The Rosewood hotel in Beijing has a beautiful spa. As soon as you step out of the elevator, you step into a world of relaxation and harmony. I arrived about 45 minutes before my appointment time to ensure I had a moment to use the relaxation rooms including the steam room and sauna. Everything fits together like a glove. It’s definitely a wonderful place to relax!
Upon arrival they serve you your choice of green tea or date tea. I went with the date tea because it’s not so common for me and I like to explore!
After beginning my relaxation in the sauna, it was time for the massage. I went with their signature treatment for 60 minutes and my masseuse was fantastic. She really focused on my troubled areas which tend to be my tight shoulders. A little painful, but in a good way because afterwards, I walked out of there feeling light as a cloud.
In summary, the treatment I received and the facilities at the Sense Spa were grade A! The design of this spa is very impressive and I just enjoyed spending time there. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I would suggest you to prioritize some relaxation time in your life as soon as possible!
The Rosewood hotel in Beijing has a beautiful spa. As soon as you step out of the elevator, you step into a world of relaxation and harmony. I arrived about 45 minutes before my appointment time to ensure I had a moment to use the relaxation rooms including the steam…
I’ve had many a hot pot. As most of you know, I’ve lived around Asia for five years and many countries enjoy a nice pot that is hot. However, before my trip to China, I had only tried a Szechuan hot pot once! When I had the opportunity to try an upscale Szechuan hot pot in Beijing at the Red Bowl restaurant, I jumped on it!
The restaurant is located at the Rosewood hotel and you’ll be able to read about my stay their in a different article. Most hot pot restaurants are family oriented and not very upscale. However, Red Bowl is very chic and trendy. The dining room was filled with people from all over the globe. They offer a wide variety of hot pot choices to ensure everyone is satisfied no matter their taste buds. For our evening, we decided to go with two soup stocks. One was of course, the spicy Szechuan and the other I believe was a potato and tomato. It’s good to have both spicy and regular, for balance. Zen life.
The real fun part about the hot pot experience, is choosing all of your own ingredients. For this, we went with the best beef on the menu, which was a fantastic wagyu. You can see the marbling in the meat was just perfect! Bring on the fat! We also ordered some spicy venison which was marinated in chili oil. We also ordered those green things called vegetables too.
From here on out, it was up to us to place the ingredients into the pot and then into the sauces and then into our mouths. The staff would occasionally come around to help us put the tougher items into the pot so as to not splash red soup everywhere! It can get wild folks.
Some of my beverage choices were local draft beer and Japanese sake. To finish off the meal, we went with typical Chinese desserts of pomelo in mango cream and pureed red beans. I must say that I would highly recommend you to order the pomelo in mango cream!
The evening went off without a hitch. Everything we ordered was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The staff was friendly and helpful. The design is very trendy and created a special type of hot pot experience. The next time you’re in Beijing and you want to have a high-end hot pot, try Red Bowl inside of the Rosewood hotel.
I've had many a hot pot. As most of you know, I've lived around Asia for five years and many countries enjoy a nice pot that is hot. However, before my trip to China, I had only tried a Szechuan hot pot once! When I had the opportunity to try an upscale Szechuan hot…
Currently, the hotel with the most buzz in Beijing is a brand-new hotel called Nuo. The hotel definitely has more of a design hotel feel than a typical luxury hotel. I noticed this when I first walked into the lobby. It felt like I was walking into a hotel in the Middle East. This is because there are very tall and impressive ceilings along with amazing artwork which really grabs your attention.
After checking in, I traveled up to the 22nd floor to check out my room. Although the hotel is quite modern, the designers incorporated traditional Chinese art and features throughout the interior. A feature I’d like to point out is the fact that the pillows are incredibly soft and comfortable. Amazing.
Check out this little chocolate man I received as a welcome gift!
The bathroom is quite spacious. The bathtub is sitting right next to the window which offers a splendid area to clean yourself up and enjoy the beautiful view.
The hotel also boasts an extensive executive lounge on the 25th floor. It’s full service offering breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner and cocktail hour. The selection of food and drink is impressive to say the least for a lounge.
Along with the breakfast in the executive lounge, I was able to enjoy the more extensive selection in the main breakfast. Everything was great!
The theme of the food and beverage at the Nuo hotel is high-quality with an authentic taste. I believe they have about eight international chefs producing some of the best food I’ve had recently. On Sunday morning, I was able to enjoy the brunch at their N’Joy restaurant which you will have to read about in a separate article. I will say that this might be one of the best brunches I’ve ever had, but you’ll have to read the article.
Another aspect of the hotel we need to talk about is the fitness and pool area. The pool is huge and the design is glamorous. The gym overlooks the pool and has all of the equipment you’ll need. Don’t worry fitness junkies, I got your back. When you enter the locker room, you’ll be happy to know that there are great facilities including a steam room and sauna. Nice and toasty to relax Pierre.
When it was all said and done, I can really understand why people are raving so much about this hotel! I spoke with other professionals in the travel industry and some believe that the Nuo hotel is the best in Beijing. I’ll wait until I see more to make this judgment, but for now it is great. The hotel is impressive on all fronts and offers good service, quality food and a wonderful overall experience. I would highly recommend you to visit the Nuo hotel in Beijing, China!
Currently, the hotel with the most buzz in Beijing is a brand-new hotel called Nuo. The hotel definitely has more of a design hotel feel than a typical luxury hotel. I noticed this when I first walked into the lobby. It felt like I was walking into a hotel in the…
We can safely say that I’ve had some pretty fantastic brunches in my life. Around the world, I have tried some of the most expensive and extensive brunch selections ever. While in Beijing, I made it a point to try the brunch at the Nuo hotel.
Walking around the dining room it really felt like it never ends. There is a handful of cuisines from all around the world and all are prepared by chefs from those regions. This ensures that all of the food I ate was first of all fantastic and secondly authentic. This is not normally the most common theme for foreign cuisine in Asia. Most of the time in Asia, they have foreign cuisine adapted to the local tastes. Cough… Korea cough. This is not the case at the Nuo hotel. A good example of this was a shwarma sandwich I had during brunch. It tasted like I bought it in Lebanon! Fantastic.
Let’s get back to talking about how extensive of a food selection they offer. There is counter upon counter of food and they will also walk around offering you specialty items. To truly enjoy a all of this great food I recommend you to get the free flow champagne as well. This is ensures a fantastic Sunday.
The food was great but let’s also talk about the service. The restaurant was well-staffed and I was always well taken care of. There was always someone to clean up my plates and bring me anything I needed, most of the time without even needing to ask.
There was really not one bite of food that I didn’t enjoy. Everything was absolutely fantastic at the N’Joy brunch inside of the Nuo hotel. For the wide selection, the great service and wonderful food, I highly recommend you to enjoy brunch there for as soon as possible!
We can safely say that I've had some pretty fantastic brunches in my life. Around the world, I have tried some of the most expensive and extensive brunch selections ever. While in Beijing, I made it a point to try the brunch at the Nuo hotel. Walking around the dining…
This was my first time visiting China. I’ve traveled all around the world, including all over Asia, but never have I visited the motherland! My first stop was the Ritz Carlton in Beijing. There are actually two Ritz Carlton hotels in the city. Don’t get this hotel confused with the Ritz Carlton Financial Street. This hotel is located in the central business district and very near the Dawang subway station.
I arrived in the evening from Seoul, Korea and the staff was waiting me at the airport for a super speedy pickup! The BMW they picked me up with was equipped with Wi-Fi and very comfortable. If you want to enjoy the finer things in life, I would highly recommend you get an airport transfer!
Upon arrival, I was greeted by the Ritz Carlton team and checked-in right in my Club Suite! Entering the hotel as well as my room was very thrilling. The entire hotel has a beautiful luxurious feeling that I love. Chandeliers and gold mesmerize Pierre. I like shiny things.
The hotel was built in 2007 with timeless luxury styling throughout. I felt like the Club Suite could easily be my home. In the bedroom they used beautiful wallpaper that gave a sense of the good life. The bathroom was as big as a bedroom with multiple sinks, a huge bathtub and TV. Very large closets with plenty of storage space. Fantastic!
The Ritz Carlton Beijing really went above and beyond and I truly appreciated it. Throughout my stay they served me extra treats including some cookies, macarons and other sweets to put a smile on my face and belly.
Along with the beautiful rooms, they also have beautiful facilities. My suite was a Club Room as I mentioned, so I had access to the Executive Club lounge which is also on the 16th floor. This is a very well-equipped lounge with breakfast in the morning, lunch and of course dinner and happy hour in the evening. The food was acceptable but could use a little improvement for breakfast. When I say you don’t have to leave the hotel, you really don’t! Okay, you should leave the hotel to explore the city, but it’s so comfortable inside, I didn’t want to leave.
The spa and fitness center really impressed me as well. You’ll have a chance to read about my Chinese traditional massage in a separate article. The pool is very long and beautiful in both day and night. The gym is spacious and has most of the equipment you will need. There are 3 types of cardio equipment and free weights as well. There aren’t extensive weight machines, but for most people, including myself, it was quite sufficient.
Overall, I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with my stay. From start to finish I enjoyed every moment, especially the airport pickup and welcome gifts! I truly appreciate the property’s classic style. The new Ritz Carlton hotels have a more modern theme but I must say that I prefer this style much more! This hotel is exactly what I think of when I think of a luxury hotel. I can without a doubt highly recommend you to stay at the Ritz Carlton in Beijing!
This was my first time visiting China. I've traveled all around the world, including all over Asia, but never have I visited the motherland! My first stop was the Ritz Carlton in Beijing. There are actually two Ritz Carlton hotels in the city. Don't get this hotel confused with the…
From all the stressful travel that I have to bear, I need time to fully relax and the spa at the Ritz Carlton in Beijing is a great place to do just that. On the 17th floor, the hotel offers a beautiful spa with a very warm and delightful staff. Be sure to read about the hotel stay as well as my dinner at their Yu restaurant in separate articles.
As I’ve mentioned, you’re greeted by warm and welcoming staff and shown to the consultation room. Here they will offer you options for treatments, a welcome cup of tea and the necessary paperwork. I decided on a fusion massage with traditional Chinese herbal balls. This was my first traditional Chinese massage, and I must say that I became the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time!
My masseuse did an excellent job and even without the most pressure, I felt incredibly relaxed. She was able to release some of the knots in my shoulders that were practically permanent. A true miracle occurred at the Ritz Carlton Spa in the Beijing!
I also must mention that along with the nice massage, the treatment room was gorgeous and offered a very good atmosphere.
All in all, I have to say that the traditional Chinese massage at the Ritz Carlton Beijing was magnificent and I would highly recommend you to get one for yourself the next time you’re in Beijing!
From all the stressful travel that I have to bear, I need time to fully relax and the spa at the Ritz Carlton in Beijing is a great place to do just that. On the 17th floor, the hotel offers a beautiful spa with a very warm and delightful staff. Be…
Ritz Carlton Spa Review: Traditional Chinese Massage in Beijing
Ritz Carlton Spa Review: Traditional Chinese Massage in Beijing
On my recent trip to Beijing I stayed at the Ritz Carlton hotel which you’ll have to read about in a separate article. While at the hotel, I was able to try their authentic Cantonese food at their Yu restaurant. I witnessed a very full dining room when I entered which is always a good sign.
Of course, I had to order the Beijing duck in Beijing. Some other dishes I thoroughly enjoyed were the mixed barbecue plate, the Szechuan beef and the fried mushrooms.
The mushrooms were a type that I’ve never had before, and they were fried to perfection. The picture does not do them justice but they were simply fantastic. It doesn’t look like we ate that much food but in reality, we were super stuffed at the finish. Not only did the food look absolutely fantastic it tasted great as well. The service was also great the entirety of the meal.
I really can’t say enough good things about the Yu restaurant! Practically every bite of food was glorious. If you’re looking for a fantastic Cantonese meal while in Beijing, I would highly recommend you to try the Yu restaurant inside of the Ritz Carlton Beijing hotel!
On my recent trip to Beijing I stayed at the Ritz Carlton hotel which you'll have to read about in a separate article. While at the hotel, I was able to try their authentic Cantonese food at their Yu restaurant. I witnessed a very full dining room when I entered…
Yu Restaurant Review: Incredible Beijing Duck in Beijing!
Yu Restaurant Review: Incredible Beijing Duck in Beijing!
I recently heard about the food tours offered by Seoul Gastro Tours, but later I learned that they offer a food and traditional Korean alcohol tour. This got Pierre very excited and intrigued. I wasted no time in signing-up!
The tour started in the Bukchon region of Seoul. It begins with a quick overview of the city’s traditional architecture. However, seeing that I have lived in Seoul for some time, I was already quite familiar and ready to get my drink on!
Lucky for me, the next stop was the famous Samhae brewery. This was in a beautiful traditional style Korean building where they make all different types of Korean spirits. While there, we were able to sample a variety of alcohol and some packed quite a punch. The owner is a true professional and I really enjoyed his products. I have to admit that I left the building feeling quite pleasant. Wink.
The next stop was the Insadong area of soul at a restaurant called Jang Ja’s Nabi. Here, our wonderful tour group shared a traditional Korean meal. This was accompanied with more alcohol including Makgeolli which is the traditional milky Korean alcohol. The food was fantastic and I can verify that it was a very traditional meal which is a must when you visit Korea!
Lately, I’ve been doing more and more tours while I travel and I must say that they have been very eye-opening experiences. If you don’t use guides it’s easy to miss a lot of interesting facts. During this this tour, I learned a lot and was able to sample some fantastic Korean food and drink. The guide was very personable and fun to be around. I would definitely recommend this tour, especially for those who want to learn about Korean culture during their next trip!
I recently heard about the food tours offered by Seoul Gastro Tours, but later I learned that they offer a food and traditional Korean alcohol tour. This got Pierre very excited and intrigued. I wasted no time in signing-up! The tour started in the Bukchon region of Seoul. It begins…
Gastro Tour Seoul: Korean Culture Through Food and Drink
Gastro Tour Seoul: Korean Culture Through Food and Drink
While visiting the Conrad hotel in Seoul, South Korea I was able to visit their 37 Grill and Bar on the 37th floor. The view from the restaurant is absolutely exceptional. You have a 180 degree city and Han river view which helped create a wonderful evening.
To get the meal started, I ordered a Grizzly Bear Cabernet Sauvignon 2013. Very tasty. To jump into the food department, we went with the tasting appetizer which had three items on it. Out of the three, I would have to say I enjoyed the crab cake the most.
For the main, we went with something that was visually quite impressive. But before I get into that, let’s talk about our weapon selection. We were offered our choice from a beautiful selection of French cutlery. For the main, we were served a skewer of meat, seafood and vegetables over a bowl of fried rice. I did enjoy the main although some seafood items were slightly under-cooked. As a whole, tasty.
The part of the meal that I enjoyed the most would have to be the dessert. For those of you who follow me, you know that I’m very much a fan of Bingsoo. This was one of the most extravagant Korean desserts that I’ve ever had! Just a beautiful presentation and many extras to make it super amazing!
In summary, I must say that the 37 Grill and Bar really has a nice offering. All the food was solid and combined with the full experience, was an enjoyable evening. The Bingsoo dessert was really impressive! Also, come on, look at this view! When it was all said and done, I can safely recommend you to enjoy a meal at the top of the Conrad hotel in their beautiful 37 Bar and Grill.
While visiting the Conrad hotel in Seoul, South Korea I was able to visit their 37 Grill and Bar on the 37th floor. The view from the restaurant is absolutely exceptional. You have a 180 degree city and Han river view which helped create a wonderful evening. To get the meal…
37 Grill and Bar: Dinner with a Breathtaking view of Seoul
37 Grill and Bar: Dinner with a Breathtaking view of Seoul
On my most recent trip to Seoul, South Korea, I had a chance to visit some of the city’s best hotels. Among the cream of the crop is the Conrad hotel located near Yeouido station. From the hotel, you can easily walk to the Han River and from the 37th floor you can observe a simply spectacular view.
It’s easy to tell by the design, that the hotel is relatively new. I must say that it is very aesthetically pleasing on the eye. Wink. My room was on the 18th floor, overlooking the beautiful river. The stay duration wasn’t very long, but in that time, I was able to witness beautiful sky views and capture some great photos.
At the top of the hotel is their executive lounge and 37 Grill and Bar. By far, this is the best view of the Han River that I’ve ever seen. This is also where we decided to have breakfast. During my stay I was able to enjoy a dinner at the 37 Grill and Bar which you will have to read about in a separate article.
The hotel also has some great facilities. However, it is important to note that the systems work slightly different than in other countries. In Korea, they tend to offer their gyms to the public with paid gym memberships. For hotel guests, this means that the gym will be quite busy during peak hours and you will have to pay extra to use facilities such as steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. The gym is however included for hotel guests and has a large amount of equipment that is very high quality. There is also a large pool available for hotel guests.
Another facility that I enjoyed was the golf center but must also mention it will cost an extra fee. I must say that it is quite fun to brush up on your game indoors!
Overall, the design of the hotel is really what impressed me the most. The views also were great but some of the Korean hospitality standards are bit different than other countries and I found this off-putting. It is important to be open-minded to different cultures and appreciate them for what they are. All in all, my stay at the Conrad hotel in Seoul was enjoyable.
On my most recent trip to Seoul, South Korea, I had a chance to visit some of the city's best hotels. Among the cream of the crop is the Conrad hotel located near Yeouido station. From the hotel, you can easily walk to the Han River and from the 37th…
