Top 10 Service Apartments in Shanghai

Bvlgari Residences have been one of the most anticipated serviced apartment in years, and entered the market at the end of 2019, joining the Bvlgari Hotel opened 2 years earlier. The opulent 40-storey building is located inside the large urban complex project Suhe Creek, on a relatively quiet block of land on North Henan Road. Effectively next to the traditional downtown area of Shanghai, tenants are very well connected to all parts of the city. Matching the Bvlgari brand, these residences follow a very easy to understand guideline: pure luxury.

The signature Bvlgari indoor pool is likely the nicest in the city, joined by various SPA rooms, and a state-of-the-art gym. Chinese and Italian fine dining is provided within the vicinity. The apartment units themselves, 143 in total, are spacious and come with all the bells and whistles, from under-floor heating over water treatment and air purifiers, to Japanese “super toilets”.

Currently, the smallest layout, a 1-bedroom, 163m² apartment, is priced at 35,000 RMB per month. 2-Bedroom units go for around 40 – 45,000 RMB, and super spacious 3-bedroom can reach up to 120,000 RMB/month.

Where the Bvlgari Residences are the newest addition to Shanghai’s high-end service apartment supply, Shanghai Centre is stands for tradition and persistence. Ever since they opened their doors in 1990, they have been an icon shaping the city skyline – physically and virtually. Their name accurately describes the location within the city: Situated along West Nanjing Road in sought-after Jing’an District, only a stone’s throw away from Jing’an Temple and several of the city’s most well known commercial buildings.

Residents of Shanghai Centre describe living there as being in a small village  that has all the amenities they need. Indeed, from coffee shops and restaurants, over a hairdresser and a gym, up to its very own childcare service, everything can be reached within 3 minutes. However, this is not the feature that gets most of our clients’ eyes glowing when speaking about their experience of living in Shanghai Centre. Throughout, residents are amazed by the top-notch service and security provided by the expat-led management team.

1 Bedroom Apartments with 93m² space go for 31,000 RMB/month currently. 2 bedroom units with 180m² are available for 50,000 RMB/month, and 3 bedrooms with 193m² are priced at 60,000 RMB per month.

When we tour different service apartments with out clients before they decide which one to go for, the Mandarin Oriental is one of those places that makes them forget about all the other options they had seen during. It starts with the perfect location for expats who work in Lujiazui CBD, as it renders their work place within walking distance, while at the same time being in a quieter block of of Lujiazui. Car and foot traffic are significantly less compared with the situation just down the street. It’s also situated along the Huangpu River bank, which makes for stunning views from the river-facing apartments, especially at night when the Bund lights up.

Then, just like the both previous contenders, onsite facilities are simply stunning. Michelin-starred dining, luxury SPA and swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym, and apartments with premium quality equipment and furnishing are paired with impeccable, repeatedly awarded service.

Layouts start with the 1-bedroom, 100m² apartments for 35,000 RMB/month and with the 3-bedroom 191m² units for 68,000 RMB.

4. BASE LIVING SHANGHAI

base living is not like the other serviced apartment projects in this list. They focus on the younger, more adventurous group of expats and business travellers. Instead of emphasizing luxury, base living is about the community. Common spaces are inviting and hip, creating sapce for parties, co-working, and casual hangouts. Their apartments come in a cool, minimalist industrial style. They are also different, as base living does not have only one location in Shanghai. They keep growing and growing, and by now they can be found at 12 different places, spread throughout the city.

Rents start at 10,000 RMB/month, including housekeeping and usage of all onsite facilities.

5. GRAND GATEWAY 66

Grand Gateway Service Apartments are integrated into a well-known commercial complex, located where Xujiahui and the former French Concession meet. This puts Grand Gateway 66 in a prime, and very well connected location. The project comes with a good gym and a nice, resort-like outdoor swimming pool, housekeeping service, and a professional management team – all while maintaining competitive pricing, even more so considering the central downtown location.

Rents start at 16,000 RMB/month for 1-bedroom apartments, and go up to 25,000 RMB/month for 3-bedroom apartments.

6. CAPELLA RESIDENCE

Located in Xuhui, Capella Residences (Jian Ye Li) is a relatively new and unique serviced apartment that opened in October 2017. Centrally located in the picturesque former French Concession, the nearest metro station is Zhaojiabang Road (Line 7, Line 9). There are 40 serviced apartments located in traditional, repurposed Shiumen architecture with houses of two, three and four-bedrooms, approximately 300m² for the smallest unit and 600m² for the largest.

Rents start at RMB75,000 per month and go all the way up to 190,000 RMB.

7. STANFORD RESIDENCES

Stanford Residences have 3 locations in Shanghai, in Jing’an, Xuhui, and Jinqiao. The management focusses on delivering top-notch service and luxury lifestyle. Each of the three estates are highly prestigious places to live.

Rents start at 20,500 RMB/month for 2-bedroom apartments in Jinqiao, while the smallest 3-bedroom units in Xuhui are priced at 45,000 RMB, and 55,000 RMB in Jing’an

8. KERRY RESIDENCE JING AN

Kerry Residence in Jing’an, a stone’s throw away from famous Jing’an Temple, is a well established service apartments, attracting expats who seek the convenience of having shopping, convenience stores, public transportation access, and their workplace located (almost) at their doorstep. Kerry Residence is one of those places, that expats on shorter, but frequent assignments, choose time and time again.

2-bedroom service apartments are available for rents between 45 and 55,000 RMB / month.

9. TIMES SQUARE APARTMENTS

Times Square Apartments score with their unrivaled location in trendy Xintiandi, one of the hottest neighborhoods in China. Residents enjoy well maintained sports facilities, multi-lingual service, 24-hour security, house-keeping, linen & towel change, electronic key card access, fast WiFi, laundry and dry cleaning service, and car park access.

Monthly rents range between 28,000 RMB (1BR Apartment) and  55,000 RMB (3BR Apartment).

10. CO-HOST WEST BUND

Cohost is a design-led co-living apartment brand founded in 2017, established to redesign rental living and to build a vibrant community.  With a modern gym, swimming pool and tennis court, Co-Host aims to create the perfect urban living retreat to balance work and home life.

Stylish studios are available from 8,000 RMB, while 2-bedroom apartments start at 16,000 RMB per month.