An Iconic Italian Fashion House Brings Luxury to This Beijing Hotel — With Huge Rooms, Michelin-starred Dining, and a Giant Spa

Set in the heart of the Chinese capital, Bulgari Hotel, Beijing's smallest rooms start at around 600 square feet, larger than most city apartments.

You may have heard about the various initiatives the Chinese government has undertaken to revive the country’s tourism industry. Most of it involves loosening visa requirements for potential visitors, including exemptions for travelers from dozens of nationalities. While the U.S. is not among them, American visitors are no longer required to have booked their trip to be approved for a visa. So, I decided to take advantage.

But if you are flying from North America, it’s still a back-breaking trek to get to China — visa or not. My journey to Beijing, including a four-hour layover in Tokyo from New York City, required a full day of door-to-door travel. The end-of-the-tunnel exhale came at the realization that I was finally in Beijing (first time!) and that I’d checked into the Bulgari Hotel, Beijing.

Waltzing into the hotel lobby just after lunchtime (though I hadn't yet had the luxury of lunch), I was struck by how quiet it was. Having visited several Asian capitals over the years, as a native of Manila, I expected the hotel to be loud and busy due to its location in a bustling part of an enormous metropolis — but I was relieved to have been greeted by the exact opposite.

“The location of Bulgari Hotel, Beijing is unique,” general manager Jackie Hoo told Travel + Leisure of her hotel’s address in the embassy district. “Our guests get to leave behind the hustle and bustle [and instead] enter this oasis of tranquility.”

Beyond the calm brought on by a tucked-away location, a tangible sense of ease came with my stay there. The constant lobby snack station was a special treat — who doesn’t love knowing you can always grab a handful of hotel candy whenever you want? (I was especially excited to see White Rabbit Creamy Candy — a fixture of my childhood toothaches — filling up one of the glass jars.)

About 40 percent of the rooms have views of the Liangma River, right next to the hotel. I was in a premier room perched right over it, allowing me to watch people take advantage of the cool refuge the water brings on a sweltering July afternoon. It was comforting and relaxing but also fun to see daily local life. While I languished in my room, I'd already asked housekeeping to press some of the outfits that got wrinkled in my suitcase during their journey to China — a perk included in Bulgari's rates.

Bulgari Hotel, Beijing, opened in 2017 as the brand’s fourth hotel. Since then, it has established itself among the best the city offers, especially now that China hopes to ramp up international tourism. To learn more about what it’s like to stay (beyond the free candy and pressing service), here’s my review.

Bulgari Hotel, Beijing

• A tucked-away location in the city’s embassy district and along the Liangma River helps the hotel deliver a luxurious but relaxed stay. In a city of nearly 22 million, this property feels like a true haven.

• The outdoor terrace — an extension of the handsome Bulgari Bar — is a pretty and tranquil retreat perfect for a lazy breakfast or a bit of people-watching while enjoying a pre-dinner aperitivo.

• The 16,145 square-foot spa marries the Italian glamor Bulgari is known for with Chinese healing practices.

• The bustling energy during afternoon tea injects the hotel lobby with a decidedly locals-come-here-too vibe.

The Rooms

The 11-story building houses 119 rooms and suites, ranging from premier rooms to the massive Bulgari Suite (though there are nine different categories in total). Because Bulgari is one of the most luxurious, albeit expensive, hotels in the city, even an entry-level premier room gets you a lot: These rooms measure just a hair under 600 square feet, an immense space for the cheapest room in the house. And you still get all the perks, including river views, grand bathrooms with dedicated dressing areas, and free pressing. Design-wise, they all evoke the vibe of a stylish Italian apartment. After all, this property was inspired by the timeless sophistication of the first Bulgari hotel in Milan.

Regardless of which room you book, expect to find modern design via fine craftsmanship, all hand-selected or custom-made by Milanese architecture firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. Calacatta marble tables, Kelvin lamps by Flos, and woven herringbone surfaces (like those found on the headboards) help create layers of aesthetic intrigue, but there’s still an easy-to-digest minimalism to the whole thing. These are rooms you can comfortably live in.

But if extravagant space is what you’re after, the suites will impress: The Bulgari Suite is typically the marquee booking of every Bulgari hotel. In Beijing, that’s a 4,300-square-foot home-away-from-home with soaring ceilings, black granite floors, and a spa treatment room with a sauna. You never have to leave its four walls if you don’t want to. About half the size is the Terrace Suite, which is beloved for its enormous outdoor area. The 1,075-square-foot terrace also has its own gazebo, where you can have all your meals.

Hoo’s favorite, however, is a Deluxe Suite. “It has the best views of the Liangma River,” she told T+L, adding that she loves seeing how busy the water is throughout the year. “People are swimming, kayaking, fishing, river cruising. It’s both dynamic and calming.”

Food and Drink

In Asia, I refuse to eat anything but local breakfast. It’s more savory than you can expect from other parts of the world. While the culinary offerings at the hotel lean Italian, the first meal of the day delivers precisely what I crave: stir-fried noodles spiked with XO sauce, steaming congee topped with crispy tofu, and plump shrimp-stuffed dumplings. But, yes, if the spirit moves you, there are pancakes, cereals, and eggs Benedict.

The rest of the day’s meals are more of a showcase for Niko Romito’s award-winning work in the kitchen. The chef from Abruzzo, Bulgari Hotels’ main culinary partner, oversees the food program at the property with aplomb: The on-site Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, open for lunch and dinner, has won a Michelin star every year since 2020.

It offers multi-course feasts, but the a la carte menu includes two of Romito’s most renowned dishes: the spaghetti e pomodoro and the vitello tonnato. The same restaurant space also hosts a massive see-and-be-seen Sunday brunch. You get more Italian food here, but it’s also the ideal time to indulge in the fabulous pastries that Romito is known for.

Afternoon tea is served in the lobby-adjacent lounge. I found this was when the lounge was at its busiest, as Beijing’s most stylish (and digitally savvy) can be seen taking selfies with flutes of Champagne and bite-sized cakes and sandwiches.

Later in the evening, the Bulgari Bar and the lush outdoor garden becomes the epi-center of the hotel’s social life for sips of spritzes. And if you don’t want to commit to the fine-dining cornucopia at Il Ristorante, the bar’s food menu is dedicated to more comforting Italian classics: delicate slices of prosciutto, lightly breaded fried calamari, and pasta with bolognese sauce.

Activities and Experiences

On-site activities — beyond decadent meals and pampering spa experiences — are limited. You can book a 90-minute tai chi session in the garden, where you can learn the elegant moves of this ancient martial arts practice. There are also MomoDesign bikes, which are free for guests to use if they want to explore Beijing on two wheels.

Otherwise, the hotel’s concierge can put together an immersive itinerary to help you get the most out of your Beijing visit, whether you want to focus on the cultural highlights (and want guided tours of the Forbidden Palace and the Great Wall), couture shopping, or art (the Chinese capital is home to world-class exhibits, including ones located right next door at Genesis Art Gallery, which Tadao Ando designed).

The Spa

The hotel's 16,145-square-foot spa is more glamorous than the average relaxation destination (even within the luxury market).

Rather than opting for the assumed serenity of an all-white or vaguely Asian-inspired interiors schema, this one is warm, modern, and glitzy, a natural extension of the rest of the hotel: There are lots of marble surfaces, framed photos of high-jewelry photography, and moody lighting.

There are 11 treatment rooms where you can opt for massages inspired by Chinese healing therapies or skin-brightening facials in partnership with German skincare brand Augustinus Bader. You can also spring for a more immersive wellness experience via one of their trademark programs, including the three-hour Intense Protection Ritual, which is supposed to repair the skin barrier by flooding it with moisture.

In addition to these results-driven treatments, the spa has a glistening 80-foot-long indoor pool, a steam room and sauna, and a decently-sized gym with a wonderful selection of equipment, which is pretty standard for Bulgari as a hospitality brand. On-property trainers can lead you through a workout.

Accessibility and Sustainability

There are some green initiatives here: They harvest rainwater and have power-saving LED lighting, as well as an automated system that switches off lights and draws curtains when the guests aren’t in their rooms. The hotel also partners with the Holt International Foundation of China, an organization that helps care for vulnerable children.

Of the hotel’s 119 guestrooms, two superior rooms have accessible beds.

Family-friendly Offerings

While a shiny luxury hotel might not immediately jump out as an ideal family-friendly stay, Bulgari Hotel, Beijing does offer some amenities that would appeal to their youngest guests, including the B.Family package.

Usually aimed at locals looking for a staycation experience, there’s no reason why visitors can’t partake, too. The promo includes various treats and surprises for kids, a rollaway bed, 24-hour breakfast room service, and engaging activities that are part of the brand’s Little Gems Club.

Location

The city of Beijing is big. At 1,763 square miles, there’s a lot of ground to cover and many different districts where you could stay. Bulgari is located in the tony embassy district, which, as you can guess, is where many international embassies are located. This is in the northeast of the city nucleus, and on your drive over (from the airport or wherever else), you’ll realize that other five-star hotels are nearby.

Beijing Capital International Airport is about a 40-minute drive, barring traffic. The Summer Palace will take nearly an hour’s drive, while the Forbidden City is 20 minutes away. Most other things you’ll want to do, including shopping, museums, and restaurants, will take around 20 to 40 minutes to drive.

The immediate neighborhood surrounding the hotel is pretty bare in terms of attractions unless you count the Liangma River, which is genuinely busy with people swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Even if that’s not what you came to Beijing for, the energy is infectious. Otherwise, there’s nothing to walk to except the Genesis Art Gallery. Three Michelin-starred restaurant Xin Rong Ji, known for its Peking duck, is also right next door.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

While Bulgari Hotel, Beijing occasionally offers packages and promos to seduce more bookings, it remains one of the city’s priciest hotels (starting at $830 per night).

If you’re an American Express Platinum card member, however, you’ll be glad to know that the property is part of American Express Travel's Fine Hotels & Resorts, which means a slew of perks: noon check-in (when available), potential room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, a $100 property credit to use during your stay, and guaranteed 4 p.m. check-out, leaving you with more time to enjoy the pool.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.