72 Best Hotels in Beijing, China

Soaring 22 stories into the air, the DoubleTree is a solid hotel with perks that compensate for its out-of-the-way location, frorm the warm chocolate-chip cookies in the lobby to the alluring oasis of the terraced outdoor swimming pool. More pluses include the bright and modern guest rooms and the well-stocked gym. On the debit side, the dining options are not exactly spectacular, and the hotel's location is a little off the beaten track (but there are usually enough taxis on hand to ensure that neither is much of an issue).

One step beyond the striking Moon Gate doorway of this 18th-century hutong home—once owned by the Minister of the Imperial Household to Emperor Xianfeng (1860)—and you're transported, thanks to swaying bamboos, flickering lanterns, blazing red walls, and a chic lobby, to a nobleman's courtyard house. Each of the six guest rooms has its own unique look, from the ancient Chinese four-poster beds and tints of gold in "The Imperial," to the rich red, old-Shanghai feel of "The Peony Pavilion," to the sheer drama of the "Golden Lotus," with black-glass chandeliers and shimmering lotus mural. The emphasis on design means that much of the furniture and decorative pieces at Du Ge were custom-made (and can be bought from them). The availability of French wine and Cuban cigars, along with the small bar in the courtyard, add to the contemporary feel. The room rate includes an airport pickup service, refreshments, and bicycles.

Lauded for its lovely rooftop bar with views over the Forbidden City, the Emperor's has a traditional exterior that belies guest rooms seemingly inspired by the film 2001: A Space Odyssey: minimalist white decor, sunken beds with tube pillows, lozenge-like sofas, and minibars that rise up from concealed cabinets. The effect is rather sterile, but at least the hotel sits on a tree-lined avenue among traditional temples and houses, making it a tranquil spot in the middle of a fast-evolving metropolis.

Glowing inside and out in rich shades of bronze and gold, the Fairmont Beijing, close to the Silk Market and the diplomatic district surrounding Ritan Park, stays just on the right side of tasteful, with guest rooms that mix marble floors and deep carpets, Japanese tech toilets, bathtub TVs, iPod players and a pillow menu. The Cut restaurant serves some of the finest (and priciest) steaks in the city, and the hotel's Wellstream Spa, located on the futuristic-sounding "skybridge," is a fine spot for posh pampering.

One of the largest garden-style hotels in Asia, the Friendship Hotel was built in 1954 to house foreigners (mostly Soviets) who had come to help rebuild the nation; these days, it relies more on tour groups and those who need to be close to the university area. It remains far removed from most sights, and many of its rooms, done in a traditional Chinese style, are in need of a redo and more up-to-date furnishings. Facilities include restaurants, a swimming pool, and a driving range. Building #1 is the most comfortable and up to date, and more expensive.

Housed in a redbrick Bauhaus factory building in Beijing's 798 art district, this stylish boutique hotel mixes French-colonial and art deco touches, with contemporary artworks dotted throughout the stylish guest rooms, which range from boxy singles to spacious suites with freestandng tubs. There are few more attractive hotels in the city, and its location places you directly inside one of the capital's most creative hubs, where there are world-class galleries, art shops, and style-conscious cafés to explore.

On the north side of Chang'an Avenue, and adjoining the ritzier Raffles, the Grand offers a decent blend of luxury and comfort without the international brand price tag. The classic Chinese gateway at the hotel's entrance is a nice touch, and Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City are a short hop away. If you want to splash out, book the Emperor suite and prepare for an extravaganza of antique carved furniture, landscape scrolls, and fiercely carved wooden room dividers. A range of dining options is at hand (note: the non-Chinese food isn't up to snuff) but you also should plan to enjoy sunsets on the terrace bar, which has an impressive vista of the Forbidden City (only from May through October, from 5 to 9:30 pm). The breakfast buffet is recommended.

Deep in the heart of the Central Business District, this glass tower is a well-appointed business hotel with smart, unassuming guest rooms and a top-notch pool and gym. Though there's little that's visually exciting, and service standards can vary, the facilities are all modern, and Yao Chi's open kitchen is a tasty little option for those in search of dinner and a culinary show.

This two-bedroom rental cottage is part of a project that offers gorgeous self-catering stays in remote villages around the Great Wall; Grandma's Place is the pick of the bunch, created using stones salvaged from Ming and Qing Dynasty structures, as well as massive beams from an old village house, with a cozy, traditional kang—a brick bed heated from beneath—and a very private fruit garden and terrace that provides jaw-dropping views of the Great Wall. There are two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, wireless broadband, a kitchen, and laundry facilities. The Brickyard Hotel, also by the Schoolhouse brand, offers more rooms with Great Wall views nearby.

One of the oldest luxury hotels in Beijing, the Great Wall Sheraton is still going strong because of its popularity with tour groups. The guest rooms are comfortable but dated, and the top-floor restaurant has pleasing city views and dishes up some decent Sichuan and Cantonese food. Note that the service throughout can be a little uneven.

At one of the elder statesmen of the city's hospitality scene, good deals can be had. Despite smaller than average rooms and some aging decor, it has several fine pluses: an assured staff that is always helpful; excellent restuarants, including One East, serving upscale North American and European cuisine; and one of the liveliest hotel bars in town (with an extensive wine list). Guest rooms are clean and modern (if rather simple), and the pleasing health center is a real asset. Though some distance from the sights, it's convenient for the airport and the nightlife of Sanlitun.

The number of worthwhile hotels next to Beijing's airport has flourished in recent years, and the Hilton doesn't disappoint, with surprisingly good restaurants considering the lack of passing trade, and plush, soundproofed rooms decked out in cozy deep-red wood accents. Sure, given the hotel's distance from the main swell of the city, your stay here is likely to be somewhat of a brief encounter, but you're unlikely to leave disappointed. The extensive business and conference facilities mark this Hilton as a spot for business events, trade exhibitions, and transit passengers, rather than leisurely loungers. A handy shuttle bus (five minutes from T3; 15 minutes from T2) ferries guests to and from the polished hotel.

This boutique courtyard hideaway claims to have once served as a rehearsal space for Imperial musicians during the Ming Dynasty; renovated rooms wrap around an attractive old courtyard and feature antique pieces, comfy beds with feather duvets, and the usual Western comforts. A pair of suites have freestanding tubs, sofas, and a good deal more space. A roof terrace (above the breakfast room) kitted out with lounge chairs comes with nice views of the surrounding low-rise hutong neighborhood.

Attached to Parkview Green, Beijing’s most artsy and upscale shopping mall, this playfully ultraluxe option has "lagoon" suites with their own private swimming pools, and a fabulous art collection that includes original works by Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. Guest rooms are tricked out with some impressive comforts and hip lifestyle gadgets (3D TVs, Japanese toilets), and some come with fully equipped kitchens and prestocked fridges. All suites come with personal butler service, and though dining in the hotel itself is limited, Parkview Green has an excellent and varied selection of restaurants, including a new "express" edition of the legendary Dadong that serves some of the city’s best Peking duck.

Designed by Studio Pei Zhu (who also worked on the Olympics), this minimalist-style offering helped kick-start the boutique hotel movement in Beijing—it has large, design-conscious guest rooms, internal courtyards enclosed in glass, and bamboo and pebble gardens, as well as a quirky exterior lattice wrapped around the entire building. Though showing signs of wear and tear, it remains in a fabulous location for sightseeing (a few blocks from the East Gate of the Forbidden City), the service is friendly enough, and the price is right.

A bewildering array of restaurants, bars, and lounges coupled with spacious, well appointed guest rooms means this popular Chinese business hotel deserves even wider recognition. The public areas are impressive, adorned with Dragon Empress carved dividers, gigantic lanterns, sofa fabrics that could be satin ceremonial robes, and gigantic smiling Buddhas; or you can opt for the more modern lounges, often grand spaces made cozy with sofas, tasseled velvet cushions, and fine teak furnishings. Topped by a revolving restaurant, this 28-story tower has high ambitions. From the spacious Basic rooms to the Superior suites, they're all done out in a low-key but tranquil style. The Kunlun isn't too far from the clubs of Sanlitun.

The spacious rooms at this well-appointed business hotel show hints of traditional Chinese art. It's smart, smooth and comfortable—think of this place as an exercise in corporate chic (apt considering this InterContinental is in the heart of Financial Street), including a 24-hour business center, plus an indoor pool, spa, and state-of-the-art fitness center rounding out a perfect package for traveling executives. Try are sizzling steaks at the Steak Exchange and excellent buffet meals in the café.

One of Beijing's first modern hotels, Jianguo was built in 1982 as an exact replica of the Palo Alto Holiday Inn, with direct dialing from rooms and other innovations (for the time). Diplomats, journalists, and business executives aplenty took advantage, and it’s still going strong today thanks to friendly service and close proximity to the conference facilities of the more expensive China World Hotel a block away. Nearly half the guest rooms have balconies (although most overlook a noisy road) and it's too bad that the gym and pool lack a modern touch, but the courtyard gardens in the back are a nice addition.

As you might expect at one of Beijing's older luxury hotels, the guest rooms and bathrooms are pokier than current top-end expectations, but the JW makes up for it in the details: immaculate service, elegant public areas, fabulous dining (including a branch of the world-famous sushi destination Nobu), and some of the city's best high-end shopping in nearby Shin Kong Place.

One of the capital's older luxury hotels, the Kempinski could stand to give its guest rooms a refresh, but the facilities remain first-rate thanks to a well-equipped gym, easy access to shopping in the attached Lufthansa Center, and plenty of dining opportunities. The likeable Kempi Deli is always popular at lunchtime for its excellent European pastries and sandwiches, and the microbrews at the Paulaner Brauhaus are a draw even to revelers in the nearby Sanlitun neighborhood.

This Shangri-La owned stalwart entices with its stylish Centro Bar, excellent all-day Kerry’s Kitchen, and top-of-the-range health club that has a play area for kids. Called Adventure Zone, it’s kitted out with slides, a play village, and a supervised toddler zone. The service remains impeccable throughout, and the guest rooms have been spruced up to new levels of business chic.

The faux European spectacle that is the Legendale screams nouveau riche, but this château-like hotel, with its sparkling chandeliers, gilded staircase, and Parisian fireplace in the lobby, is genuinely comfortable and luxurious. Looming over some of the city's best-preserved hutongs, the hotel has enormous guest rooms with acres seemingly devoted to boiserie (carved-wood) panels, Oriental carpets, and brocaded fabrics (all in rich blues, golds, and burgundies). Guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining, with Camoes offering Macanese and Portuguese cuisine; Petrus, a French restaurant with a large wine collection; and Macao focusing on Chinese fare.

In a leafy northeastern suburb of Beijing lies Lido Place, an enormous commercial and residential complex in which you'll find the Metropark Lido as well as a British-style pub, a Tex-Mex joint, and a buffet restaurant that makes this feel like Anywheresville. While this is a world away from the bustle of "real Beijing," the area's quieter roads and tree-lined streets make it a family-friendly alternative. It's a decent price for a comfortable stay, and especially handy if you want to be closer to the airport.

The Minzu was built in 1959 as one of Mao's "Ten Great Buildings" to celebrate a decade of the People's Republic—this paean to China's unity has welcomed many dignitaries over the years, but with the rise in the number of luxury hotels around Beijing, the hotel no longer attracts any significant visitors, and the only reason to stay here—other than price—is if you have business in the area. A lack of international brand recognition means it lies slightly off the usual tourism radar, despite its location near western Chang'an Jie, relatively close to Tiananmen Square.

This Japanese-run hotel deserves praise for its crisp service and a great downtown location that makes it a reliable middle-ground for businessmen and (largely Japanese) tour groups alike; rooms are modern and crisp, plus the hotel overlooks a delightful garden where guests can participate in morning exercises. A decent Japanese restaurant ensures that diners aren't sold short. It's also accessible for people with disabilities, which isn't always the norm for Beijing.

This tower of shimmering glass has rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that afford decent views, but, other than that, there's nothing spectacular here: service is fairly basic and the ambience is decidedly low-key; the big plus is the surrounding area, with plenty of shops and restaurants nearby (as well as Wangfujing and Tiananmen Square), making it a solid base at a good price for the location. Be warned, however, that some rooms have been updated while others have not, so ask to be put in the newer part of the hotel. For dinner you could opt for one of the three Chinese restaurants—or Le Cabernet, a French-style brasserie—but our vote would be to head out into the street to try one of the many restaurants found in this bustling neighborhood.

Hidden behind the swankier Regent on Beijing's glitziest avenue, this popular mid-range option, especially good for first-time visitors to the city, has clean and compact rooms with decent-sized bathrooms, English TV channels, a pleasant tree-shaded garden, and a fantastic location close to the Forbidden City and Wangfujing. There's a Starbucks opposite and a selection of great restaurants, including the famed Peking duck eatery Dadong, within walking distance. Dining in the hotel isn't recommended; the breakfast buffet, with omelets made to order, is a little pricey for the quality.

This comfortable, good-looking mid-range hotel offers modern facilities wrapped up in a slick, business-friendly package; it's close to the Temple of Heaven and Pearl Market, and surrounded by shopping malls. The immediate area isn't much to look at, but a subway nearby will whisk you away to Beijing's beauty spots in no time.