Hotel Check: Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing

BEST FOR Inviting design that makes the most of light and nature

DON’T MISS The relaxed conviviality and the tasty izakaya fare found at Shunpachi

PRICE Internet rates for a traditional room start at $131.

CONTACT Hyatt Regency Wangjing, Lei Shing Hong Center, 8 Guangshun South Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100102. Phone +86-108-630-1234 hyatt.com

BACKGROUND As the first Hyatt Regency in the Chinese capital, this business hotel is designed to bring the outside in with a bamboo forest in the lobby and natural light streaming into meeting rooms and public areas.

WHEE IS IT? In the blossoming Wangjing district with numerous corporate offices, this hotel is one of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma’s most recent accomplishments.

WHAT”S IT LIKE? A retro-chic aesthetic fills public areas with a variety of sculptures and local artwork. “Journey close to nature” is the theme with courtyard-inspired architecture and a natural bamboo forest in the lobby. Plentiful natural light streams into most areas of the hotel.

ROOMS The 348 rooms and suites provide soft carpeting, floor-to-ceiling windows with electronic controls, and beautiful décor creating an instantly calming effect. Desks feature easy access to international power and USB outlets plus leather chairs facing flat-screen cable TVs. Hyatt’s famous Grand Beds come with thick duvets, cushioned mattresses, and a pillow menu. I especially loved the power outlets by the bed. Bathrooms are bright and spacious behind sliding doors. The glass shower has magnificent water pressure although I found the water leaked quickly onto the floor. A soaking tub with Portico Spa toiletries was great for relaxation. Regency Club rooms get extra perks like a club lounge with all-day refreshments, free breakfast, and evening cocktails. Its glass-lined meeting room faces the outdoor terrace (one of the only hotels in the city with outdoor space in its club lounge).

FOOD AND DRINK Market Café is the main, all-day buffet restaurant serving international cuisine, including sushi, Indian curries, and pasta dishes prepared at live cooking stations. The Chinese restaurant serves regional fare in a beautiful dining space or one of many private rooms. A popular spot to gather for a quick drink is the lobby lounge, especially when live music and DJs are in the house, while Japanese Shunpachi is known around the neighborhood for its delectable izakaya-style menu.

MEETINGS There is plenty of meeting space with modern audiovisual equipment plus free wireless Internet available throughout the hotel. The pillarless Regency Ballroom is designed to let in an abundance of natural light.

LEISURE The indoor saltwater swimming pool is surrounded by windows overlooking the gardens. Life Fitness equipment fills the modern, 24-hour gym. A variety of massage and beauty treatments are available at Flo Spa plus access to a jade stone sauna and vitality pools.

VERDICT By bringing a bit of the outdoors inside, this business-friendly hotel sets itself apart as a unique offering in the nation’s capital.