Bund, offers various snacks and refreshing beverages. A la carte menu dishes can be enjoyed at the hotel’s Courtyard Terrace. The lobby lounge’s fireplace and library both deserve plaudits, as does the gym.

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 19 rooms • hotel opened: 2010 • architecture & interior design: Neri & Hu • public parking possible nearby (charged) • no pets allowed • 24-hour front desk