THE MIDDLE HOUSE: SHANGHAI
The Middle House feels at the centre of everything in Shanghai; close to the famous Bund and across the road from the chi chi shopping district of Jing’an and the lively bars of Maoming North Road it’s an ideal place to call home while visiting China’s largest city.
The hotel is a stylish haven that combines traditional Chinese designs with sleek modernism. Floor to ceiling windows give views over the city and our corner room offers a vista of high rises spanning the horizon.
There’s a large dressing room and walk in wardrobe that’s tucked away neatly and offers plenty of storage for a much longer stay – if we were so lucky. The king bed is surrounded by the windows so you can gaze out as the sun dips behind the skyscrapers in the distance. A button at the side closes all the curtains at one press and a large tasseled pully gives us the the gift of darkness with one swift tug turning off all lights in one go (no frustrating searches for elusive lamp switches here).
There’s plenty of room in between the soft leather sofa and dining suite – so much so that there is a set of weights and gym mat for those who can’t be bothered to walk down to the 24 hour gym or prefer the view of the city scape to work out to.
Once you’ve worked up a sweat the shower offers the same view out of the window and there’s a large deep bath for ultimate relaxing after a busy day pounding the streets.
For lunch we head to the hotel’s bustling contemporary Chinese restaurant Sui Tang Li. The menu has plenty of choice and we ask for some recommendations from our server. She suggests the Beijing Duck – crispy skin and succulent meat; the juicy hairy crab dumplings (they are in season on our visit in November) and a portion of scallop and prawn dim sum – it’s the perfect feast. We finish it all off with a strong IPA from local brewery Shanghai Love.
For an after dinner cocktail the hotels own bar offers a darkly atmospheric place to indulge in a cocktail. It’s a busy hangout of cosmopolitan travellers and locals and the smokey Old Fashioned is a fitting end to our day.
Breakfast is a real treat at Chef Gray Kunz’s Cafe Grey Deluxe. The menu serves plenty of healthy favourites and international dishes as well as more regional choices. On our first morning we choose a big (unfinishable) tasty bowl of Laksa noodles, which are delicious. The next morning we try the Shi Ku Men platter that includes chicken noodles, gingered corn and crabmeat congee, rice and steamed dumplings. Our only regret is that we’re not there to enjoy it for another morning.
A commissioned collection of subtle art pieces pepper the walls and spaces at the Middle House and on entering a beautifully intricate glass chandelier hangs near the doorway. Sculptures sit on plinths near elevators and the use of mixed materials blends the design of Italian architect Piero Lissoni seamlessly.
The subterranean Mi Xun Spa is the perfect urban escape that allows you the time to relax and rejuvenate – a hidden oasis perfect for some ‘me time’ and a hundred miles away from the hustle on the streets above. It’s the first spa to offer the boutique Cha Ling skincare treatments and their signature facial is a great way to get your skin plumped and glowing again.
The Middle House is an ideal stay in Shanghai that ticks the boxes on design, ease, subtlety, destination and all-round.
Close by
In need of a coffee
We wouldn’t usually be excited about a chain coffee shop but honestly the largest Starbucks in the world (Starbucks Reserve Shanghai Roastery) is certainly worth the visit for the pure coffee indulgence. From the bean itself (there’s an on-site roastery), the sheer options of drinks, the craft beer bar, the cocktail bar, to the beautiful projections displayed on a partitioning wall and the gorgeous selection of homewares – it’s a design destination in its own right.
Be a tourist
The Bund by day or night is worth the 40 minute walk from the hotel. You, like all the other tourists, can find a spot to walk along the promenade and grab a few (hundred) photos. It’s a great skyline of futuristic architecture.
Grab a craft beer
There are plenty of good choices for a drink in the immediate area. We popped to Brew Code – a bottle shop with a decent selection of draft beers of varying types and strengths. There’s also a Goose Island bar that brings a touch of the US to the city.
Must do on the way home
On the way to Shanghai International Airport ask your taxi driver to drop you at the Longhui Road train station so you can take the 7 min ride on board the Maglev. The world’s first and oldest operational magnetic levitation train. It gets up to 340km per hour and is quite the experience.
