The Portman Ritz-Carlton, truly Shanghai style

The city of Shanghai has been hailed as the ‘Oriental Pearl’ and is the delight of travelers and tourists alike. Intellectuals and writers too have been charmed by the city. These have included Bertrand Russell, Rabindranath Tagore, and Bernard Shaw, to name a few. The tenacity of Shanghai is truly remarkable; it has pulled itself back with incredible vigor from the brink of war and economic setback to emerge as an industrial force that the rest of the world cannot help taking notice of. The city is a curious blend of the east and west with something in it for everyone. And right in the midst of it all is The Portman Ritz Carlton Shanghai, past the majestic Bund buildings, soaring up to 45 storeys.

The five star luxury hotel Portman Ritz Carlton Shanghai is rather massive with 610 suites and guest rooms with all of them giving out to a jaw-dropping skyline view of the city. The interiors are plush and comfortable and redolent with contemporary Chinese design. Each guest room features beautiful artwork, large wardrobes, lighting controls by the bedside, 32-inch screen LCD television sets, high speed internet amongst other things.

When you take the elevator up to the top floor of this luxury hotel you will come across the Penthouse Suites designed by Australian architects and decorators. While Chinese artifacts adorn these two-bedroom suites their finish is distinctively Italian.

Each of these rooms offer a lavish setting and exclusivity that reach out to the guest in a warm, welcoming clinch.

You can step out into any of the cafes in the city or dine in any of the restaurants inside this luxury five star hotel.

If you land in Shanghai on a Sunday morning you might like to avail of the Sunday Champagne Brunch with a lavish buffet spread at the restaurant called, rather laconically, Tables. On other days too, the food served is excellent. Do sample the Fragrant Thai-roasted Duck Red Curry and the Won Ton Noodle Soup. Tables does not simply cater to Asian cuisine, however. The purely western-styled pistachio-crusted broiled filet of fish has to be tasted to be believed. And if you specifically like Italian then we suggest you try out the pastas that Tables has to offer.

For the hip crowd there is the Ritz Bar in a truly ritzy, modern setting. While sipping a cocktail and snacking off nibbles from an exciting assorted cheese plate you can have a whale of an evening listening to modern jazz every week night from Monday to Saturday.

And if you cannot live without some truly amazing sushi we suggest you try out the 9-seat sushi bar at Hanagatami which has been awarded several times over for its sophisticated Asian cuisine. Apart from the sushi servings, its teppanyaki and kaiseki offerings too come highly recommended. Guests delight in its refined Japanese-cum-modern décor while sampling such palatable, tongue-tingling fare.

During your stay at The Portman Ritz-Carlton do not miss its luxury spa for a day. Its plush sauna and solarium, not to mention the beauty treatments and massages, will take you away from the cares of the world into a mode of meditation and relaxation. And all of it Shanghai style!