7 Places To Stay in Beijing For Luxury-Loving Culture Seekers

Right around the corner from EAST Beijing you’ll find the fascinating 798 Arts District, a Bauhaus-style military complex packed with cutting-edge contemporary galleries. The hotel is also located inside one of the city’s finest luxury shopping malls, Indigo, where you can browse big name designer brands and unique Chinese boutiques. Don’t miss the heated pool on the hotel’s fourth floor, which offers brilliant views of Beijing’s skyline through bay windows.

Expertly combining contemporary and traditional styles, The Opposite House embodies elegance. Delve into the art of tea by working your way through the extensive menu at UNION Bar, or experience Chinese fine dining at Jing Yaa Tang. You’ll find dishes inspired by the delectable Beijing roast duck on the menu, plus an excellent unlimited dim sum deal.

Taking cultural places to stay to the next level, Hotel Eclat combines luxury accommodation with an actual museum. Their ‘hotel museum’ concept contains more than 100 pieces of art, including sculptures by Western artists such as Dalí and Andy Warhol alongside prominent Chinese artists like Fan Xiaoyang. Once you’ve browsed the art, settle in for an evening watching Blu-Ray DVDs – which you can choose from the hotel’s library – on your in-room 3D TV.

If you’ve ever wished you could spend a few nights in an ancient Chinese palace, this hotel is the closest you’ll ever get. The atmosphere at Cours Et Pavillions is calming, traditional and contemplative, thanks to the abundance of antique furniture, pottery and artwork from the Qing and Ming dynasties dotted throughout. In rooms you’ll find plenty of jewel-hued rugs and elaborately carved wood, paired with all the mod-cons you would expect of a luxury hotel.

Chao is more than just a hotel. A stay here gives you admission to the exclusive Clubhouse where you can meet like-minded people and have access to the excellent roster of exhibitions and events. As for the hotel itself, the ultra-modern space feels almost like an art gallery. Everything from the bar and restaurant to the gym and library has a refined industrial aesthetic and rooms are filled with entirely custom made furniture. Guest rooms have been just as thoughtfully put together, and contain extras like a collection of artisanal teas and a home bar stocked with everything you need to shake up your favourite cocktails.

Located at the edge of Houhai Lake, Vue Hotel Houhai is surrounded by lush and calming greenery – a rarity in a metropolis like Beijing. It’s hard to pinpoint the hotel’s style. Architecturally traditional, inside is decidedly contemporary, with clever asymmetrical interior design and art installations themed around the “transcendence of Chinese culture” dotted throughout. Dining options are diverse and international, encompassing Spanish tapas, a rooftop bar and a French-style bakery. To combine these myriad styles shouldn’t work, but Vue Hotel does it effortlessly.

Rosewood Beijing was the brand’s first hotel to open in China, and efforts were clearly made to incorporate the country’s culture into the atmosphere of the property. Rooms are incredibly modern and spacious, with muted tones, angular furniture and accessories like art, books and traditional ornaments. The restaurants, however, are where the hotel shines. Book at table at The House of Dynasties where everything – from the dining room decor to the plates – represent ancient eras of Chinese history and where the menu champions classic Cantonese cuisine. Red Bowl, on the other hand, is all about the generations-old Chinese tradition of sharing meals, and the authentic hot pot is a must-try while staying.