Ascott IFC Shanghai — Living Above the IFC in Lujiazui, with a Sky Pool, River Views and a Full Kitchen
Not many serviced apartments in Shanghai let you step out of the lift and into one of the city's premier luxury malls without touching the outside air. Ascott IFC Shanghai does. Set inside the Shanghai IFC complex at 8 Century Avenue — arguably the most prestigious Pudong address there is — this five-star serviced residence holds a score of 9.2/10 from more than 900 real guest reviews, a smaller pool than volume hotels but one that reflects a consistently excellent guest experience. The property is known for three things that matter to long-stay travellers: a kitchen that is genuinely equipped, a sky pool that looks out over the Huangpu River toward the Bund, and metro Line 2 sitting directly beneath the building. This is the premium end of the serviced apartment market in Shanghai — the most expensive pick in our list, and the one with the address to justify it.
Picture waking up to a panoramic view of the Huangpu River and the Bund skyline, then taking the lift down to pick up groceries at City'super without stepping outside once. That is the daily rhythm guests describe at Ascott IFC Shanghai. The people who stay here are largely business travellers on month-long assignments, families who need a proper kitchen and enough room to breathe, and couples willing to pay for the best address in Lujiazui. The message in real reviews is consistent: no other serviced apartment in Pudong offers this combination of address, convenience and space.
Apartments come in three configurations. Studio Deluxe units run 55–65 square metres with a full kitchen, washer-dryer and a well-designed workspace, starting at approximately ¥1,400–1,800 (฿7,000–9,000) per night. One-bedroom apartments at 80–100 sqm (~¥1,900–2,600/night) add a separate living room and are the most popular choice for stays of a week or more. Two-bedroom apartments at 120–140 sqm (~¥2,800–4,000/night) accommodate families or small groups. Every category includes a full stainless-steel kitchen setup with induction hob, microwave, refrigerator and washer-dryer — the features that separate a serviced residence from a hotel room, and the reason guests on longer stays consistently mention how much they save on meals.
"Three weeks here for work — the location is excellent, the kitchen is genuinely well-equipped, City'super is downstairs for groceries, the sky pool view at sunset is remarkable, and the service was helpful throughout. Would return without hesitation."
The sky pool is the single feature guests mention most after the location itself. Set on one of the upper floors, it looks out across the Huangpu River toward the Bund, with the Oriental Pearl and Shanghai Tower framing the view to the left. The hour before sunset draws people out to the poolside with some regularity, and reviews consistently flag it as one of the better pool settings in Pudong. Beyond the pool, the Residents' Lounge — a well-sized, properly furnished room rather than a hotel lobby corner — works well for remote meetings or casual evenings in. The fitness centre is fully equipped and the 24-hour concierge desk handles everything from restaurant reservations to dry-cleaning.
The transit situation is as good as it gets in Pudong. Lujiazui metro station (Line 2) sits directly beneath the IFC and can be reached in three to five minutes walking through the mall without going outside. Line 2 runs west to People's Square (about 10 minutes), Nanjing Road and Jing'an, and east toward Hongqiao Railway Station, making both the Puxi tourist districts and the city's long-distance rail hub straightforward to reach. The Bund is directly across the river — ferry or taxi in about ten minutes. Pudong Airport connects via the Maglev or metro. Business travellers with Lujiazui-based meetings will find the walk to SWFC, Shanghai Tower and the financial district is measured in minutes.
On pricing, a Studio starts at approximately ¥1,400 (฿7,000) per night during quieter periods. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) — Shanghai's prime seasons — push Studio rates to ¥1,800–2,200, and one-bedroom units to ¥2,600 or above at peak. Golden Week in October and Lunar New Year carry the highest premiums. Ascott IFC is the most expensive pick in our eight-property list by a clear margin. Whether that is justified depends on what you are after: if Lujiazui is your base, if you need a real kitchen, and if the IFC mall access and sky pool matter to you, the premium is defensible. If you are coming for a couple of nights and want nightlife at the door, there are better-value options on the Puxi side.
The honest trade-off worth naming: Lujiazui is a business district and it quiets down significantly after 9 pm. The street-level restaurant and café culture that you find in Jing'an or the French Concession does not exist here in the same way. IFC Mall closes around 10 pm, City'super similar. If evening wandering, local noodle shops and lane-house café streets are important to your stay, you will need to take the metro across to Puxi, which takes around 15 minutes. That is not an inconvenience exactly — but it is worth knowing before you choose Ascott IFC over, say, the Ascott Huai Hai Road across the river.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ The best Lujiazui address available — inside the IFC with direct lift access to the mall, Apple Store and City'super
- ✓ Sky pool with Huangpu River and Bund views consistently praised in reviews
- ✓ Full kitchen and washer-dryer make this a genuine home base for stays of a week or more
- ✓ Attentive 24-hour concierge; staff receive positive mentions across reviews
- ! The most expensive option in the long-stay serviced apartment category — noticeably pricier than alternatives
- ! Lujiazui quiets down after dark; street-level dining and café culture is limited compared to Puxi
- ✓ An IFC address carries real prestige — practical for business and impressive for hosting colleagues or clients
- ✓ Residents' Lounge is properly sized and well-furnished — better than a hotel lobby corner for working or relaxing
- ✓ Line 2 metro directly below the building covers the whole city; Hongqiao station reachable without changing lines
- ✓ Apartments are genuinely larger than equivalent-tier hotel rooms, with space that does not feel cramped after a week
- ! Lujiazui has little street-level food and café culture compared to Jing'an or the French Concession
- ! Nightly rate is high; the full value is realised over five or more nights when the kitchen and laundry get consistent use
- 💡If value-for-money is your priority · Ascott IFC is the priciest of the eight — Studio rates start at ¥1,400 and climb to ¥2,500+ at peak · Fix → see Citadines Biyun or Fraser Residence in our list
- 💡If you want evening street life at the door · Lujiazui is a business district — quiet after 9 pm, minimal café lanes or local restaurants nearby · Fix → see Ascott Huai Hai Road (French Concession) or Somerset Xu Hui in our list
- 💡If you are only staying one or two nights · Serviced apartments earn their value over five nights or more, when the kitchen and laundry become genuinely useful · Fix → a Lujiazui hotel such as the Ritz-Carlton or Kerry Hotel may suit a short stay better