We’re often asked by our food tour guests to recommend the best hotels in Beijing, so we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite places to stay. Not only are their reputations high, but it was important for us to choose hotels that were both English-friendly and offer some incredible dining options. On top of those critical components, we also want to recommend places that provide unique Beijing experiences and are conveniently located. We’ve heard from thousands of guests over years about their top stays, and compiled a list below, so among the hundreds of hotels in Beijing, here are our top 5 places to stay in Beijing:
Rosewood: Unforgettable Luxury.
Rosewood opened its doors in 2014 and since then has risen to become one of the top hotels in Beijing, providing guests with not only the most modern and scrupulously designed facilities but also comfort at the highest level. With over 250 rooms including personal spa rooms and suites, five different dining & bar options, and both modern and ancient Chinese paintings and sculptures in every corner, Rosewood Beijing can only be noted as one of a kind that pays homage not only to its brand, but also the city that it is located in. Any typical view from a room in the Rosewood would overlook the symbolic CCTV Tower and the ever-rising skyscrapers of Beijing’s central CBD area. Rosewood is also the only hotel in the city that offers spa suites for guests to enjoy a weekend staycation at the best hotel and spa retreat in the city.
As for dining, Rosewood has consistently been ranked as one of the best hotel dining options in Beijing, requiring at least three-day advance reservations for all four restaurants open to the public. Rosewood not only offers a sense of privacy and luxury for its guests but also provides the best restaurant service to the public. Bistrot B in its lobby as its signature restaurant, known for its a-la-carte styled French weekend brunch, represents Rosewood in its strive for excellence and attention to detail.
Where it’s located: close to GuoMao, central business district
Price: 4000-5000 RMB per night (~670 USD a night)
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Official website of The Rosewood Beijing
The Orchid: A Taste of Modern & Traditional Beijing.
Literally hidden inside the hutongs of Beijing, the Orchid represents the gem of hutong hospitality. The hutong, or alleyway, has come to represent the local life of Beijing since the Yuan dynasty, but nowadays some are becoming overly commercialized with shops and tourist attractions with few residents’ homes left. The Orchid’s approach is preservation. Although the Orchid is seen as a 100% upgrade from the dilapidated hutong houses, they still strive to give customers a sense of home and local life.
Usually, all 9 guest rooms of the Orchid are fully booked and its patio restaurant Toast is filled with guests. Unlike many hutong houses, each room inside the Orchid is equipped with its independent bathroom and shower, a front porch, and a large queen-sized bed all tidied up and cleaned on a daily basis. To give travelers a sense of Beijing local cuisine, the Orchid also offers dumpling making classes on Tuesday nights taught by the lovely Ms. Lu, also a manager at the Orchid, and comes with free flow of Canadian wine for only for 250 RMB per person. If guests are looking for a more independent Airbnb style hutong apartment, The Orchid also offers apartments near to the hotel with a full bathroom, living room, kitchen, bedroom, and patio. Of course, all guests at the Orchid will get a chance to enjoy the famous Toast by Orchid breakfast, offering a wide range of traditional western style breakfasts prepared with the freshest ingredients and made in a homey and exquisite manner.
Where it’s located: Nanluoguxiang, Old Drum Tower Area
Price: 1000-1500 RMB per night (~200 USD a night)
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Official website of The Orchid Beijing
The PuXuan Hotel and Spa: Modern Relaxation at the Foot of Forbidden City.
A remarkable and quiet retreat from the crowds of Beijing, the PuXuan is within walking distance of the Forbidden City right in the center of town. This boutique hotel is decorated to be ultra-modern with a zen-like Chinese flavor. The original art works, architecture and the interior design make an extremely relaxing ambiance for everyone who stays here.
Top amenities are provided here to provide the best staying experience one could only imagine. From sliding doors to automatic windows to adjustable lights, the list could go on and on to the tiniest detail. Needless to say that the bed is super comfortable for a dreamless night of sleep.
The PuXuan is equipped with both Chinese restaurants and western restaurants, all of which consistently deliver delicious fares. Though when we travel we usually like to scrub around the older parts of town, dining options, especially the local menus, at PuXuan are worth exploring for intrepid eaters.
Their exceptional location is perfect for people who like to see things on foot- TripAdvisor’s given them a 97/100 location score for walkers, with museums, theatres, subway stations, and 33 restaurants within a 5-minute walk. Close by is the Forbidden City, parks, and all the other major historical attractions in Beijing.
With everything said, what really sets the Puxuan apart with the other hotels in the culture of hospitality they’ve embedded in their staff and protocols. Mineral water is free and unlimited, with new big bottles being dropped off at your room daily. In colder months, a hot water bottle is placed in beds at 6:30 pm to warm them up ahead of time. The concierge and butler service is said to be unparalleled. We’ve even heard of staff bringing ginger teas or boxes of tissues up to guests when they notice the guest sneezing or with a sore throat. Nearly every review of theirs discusses the impressive service and careful attention they give to each guest. In China, where hospitality standards can often fall short of western expectations, this is no small feat.
Where it’s located: Wangfujing, central area
Price: 2000-3000 RMB (~360 USD a night)
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Official website of The PuXuan Hotel and Spa
The Opposite House: A Night in a Modern Art Museum.
When you first step into the Opposite House, you could mistake it for a MOMA-esque contemporary art museum situated in one of the newest and hottest areas of Beijing. Unlike traditional hotels, the Opposite House has broken nearly all boundaries and standards of a “proper” hotel. In the Opposite House’s front lobby, you will not find a concierge or a service desk, but rather a central atrium which houses ancient and modern artworks with an overwhelming layered hanging ceiling all designed under the hand of famous Japanese Architect Kenga Kuma. One can write an entire book about the intricate designs of the interior and exterior of The Opposite House, but according to the designer himself, he envisioned a space that was seamless, layered, and quiet. Amidst the noisy and crowded bars of Sanlitun, The Opposite House offers a tranquil counterpart for its guests to not only appreciate its artistic construction but also all the services they have to offer. The guest rooms offer a Japanese tatami style hospitality with its wooden floors, wooden bath, and large open space.
Meanwhile, the pool and event space show an entirely different side to Japanese art drawing influences from Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Rooms with infinite hanging neon lights as its ceiling and full glass windows to appreciate a dark room surrounded by dazzling lights. Almost more famous than the hotel itself are The Opposite House’s attached restaurants; the New York insta-famous style Village Café, the Beijing top-rated Chinese restaurant Jing Yaa Tang, and the Mediterranean fusion bar and restaurant Sureño.
Where it’s located: Sanlitun, close to embassy area, nightlife center of Beijing
Price: 1500-2000 RMB a night (~260 USD a night)
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Official website of The Opposite House
The Four Seasons
Like its internationally renowned name, the Four Seasons Hotel holds its reputation high in Beijing as well. Located in the beautiful international embassy district of Beijing, the Four Seasons Hotel is known as one of the newest and trendiest hotels in the neighborhood. In Beijing, almost everyone has heard of the Four Seasons Hotel, not just because of its brand, but also because of the quality service and dining they provide, and also the presence they have in the Beijing community.
With their 5-star Italian restaurant Mio, winner of countless local and international food awards, Four Seasons is the top tier of fine hotel dining in Beijing. Apart from Mio, Four Seasons recently opened up its brand new rooftop bar attracting not only guests but also bar-goers from all over Beijing. On top of that, the lobby bar at Four Seasons has a collection of gin with over 20 different labels, so not only can you get comfortable at Four Seasons but also boozy at the same time.
Where it’s located: Liangmaqiao embassy area
Price: 1000-1500 RMB (~160 USD) a night
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Official website of Four Seasons Beijing
From Peking duck to the humble dumpling, we have compiled a few of our favorite foreigner-friendly local restaurants in Beijing. Criteria for this list means they have menus with English and/or photos and serve authentic and stupid-delicious fare. This is your meal itinerary if you’re traveling through Beijing. Don’t just pick one, try them all.
Coffee culture isn’t strong (or native) in China, but these cafes in Beijing will have you thinking otherwise. Criteria for our list considered all of the following: good coffee, decent wifi, comfortable vibe, and clean bathrooms.
After three years, China is reopening its border to tourists, effective immediately! Based on what we’ve seen in other parts of the world post-pandemic, the best time to visit a reopened country is early – before all of the crowds return. We’ve got all the details you need to start planning your next trip to China…
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