The five-day Labor Day holiday was just around the corner, and I thought, what better way to spend it than a staycation at the Four Seasons Hotel.
The Four Seasons Hotel is located in the embassy district, with restaurants and a shopping mall within walking distance.
As one of the more expensive hotels in Beijing, I had high expectations for it.
When I entered the lobby, the first thing I noticed was its size—it was smaller than most hotels. A beautiful display of various flower arrangements adorns the entrance. The check-in procedure was quick and smooth. The receptionist was friendly and spoke proficient English. I was upgraded to a premier room on the 21st floor.
All rooms overlook a 20-story inner atrium with a wall decorated with 400 stainless-steel butterflies designed by Australian artist Jayne Dyer.
The hotel boasts two 1 Michelin star restaurants; Cai Xi Yuan, an upscale Cantonese restaurant, and Mio, a contemporary Italian restaurant.
The room is spacious and has standard five-star hotel amenities such as a Nespresso machine and a minibar. The bed is firm but comfortable, and the armchair and ottoman next to it are the perfect place to wind down and watch TV. However, the TV is somewhat small and has limited channels.
The cleanliness of the room could be improved; there was dust on the countertops and a handprint on the window. Most hotels I have been to equip the rooms with a Bose Bluetooth speaker; the rooms had a Panasonic iPod dock with poor sound quality.
The tub is one of the highlights for me. It has a great view and is spacious and comfortable, allowing you to have a nice deep soak. A bath pillow is provided, too. The toiletries are by Atelier Cologne. Unfortunately, the hotel does not provide toothbrushes and shavers in the room due to COVID, but they are available at the guest’s request.
There is a turndown service and a variety of pillow options to choose from based on your preference. You can also have your newspaper of choice delivered to you at a specified time in the morning.
I did not want to leave the room, so I ordered room service for the whole duration of my stay. For dinner, I ordered a nasi goreng (fried rice) with chicken satay (RMB 178 / $27) accompanied by a mango sago pudding (RMB 78/ $12). I got the french toast (RMB 118 / $12) and a cappuccino (RMB 68/ $10) for breakfast.
The food did not justify the price. It was good but average. I could get better food from the restaurants across the street.
Overall, I am not impressed; it was not a memorable stay for me. However, there were aspects that I liked, such as the tub, the views, and the friendly staff.
Four Season Hotel
Website: https://www.fourseasons.com/beijing/
Telephone: 86-10-5695-8888
Address: 48 Liang Ma Qiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100125
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