Nick Walton’s Welcome To Asia, July 2017

Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li, the only all-villa urban resort in Shanghai, is set to open this month, offering insight to a rare architectural heritage. The new hotel, which is built within one of the last remaining clusters of “shikumen” architecture in the city, with a history dating back to the 1930s, offers discerning guests the authentic experience of Shanghai’s romantic past, with 55 multi-level villas, 40 residential apartments, and The Gallery, a collection of restaurants and lifestyle brands, including Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire, a new concept by culinary icon Pierre Gagnaire.

Helmed by Mr. Gagnaire’s prodigy Romain Chapel, Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire comprises a 70-seat restaurant, a 50-seat bar, as well as a retail bakery at The Gallery. To complement the residential lifestyle of this charming neighborhood, Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire will cater for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. 

The Pan Pacific brand will mark its entry into the Chinese capital this July with the opening of the 220-room Pan Pacific Beijing in the heart of the city’s financial centre. Boasting some of the largest standard-sized rooms in the city, each space is thoughtfully-designed, with soothing color palettes, spacious work areas and deep soaking tubs.

The hotel features a diverse range of dining options, including an all-day dining restaurant, Pacifica; the award-winning Hai Tien Lo, which serves authentic Cantonese cuisine; and the Lobby Lounge, which serves up a selection of innovative cocktails and bar snacks. An exclusive Amber Lounge on level 18 will offer an exclusive venue for corporate gatherings and spectacular views across the city to the Forbidden City.

Be sure to leave time for a visit to the hotel’s 20-meter indoor pool, located beneath a retractable roof, and the 24-hour fitness center.

Pan Pacific Beijing is located in the prime Xicheng district within walking distance to the city’s administrative center and Beijing Financial Street, and is a 45-minute drive from the Beijing Capital International Airport. 

One of the most anticipated openings in China’s commercial capital this year, the W Shanghai – The Bund has opened in the heart of the historic riverside precinct. With captivating views across the Huangpu River, W Shanghai sets the scene on the North Bund, blending a bold design by G.A.Design with a decadent style to create a captivating contrast of Shanghai’s past and its avant-garde present.

W Shanghai – The Bund draws upon colonial glamor and futuristic motifs, with nearly all 374 guestrooms featuring views of the Huangpu River due to the uniquely curved frame of the building’s edifice. Each guest room is appointed with the signature W bed adorned with a cheeky pillow in the shape of Shanghai’s famous Xiaolongbao (soup) dumpling and chopsticks. The hotel’s 35 suites include the Cloud on the Bund, with its dramatic LED wall and a hanging bed; and the duplex Extreme WOW Suite (the brand’s take on the presidential suite), which boasts more than 4,000 square feet of living space, along with a hanging neon installation in the shape of lips blowing out dragon smoke. In addition to the epic views of the Huangpu River and iconic Pudong skyline, all rooms also feature switchable privacy glass and Nespresso Coffee machines.

Set to become a new dining destination in a city that takes its dining seriously, the W Shanghai – The Bund offers five intriguing places to socialize and dine. The Kitchen Table, with its interactive open kitchen, is inspired by a modern New York bistro, while YEN showcases the next evolution of Cantonese dining, where traditional dishes are reinterpreted with modern flare. Pre-dinner cocktails at LIQUID AT YEN, a hidden speakeasy, are a must, transporting guests to the glamorous golden years of Shanghai’s 1920s cocktail scene with handcrafted selection of concoctions mastered by the on-site “Cocktail Professor”, while the playfully elegant WOOBAR transforms from a daytime lounge into a vibrant evening cocktail bar with the setting of the sun.

Find calm in the chaos at the AWAY Spa, which offers massages, body treatments, facials and quick fixes, all set to leave guests glowing. Guests can also step into the ultra-modern FIT gym that offers 24/7 access to the newest Technogym equipment, or take part in a yoga or tai chi class on the hotel’s wooden deck. 

Conrad has opened its first property in western Japan and its second in the country, Conrad Osaka, offering travellers luxury accommodation options in the heart of this vibrant city. Situated on the 33rd to 40th floors of the new Nakanoshima Festival Complex, the hotel offers views of the cityscape through floor-to-ceiling windows in all guestrooms and suites.

Starting at 50sqm, Conrad Osaka’s 164 rooms and suites feature a contemporary design infused with traditional Japanese elements, and laced with cutting-edge technology, from digital control panels and 49-inch flatscreen televisions, to wired and wireless high-speed internet access, and Bluetooth speakers.

The King Executive Suite offers a magnificent panoramic view of the cityscape from both its living room and private bedroom, while the expansive 220sqm Conrad Suite has separate lounge and dining spaces as well as a bar and walk-in closets. All executive rooms and suites provide access to the Executive Lounge, which includes a private check-in/out area, complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails.

Foodies are in for a treat at the new Conrad Osaka, home to four dining options, include the 40 Sky Bar & Lounge, which offers live music, cocktails and light meals against a backdrops of unbroken river and city views; the C:GRILL, which introduces Osaka’s first crustacean a la carte restaurant; and Kura – Teppanyaki & Sushi, which serves an array of fresh seasonal fish, prepared on order, while chefs slice, sizzle and sear at private tables.

Located in the economic powerhouse of Southern China, Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Golden Bay has opened in ‘China’s Silicon Valley’, offering 317 guest rooms and suites and close proximity to Hong Kong and Shenzhen’s international airport. With a prime location on the beachfront of Golden Bay, each of the new hotel’s guest rooms enjoy panoramic sea views, set against interiors inspired by the local culture, combining elements from the Dapeng Fortress with Shenzhen’s fishing village heritage.

Guests can ensure a captivating dining experience thanks to four restaurants and a lounge that serve up a variety of inventive local and international gourmet experiences. The brand’s signature Chinese restaurant, Man Ho, takes an innovative approach to traditional Cantonese and Teochew cuisines by using seasonal ingredients and traditional recipes, while the all-day dining venue Golden Bay Kitchen offers international favorites around the clock. Chuan features a versatile space that is able to accommodate a separate food stand focusing on local street food culture, while The Lounge focuses on an authentic tea experience during the day, and transforms into a relaxing place for guests to usher in the evening with a cocktail in hand.