CHAI Living Serviced Apartments
No.400, N Suzhou Rd, Zhabei Dist, Shanghai 200008 China
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About
#1 of 100 guest houses in Shanghai
Location
4.7
Rooms
4.8
Value
4.7
Cleanliness
4.9
Service
4.9
Sleep Quality
4.9
CHAI Living is a collection of serviced residences instead of a traditional hotel, with the combination of design gallery, art gallery and events staging. Uniquely situated within an Art Deco landmark now home to many local Shanghainese, CHAI Living offers a different perspective to Shanghai and a rare window into vast-vanishing traditional ways of life. The CHAI Living Residences are all conceptually designed apartments within the Embankment Building, offering the comforts of modern life to guests with a taste for style and sophistication. As an alternative to a five-star hotel, CHAI Living strives to offer a friendly, "family-style" approach to staying in Shanghai. We provide housekeeping and concierge services, with a member of staff on site at all times to provide 24-hour assistance.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Bar / lounge
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Spa
Concierge
Wifi
Restaurant
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Room service
Kitchenette
Microwave
Minibar
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Trendy
Location
No.400, N Suzhou Rd, Zhabei Dist, Shanghai 200008 China
Name/address in local language
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 93 out of 100
93
Pu Dong Airport
20.3 mi•
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Hongqiao Airport
9.2 mi•
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Tiantong Road
2 min•Shanghai Metro
Rental Cars
63 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
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Detailed Reviews
Don't be intimidated by the outlook of the building or standing there waiting for Lee to come down to the lobby to send the key to you. Once you stepped into the room, you wouldn't even want to go out for long. My wife and I were there to celebrate our 2nd anniversary and we decided to stay in Chai Living because of the facilities provided :- the kitchen, washing machine and dryer and the view. But what make us firm with our choice to stay there is how Mr Lee replied our emails :- prompt, informative, and helpful. And you will be surprised too, that Mr Lee is as helpful and informative as he is in the email. What's more, we were being upgraded from studio50 to Residence 120. Can you imagine how surprised we were to see and stay in such a huge house for 10 days? Not to mention the view we had every night cuddling away to sleep. And the interior is perfect against the backdrop of Shanghai skylight. Walking distance to the nearest subway is only 5 minutes, and lots of shopping complexes to got o before you would want to turn to the subway station. Trust me! After been traveling to so many countries, this hotel is totally one of the best I've been for the amount of money we paid. Once you've been inside the room, you will feel how the modern Shanghainese live their life....
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Date of stay: November 2009Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"WOW" where the first words that came out of our mouths when we stepped into our amazing "Chai Living" apartment. After walking thru the main entrance of the Embankment Building which is very old , then taking the rather rickety lift to your floor and making your way down the hallway passing the traditional chinese way of life you are not sure what to expect. The "Cocoon" apartment is absolutely amazing - the decor, design, state of the art appliances , not to mention the magnificent view, especially at night. You feel like you are "Mixing the Old Chinese with the New" when you enter this apartment. And the bed would have to be the most comfortable bed we have ever slept in - better than our own bed at home. The bathroom is something else - big square bath, his/hers own vanities and a "rain" shower plus a separate room that houses a toilet with all different buttons that do all sorts of things.
The breakfast supplied in your fridge every morning is more than you can eat - cereal, eggs, croissants/bread, juice , fruit .
Heri , the Chai Living manager, was very helpful and was always available if you needed anything - phoning for a taxi, restaurant suggestions,etc. You are given a cell phone on arrival and you can phone Heri if you need help.
We ate at Chai Bites a few times , which is located at the end of the building , very convenient.
The food is very delicious and reasonably priced. You also get a discount on the food/drink if you are staying at Chai Living.
We caught the subway everywhere and found it very easy to use. The subway station is less than a 10 minute walk away.
Chai Living met us at the airport , which we would recommend, and on the return , we caught a taxi to the Maglev Station. If you get a chance , take the very fast Maglev Train back to the airport (430km per hour) - great experience.
We` thoroughly enjoyed our time in Shanghai and staying at Chai Living made is extra special.
It was a unique experience and would highly recommend for anyone wanting something different to try Chai Living. Staying in a western hotel you would never experience anything like we did.
Fantastic!
The breakfast supplied in your fridge every morning is more than you can eat - cereal, eggs, croissants/bread, juice , fruit .
Heri , the Chai Living manager, was very helpful and was always available if you needed anything - phoning for a taxi, restaurant suggestions,etc. You are given a cell phone on arrival and you can phone Heri if you need help.
We ate at Chai Bites a few times , which is located at the end of the building , very convenient.
The food is very delicious and reasonably priced. You also get a discount on the food/drink if you are staying at Chai Living.
We caught the subway everywhere and found it very easy to use. The subway station is less than a 10 minute walk away.
Chai Living met us at the airport , which we would recommend, and on the return , we caught a taxi to the Maglev Station. If you get a chance , take the very fast Maglev Train back to the airport (430km per hour) - great experience.
We` thoroughly enjoyed our time in Shanghai and staying at Chai Living made is extra special.
It was a unique experience and would highly recommend for anyone wanting something different to try Chai Living. Staying in a western hotel you would never experience anything like we did.
Fantastic!
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Date of stay: June 2012Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CHAI rocks. I was so happy I tried this place. The communications from these folks is top notch, starting with my payment for the place, to my confirmation, to offers to pick me up at the train station and subway stations upon arrival. I took the subway myself because it’s a 5 minute walk from subway stop Tiantong Road on line 10. Don’t be intimidated by the walk from the subway, the entryway, the elevator, or the hallway upstairs, because the inside of the apartment I was in was gorgeous and the views of Pudong over the river at night are magical. Brand new fixtures, finishes, and appliances, and incredibly comfortable bedding. I only stayed for 4 nights and found it much better than a hotel, but certainly for an extended stay it would be better. They restocked a delicious breakfast in my fridge each day so in the morning I had bread, fruit, yogurt, muesli, an egg, and juice.
One evening was too tired to go out for dinner so I ate in the CHAI lounge in a retail space on the street level of the building. I wasn’t expecting much because the menu is so limited but I am still thinking about the dumpling soup and curry dish they served me – it was really excellent. Wish I’d had time to stop by for a second meal. If you are looking for something fun and different for your stay, give CHAI a try.
One evening was too tired to go out for dinner so I ate in the CHAI lounge in a retail space on the street level of the building. I wasn’t expecting much because the menu is so limited but I am still thinking about the dumpling soup and curry dish they served me – it was really excellent. Wish I’d had time to stop by for a second meal. If you are looking for something fun and different for your stay, give CHAI a try.
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Date of stay: April 2012Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Three of us stayed at Chai Living in October, 2011-- and had a delightful visit. The staff was very helpful when one of us had a medical issue concerning a dislocated hip--they called for an ambulance, provided a wheelchair --and accompanied us to the hospital -- etc. -- Everyone there was wonderful and the accommodations were fantastic!
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Date of stay: October 2011Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chai Living offers so much more than the usual hotels / B&B's. On arrival, as this was my first visit to Shanghai, I felt as though I was thrown into the deep end, living amongst the local community of 600+Embankment building apartments, no english spoken, quite daunting, as it seems very dark and dingey, lots of activity and local colour, yet on opening the door to my room the "wow factor" says it all!! This is the place to stay. The location is great, only a short walk (10/15 mins) to the Bund. There are no touristy and not many local places for shopping/ dinner etc but I found a soup kitchen close by where you can choose the ingredients, which are cooked on the spot and I went back, with my take away soup to CL to enjoy the views of Pudong/Bund lights in peace and quiet in my gorgeous designer/chic room with a glass of wine and 5 rmb dinner! The staff and owner, Toucho are very welcoming and very eager to help with places to recommend and book taxis etc. They have Chai Bites cafe which is a few doors down from the building for breakfast which is included in the tariff and are open for snacks and drinks all hours and as some one else said in their review of CL the second time is better and for me to stay at Chai Living again would be a good reason to return to Shanghai!!
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Date of stay: June 2011Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent the Chinese New Year week in Shanghai and we had a wonderful experience. The place is amazing, very nice decorated and for us definitely much more confortable than any hotel in Shanghai. Even in this week many business are closed the staff was so helpful with all details and help us to buy all that we needed to fill up the refrigerator. They also attend any of our requirements and was so helpful managing with airport (as our luggage arrived one day after we did), recommending nice places to visit, restaurants, etc.
The area is nice and location is perfect to visit the city. We felt so confortable at the apartment. This was my second time at Chai Living and I will repeat for sure each time that I have to visit Shanghai.
The area is nice and location is perfect to visit the city. We felt so confortable at the apartment. This was my second time at Chai Living and I will repeat for sure each time that I have to visit Shanghai.
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Date of stay: February 2016Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are in the process of relocating to Shanghai - I accidently happened on to Chai Living as a result of clicking on a link on a design blog - and how happy am I that I did! All the following raving reviews you will go on to read on Trip Adviser are true!
I am not one to like the traditional "Service Apartment" in a personality-less room (a life of too much business travel), so on seeing the Chai Living website I hurriedly booked. I never would have dreamt that by booking Chai Living that we would gain so much from a stay.
My family stayed here for our "Look See" visit for just over two weeks in the Bamboo Room - Peter eagerly greeted us when we arrived in the late hours of the evening. Our room was all that the pictures show and more - all the interiors I wanted to buy, including the egg and bacon on the kitchen wall! The BEDS were heavenly... The balcony, views, the lights and the noises all on show for us to soak in. Eye opening to all that Shanghai has to offer.
Thanks to the welcome pack provided, I was able to provide my daughter a hot milk and home made chocolate brownie before tucking her in. Then the next morning, eggs, muesli, fruit and yogurt were on the menu.
Location, location, location - we quickly discovered how close we were to the Subway line 10 and 12 - just behind the building - from here you can venture all across Shanghai by interchange here and there. Another option is to walk to Nanjing East for Subway line 2. My 9 year old daughter became quite astute at working out the ticketing and subway line needed.
Personalised Service - 2nd to none - Peter the Residence Manager, support was priceless - he helped us with transport to and from the airport, transport for school tours, subway tickets, high speed train tickets, our first Sherpa, translations over the mobile, courier services - however the most endearing support was the open door of the lounge and his delightful smile.
Likewise, Tucho, Violet (and Tucho's mother) made us all feel so uniquely special.
Our visit was unlike others - I now leave my husband for 4 months to start in his new position while I return to Australia. He is transferring to smaller room - what a comfort to me to know that he will be well looked after in the hands of the Chai Living team.
I am not one to like the traditional "Service Apartment" in a personality-less room (a life of too much business travel), so on seeing the Chai Living website I hurriedly booked. I never would have dreamt that by booking Chai Living that we would gain so much from a stay.
My family stayed here for our "Look See" visit for just over two weeks in the Bamboo Room - Peter eagerly greeted us when we arrived in the late hours of the evening. Our room was all that the pictures show and more - all the interiors I wanted to buy, including the egg and bacon on the kitchen wall! The BEDS were heavenly... The balcony, views, the lights and the noises all on show for us to soak in. Eye opening to all that Shanghai has to offer.
Thanks to the welcome pack provided, I was able to provide my daughter a hot milk and home made chocolate brownie before tucking her in. Then the next morning, eggs, muesli, fruit and yogurt were on the menu.
Location, location, location - we quickly discovered how close we were to the Subway line 10 and 12 - just behind the building - from here you can venture all across Shanghai by interchange here and there. Another option is to walk to Nanjing East for Subway line 2. My 9 year old daughter became quite astute at working out the ticketing and subway line needed.
Personalised Service - 2nd to none - Peter the Residence Manager, support was priceless - he helped us with transport to and from the airport, transport for school tours, subway tickets, high speed train tickets, our first Sherpa, translations over the mobile, courier services - however the most endearing support was the open door of the lounge and his delightful smile.
Likewise, Tucho, Violet (and Tucho's mother) made us all feel so uniquely special.
Our visit was unlike others - I now leave my husband for 4 months to start in his new position while I return to Australia. He is transferring to smaller room - what a comfort to me to know that he will be well looked after in the hands of the Chai Living team.
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Date of stay: March 2016Trip type: Traveled with family
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is our second trip to Shanghai and to Chai Living. They have added a number of apartments since our last visit and also a bar/ brasserie. Once again, the first word out of each of our mouths on arrival in our room was 'wow'. Our apartment, like the other two we have experienced, was fantastic. Lovely view, spacious, comfortable rooms, decadent bed, great bathroom (amazing bath and shower) and an electronic toilet that might be my daughter's most memorable Shanghai experience!. Service was again personal, friendly and excellent. The location is spot on (a short stroll to the Bund).
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Date of stay: April 2015Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: All rooms are great, some larger than others - if you have special needs, mention them and you...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from FFigari, Director General at CHAI Living Serviced Apartments
Responded May 10, 2015
Thank you very much for your thoughtful and detailed review. At CHAI Living, we believe in making our guests feel truly at home in Shanghai, so we are very happy to learn how much you enjoyed your stay with us. You know you are always welcome here, and we really hope we can host you some time soon! Warm regards.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had the pleasure of staying at this property for only 4 nights. Everything from the time of booking back in May to our collection from the airport was seamless.The accomodation is 10 mins walk from the bund in a very authentic neighbour hood. The room it's self was lovely, and very comfortable with good quality fixtures and fitting. The service throughout our stay was second to none ( thank you Alex) who even provided us with face masks for our onward journey to Beijing. The bar in the hotel is very cosy with candles and an gas flamed fire and the soup was wonderful on a cold night. Trip advisor is my bible when travelling ( good job guys) would definately recommend this accomodation " with a difference" to anyone who is looking for a authentic Shanghai experience with exeptional customer service.
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Date of stay: December 2013Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from FigariCHAILiving, Manager at CHAI Living Serviced Apartments
Responded Jan 21, 2014
Thank you so much for recommending CHAI Living. As you mentioned, we focus on offering our guests a unique experience of Shanghai, and we take special pride in our personalized services. This is why we are very happy to hear that your stay with us ran seamlessly, and that you enjoyed the Bund neighborhood, your Residence, and the CHAI Living Lounge. We hope you went on to enjoy your time in Beijing, and that the masks were helpful there! We are looking forward very much to welcoming you back to Shanghai again soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We were recommended to Chai Living by friends and were not disappointed. Our apartment in the iconic Embankment Building, 10 minutes from the Bund, was furnished in the most exquisite taste and very well equipped. The fact that it was in the same block as ordinary Shanghai people added to the charm. We witnessed elderly people doing their calisthenics in the lobby and savoured the delicious cooking smells emanating from the flat of one of our neighbours. A pleasant breakfast basket was provided each evening for the following morning. The reception area is furnished with beautiful art works and there is an art gallery featuring modern works. The bar is comfortable and as well as drinks serves tapas and won ton soup for when another foray into the city is too much. Helpful advice is on tap from the very willing reception staff, Angus and Alex. But they contact you by email as there is no phone connection to the apartments. We nearly missed out on having a guided tour as these get booked up far in advance, but Alex was able to track down Alison, a fantastic guide who was available for a 4 hour tour of our choice. She spoke perfect English and answered with humour and knowledge all the many questions we put to her about life in Shanghai . It would be helpful for future guests to be advised on booking that if they were likely to require a guide they should consider booking well ahead.
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Date of stay: November 2013Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from FigariCHAILiving, Manager at CHAI Living Serviced Apartments
Responded Jan 21, 2014
Thank you for your kind review. It's good to hear that your stay did not disappoint you.We're very happy to see that you enjoyed the unique design of your residence, the food and drink at CHAI Living Lounge, and the contemporary Chinese art on display at our partner gallery, Art+ Shanghai. We're also glad that you received such helpful advice from our staff - this is something we take great pride in. Thank you for sharing your tour booking experience as well. We will be sure to notify our guests in the future as well about the necessity of booking guides in advance. We are looking forward to welcoming you back to CHAI Living again soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello! Thank you very much for your interest in staying with CHAI Living! Please let us know the estimated dates and we can get back to you after checking availability. Also, if you have any other questions you could check our website or email us directly. Thanks again, we hope to hear from you soon!
"Go for the 1 bedroom apartment 21 C as it has a huge living room with gorgeous views which is great if you plan on meeting friends."Read full review
"All rooms are great, some larger than others - if you have special needs, mention them and you will be accommodated wherever possible (I arrived with a broken leg acquired on route and was upgraded to provide more room to move."Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
上海灿客栈酒店, 上海灿客栈, chai shanghai living hotel shanghai
LOCATION
ChinaShanghai RegionShanghaiPuxi (Downtown Shanghai) / Hongkou
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about CHAI Living Serviced Apartments
Which popular attractions are close to CHAI Living Serviced Apartments?
Nearby attractions include Bund International Architecture Exhibition (0.2 miles), Shanghai Post Museum (0.1 miles), and British Consulate (0.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at CHAI Living Serviced Apartments?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at CHAI Living Serviced Apartments?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, a minibar, and air conditioning.
What food & drink options are available at CHAI Living Serviced Apartments?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to CHAI Living Serviced Apartments?
Conveniently located restaurants include Yang's Fried-Dumpling (Ningbo Road), The Nest, and 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA.
Are there opportunities to exercise at CHAI Living Serviced Apartments?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness center during their stay.
Is CHAI Living Serviced Apartments located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.6 miles away from the center of Shanghai.
Are any cleaning services offered at CHAI Living Serviced Apartments?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does CHAI Living Serviced Apartments offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Are there any historical sites close to CHAI Living Serviced Apartments?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Jing'an Temple (2.6 miles), Shanghai Temple Of the Town God (Chenghung Miao) (1.3 miles), and Shanghai Former Provisional Government Site of the Republic of Korea (1.9 miles).