Check-In: Hyatt on the Bund

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Location: In something of a misnomer, Hyatt on the Bund is infact not 'on' what most would call the Bund, midst those myriad heritage sites, luxury boutiques and gourmet restaurants; rather, it's right on the corner of the Huangpu, north of Suzhou Creek. Although less picturesque, the location comes with a fair few perks, the most striking of which is the view: you get the full curve of the river, including a sneak peak Eastwards towards industrious cranes loading cargo ships, chugging silently past the hotel save the occasional blasting horn. Of course, it's only matter of minutes by taxi to the more renowned stretch of Shanghai walkway, as well as a stone's throw from the art galleries and studios of Moganshan Lu.

Now Booking: The 631 guest rooms look out onto either Hongkou, Shanghai's former Jewish quarter, or else the Huangpu River and that iconic Pudong skyline. Entry level accommodation is spacious at 45sqm and around 1,300rmb, depending on availability. For something more roomy, consider one of the hotel's 52 suites, ranging from 80sqm for the most basic, right up to the massive, 300sqm “Chairman Suite".

Background: Worldwide, Hyatt boats 451 properties spanning nine different brands, and of these, Shanghai boasts three, soon to be four, with the opening of Andaz in Xintiandi later this year. That one’s set to add a boutique-inspired residence to the current portfolio of Grand (the one in the Jin Mao); Park, occupying 15 floors of the mighty World Financial Center; and their Puxi counterpart, Hyatt on the Bund.

Designed by architects Hok International, the hotel opened in November 2007 and features a vast, bright and airy atrium, linking the towering 33 story East and West wings to spectacular effect.

Atmosphere: One of the perks of Hyatt on the Bund's location, just north of Suzhou Creek, is space to sprawl. Hence, where hotels sited on the more historic stretch of riverside face the double hurdles of limited potential for sideways expansion due to the sheer density of buildings, as well as height restrictions for the sake of aesthetics, Hyatt on the Bund faces no such compromises, and positively flaunts its roominess with not one, but two ground floor ballrooms.

In short, it's big, and seemingly all the more so thanks to that striking glass atrium. Guests can look down onto a plant-lined water feature on the lower floor, or up to levels of meeting rooms, linked by a suspended walkway bridging the two wings. Kitted out with contemporary sofas in funky colors, the lobby is striking, making it a popular choice for media events and conferences -- expect to see a fair few corporate types milling about with clipboards.

Interiors are by Remedios Siembieda and are suitably luxurious -- contemporary and tasteful. The east tower houses Bund Club: a superior level of room, rates include use of a chic lounge space serving coffees and teas throughout the day, a generous cocktail hour complete with aperitivo-style buffet, and complimentary breakfast away from the often packed dining room for non-Club residents.

Amenities: 3,000sqm of the hotel's lower lobby is dedicated to wellness facilities, the most decadent of which is Yuan Spa offering services based around traditional Chinese elements across 12 treatment rooms. Next to that there's a 25m pool -- large for a hotel -- with steam room, sauna and jacuzzi; an impressive gym for more arduous workouts; and Juice Bar, serving up freshly squeezed goodness. With function space aplenty, the hotel regularly hosts weddings, conferences and all manner of event across various areas, including those two ground-floor ballrooms, ten smaller meeting venues, and beautifully appointed private dining rooms. They've also just launched a fleet of black, London-esque cabs for airport pick-up and general guest ferrying.

Food & Beverage: Hyatt on the Bund has eateries to cater to most tastes and occasions: the laid-back open kitchen of XinDaLu does classic Chinese cuisine, a highlight being their rather special Beijing Duck. Cooked in a custom-built oven using organic fruit wood, birds are brought over from the capital especially, so booking ahead is a must.

Meanwhile, Aroma on the second floor features a meandering line of buffet stations and open kitchens, rustling up everything from wood-fired pizza and teppanyaki, to fresh seafood and Shanghainese delights.

Vue Restaurant and Bar have become destinations in their own right. From the former, designed by Japanese interiors firm SuperPotato, expect European classics -- steak tartar, lobster bisque and various cuts of steak, all finished with flair at table-side cooking stations.

The aptly named Vue Bar is widely recognized by city residents as offering one of Shanghai's more spectacular views, as well as an out-door hot tub.

Who's Staying? Its sheer size and impressive range of facilities make Hyatt on the Bund something of an all-rounder. Families are well catered for, with Aroma's diverse cuisine making it a good choice for picky eaters young and old; then there's business folk who stay for the excellent and numerous function spaces and set up; whilst single travelers and couples enjoy proximity to the Bund at a fraction less than can be found just a few hundred metres south. And of course, it's Hyatt – a name that whether or not inspiring trust, certainly brings a degree of consistency, reliability and familiarity -- all qualities that, for a certain type of traveler, count.

And it’s also where Paris Hilton stayed when she visited Shanghai… yeah.