Review / Why The Middle House is A-listers’ Shanghai hotel of choice: the hotel has hosted Apple CEO Tim Cook and football star David Beckham, and boasts luxe design by Italian architect Piero Lissoni

Dec 4 , 2023

A Murano-glass chandelier greets guests at The Middle House in Shanghai. Photos: Handout

Swire’s The Upper House is a beloved five-star hotel in Hong Kong – in 2018, The Middle House joined the company’s portfolio that includes The Opposite House in Beijing and The Temple House in Chengdu

A Murano-glass chandelier sits in the lobby while Chinese artworks are scattered throughout; eateries include the Café Gray Deluxe lounge and Sui Tang Li, one of the best Chinese restaurants in town

Residents and long-time visitors to Hong Kong are more than familiar with The Upper House, one of the city’s beloved five-star hotels. The flagship of Hong Kong-based Swire Properties, The Upper House has always been a home away from home for fashionable types and A-listers.

In 2018, the company added a fourth member to its portfolio of houses: Shanghai’s The Middle House, which joined The Opposite House in Beijing and The Temple House in Chengdu.

The name refers to its geographical location in China, nestled between Beijing to the north and Chengdu further south, but also to its prime spot right in the heart of Shanghai. It is a short walk away from the glitzy malls of Jing’An and the tree-lined former French Concession, and a longer but very pleasant stroll from The Bund, the tourist-filled waterfront area facing the futuristic skyline of Pudong across the Huangpu River.

The lobby of The Middle House in Shanghai features artworks, a library and a fireplace

Visitors to the houses – I’ve had the pleasure of staying at all of them except The Temple House – will recognise some slight similarities with The Opposite House in Beijing but each House is unique in its own way. The common thread is their low-key approach to luxury, both in the service and interiors.

Designed by Italian architect Piero Lissoni, The Middle House is filled with unexpected touches that are fun without being gimmicky. From a striking Murano-glass chandelier in the lobby to small gecko sculptures climbing up the backs of TV monitors in the rooms and Chinese artworks scattered throughout, the property is welcoming and cosy.

A dumpling-inspired artwork at The Middle House in Shanghai

The hotel’s eateries, which include Café Gray Deluxe, a Western restaurant and cocktail lounge, and Frasca, a fun Italian trattoria, attract a stylish crowd while the Chinese restaurant, Sui Tang Li, is one of the hottest reservations in town.

The indoor swimming pool in the basement of The Middle House in Shanghai

An indoor swimming pool, a fully equipped gym, a spa and a hair salon round out the amenities, and cater to guests and well-to-do Shanghai residents who live and work in the area. (The Middle House Residences are located next to the hotel.)