Atour Hotel Nanjing East Road on the Bund
by the TopOfHotel team
Atour is a modern Chinese-chain design hotel steps from The Bund that scores high on every axis — a 9.4 across the board.
Atour is a modern Chinese-chain design hotel steps from The Bund that scores high on every axis — a 9.4 across the board.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
If you want to try China's new wave of hotel brands, Atour Hotel Nanjing East Road on the Bund is one to watch — the Atour chain opened its first hotel in Beijing in 2013 and now runs 1,500 branches nationwide, known for the Atour pillow, soft but supportive under the neck. The Atour King runs 30 sqm, done in light brown with plant green, the wall behind the bed in oak panelling cut with a brass strip and lit by a clean Scandinavian-style desk lamp. The 1.8-metre King bed comes with that signature pillow and a cashmere-and-wool blanket, and the wall-mounted desk has a universal socket plus a Qi wireless charger. The bathroom is grey-black tile with a Hansgrohe rain shower, a white ceramic tub, and Aesop Geranium Leaf soap.
Food and amenities
What sets Atour apart from the usual Chinese hotel is the Lavazza café in the lobby, open 7am to 11pm, where guests get one free Americano a day alongside cake and French pastries. The library corner stocks English, Chinese and Japanese books on design, art and travel — easy to pull one and read over an afternoon coffee. The gym on the 2nd floor runs 60 sqm with 4 Technogym machines and stays open 24 hours.
Location and getting there
Out the door, turn left and walk east 600 metres — about 8 minutes — to The Bund at Custom House, whose clock tower chimes on the hour. Within 3 minutes you'll hit Din Tai Fung at Hong Kong Plaza for xiao long bao and the hotel's nearby Shang Palace, and 5 minutes out is Yang's Fry Dumpling, serving proper pan-fried sheng jian bao at $1.40 for 4. East Nanjing Road station sits on lines 2 and 10; for Pudong airport you switch to the Maglev, 38 minutes in all.
Things to know before booking
Nanjing East Road is one of Shanghai's busiest, most crowded stretches, so expect foot traffic right outside. As a 4-star, it doesn't carry the full kit of a 5-star — there's the 60-sqm gym but no resort-scale spa or pool. And the high score means rooms fill fast in high season, so book well ahead. Rates start around $74 a night.
Our take
Atour Hotel Nanjing East Road on the Bund fits couples roughly 28 to 45 and design-minded solo travelers who want to try a new-wave Chinese brand in the Bund area. We give it 9.4 for the Atour pillow, the free Lavazza café and rooms that land the design — a world apart from the older Chinese hotels some travelers still brace for.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A design hotel from Atour, a fast-rising Chinese lifestyle chain that opened in Beijing in 2013 and now runs 1,500 branches nationwide.
- Contemporary, clean rooms with thoughtful design — the 30-sqm Atour King pairs light brown with plant green, oak panelling and brass trim behind the bed, and the chain's signature Atour pillow that guests say leaves their neck pain-free.
- On Nanjing East Road, an 8-minute walk to The Bund at Custom House, where the clock tower chimes on the hour.
- A 3-minute walk to East Nanjing Road station on lines 2 and 10, with the Maglev connection putting Pudong airport 38 minutes away.
- Real-guest ratings run very high, around 9.4, with cleanliness and design the standout categories.
- Nanjing East Road is one of Shanghai's busiest, most crowded stretches, so expect foot traffic and noise right outside.
- It's a 4-star, so the facilities don't stretch as far as a full 5-star — there's a 60-sqm gym but no resort-scale spa or pool.
- Rooms fill fast in high season thanks to the high score, so book well ahead.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Shanghai
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Insider Tips
- Walk to The Bund from the hotel for the Pudong skyline — it's 600 metres east at Custom House.
- Claim your free daily Americano at the lobby Lavazza café, open 7am to 11pm, and browse the 200-plus design and travel books in the reading nook.
- Book ahead — the high score means rooms sell out quickly, especially in peak season.