The Kerry Hotel is the more youthful sub-brand of the Shangri-La chain and with its in house brewery and sports complex, it's one of the best in Shanghai
Without question, the racing pulse of China beats fastest in Pudong. The booming financial hub of Shanghai, China’s largest city, Pudong is filled with distinctive skyscrapers that create one of the world’s most photographed and ever-changing skylines. So when we planned our trip to Shanghai, we knew we needed to be in Pudong.
Once we read that the Kerry Hotel Pudong, has their own brewery, and was convenient for digital nomads, we knew this would be a great place to call home for a few days. The hotel itself is great for business travelers, given their spacious conference rooms and ample common areas, yet their focus to balance work and life makes it a great base for tourists and families. The brewery might be for the adults but the kids have the Adventure Zone, which is like a small indoor amusement park...I might have been a little scared of going down the straight slide!
The Hotel
After a speedy pick up at the airport from a member of the Kerry team, we were on our way to the hotel, driving through the neighborhoods and different areas. We could have navigated the metro, but as it was our first time in Shanghai, we wanted to see the area and check things out a bit. Located near the Shanghai New International Expo Center and Century Park, The Kerry Hotel stood out with it’s tall glass facade and beautifully modern facilities, looking a bit like a small city.
We were immediately greeted by an enthusiastic staff who were there to ensure we had a pleasant stay and give us any bits of information we would need. This is a hotel that will always have you feeling at home with hosts that continue to remember you name time and time again.
The Room
As soon as we walked into our room, we were taken back by the floor to ceiling windows and expansive views of the city below. Neat blocks of colored coded apartments shaped the skyline on one side, while the dizzying skyscrapers came into view on the other. Once we got past the views, I noticed a quirky tray filled with macaroons, various chocolates and a handwritten note from the manager welcoming us. It’s these little details that made the hotel memorable and will keep us coming back!
During our time at the Kerry Hotel we stayed in one of the premier park view rooms which gave us access to the club lounge. If you are staying here and don’t have access to the club level lounge you are seriously missing out. In addition to outstanding service and complimentary pressings, they serve breakfast every morning and drinks throughout the day. Every evening we would end the day with a few cocktails and light canapes - a negroni for Chris and wine for me! If you are an early bird you can take full advantage of the 6:30AM wakeup call which includes a 30 minute exercise class at the gym and a specialized lo-cal healthy breakfast afterwards
Dining at Kerry Hotel Pudong
With three restaurants to choose from, dining at the Kerry Hotel is an all around excellent experience with plenty of options to satisfy even the pickiest of diners. COOK is an all day dining experience, from breakfast to dinner and gives diners buffet style options with a plethora of local and international options. Whether you’re craving wonton soup for breakfast, roasted duck for dinner, or sashimi in between they have you covered! Make sure to leave room for the cupcake and dessert stall,
If you are a steak lover, then make sure you visit MEAT, where various cuts of meats are prepared to perfection, served with savory sides like mac & cheese and creamed spinach. The atmosphere at this place is cool and comfortable and makes for a great date night, or a place to hang out with friends. From the oysters we started with, to the bottle of wine we shared, all the way down to our ice cream popsicles, everything was delicious.
A Brewery Inside the Hotel
This was the first time we have ever been to a hotel that housed a brewery inside (and first of its kind I believe). Aptly named BREW, this small craft brewery is every bit as impressive as you would expect. Chris being a bit of a beer connoisseur was impressed with the selection of IPA’s and use of local ingredients like those small little apples, usually served as a sweet snack in China.
The atmosphere is like that of someone’s favorite sports bar with unbelievable food. Think western food with a little flair. Who would have thought of duck pizza? (it was fantastic). The brewery tour brought you around the amazing layout, and the beer sampler allows you to try all of the options that are only available at the hotel. It is definitely something that made our stay unique and fun.
What To Do
Anywhere we go we enjoy attempting to see the sites through the eyes of the locals, from places to eat, the best little shops, and the less than typical sites, this is what we crave when we travel. So when we had the opportunity to see the city on a private tour with our own guide, we jumped on the chance!
To start we went back in time to Yu Gardens which is located in the old town. We wandered around the gardens, learned about the history and for a few brief moments it felt like we were back in time. Looking at the curves and architecture of the pagodas was mesmerizing and learning the stories behind all the statues was fascinating...I now see why there are so many fantasy style Asian movies!
Next door to Yu Gardens, is the best dumpling house in the city - Nanxiang Mantou! You can either choose to sit down or take the dumplings on the go and continue to explore. We might have returned here a few times throughout our stay…
Next on the agenda was the Bund, which is the place to go if you’re looking for the best view of the city and the perfect location to take photos of all the iconic skyscrapers. Finally, if you were interested finding a cute cafe or an unique boutique Xin Tian Di is the place to go. It is a unique car free shopping area full of little alleyways, and a very active nightlife. You will never get bored if you find yourself in this eclectic part of the city.
Although the hotel is pretty central to all the sights of Shanghai, you really don’t have to leave the property to be entertained, as their amenities and facilities are pretty fantastic. WIFI is fast and efficient, and once you get past the censorship, it’s pretty easy to settle down and get some work done if you need to. Or you can also head over to their massive gym where guests can take advantage of an assortment of classes and private trainers. Chris and I spent every morning there attempting to run and looking a bit ungraceful :)
For more information about the Kerry Hotel Pudong, make sure to visit their website: