The Orchid Hotel - Old Town & Drum Tower

The staff were extremely welcoming and very helpful. When we mentioned we had an early morning trip to the Great Wall, they happily put together a pack lunch for us. The accommodation was homely and we loved it!

Nothing bad to say!

The Orchid has an incredible location, right in the middle of hutongs and just a few steps from the tower. The staff was very friendly and very helpful. They always tried to anticipate and accommodate our needs. Breakfast was also very nice. The hotel is cosy and it has a great vibe, and their cats are adorable.

Staff is amazing, really committed to you having a good day and supporting your plans.

There isn’t really anything that I could come up with

The location is great, buried in the hutongs in the shadow of the Bell Tower but away from Bell Tower craziness. There are lots of interesting bars and restaurants around and the Metro is very convenient. The middle-Eastern style breakfasts are a big plus and a major feature of why the hotel is attractive. The onsite bakery is excellent too. We were upgraded to a bigger room with a kitchen area with on tap drinking water, which is unusual and great. Underfloor heating and an actual bath in the bathroom were appreciated too. The towels were great.

The upgrade was to a loft apartment, which was a mistake for us. The mattress (not particularly comfortable) was on the floor and up stairs from the bathroom, not ideal for guests who are no longer young enough to scramble in and out of bed easily. The living space had a small sofa but no other comfortable chair (although there was plenty room for one) so we were rather awkwardly perched side by side. The small kitchenette had dishes and glasses but no cloths or towels so keeping them clean and it tidy was a challenge. The room had large windows but looked directly onto the courtyard so we had to keep the blinds down which made it rather gloomy. The main issue is the 5 star price in the absence of 5 star amenities. Pity. I stayed here once before when the prices were half what they are now, and would say that was good value. In my opinion it no longer is.