Prime Hotel

A holdover from the early '90s, this 10-story hotel borrows motifs from the nation’s past. The building, for instance, is capped by a pagoda-style roof, and inside the common areas’ color scheme relies heavily on auspicious reds and golds. The design of the on-site tea room, similarly, is a homage to history. Ditto for the decor of the main restaurant (the aptly named Emperor): after all, it was apparently inspired by an Imperial dining hall in the Forbidden City, right down to the wall murals and gilded columns adorned with dragons. Like the look, the clientele here is largely Chinese and, as a result, you shouldn’t expect to find much English spoken beyond the front desk.

Prime Hotel sits at the northern end of Wangfujing Street: an evocative, always entertaining thoroughfare where au courant clothing shops compete with classic food stalls selling scorpion kabobs and roasted grasshoppers. But it’s important to remember that the street extends almost two miles, and it takes about 25 minutes either by foot or by public transit to reach the southern end, which is anchored by the posh Oriental Plaza (home to one of Asia’s largest mall complexes). The most Instagram-able attractions of Wangfujing’s pedestrian section are found midway along, so, if you want to be in the thick of it, upscale alternatives like the Novotel Beijing Peace actually put you much closer. Vacationers interested in seeing others top sights can hit the Forbidden City by car or cab in 12 minutes and Tiananmen Square in 14, while the Temple of Heaven and Beijing Zoo can be reached in under 25. Traffic permitting, it’s a 45-minute drive to Beijing Capital International Airport, and private transfers can be arranged through the hotel.

• Eight-minute walk to Dongsi Subway Station
• 12-minute walk to the center of Wangfujing Street
• 22-minute walk to Jingshan Park
• 25-minute walk to Oriental Plaza
• 12-minute drive to Beijing Railway Station
• 12-minute drive to the Forbidden City
• 14-minute drive to Tiananmen Square/National Museum of China
• 19-minute drive to the National Centre for the Performing Arts
• 22-minute drive to Beijing Zoo
• 24-minute drive to the Temple of Heaven
• 27-minute drive to Beijing National Stadium
• 45-minute drive to Beijing Capital International Airport

Starting at 452-square feet, the spacious accommodations here help redeem this hotel’s shortcomings—though they are, admittedly, showing their age. Forgoing the rich colors used elsewhere, the rooms have a neutral-toned palette and an appealing design. Tall upholstered headboards and patterned carpeting lend them a contemporary look, while Chinese-style cherry wood furnishings and traditional artwork provide some local color. Choices in all categories feature central climate control, coffee/tea-making supplies, minibars, digital safes, flat-screen cable TVs, dated pay-for-use computers, free (but not always reliable) Wi-Fi, plus black-and-white marble bathrooms outfitted with both tubs and walk-in showers. Oddly, they're also full of displays bearing items available for in-room purchase: Picture anything from slippers and tea bags to dental floss dispensers and condoms. Executive-level rooms offer added bonuses, as do suites (which are almost twice the size of standard digs). Most notable among these is access to the 10th-floor Royal Regency Club Lounge, where guests can take advantage of free breakfasts, afternoon tea and an early evening happy hour. 

There are several in-house dining and drinking options, namely the Emperor Restaurant (specializing in Cantonese dishes), Cafe Wangfujing (a buffet-oriented alternative with more international fare), the Lobby Lounge (which offers light bites in addition to the expected beverages), plus a traditional Chinese-style tea room; 24-hour room service is also available. In terms of fitness facilities, the hotel boasts a lounger-lined indoor pool that is flooded with natural lit through floor-to-ceiling windows, along with a decently equipped gym, a sauna, and a spa/salon where the massages earn dubious reviews. If you happen to be here for work, there are multifunction meeting spaces ranging from conference rooms to banquet halls, as well as a business center on the first level that can arrange secretarial, translation and interpretation support. Other features include a 24-hour reception desk with concierge capabilities; a ticket/tour desk; assorted shops; car and bike rental services; dry-cleaning/laundry services; and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi.