Shanghai Hotels|Shanghai, China

The Middle House

Name: The Middle House
Telephone: 86-21-3216-8199

A downtown magnet for creatives

VERIFIED LUXURY

Learn How We Inspect

Since opening its doors in 2017, The Middle House — so named for its location right in the middle of Shanghai – has quickly carved out a niche as destination du jour for fashion, design and cultural mavens. It has also become a celebrity favorite, with David Beckham and race card driver Lewis Hamilton choosing the penthouse as their home away from home when they’re in town.

When you visit, be sure to dress your best to fit in with the well-heeled crowd eating, drinking and playing around the hotel. A highlight of a visit is just people watching this stylish set striding past the off-beat Chinese contemporary art installations that dot the public areas and catching a glimpse of Shanghai’s glitterati sipping champagne on the extensive terrace of Café Grey Deluxe.

Our Inspector's Highlights

Designer Piero Lissoni is largely responsible for the hotel’s design. His Italian-style furniture sits alongside Chinese antiques and artworks in a comfortable, mishmash of east and west stylings. It sounds jarring, but the muted palette and pared down aesthetic of each piece makes it a harmonious combination.
Space Cycle, a spinning studio in the neighboring Taikoo Hui mall, has partnered with The Middle House to shoot five short workout videos which are available on the in-room TVs. Yoga mats and a small pair of hand weights are also provided, giving you the opportunity to work out easily in private.
Art consultant Alison Pickett not only has specific sculptures commissioned for the rooms, but then has those sculptures photographed and the images hung behind the original piece, for a fun meta-art effect.
An ornate rope hanging from the ceiling is a simplified way to power off in the evening. One tug on the bedside rope turns all of the lights off, saving a frustrating battle with power panels when you’re trying to get some shut-eye.
Mi Xun Spa is only the second hotel in the world to work with LVMH’s Cha Ling brand (Peninsula Paris was the first). The skincare line, which utilizes pu’er tea from an ancient forest in the southern province of Yunnan, is known for its anti-oxidant properties, perfect for combating outside pollution outside and the fatigue of traveling.

Things to Know

The Middle House’s status as a go-to for creatives means that the hotel is often fully-booked during major cultural events, such as Shanghai Fashion Week, Design Shanghai and the West Bund Art & Design fair.
Most guests (approximately 70 percent) are here for business. Within the same complex are two office towers. The commercial hub of Nanjing West Road is just outside, making it a good option for white-collar travelers.
The two buildings that make up The Middle House wrap around a central bamboo garden in a crescent shape, a curve that Lissoni says took inspiration from traditionally tiled Chinese rooftops.
The Shanghai hotel is working toward sustainability by providing water containers made of paper (rather than plastic bottles) in the fitness center and by working with cleaning product provider EcoLab to cut down on chemicals.

The Rooms

The two standalone buildings that make up The Middle House complex are the House side and the Residence side. The former boasts 111 rooms with another 102 on the latter side.
On the House side, fourth-floor rooms measuring 645 and 743 square feet have outdoor balconies. It’s an ideal space if you want to enjoy Shanghai’s fleeting patches of perfect weather.
The 968-square-foot rooms in the House are all on corners, so these rooms all have windows on three sides, for superior views of the low-rise neighborhood bordering the Taikoo Hui complex that The Middle House is a part of.
The Residences are smart stays for families and bigger groups. Measuring between 592 and 1,184 square feet, these units are equipped with kitchens and laundry facilities, but also come with traditional hotel benefits such as housekeeping, breakfast and access to the swimming pool.

The Restaurants

Sui Tang Li is the most popular restaurant of the luxury hotel. Its kitchen cooks up contemporary Chinese cuisines spanning Cantonese, Sichuan and Shanghainese styles.
Try a pairing with domestically produced wines, such as those from Kanaan Winery in Ningxia Province. Several fine Chinese pours are a part of Sui Tang Li’s extensive list.
Café Grey Deluxe has a fantastic terrace that becomes particularly popular for brunch and afternoon tea. On weekends, the place is often filled with locals taking advantage of its three-course lunch deal. Another tip: from 5 to 8 p.m. every day, bottles of champagne are half price.

Amenities