W Beijing
Staying true to the ideology behind W hotels, this hip and vibrant resort in Chaoyang provides its guest with a vast array of amenities and stellar service. You won't get bored staying here, that's for sure. Check out why.
Location: C-
A colorfully dark lobby separating the beautiful resort from its rather bland immediate surroundings.
This, and I have to be honest here, is the worst part about the resort. There really is nothing AT ALL within walking distance, and getting to it is rather difficult, whether you are walking from the subway station or coming in with a car. There are several other hotels in the area, including a Marriott and one of the only Japanese-branded hotel right next door. The historic city wall is just in front of the resort, but it isn't worth seeing except from the window of your room.
Rooms: A
View out over Beijing from the room
And to follow, the rooms are the best part. I only got the chance to see the standard room at the hotel, but it was seriously fantastic. The hotel is based on traditional Chinese principles, so everything is based off perfect shapes-specifically circles and squares. The room is incredibly bright and airy, with personalized mood lighting all around to curate your environment directly to your personal specifications. And, like I always need, the bathroom is home to a rain shower with the perfect amount of pressure-something that is a huge factor in my satisfaction with hotel rooms. If you're traveling as a couple, there really is no need to look any further than this standard room. A circular, stand-alone tub in the center of the room would no doubt lead to a good time. W hotels always follow a quirky, trendy interior design, and the W Beijing is no different, with the subtle twist of Chinese design principles incorporated within the well-known décor of the brand.
W Beijing's most basic level room-not bad! Very spacious, modern and artistically pleasing.
Dining: B
A bird cage filled with fantastic bites-seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ate (and I ate them all, don't worry)
I did not dine at any of the massive restaurants, but what I did get the chance to experience was the W Summer Tea Time, which they have every summer and follow a different theme every time. The theme for my summer tea time was inspired by the design of ZAOZUO design firm. I had a simple Earl Grey tea paired with a mimosa, because mimosa can be paired with anything, let's be honest. We were then served a dizzying array of dishes in a bird cage, which is a common Chinese household item. The dishes ranged from a tangy orange and shrimp dish to one of the best tiramisu's I have ever had. It is one of the most popular things at the W Beijing, and it is not hard to see why. Even if you don't stay at this hotel, by all means make your way here for some afternoon tea, which frankly could easily double as dinner.
A colorful clash of flavors and dishes that would be more than sufficient as a meal in it of itself!
No special access to the kitchen or anything here-just a *super* open kitchen design concept!
Kitchen, along with the rest of the W Beijing, follows the very Chinese style of symmetrical circles and rectangles throughout the restaurant.
The W has a massive restaurant called the Kitchen Table, and it is a gorgeous, not to mention massive restaurant. I can't comment on any of the dishes because I did not eat here, but I can tell you the décor is beautiful. Even though it is located underneath the lobby, the restaurant has high ceilings with the most open kitchen concept I have ever seen. Literally, there is no barrier between the dining room and the kitchen, which I loved. The only thing that bugged me was the cruise-ship-esque aesthetic where it was almost too cheesy and tacky. The restaurant has a large buffet in the center, but you can also order from the menu a la carte style. There is a small outdoor bar area, called the Beer Garden, which occupies a little courtyard beneath the resort and houses a bar, grassy area, and comfortable lounge areas.
Sunken below the ground level, this is the perfect spot to unwind with a Tsing Tao
Classic W design-fun and flirty, perfect for a night out at a bar in Beijing!
Finally, there is a bar at the top level of the resort overlooking the city and all I can say is that it looked totally cool. I just roamed around for a few minutes and enjoyed the fun, flirtatious décor for a few minutes, along with taking a look out over the city which I thoroughly enjoyed. There is also a club for those with the necessary status or rooms, but that did not seem very interesting in my opinion. Just a few chairs and drinks in a melted pool of ice water.
Amenities: B+
W hotels never disappoint when it comes to keeping guests entertained at their hotels. The amenities at the W Hong Kong was my favorite part of the hotel, as it had both one of the highest outdoor pools in the world and one of the best indoor pools in the world. The W Beijing may not be quite at the level of the W Hong Kong when it comes to amenities, but it definitely is not slacking by any means. This resort boasts a huge pool with stunning mosaic art and classic W trendy furniture creating a hip and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Beautiful pools are kind of a thing at Beijing hotel's (and they're all indoor), but the W Beijing boasts one of the city's most aesthetically pleasing places for a dip.
The gym at the hotel is solid, with a view out over the streets of Beijing. I had some fun with the punching bag, but did not engage with any of the other equipment. The W holds Tai-Chi and yoga classes as well if you want to get into the fitness culture of China (you can read more about that in my Shanghai blog posts).
Spacious and providing everything you need, the W Beijing has a solid gym (which woudld be valuable for me if, you know, I actually used gyms).
Service: B+
Catering to a diverse demographic, staff here are ready and available to help, regardless the language. Everyone was eager to say hi to me, from the spa receptionists to the lifeguard. No complaints here, but with that being said, there was also nothing quite over the top like you find at places such as the Ritz or Four Seasons.
All in all, the W Beijing Chang'an is one of the city's best choices if location is not of utmost importance. Thriving here is especially easy if you're traveling with your significant other, but no matter what, with all the amenities and dining options here, the W is one of the best places to see and be seen, whether it's overlooking the city at the rooftop bar or stuffing yourself with small bites during the summer afternoon tea.