Staying Weeks or Months in Shanghai?
8 Serviced Apartments with Real Kitchens, Laundry and Room to Live

If you need to be in Shanghai for two to four weeks and want to feel like you actually live somewhere rather than hotel-hopping — Ascott Huai Hai Road makes the case clearly. 9.3/10 from 2,100+ verified guest reviews, positioned in the French Concession, the neighbourhood most long-stay guests rate as the city's most liveable. Every unit has a full kitchen and in-unit laundry. South Shaanxi Road (Lines 1/10) is a 5–8 minute walk, putting the entire metro network at your feet. Guests who've stayed for extended periods consistently say the same thing: "after week two it genuinely felt like home." The honest note: Studio rates start around ¥800/night — higher than the mid-range options below, but Ascott's monthly rate is meaningfully lower and includes utilities.

If your work keeps you on the Pudong side and you want to start the day making your own coffee while the Huangpu River fills the window — Fraser Suites Top Glory is the clearest answer here. 9.1/10 from 1,800+ verified guest reviews, positioned in Lujiazui where IFC Mall and Shanghai Tower are a walkable distance. Every unit has a full kitchen and in-unit laundry and runs noticeably larger than a standard hotel room in the same district. Guests staying for extended assignments consistently mention how useful the workspace setup is: "big desk, fast Wi-Fi, and not having to go out for every meal made it very easy to focus." Honest note: if your work is entirely in Puxi, you'll need to cross the river by metro — around 10 minutes on Line 2.

Somerset Xu Hui speaks to families and longer-assignment professionals who want a neighbourhood that functions as a real place to live, not just a base for commuting. 9.0/10 from 2,500+ verified guest reviews — the highest review volume among the 4-star picks here. Two-Bedroom units at 100 sqm give enough space to have a separate workspace without feeling cramped, and the children's pool and playground remove the constant "where do the kids go?" calculation. The Xuhui neighbourhood has international schools and Ole/City'Super for imported groceries within an easy walk. The honest note: Xu Jia Hui Hub is an 8–10 minute walk — not quite door-to-door metro, and the Bund is further than from a central Puxi hotel.

Ascott IFC operates at a different level from everything else here. 9.2/10 from 900 verified guest reviews, positioned literally inside IFC Tower — one of Lujiazui's landmark buildings. You walk from Line 2 metro through IFC Mall to the lobby without going outside. Units start at 55 sqm with Huangpu River and Pudong skyline views; full Ascott 5-star service throughout. It ranks fourth rather than first because the review base of 900 is noticeably lower than Ascott Huai Hai (2,100), and the nightly rates are the highest in this guide. Honest note: this is a corporate-budget property. For individuals or small teams on a controlled budget, the value equation tips toward Ascott Huai Hai or Somerset Xu Hui.

Oakwood Residence Jing'an is the strongest pick for remote workers and mid-length professional stays — people who want a neighbourhood they can actually enjoy rather than just commute from. 8.8/10 from 1,600+ verified guest reviews in Jing'an, which arguably has the best independent café culture in Shanghai. Full kitchen and in-unit laundry in every unit. Jing'an Temple station (Lines 2/7) is a 5–8 minute walk — Line 2 takes you straight across the city to People's Square or Lujiazui without changing. Guests on extended stays say the same thing: "walked out, found three great coffee shops within 100 metres, felt at home immediately." Honest note: the 8.8 score — lower than the Ascott and Fraser entries above — partly reflects reviews mentioning service that doesn't quite match the 4-star billing on all fronts.

Fraser Residence Jing'an is the balance point of this guide — 8.6/10 from 2,200+ verified guest reviews, and a noticeably more accessible rate than Fraser Suites Top Glory in Lujiazui, while keeping the same full kitchen, in-unit laundry and Fraser brand standard. Jing'an Temple station (Lines 2/7) is a 5-minute walk. Guests on extended stays say it hits the sweet spot: "reasonable for a long stay, kitchen works properly, and the neighbourhood means I don't feel stuck in a business tower every evening." Honest note: the 8.6 score partly reflects reviews mentioning décor that's beginning to date — not broken, but noticeable against newer builds.

Citadines Biyun is the right call for professionals whose offices are in Pudong CBD but who want a quieter, cheaper residential base than Lujiazui proper. 8.4/10 from 1,900+ verified guest reviews. The Biyun district is one of Shanghai's long-established expat communities — Western restaurants, Japanese grocery stores, international schools and a slower pace than the glass-tower core. Every unit has a full kitchen and in-unit laundry, and the pool and gym are included. The honest note: Line 6 connects Biyun to Lujiazui in around 20 minutes, but it's not the city's most direct line — changing trains is usually needed to reach Puxi.

Citadines Xinghai is the most honest pick for anyone on a constrained long-stay budget. 8.0/10 from 1,200 verified guest reviews, with nightly rates from ~¥450 and the best monthly rate in this guide. You still get a full kitchen and in-unit laundry — amenities that most equivalent-price apartments in Shanghai simply don't provide. The monthly rate here is built for international students, corporate relocations on tight budgets, and anyone whose office or university is in the Minhang area. It ranks last because the 8.0 score is the lowest here and it's the furthest from central Shanghai — Line 5 to Xinzhuang then Line 1 into the city takes 40–50 minutes including the transfer. Honest note: if you're sightseeing every day, this isn't convenient. If you're working locally and making occasional trips into the centre, it delivers on what it promises.