Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing

Mandarin Oriental has had a rocky entry into the Chinese capital: its first under-construction hotel literally went up in flames in 2009, while a hutong property announced in 2015 has yet to materialize. It seems the third time is the charm with the arrival of this 73-room lodging off the pedestrian shopping street Wangfujing. Set within a slick new mall, the hotel’s discreet side-lane entrance transports guests from the thronging pavement outside into a hushed refuge where Frank Gehry koi fish lamps circle above the reception desk and staff in draping silk blouses skim through sun-dappled corridors and courtyards, evoking a contemporary Forbidden City vibe. This twist on the classic continues in the guest rooms, which are styled in a refreshing palette of jade and violet, with fourposter beds and large circular bathtubs. Dyson hairdryers and silk pajamas are among the thoughtfully curated amenities that elevate your stay. Breakfasts at porcelain-encrusted Café Zi feature dim sum and mini muffins; the art-deco ambiance at Mandarin Grill sets the tone for superb steaks; and the MO Bar pours sophisticated Beijing-inspired cocktails like the Time Lapse, made with milk-washed baijiu and jenever. The latter also opens out to the hotel’s pièce de résistance: a tulip-dotted rooftop terrace with blissful views across the golden rooftops of the neighboring Forbidden City. — 86-10/ 8509-8888; mandarinoriental.com; doubles from US$430