Puma Imperial Hotel

The location is a strong point: it's in a safe area beside Ulaanbaatar's main square, with plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance. My room was large, and the bathroom towels were good quality. But apart from the woman who checked me in, staff were rude and seemed uninterested in guests. I had booked an airport transfer, and the car was quite dirty, which wasn't a good first impression. Breakfast was awful. There wasn't much choice, the tablecloths and napkins were dirty, staff hid in the kitchen, and the fruit looked a week old. On the second morning, the cooked food wasn't ready when breakfast opened. Eventually someone came out and said, "today breakfast 8 o'clock. It's holiday." They should have given advance notice, especially for people with early tours or business plans. There was a power cut on the third morning, and staff never addressed it. I skipped breakfast rather than eat cold food in the dark. The room also needed attention. The safe was light and not fixed down, so it was useless. One cupboard door was missing, the other had slipped off its roller, which I fixed, and the inside was quite damaged. The toilet seat slid around because it was loose. There was no "do not disturb" sign, and nobody at reception to ask for one, so I improvised a sign for my door. The room was very dated and needs an upgrade. There are much nicer-looking hotels in Ulaanbaatar, and they're surely worth paying extra for.

The hotel is conveniently close to Parliament, the bus station, shops, and restaurants. The receptionist spoke English and was very helpful, and you can pay by credit card. Breakfast staff were a different story: they talked and watched videos on their phones while the tables stayed dirty, leaving us nowhere to sit. When we pointed it out, they looked angry. Each morning they cooked their own breakfast at the egg station, took their plates into the kitchen, and shut the door. It felt very uncomfortable having to call them out from there.

The breakfast was amazing, with lots to choose from, including fruit and caviar, and it was delicious. The location is right by the main square. Rooms are large and clean, with a great bathroom, bathtub, and toiletries. There's also a kettle, coffee, and tea in the room.

I stayed at Puma-Imperial Hotel in Ulaanbaatar in August 2024. Its location is a real plus, but the rooms feel outdated and noise from nearby night clubs can be a problem. Staff are polite, though disengaged, and the amenities are basic. Breakfast was okay, nothing special. A decent stay, but not remarkable. My full review is in my YouTube Channel video diary!