Houhai Beijing, China
Opened
2017
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Social LocalOutside the door
The house
HuazhuSurrealist hutong showpiece
Giant pink wireframe rabbits perch across dark charcoal rooftops, blending playful contemporary sculpture with traditional grey-brick courtyard architecture.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Ministry of Design unites 1950s compound buildings with cracked ice-ray pathways and oversized fluorescent pink rabbit sculptures.
Listed
An open-air rooftop Moon Bar, a street-facing bakery cafe, and a warehouse lounge with DJ counter.
Listed
Direct lakeside grounds border active residential hutong lanes, offering courtyard pathways beneath traditional grey tiled eaves.
What they say
Also in Wallpaper*.
The different architectural styles – among them, ornate roof eaves, gargoyles and plain brick walls – have been harnessed under an overarching palette of dark charcoal greys and gold.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Set along the quiet water of Houhai Lake, residential hutong lanes lead past historic courtyards to nearby Prince Kung's Mansion.
The rooms
Monochromatic interiors feature hairline brass accents, yellow Ming chairs, and dramatic open bathrooms opening onto private balconies or quiet courtyards.
The rooftop pool
Bring a swimsuit.
An open-air plunge pool and Jacuzzi sit on the rooftop, looking out across Houhai Lake and the treetops.
Restaurant
The Pink Rabbit
The restaurant serves Spanish tapas beneath exposed timber trusses, with geometric wooden lattices and an angular brass bar.
How it began
Six separate 1950s compound structures were tied together using traditional Chinese screen lattices, ornate jack roofs, and dark charcoal facades.
Stay here
VUE Hotel Hou Hai, Beijing
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Beijing
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.