Beijing is a city where ancient traditions meet modern dynamism. And one of the best places experience this dynamic dichotomy is from the comforts of Forbes Travel Guide’s exceptional Star-Rated hotels. From the imperial grandeur of the Forbidden City to the sleek skyscrapers of the Central Business District, China’s capital city offers a captivating blend of old and new. Be it Beijing’s historical treasures, culinary delights or vibrant arts scene, choosing the right hotel can ensure an unforgettable experience.
Whether you seek longtime favorites or hot newcomers, you can trust Forbes Travel Guide’s exclusive list — we have been rating hotels since 1958 using an objective and independent process. To find the best hotels in Beijing, our incognito inspectors posed as ordinary guests and stayed multiple nights at each property. The inspectors tested hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, which accounts for 70% of a property’s rating. The remaining 30% comes from the quality and condition of the facilities. FTG does not require a business relationship from the properties it rates, and it does not earn a commission if you book one of the following hotels.
Five-Star Hotels
Bvlgari Hotel Beijing is an oasis of calm and Italian style in the buzzing city. With interiors by famed Italian firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, this hotel overlooking the leafy Chaoyang district blends contemporary design with classic luxury, utilizing warm natural earth tones and imported premium leather, wood and marble throughout. Read more.
Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing
Whether you want to take in Wangfujing (one of the city’s most famous shopping streets) or soak up the grandeur of an ancient imperial palace, Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing has a location to rival all others.
There’s a world of wonders to soak up inside the high-end hotel, too, from a Zen-like spa to extra spacious accommodations affording views of the Forbidden City. Read more.
One of the city’s longest-running luxury hotels, The Peninsula Beijing, has operated for more than three decades. A pair of works by avant-garde ink painter Qin Feng gazes out over acres of pearlescent white marble in the stunning lobby, encircled by designer boutiques and the setting for Earl Grey and scones with clotted cream for the trademark Peninsula Afternoon Tea. Still, it’s in the gorgeous guest rooms and suites where things feel the most palatial. Read more.
Four-Star Hotels
If you’re looking for a tranquil setting in the sprawling city, visit Aman Summer Palace. Aman features airy, luxurious suites surrounding a scenic garden courtyard. Head to one of the hotel’s four dining options, which includes a Japanese restaurant serving French kaiseki fare in an open kitchen. For ultimate relaxation, retreat to Aman’s spa. Read more.
Conrad Beijing is in the heart of Beijing’s Chaoyang area. The 29-story tower, which was designed by acclaimed Chinese architect Ma Yansong, features a futuristic façade that was inspired by the framework of nerve tissue and has thoroughly modern interiors to match. The 289 guest rooms sport a soothing palette, sleek furnishings, marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and floor-to-ceiling windows. Read more.
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing was designed to impress. All of the guest room corridors overlook a 20-story inner atrium, with an astonishing wall of 400 stainless-steel butterflies from Australian artist Jayne Dyer stretching up to the sky. Elegantly attired accommodations are furnished with state-of-the-art technology, bathtubs with city views and clever architecture. Read more.
Regent Beijing delivers a contemporary setting with Asian flair. Rooms are decorated in deep aubergine and gold and have massive windows, duvet-topped beds and marble-clad bathrooms with deep-soaking tubs. A spacious indoor pool and extensive fitness center with yoga studios keep guests fit. The hotel’s upscale Chinese restaurant, Lei Garden, is considered a top spot for Cantonese cuisine. Read more.
One of two Ritz-Carltons in Beijing, this exceptional address in the Chaoyang district represents the Old World charm associated with the luxury hotel brand. The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing’s classic appeal is displayed in the marble foyer’s fresh flowers and the English manor-inspired lounge. Inside the spacious guest rooms, you’ll also find memorable touches, such as a Chinese-style teapot and complimentary tea to enjoy before bed. Read more.
With a deep understanding of Chinese culture and modern luxury, Rosewood Beijing blends the two seamlessly into a sophisticated yet comfortable property in Beijing’s Central Business District. From the airy atrium to the intimate guest rooms, the lush hotel feels like a magnificent version of the traditional hutong courtyards that remain a signature trait of China’s capital city. Read more.
Though Beijing is several time zones from New York, a link exists between the Big Apple’s grande dame and Waldorf Astoria Beijing. A Qing Dynasty viceroy named Li Hongzhang was purportedly Waldorf Astoria New York’s first Chinese guest back in 1896, so it’s fitting that the hotel’s location (in the heart of upscale Wangfujing) is as close as possible to the site of Li’s former Beijing residence. Read more.
Recommended Hotels
China World Summit Wing, Beijing
The Beijing hotel boasts a sleek design, efficient service and luxurious rooms, all offering enchanting vistas in addition to the chic Asian-inspired décor, which includes murals of mountains behind the headboards and lots of exquisite dark wood furniture. The Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel also showcases a selection of top-notch restaurants and one of the largest selections of teas in the city. Read more.
The 222-room Fairmont Beijing strikes a stylish note in the city’s Central Business District with its hard-to-miss rose gold glass facade and bridge-shaped structure. Just a few blocks from Soho and a 10-minute drive from the commercial and retail Wangfujing district, the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel provides a range of leisure amenities, dining options and an excellent executive club. Read more.
InterContinental Beijing Beichen
Modern and convenient, InterContinental Beijing Beichen makes any trip to China’s bustling capital as seamless as possible. This international luxury hotel is a stone’s throw from Beijing’s Olympic Village and China National Convention Center, and just a 30-minute drive to Beijing International Airport, proving it to be a popular choice with business travelers and leisure seekers alike. Read more.
InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun
InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun has become essential to the capital’s vibrant Sanlitun shopping, nightlife and entertainment district. The iconic narrow building is impossible to miss as a shimmering and pulsating LED light show dances across its facade, each light panel arranged in a repeating hexagonal diamond motif that calls to mind an elongated honeycomb. Read more.
The 486-room Kerry Hotel, Beijing is conveniently in the city’s Central Business District and accessible to the adjacent China World shopping center via an enclosed skybridge. An onyx and white marble floor sets the stage in the lobby, with crystal chandeliers and a golden cloud of sculptural butterflies hanging above the living room-style furnishings. Read more.
Beijing’s PuXuan Hotel and Spa earns as many raves for its outside appearance as it does for all its interior splendor. The building’s traffic-halting cube shape was renowned German architect Ole Scheeren’s conception. Its glass façade resembling brick walls pays homage to the city’s traditional hutongs. This juxtaposition of customary styles and contemporary execution is eye-catching. Read more.
The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street
There’s a lot to love about this business-focused hotel, one of two Ritz-Carlton properties in Beijing. The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street is housed in a sleek high-rise near the Season’s Place shopping mall that sits at the center of the city’s banking and business district. Rooms are large (most are more than 500 square feet), contemporary and adorned with masculine touches. Read more.
The grand dame of Beijing hotels, the elegant St. Regis Beijing delivers white-glove service from arrival to departure. The concierge staff is adept at arranging car services or tours and can steer you to the city’s best shops and restaurants. Twice-daily butler service keeps the rooms sparkling, from fresh flowers in the bedroom to fluffy, high-quality towels in the marble-clad bathrooms. Read more.
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