The Opposite House

"In a serene hotel amidst the busy Sanlitun area, this high-ceilinged dining room exudes understated luxury. The menu changes from time to time and is mostly Beijingese, with occasional offerings from elsewhere. Watch your 45-day-old Peking duck browning for an hour in the jujube wood-fired oven before being carved table-side. Osmanthus-scented lotus root stuffed with glutinous rice, and dishes made with fresh mushrooms are also popular." - Michelin Inspector

"Chef Talib makes reference to anything and everything in his tasting menu with ten-plus courses – his creations defy all classifications in geography or cooking style, thereby lending his dishes complex structure and cultural meaning. A typical course shows European, American and Asian influences all at once, using top-notch ingredients of the season. You may pair your food with a wine flight or juices. Reservations and deposite payment are a must." - Michelin Inspector

"To start, take us inside the hotel.Beijing’s original design-driven hotel stirs up playfulness with a deep sense of zen. There’s an art gallery vibe at this striking glass box of a hotel, with permanent installations (such as Chen Wenling's Red Memories) and statement design (a 20-foot-high wall of 6,000 Chinese apothecary drawers) featured in the soaring space, where metallic textiles sweep down from the ceiling. So what's the story here?When it opened a decade ago, the Opposite House was something completely different for Beijing: contemporary, Zen-like, and decidedly non-ornate, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. It was the first of the House Collective (part of The Swire Group), whose most recent addition is Middle House Shanghai, which opened in early 2018. We've booked a room, checked in, we're ready to head up to our room. What will we find there?A glass elevator takes you up to the 99 bedrooms, each a clean, crisp haven of white linens, polished Scandinavian wood, and rough charcoal-hued stone walls. Light streams in from the wall of windows overlooking the Sanlitun neighborhood below. Plenty of space to unfurl the yoga mat in the closet, and settle in with a few downward dogs on the heated floor while the Japanese cedarwood bath fills up. Are there any good food options on site?The Opposite House gave Beijing its first food truck—a sleek wooden vehicle parked outside the entrance, ‘BAO House’ lit up in red neon. The traditional homemade dumplings are given a modern twist, stuffed with a decadent mix of wagyu beef, mushroom, and black truffle, or Thai pork with red curry. Inside the hotel, Alan Yau’s Jing Yaa Tang is theatrical: a low lit, sultry Chinoiserie dining room lacquered with burnt orange and plum. Order the fiery Sichuan poached chicken with crushed peanuts, sesame, and peppers. How's the service?Lack of reception desk does not mean lack of a proper ‘huanying’ welcome, by young multilingual staff padding around in black, iPad in hand. The Guest Experience team can make you feel like the only guest in the hotel. Who else are we likely to see checking in to adjacent rooms?Avant-garde art types in out-there Chinese designs and Japanophiles in Comme des Garçons, all in black from head to toe. Beijing’s best-dressed bankers beat a path to the well-chilled Mesh lounge to sip watermelon-chili Martinis on the leather loungers. How does it fit into the surrounding area, and what's worth checking out nearby?Formerly seedy Sanlitun has blossomed since the hotel’s opening, with independent boutiques and excellent restaurants and bars setting up shop. Dover Street Market is over the road; while nearby the former Beijing Machinery and Electric Institute has been repurposed as 1949—The Hidden City, a collection of bars and restaurants. If you could fix one thing, what would it be?The lighting in the public spaces is so dim as to be disorienting. So what makes this hotel so special? Why would you recommend it?Most high-end hotels in China still conform to the overly decorated, chandelier-filled lobby model. For contemporary cool with strong art and food credentials and super-smooth service, there is nowhere else in Beijing." - Cynthia Rosenfeld

"Sanlitun was once a run-down district for young expats and broke students looking for a fun night out. But when the Opposite House, with its modern, green-paneled facade, landed in the middle of this formerly hedonistic paradise, things went distinctly upscale. Sure, there are still a few places just behind the hotel to get a quick drink, but now the area attracts a smart set of young Chinese urban professionals and local fashionistas. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the quirky exterior doesn't do justice to the Asian minimalist styling inside. The entrance itself is a work of art—the huge wooden door has the texture and rawness of age, with beautiful iron handles reminiscent of those adorning the gates in the hutong districts. Inside, find expansive wood floors, glass panels, and rotating art exhibits featuring local artists.The hotel’s restaurant, Jing Yaa Tang, offers one of the best dim sum deals in town, an all-you-can-eat brunch for $25."

"A jade-hued glass box in the heart of Beijing’s bustling Sanlitun district, featuring Japanese-style wood tubs, an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures, and a fleet of e-bikes for exploring the city."