Check-in: URBN

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Location: We're in the bustling heart of Jing'an for this one, Jiaozhou Lu to be precise, close to the intersection with Xinzha Lu. The miracle is that you wouldn't know it: tucked away from the road and next to a tree-lined courtyard, URBN is a willful escape from honking horns and shouty street vendors. That said, it's a mere five minute walk to Jingan Temple subway -- gateway to the world.

Now Booking: URBN offers just 26 rooms; entry level accommodation comes courtesy of 'Studio', comfortable at 36sqm and yours for somewhere around the 1,600rmb mark per night including breakfast. Up from that, you've got Atrium, Garden, and Penthouse rooms, right the way up to the rather special Courtyard Suite, bookable for about 2,800rmb per night, depending on availability. That one comes with its very own private patio overlooking the hotel grounds, a Jacuzzi, and 90sqm of luxury.

Background: URBN is one of a rare breed in Shanghai: a fully independent boutique hotel. Opened by property developers Scott Barrack and Jules Kwan back in 2008, the pair re-purposed a former post office as their first step into the world of hotels, and plans are afoot for two more URBNs within the next two years in Pudong and Yu Gardens respectively.

Reputedly, (disputedly?) China's first carbon-neutral hotel, eco responsibility is the mandate at URBN. Essentially, what that means is working with carbon auditors to offset environmentally harmful elements of the business by undertaking some noble work in the field of hydro-electrics in Inner Mongolia. Meanwhile at the hotel, a water purification system is in place; they're replacing all hotel lights with low-energy LEDs; they’re a long-term supporter of events such as Earth Day, and have even hosted WildAid rep, British zillionaire Richard Branson, doing his bit to save China's sharks. All good stuff, indeed.

Atmosphere: URBN is the playoff between the sort of sustainable touches you'd expect from a carbon-neutral property (think beautiful reclaimed brick work throughout), smart, chic design (sunken lounge areas), and outright Shanghai fabulous -- cow hide rugs, vintage suitcases and most recently, a Moët & Chandon champagne bar.

Interiors are by leading Shanghai practice A00 and reference the hotel's locale in a way that is both playful and stylish. Guests are greeted by a wall of old leather suitcases, brought at nearby Dong Tai Lu antiques market; whilst just next to that are beautifully mosaic'ed wood chips from old Chinese boats. Similarly, grey Suzhou slate is used throughout, subtly referencing the city's classic, shikumen brickwork.

The rooms, by contrast, keep things simple: lots of polished wood and understated furnishings, all setting the stage for stunning flint bathrooms. At just 26 rooms, the hotel has a homey, cozy feel: guests are provided with a regularly updated collection of the latest DVDs, for example; they're greeted with in-room welcome gifts; and can enjoy complimentary cocktails and canapés each evening.

It's URBN's green and leafy courtyard, though, that presents the hotel's tranquil tone. Those magnolia trees towering above the cobbled patio? They're over 100 years old, and surely something of a rarity midst Shanghai's more typical landscape of gleaming, glass-clad skyscrapers...

Food & Beverage: The hotels' main restaurant, Downstairs, has become a venue in its own right, with Irish chef Siobhán Gough serving up a David Laris-created menu of tasty, European fare using locally sourced and organic products wherever possible. Breakfast is served here too, but if you're a fan of gargantuan buffet style service, this ain't for you: all the classics are there -- eggs ben, pancakes, fruit salads and so on -- served up à la carte.

One of URBN's more stylish and intimate spaces is fourth floor bar, The Social, serving up cocktails and snacks around plush leather furniture and moody lighting, whilst higher still is newest addition, Upstairs: a glorious rooftop terrace overlooking Jingan district from whence the city's chic set can sip chilled bubbly, far removed from the cacophony below...

Amenities: We've said it before and we'll say it again: much as we love small, boutique hotels, their sheer size often means they lack some of the fancier facilities of their chain counterparts. URBN cleverly makes up for this, however, via a partnership with really rather exclusive One Wellness gym just around the corner, and what it likes to call the URBN Connect Programme. Fancy a massage and manicure? Or perhaps a Chinese calligraphy class? Or even a tailor-made suit? Pas de problème: they've teamed up with a whole host of service providers across the city and can organize pretty much any activity you care to mention, either in-room or off-site.

Who's Staying? With its leafy surroundings and tranquil setting, it's actually quite romantic. If you're not a-wooing, it'd also make a good choice for the harried business traveler seeking a bit of R&R, not to mention tourists seeking a downtown location but also the luxury of calm. Carbon-neutral, beautifully designer -- URBN has a lot going for it.