The Japanese-managed Okura's 33-story luxury tower rises above the Neoclassical splendor of the old Cercle Sportif Francais's facade and the Art Deco flourishes of its interior. Built in 1926, the old French Sports Club now serves as the site of the lobby level of the Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai (Shanghai Huayuan Fandian).
The modern tower blends surprisingly well with the old building, carrying Deco interior decorative notes throughout the hotel, all the way up to the 33rd floor's Sky Bar and restaurants (five-star Japanese and French).
The Okura also inherited lush gardens from the old Cercle Sportif, whose lawns, paths and a large fountain provide an elegant respite from the busy city all around.
Within easy walking distance of two Shanghai Metro Lines (Lines 1 & 10) and the major shopping streets of Huaihai Zhong Lu (Middle Huaihai Road) and Nanjing Zhong Lu (Middle Nanjing Road), the Okura Garden rises above the heart of the former French Concession, where gleaming modern highrises mix with traditional lane houses and Jazz Age villas and Art Deco apartment blocks. Today, the area is known for its eclectic mix of restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs and shops.
Along with the luxury French and Japanese restaurants atop the Okura tower, the Rose Cafe, housed in the old French Club, recreates a feel of 1920s-era glamour and is an excellent spot for a drink, coffee, tea and a snack.