Review: EAST Beijing – Chic Digs in China’s Capital
PUBLISHED June 21st, 2016 08:00 am | UPDATED May 12th, 2023 05:14 am
It’s not often that a hotel pleases me greatly – especially after having baffled me for the ten seconds upon stepping out of the elevator, in search of my room to rest my weary head (post a chaotic five-hour train ride).
Don’t get me wrong. EAST, Beijing‘s lobby, sporting tasteful original artwork, was more than welcoming with its hues of neutral tones and wood accents. The high-tech environment and hushed tones in which people were speaking in screamed “business hotel”, but things like the music and the manner in which the hotel staff conduct themselves speak volumes about the type of hotel EAST wants to be – the kind that balances work and life.
Check-in was paperless (like I said, high tech) and fuss-free; I was riding up in the life with room key in hand within 10 minutes of paying my cab driver. Back to that Twilight Zone moment in the corridor…when I realised that the room doors had no handles.
So I pushed my way into my Urban View room.
At a spacious 30 square metres (320 square feet) for an entry-level room category, you also get an eyeful of Beijing’s iconic skyline. Again, art figures prominently, with a large print of old Beijing on the headboard over a King-sized bed with ultra comfy down bedding.
I like how the international power sockets are hidden away in the bedside tables so we don’t have to look at ugly holes in the walls if we don’t have to. Another benefit of staying at EAST is they don’t scrimp on space in the bathroom. Don’t get any ideas now, but I’m sure the walk-in rain shower can easily fit four people or more!
Another huge plus point about EAST is the quality of in-house dining and drinking options. Xian, which takes its name from the road that the property is located on, is one of the best hotel bars in Beijing with its delicious wood-fired pizzas and decent selection of whiskies. What prevents Xian from being over pretentious is its neighbourhood pub vibe, which is accentuated by live music…even if its patrons are mostly well-dressed white-collar workers and high-powered executives who live and work in the area.
Feast (Food by EAST) might look like your regular all-day dining restaurant that’s just good for your daily brekkie. However, it’s consistently on the list of best places for brunch in Beijing, and the dinner semi buffet is quite a winner too (go for the lobster linguine).
Located at INDIGO – consisting of a large shopping mall, an office tower, and a 17 hectare park in development – EAST is near the Wangjing business district, the 798 Art Zone, and 15 minutes from Beijing International Airport. It might be a little far from the main tourist sites of Beijing, but Jiangtai Metro is a few minutes away on foot. Taxis, as well as Didi Chuxing cars (Uber’s Chinese nemesis), are plentiful so getting around is not a problem.
Now that we’ve experienced the impeccable service at EAST, we’ll probably pay a visit to its older sister property The Opposite House in Sanlitun when we’re back in Beijing.
EAST, Beijing is located at 22 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, China, 100016. Rack rates for rooms start from RMB900++ per room per night.
Top Image: Urban View Corner Room
