Recently, I visited Shanghai primarily for food exploration and to check out some hotels as well. UnionPay is planning an event featuring a bunch of Michelin and Black Pearl restaurants offering discounts for those spending over 350 yuan, so I went ahead to be a test subject.
For my stay in Shanghai this time, I chose the West Bund MGM.
The West Bund MGM opened at the beginning of last year, and we had visited when it first opened and had written about it. We really like this hotel because of its artistic vibe. However, since it was a new hotel back then, there were some minor regrets, so when I returned to Shanghai this time, I was eager to visit again. Coincidentally, the West Bund MGM provided a great package (mentioned at the end of the article), as we believe in experiencing things firsthand when it comes to our recommendations.
Art-themed hotels are suitable for repeat visits because the artworks can be frequently updated, keeping each stay feeling fresh. The West Bund MGM is owned by the West Bund Group. High-end art venues congregate in the West Bund, including the West Bund Art Museum, West Bund Art Center, Long Museum, Oil Tank Art Park, Shanghai Center for Photography Arts, and more.
The staff at the West Bund MGM told me that many of the artworks in the hotel are carefully selected by art consultants from West Bund, showcasing works by renowned artists such as Ding Yi, Fang Lijun, and Liang Manqi. Because of this, West Bund MGM excels at connecting with artist resources and collaborations, creating a vibrant artistic atmosphere compared to other hotels.
There are numerous artworks within the hotel. Some are fixed installations, while others have a “pop-up” nature. I remember that during my last visit, the lobby waiting area featured a large photographic piece by Yang Fudong titled “The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, No. 5.” This time, it was swapped out for Nigel Nolan’s series “Floral Cascade.”
There were also two pop-up artworks in the lobby waiting area. One of them was a stainless steel painted artwork by Ni Zhiqi called “Vacuum Chair,” which features vibrant colors and dialogues ancient and modern engaging with the ceramic substrate behind it. Another was an artistic collaborative installation titled “Light Eruption.”
My favorite artwork in the entire hotel was Wang Ningde’s “Tangible Light/Water Patterns,” located in the elevator hall. At a distance, it appears unremarkable, but up close, one realizes it is an image collage created through light projection on neatly arranged transparent film strips—the artist employs light as the medium for painting.
Space is limited, and I haven’t even introduced one-twentieth of the artworks at West Bund MGM. This hotel continuously promotes itself as a livable art museum. Guests needn’t worry about the art being obscure; each piece has either a detailed introduction alongside it or a QR code that can be scanned for more information.
For art-themed hotels, I would recommend staying in some of the unique artist collaborative rooms. West Bund MGM has several co-branded rooms with artists; this time, I stayed in the “NI Fantastic Realm,” a suite co-branded with artist Ni Zhiqi. I’ve been in many so-called “co-branded rooms,” most of which were quite underwhelming, but the one at West Bund MGM was exceptionally well-executed, perhaps the best I’ve experienced this year.
The sign at the entrance clearly indicated the theme of the room. I believe the two most prominent features of Ni’s artwork are fashion and color. This already colorful room goes further with the bold use of color.
In the living room, there’s a “Vacuum Chair” by Ni Zhiqi, directly integrating art into the hotel room’s functional furniture, making the art more approachable.
On the bed in the bedroom is a hand-woven blanket made from modern artistic elements and recycled materials, serving as a usable piece of art.
The artistic details in the room were meticulously arranged. Even the bathrobe is artistic, with its colorful belt being another of Ni’s works.
The color blocks on the remote control box were also handmade by Ni.
Next to the bed, there’s a collection of Ni’s works.
The chocolates provided are replicas of artistic pieces.
There’s also the room card; on the left is the standard West Bund MGM room card, while on the right is the special room card for this collaborative suite. Each co-branded room at West Bund MGM comes with a unique room card designed specifically for it.
Upon checking out, guests receive a small gift from the artist, which was a mini “Vacuum Chair” signed by Ni. Despite its small size, it is entirely metal and quite heavy. It seems this gift item is limited in number, so anyone planning to stay should do so early to secure it.
Aside from the artwork by Ni, there were other delightful artistic surprises in the room. For instance, the decorative items on the bed immediately captured my attention.
The welcome fruits, pastries, and teapots were beautifully presented.
The tea jars featured a local landmark of the West Bund, including jasmine and Ceylon red tea varieties.
Isn’t that wonderful? It’s not just because this is a co-branded room that makes it great. During our previous stay, we had also stayed in a standard room at West Bund MGM, which was equally stunning. Their standard rooms start from 45 square meters, which is larger than many hotel suites, and they still embody a strong artistic vibe.
I’ll also share a photo and details of the package at the end of the article.
In addition to the art pieces and artist co-branded rooms, West Bund MGM also offers artist co-branded afternoon teas. Furthermore, West Bund MGM is keen on discovering emerging young artists since a significant part of the owner’s business is art. Currently, West Bund MGM has collaborated with post-2000 artist Ni Hao to create a special afternoon tea set. Ni Hao, a local in Shanghai born in the 2000s, has a fondness for small animals. He combines painting small animals with skateboarding to create artworks displayed in the afternoon tea venue, the Patisserie.
The afternoon tea is served on a skateboard and is quite generous in portion; I think that even four people with smaller appetites would find it ample. Of course, the skateboard must stay on the premises.
I personally enjoy hotels that change something each time I stay. The picture below shows what the afternoon tea setup looked like during our visit last year—a uniquely shaped glass dome. It is said that the afternoon tea offerings will be updated again to a new artistic collaboration series during the summer.
Since my visit wasn’t on a weekend, I was pleasantly surprised by the harp and flute performances during afternoon tea at the Patisserie.
West Bund MGM also offers its own creatively inspired popsicles and milk teas, which are reasonably priced.
The Patisserie, where afternoon tea is served, deserves praise for having the pastry menu visibly drawn on the glass, making it quite clear.
Having discussed the artistic aspects of the West Bund MGM, let’s move on to the other facilities. Most of the rooms and common areas in West Bund MGM exceed 45 stories high, fully utilizing the hotel’s advantageous vertical resources.
There’s a cloud-level gym offering a 180-degree view of the Huangpu River, equipped with a full range of Technogym equipment.
There’s also a cloud-level swimming pool overlooking the river, which provides a clear view of the Lujiazui skyline on clear days.
Each restaurant in the hotel features skyline views as well.
There’s a popular spiral staircase located between the 58th and 59th floors.
On clear days, you can witness the sunrise and sunset over the magical city from West Bund MGM; however, during my recent visit, the typical rainy weather of Shanghai obscured the view.
Now, regarding dining, I had several delightful meals at West Bund MGM this time. The all-day dining restaurant, Watery Italian Restaurant, features a cheerful Mediterranean blue tone and offers fantastic views.
A highlight of this restaurant is its two blue and white porcelain pizza ovens, handmade by artisans. Pizza is a signature dish at Watery Italian Restaurant.
For breakfast, parts of the menu are also displayed on glass, showcasing many local Shanghai breakfast specialties.
During weekdays, lunch is semi-buffet style at 198 yuan per person. You can choose a main dish and enjoy the rest buffet-style, representing good value. Weekend lunches upgrade to over 400 yuan per person, but given the variety of choices in this environment, I believe it’s worth the price.
The Chinese restaurant, Yuyuan, features a fusion of Cantonese and Shanghai cuisine available by the plate. The dishes are exquisite, and if you have high expectations for both quality and service, this restaurant won’t disappoint.
On the 59th floor is the SKY59 bar, which I missed last time but finally got to see this time. SKY59 is particularly beautiful; I recommend going there at dusk to take some photos when the lighting is at its best.
In the evening, there are live music performances, and you can enjoy a drink costing around a hundred yuan.
Finally, let’s talk about the location of the West Bund MGM. The West Bund MGM Hotel is situated along the Huangpu River in the Xuhui District and is connected to the West Bund area, making it part of Asia’s largest concentration of art museums, known locally as “Art Museum Avenue.” Within a few kilometers of West Bund are over 20 art institutions, including the West Bund Art Museum, Long Museum, and Oil Tank Art Center, establishing a very rich artistic atmosphere.
Anyone familiar with Shanghai would know that this area falls within the Xuhui Longhua region, a definite urban cultural hub, being only about a 20-minute drive from traditional areas like the Bund and Lujiazui. It’s also conveniently located for trips to Disneyland; a taxi ride takes about half an hour, and Line 11 of the metro runs right past, reaching Disneyland in nine stops. Thus, it’s suitable for a stay before visiting Disneyland.
Although there was recent news regarding West Bund “withdrawing” from some art initiatives, it mainly involves the demolition of temporary structures to facilitate better urban planning for the West Bund area. Several large museums and art centers remain intact. Recently, the West Bund Art Museum even renewed an agreement with the Pompidou Center for collaboration, and the West Bund Art Fair is still being held regularly. The area will only improve moving forward.
In short, the West Bund area and this art-inspired hotel are highly suitable for those who wish to revisit or stay multiple times in Shanghai.
Promotional Offer:
Shanghai West Bund MGM Scenic River View King Room for 1 night with breakfast + 300 yuan dining voucher, priced at 1888 yuan.
Valid until September 30, 2024; no price increase during the summer or weekends, with a supplement of 100 yuan per night for Mid-Autumn Festival (September 15-16). This room type covers 45 square meters and features views of the Huangpu River, highlighted by a very spacious and long sofa.
For reference, rooms in the calendar are almost 1800 yuan per night, without breakfast and dining expenses. The breakfast at West Bund MGM alone is around 300 yuan per person for a la carte options. The 300 yuan dining credit effectively allows you to have a semi-buffet lunch at Watery Italian Restaurant for 198 yuan per person. So essentially, you can stay one night and eat two meals with this deal.
Purchasing Link:
Good products are relatively rare in Shanghai; since there’s no price increase during summer or weekends at West Bund MGM, I consider this worth stocking up.
Another offer is a connecting room (one king room and one suite).
Shanghai West Bund MGM Luxury Scenic River View Suite + Selected Scenic River View Room (both for the same day) + 4 adult breakfasts + MGM plush lion for 4688 yuan.
Valid until September 30, 2024; an additional supplement of 200 yuan on weekends, no extra charge during the summer (except weekends), and a 200 yuan supplement for the Mid-Autumn Festival (September 15-16).
