SSAW Garden Hotel Beijing

Breakfast was our favorite part, with lots of fresh fruit, noodles, stir-fries, congee, eggs, bacon, pastries, and more. The staff were welcoming and very attentive, too. SSAW Garden is a peaceful spot in the hutongs, with plenty of places to eat an easy walk away. The architecture and artwork felt thoughtfully chosen, and our room had big windows, pajamas, and slippers. Free self-service laundry, complimentary drinks and snacks, and lounge spots for chess or picking a book from the shelves made things more comfortable. We'd love to stay again.

I was here for 14 days on a study trip, and it was a good experience overall. The hotel is down a somewhat dark, quiet street, so at first you might wonder if you're in the right place. Then this modern, stylish building appears, which is a nice surprise. The staff are exceptionally friendly and work hard to make guests comfortable. The rooms are equipped well, with a large double bed even in a single room. Bedding is excellent, the duvets are warm, and there's a good choice of pillows, including memory foam and traditional ones. The bathroom has the essentials, from lotion and soap to shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel, plus plenty of hot water. The heated toilet seat is a surprisingly nice comfort. There are lounge areas around the hotel where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, water, and small snacks. Breakfast is very good, with a nice mix of Asian and Western options. It can get crowded with tour groups early in the morning, which affects the atmosphere a bit, but staff restock quickly and do their best to keep things moving. The main frustration was the Wi-Fi. It was slow and unreliable throughout, which makes online work difficult. Some rooms also get an unpleasant sewer smell. Staff take it seriously and try to fix it, but it tends to return. For a long stay, the lack of a wardrobe or proper clothes space is awkward: there's only a small shelf and a few hangers. There's no desk either, just a small sofa and tea table, though the room does have tea and coffee facilities. The fitness room needs attention. It's cramped on the ground floor in what seems to be part of the laundry area, and it doesn't feel inviting. The atmosphere is dull, and several machines were outdated or not working properly. It seems like the gym hasn't been given much priority, which is a shame because the hotel otherwise tries to make the guest experience thoughtful. More motivating conditions would probably encourage guests to use it. The hotel is comfortable and friendly, with hardworking, kind staff. Better Wi-Fi, a lasting fix for the occasional odor, and a real upgrade to the fitness room would make a big difference for short and long stays in Beijing.

There are shops and restaurants an easy walk away in either direction along the Hutong alley. The staff were gracious, breakfast had a lovely spread with lots of vegetables and fresh-squeezed juices, and our spacious room had a very comfortable bed and a well-appointed bathroom. A wonderful hotel.

The hotel's beautiful, and the rooms were comfortable, but two nights at SSAW Garden Hotel Beijing left us unsure about coming back. On Sunday evening, 21st Oct, one staff member cut us off at the front desk with “We're fully booked” before we could even ask our question. His rude, unprofessional manner spoiled what had otherwise been a pleasant stay. We later got no reply from the general manager's WeChat QR code either, which made it feel pointless. Breakfast starts at 7 a.m., too late if you're leaving early. When we asked for help, the front desk said we'd “booked too late” instead of offering a solution. That was very different from the friendly, professional staff we met on Saturday, 20th Oct. The bathtub hadn't been cleaned, but the woman who brought extra toilet paper to our room was so kind and helpful that we overlooked it and even thought about returning. After Sunday, we're reconsidering.