Daring, edgy and surprising, this swanky boutique hotel will do nothing short of leaving you star-struck.
As a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ collection and winner of numerous awards, Hotel Eclat is already a proven favourite of China’s movie stars and millionaires – and a perfect abode for any art or design-loving CF traveller.
Hotel Eclat fulfils its mission of embodying the ‘Art of Luxury and Luxury of Art’ in every corner. The entirely eco-friendly glass-pyramid that surrounds it is so stunning that it would have made even ancient Egypt envious, whilst its carefully crafted interiors are home to China’s largest contemporary art collection – boasting names such as Dali, Warhol, Matter and Chinese masters like Zou Liang and Chen Wen Ling. The lobby itself is discretely tucked away on the left side of the entrance to Beijing’s infamous art mall, Parkview Green. It opens onto a cosy pathway dominated by variety of sculptures and paintings, ranging from serene-looking Buddha’s to surreal representations of animals and objects – just to culminate in a golden Salvador Dali piece as the star of this show. It is enough to stop and stare at every step as you make your way from the front-desk to the lifts.
The 100 suites and guest rooms are all filled with lavish furniture created by design-gurus such as Timothy Oulton and the latest tech-gadgets, whilst some even include a private Jacuzzi or swimming pool for romantic midnight dips. Each room is also uniquely themed, inspired by classic concepts such as 20th Century sports, ‘Old Boys Club’ and Hollywood, but also funkier cinema classic such as Star Wars (where there’s a life-sized Storm Trooper in the room…).
If you can stretch to a room with a terrace, you’ll get a quirky all-weather balcony area ‘outside’ of the hotel but still within the glass structure of the building. All rooms come with 3D TVs (complete with glasses and a selection of movies), massage armchairs, and fancy bathrooms.
My own room featured spectacular panoramic city views, an artistic bath tub in the centre (making for a very interesting shower experience) and had a cosy, covered terrace from which I could observe Beijing’s bright lights whilst snuggling up on its leather sofas. The bed itself was comfortable too, with just the right amount of softness.
All guests have access to the Eclat Lounge, which serves all-day refreshments on the 16th floor and complimentary afternoon tea in a gallery-like setting that allows for perfect people watching as you look down into the Parkview Green mall. This is also where breakfast gets served in the morning, through a buffet and à la carte menu. A variety of other dining options are close by, as the mall is home to establishments such as George’s Bar and Restaurants and the award-winning Sun Ming Yuen restaurant. All hotel guests are entitled to a complimentary cocktail per evening in George’s.
With friendly staff and a truly unique environment, this art and design Mecca should definitely be on the list for any Citizen Femme traveller looking to experience the eccentric glitz and glamour of today’s new China.
N.B. Hotel Eclat is conveniently located in China’s business and embassies district Chaoyang and a short walk away from DongDaQiao subway station on Line 6. Other hotel facilities also include a lobby bar and a 24-hour gym that overlooks the mall for extra distractions as you’re sweating the day away!
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