Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai

Andaz Xintiandi sits at 88 Songshan Rd, placing it within a five-minute walk of the historic stone-gate houses of Xintiandi. While the location provides immediate access to the city’s dense nightlife, the property remains far enough removed from the primary tourist thoroughfares to feel like a retreat.

The hotel strikes a balance that its neighbours struggle to maintain: it offers proximity to the central districts without the claustrophobia that usually accompanies staying in Huangpu. If you spend your days at the Shanghai Museum or weaving through the crafts markets in Tianzifang, this is the place to return to for a buffer of space. The gym and indoor pool are the main reasons to skip the smaller boutique lodgings nearby, which often lack the footprint to support such amenities.