11 Best Hotels in Beijing, China

Occupying a third of the original Grand Hotel de Pekin complex (with Raffles and the Grand Hotel the other tenants), this venerable hotels retains a modicum of old-world charm, its impressive lobby and enviable location next to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square making up for the rather outmoded decor. Grandees and high rollers have stayed here since it opened around the turn of the 20th century—Nixon was a guest on his historic visit, and China's long-time premier Zhou Enlai lived and worked in room #1735. The guest rooms, many adorned with classically French touches, are comfortable enough but overdue for a spruce-up.

Once placing high on lists of top Beijing hotels, this place now does opulence in a rather unsubtle way—gold highlights in the lobby; marble tubs in the luxe rooms; high-priced fine dining—but it still just about lives up to its look: the service is slick, the restaurants are very good (Aria, serving contemporary European cuisine, is particularly special), and the attached mall/cinema is a welcome escape. It's no surprise that during conferences and exhibitions, business travelers pack its modern, well-appointed rooms.

Occupying the upper floors of Beijing's tallest building, the business-chic Summit Wing offers knee-trembling views from its luxurious guest rooms—if you need a drink to steady your nerves, the excellent 80th-floor cocktail bar makes a perfect Old Fashioned. Guest rooms average 700 square feet, each with complimentary broadband Internet access, 40-inch flat-screen TVs, bathroom LCD televisions, iPod docking stations, and Nespresso coffee machines. The 25-meter (82-foot) infinity pool on the 78th floor might just be the highlight of your trip.

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.

Even the most modest "deluxe" rooms at the Four Seasons Beijing come with state-of-the-art tech, bathtubs with city views, and clever architecture that seems to amplify the already generous 46 square meters (500 square feet) of living space. Overlooking the embassies of the United States and Japan, Four Seasons Beijing occupies a business-minded part of the city. The see-and-be-seen Italian and Chinese restaurants, Mio and Cai Yi Xuan, here could be destinations in their own right, and the serene internal tea garden matches the tranquil bliss of the spa that surrounds it. The megabar EQUIS is a lacquered nightlife destination for the rich and beautiful of the city. This level of quality and service comes at quite a cost, of course, but if you enjoy the finer things in life and are OK with paying dealy for them, you'll feel right at home.

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.

Even the smallest rooms at this big-brand boutique-style hotel come with walk-in wardrobes, freestanding tubs, and six-head showers, and if you can stand the very bachelor-pad brown and slate interiors, you'll reap the benefits of being just a stroll from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Standards of service and comfort are as you'd expect from the brand, and west-facing rooms on floor 10 or higher even come with Forbidden City views. The hotel opened in 2008 for the Olympics, and by now the rooms are showing the odd sign of wear and tear, but it's still a great option, especially for first-timers to the city. The Fizztastic champagne brunch, held every Sunday, is certainly worth a splurge. Breakfast at Vascos is a bright, sunny affair with excellent home baked pastries.

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.

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.

Guests enjoy an impressive combination of modern facilities and traditional luxury, and though rooms are a little small for this sort of hotel, they're superlatively appointed, with teak and rosewood flooring, colorful rugs, and high-tech touches like custom bedside control panels to adjust lighting, temperature, and the flat-screen TVs. The service is excellent, as is the spa. Yun Bar, on the roof, is a lovely spot for sundowner cocktails in clear weather. Get in some exercise in the fully equipped gym the swimming pool, or a 10-minute walk to the Forbidden City.

In the heart of the Sanlitun nightlife district and designed by the famed architect Kengo Kuma, this exemplar of 21st-century China has a huge atrium and contemporary art in the stunning lobby, plus spacious and warm guest rooms kitted out with natural wood and Scandi-Asian minimalist chic. The modern and uncluttered style extends to the casually dressed staff, who employ every effort to make you feel right at home. Technology is strongly embraced, too, from the iPad check-in service (no boring front desks here) to the touch-panel lighting and Bose speakers for your iPod in the rooms. Due to the hotel's location, many of Beijing's best bars and restaurants are right on your doorstep; as a result, however, traffic here is some of the worst in the city.