Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li: Lane Houses in the French Concession

Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li occupies one of the last surviving clusters of shikumen lane houses in the city, a block of 1930s stone-gate homes in the former French Concession painstakingly restored into garden villas. It is a rare thing in Shanghai: low-rise, historic and green, in the middle of a vertical metropolis, and a Leading Hotels of the World Sustainability Leader.

Dining centers on Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire, the celebrated chef's French restaurant set in a Parisian-salon interior that evokes old-world Shanghai glamour, while La Boulangerie turns out fresh bread and pastries through the day. The Auriga spa completes a property that feels more like a private residence than a hotel.

For travelers who want Shanghai's history rather than its skyline, Capella is the address.

Planning Shanghai? Book your stay with me for preferred-partner perks.