What It’s Like to Stay in One of the World’s Highest Hotels – J Hotel Shanghai
A luxury hotel above the clouds
When planning my trip to Shanghai, there was one hotel that immediately stood out. Staying inside the third tallest building in the world isn’t something you get to experience very often, so J Hotel quickly became one of the highlights of my itinerary.
Occupying floors 86 to 98 of the iconic Shanghai Tower, the hotel is currently the fourth highest hotel in the world. Above the rooms, you’ll even find several restaurants, including Heavenly Jin on the 120th floor, officially recognised as the world’s highest restaurant
Why Stay Here?
Arrival and Rooms
Arriving at J Hotel already feels like part of the experience. From the moment you enter Shanghai Tower, everything reminds you that this isn’t an ordinary hotel. After taking one of the world’s fastest elevators, you arrive in a lobby sitting high above the city, where the incredible views immediately become the centre of attention.
The standard rooms start at an impressive 61 square metres, making them among the largest entry-level rooms you’ll find in Shanghai. The design perfectly balances contemporary elegance with understated luxury, creating a space that feels sophisticated without trying too hard.
One thing that surprised me, however, was the room layout. My room didn’t have a proper entrance hallway, so opening the door placed me almost immediately in the centre of the room. It wasn’t a major issue, but I personally prefer a little more separation between the entrance and the living space, especially in a hotel of this calibre.
Of course, the real highlight is the view. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer breathtaking panoramas across Shanghai, and I found myself returning to them repeatedly throughout the day just to watch the city from above.
There is one small compromise worth mentioning, though. Because of Shanghai Tower’s distinctive double-skin glass façade, you can’t stand directly against the window for a completely unobstructed view. The outer layer of glass and the space between the two façades slightly limits the feeling of looking straight down over the city.
Despite that, the views remain absolutely spectacular and are undoubtedly one of the defining highlights of staying at J Hotel.
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- Spacious 61 m² entry-level rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking panoramic views across Shanghai.
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- Elegant contemporary interiors featuring premium materials, carefully selected artwork and luxurious finishes throughout the suite.
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- Room opened almost directly into the main living area, without a proper entrance hallway. It’s a small detail, but one I personally missed in a hotel of this calibre.
- Outstanding sound insulation considering you’re staying inside one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers.
- Comfortable bed.
- I personally had no issues with noise, temperature or lighting, making the room an excellent place to properly relax after exploring Shanghai.
Dining
One of my favourite parts of staying at J Hotel was exploring its restaurants.
Rather than visiting just one venue, I’d recommend taking the time to explore each restaurant floor, as every space offers a different atmosphere and perspective over Shanghai.
The highlight is undoubtedly Heavenly Jin, located on the astonishing 120th floor. Holding the title of the world’s highest restaurant, it’s worth visiting for the views alone. Dining while looking down on one of the world’s largest cities is an experience few hotels can offer.
Even if you don’t plan on having a full meal, I’d still recommend stopping by one of the restaurants or bars for a drink. Exploring the hotel’s dining venues became one of the highlights of my stay.
Breakfast deserves a special mention as well. It’s served in a beautiful dining room and combines an extensive buffet with an à la carte menu, so you get the best of both worlds. Everything I tried was excellent, from the quality of the ingredients to the presentation and service. Looking back, these are genuinely some of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve ever had, and it’s one of the things I still remember most vividly about my stay.
Facilities and Experience
The hotel also features an indoor swimming pool, although this was probably the only facility that didn’t completely meet my expectations.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, but considering how spectacular the rest of the hotel is, I expected something a little more impressive. The design felt relatively simple compared to the rest of the property.
On the other hand, the fitness centre was excellent. It’s one of the better-equipped hotel gyms I’ve come across in China, and the staff were exceptionally friendly and welcoming throughout my visit.
Beyond the facilities themselves, simply walking through the hotel is an experience. Between the artwork, luxurious interiors and incredible views, it often feels more like visiting a gallery than a traditional luxury hotel.
Summary and Rates
J Hotel Shanghai delivered exactly what I had hoped for—and then some.
Yes, it’s a luxurious hotel with beautiful rooms, excellent service and impressive facilities. But what truly makes it special is the experience of staying inside one of the world’s tallest buildings.
From watching Shanghai transform throughout the day from my room, to exploring restaurants high above the city and simply taking in the views whenever I walked through the hotel, this felt like far more than just another luxury stay.
The swimming pool may not have lived up to the incredibly high standards set by the rest of the property, but that’s a very small criticism in what was otherwise an unforgettable experience.
If you’re looking for one of the most unique hotels in the world rather than simply another five-star property, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend J Hotel Shanghai Tower.
One caveat worth knowing
One thing worth knowing before booking is that the spectacular views from room come with a small compromise.
Because of Shanghai Tower’s distinctive double-skin glass façade, you can’t stand directly against the window for a completely unobstructed view. There’s a second layer of glass outside the room, which slightly changes the perspective.
It’s an architectural feature of the building rather than a flaw of the hotel, and the views are still breathtaking—but it’s something I wasn’t expecting before my stay.
Experience the Hotel in Motion
Click play to watch a short video tour showcasing the property’s atmosphere and key highlights.
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