Fairmont Beijing

i love service and everything in this hotel

I stayed at the Fairmont Beijing for 7 nights in late March/early April. Overall, the hotel is lovely and the staff were generally excellent—professional, kind, and patient throughout my stay. There were definitely highlights, but also a number of issues that made the experience inconsistent. My room (1612) was a good size with a firm king bed and comfortable pillows that suited me well. The decor is dark wood with a more masculine, old-school elegance. The room included a couch, coffee table, desk, multiple closets (with a safe, drawers, iron, and ironing board), a minibar, kettle, coffee maker, and complimentary bottled water. I also appreciated the variety of hangers, including padded ones. I was welcomed with a small gift, and later received fruit and dessert after a service issue, which was a thoughtful touch. The bathroom layout was spacious, with a separate shower, soaker tub, and a toilet room with a Japanese-style toilet. The shower had a rainfall head, handheld, and body jets, though the setup felt designed for someone much taller—the side jets hit me in the face (I’m 5’5”), and the handheld wasn’t very adjustable. Water pressure was good. Toiletries were provided, but I found they dried out my hair. There were also some maintenance and cleanliness issues. The bathtub drain was broken and wouldn’t open. The tub itself initially seemed clean, but after using it I noticed soap scum well above the water line, which suggests it hadn’t been properly cleaned. I assume an attempt had been made, but it wasn’t done thoroughly. I requested a deep clean, which wasn’t completed to my satisfaction, so I ended up cleaning it myself and asking them to disinfect it afterward. The door safety latch was also slightly misaligned and didn’t open smoothly. Lighting in the room was a consistent challenge. It’s very dim—like a candlelit restaurant—which creates a nice atmosphere but isn’t practical. Reading at night was difficult, and one of the bedside reading lamps was so dim it was essentially unusable. There were many light switches, but the labels were hard to read, and I had to use my phone flashlight to figure them out. The night lights under the bedside tables, bench, and bathroom cabinets were extremely bright, and I couldn’t find a way to turn them off myself (housekeeping eventually handled this). On a couple of nights, one of the lamps also turned on automatically when I switched off the master light, which was confusing. The air conditioning is centrally controlled, which seems common in China. When I arrived, the room was 26°C and too warm. Adjusting the thermostat didn’t work, so staff opened the window to cool it down. That helped, but with outside temperatures dropping to around 7°C at night, it made mornings quite chilly. The curtains were not true blackout, as light came in from the sides. Dining experiences were mixed. Breakfast was very good, with a wide range of Chinese and Western options, including an omelet station, coffee machine (lattes, cappuccinos), fresh fruit, hot vegetables, rice dishes, congee, eggs, yogurt, and pastries (though the pastries looked better than they tasted). I had the French toast most mornings—it was just okay and really more of a vehicle for the plum jam, which was excellent. I also ate in the Chinese restaurant (where breakfast is served), and the experience was inconsistent. The table had dried food stuck to the placemat and was missing cutlery and napkins, unlike surrounding tables. I ordered prawns, vegetables, and rice. The prawns were described as being with oats and mustard, but in reality they were more like deep-fried prawns with mayonnaise—no obvious oats or mustard—so I assume this may have been a translation issue. The dishes also arrived very far apart—prawns first, then vegetables 10–15 minutes later, and the rice only after I had finished eating, which I declined. The food itself was tasty, but the timing made the meal frustrating. There was also a ledge beside the table that was extremely dusty—I pointed it out, but it wasn’t cleaned the next day. At the Western restaurant, I had hummus with grilled vegetables (very small portion but tasty) and Basque cheesecake, which was a bit dry. The pool area was nice and relaxing, though shallow. The hot tub had a mix of lounger and seated jets, but they didn’t align well with my body and weren’t very effective. There’s also a well-equipped gym and a yoga studio. The hotel is in a quiet area with not much nearby in terms of shops or restaurants, but it’s about a 7-minute walk to the subway (Lines 1 and 17), which is convenient. In summary, there are things I really enjoyed—the comfortable bed, good breakfast, and kind staff—but also several maintenance, cleanliness, and usability issues that added up over a longer stay. Because of that, I would likely try a different hotel on my next visit.

I stayed at the Fairmont Beijing for five nights, and unfortunately, it was a very disappointing experience. While the physical property looks acceptable, the service standards—particularly at the front desk and the door—are well below what is expected of this brand. Front Desk & Efficiency The check-in process was incredibly slow. The staff seem to prioritize social chitchat over efficiency; they engage in unending conversations with guests while a queue forms, showing no effort to wrap up or acknowledge those waiting. I felt completely ignored several times when trying to make a simple inquiry. Room & Sleep Quality The bed was the biggest issue. The mattress felt well past its prime—very saggy and lacking support. The pillows were so soft that they sank immediately. Even after requesting a firmer pillow, there was no improvement. Since I was staying for five nights and had already unpacked, I didn't push for a room change, but the poor sleep quality significantly impacted my entire trip to Beijing. Unprofessional Staff Conduct The most concerning incident happened on my day of departure. My airport pickup was delayed, and unlike other luxury hotels (such as the Sofitel Metropole) where staff pro-actively assist, the doorman here was indifferent. When my car finally arrived, the doorman actually grabbed my personal phone from my hand to take a photo of the screen. He claimed the driver had been rude to him and he wanted the information to file a personal complaint. This was an incredible breach of privacy and lacked basic manners. A guest’s phone should never be used to settle a staff member's personal dispute with a driver. Location The location is quite isolated. There are no convenience stores within a reasonable walking distance, making it inconvenient for quick snacks or supplies. Final Verdict: I would not recommend this hotel until they address their staff's professional conduct and upgrade their bedding.

I am writing this to express my extreme disappointment and concern regarding my recent stay at Fairmont Beijing. What should have been a standard stay turned into a medical emergency with zero support from the hotel management. ​The Incident: For dinner, I ordered a Smoked Salmon Salad and Minestrone Soup via in-room dining. Within less than an hour of consumption, I began experiencing severe, non-stop diarrhea. By midnight, my condition had deteriorated to the point where I had to book a DiDi and rush myself to a private hospital’s Emergency Department for urgent medical attention. ​The Response (or Lack Thereof): Despite informing the front desk that I had fallen severely ill directly after eating their food, the staff’s only response was that they would "feedback to the kitchen." There was no offer of medical assistance, no check-in on my well-being and a complete lack of empathy. ​The Aftermath: Due to the severity of the illness, I was forced to cancel my travel plans and extend my stay at the Fairmont. During this extension, not a single member of the management team followed up with me. Post-stay, I submitted a formal survey highlighting these issues. It has been nearly two weeks, and I have received zero acknowledgment or follow-up. ​Verdict: For a reputable brand like Fairmont, this level of negligence and non-responsiveness is unacceptable. A guest's health and safety should be the highest priority. To be ignored after a food safety incident requiring hospitalization is appalling. I would strongly caution anyone considering a stay here if something goes wrong, you are on your own.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Fairmont Beijing, and it was truly a delightful experience. The hotel itself is elegant, well-maintained, and offers the high-quality standards you would expect from the Fairmont brand. The facilities were excellent, and the atmosphere made my stay both comfortable and memorable. What really stood out, however, was the exceptional service from the staff. Everyone was professional, attentive, and welcoming, ensuring that my stay was smooth and enjoyable. I would especially like to highlight Tommy, who went above and beyond to assist me. He was incredibly supportive and took great care in following up on a package that had not yet arrived at the hotel. His dedication, patience, and proactive communication gave me peace of mind and made me feel truly valued as a guest. Thanks to Tommy and the rest of the team, my stay at Fairmont Beijing was not only pleasant but also stress-free. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Beijing, whether for business or leisure, and I look forward to returning in the future.