Fairmont Peace Hotel

"This resplendent Art Deco hotel had a comeback once before, when it reopened after the Cultural Revolution. That was then. Now, after a $64 million renovation, the 1929 landmark at the base of Nanjing Road East has staged a truly auspicious unveiling, hewing closely—almost too closely, given the building’s heavy Gothic feel—to the original decor. With the help of Shanghai architectural historian Peter Hibbard, builders restored the lobby’s stained glass skylight, long hidden by a false ceiling, and brought the ornate ballroom (with its famous sprung-wooden dance floor) and kitsch Dragon Phoenix restaurant back to life. Though the end result is a tad gloomy, the 270-room hotel is nevertheless a grand celebration of Shanghai’s colonial-era style. Rooms are small but comfortable. The olive-green velvet upholstery contrasts nicely with purple-and-gold carpets. Bathrooms have Deco mirrors and fixtures. The Cathay Room serves Western food and has a balcony that looks out on the Bund. In general, staff are professional but stiff. Still, this is a truly historic and distinguished hotel, and you can quite easily imagine its glory days when Charlie Chaplin visited, tea dances sold out months in advance, and Noël Coward penned Private Lives there. Editor's Pick: Gold List 2018"