I Finally Found This Super Cool Hotel in Chengdu
A Review of The St. Regis Chengdu: Where Value Meets a Unique Experience
Overall Value and Positioning
Rooms at The St. Regis Chengdu cost between CNY 800–900 a night and come with a USD 100 credit, making it a great value overall. It’s perfect if you’re just looking for a conveniently located place to rest. While it may not fully meet traditional luxury hotel standards, its price advantage and unique services make it particularly appealing.
Location
The hotel is in an excellent location, about 2 km from Taikoo Li, making it easy to get around. With plenty of shopping and dining options nearby, its location is comparable to The Temple House.
Hardware and Amenities
🏘️Room Types and Layout
- Deluxe King Room: The spacious Deluxe King Room I booked was 65 m², making it very comfortable. However, the furniture felt a bit old, and the room wasn't very well ventilated. The TV rises out of a cabinet, but the mechanical structure wasn't very responsive and took several tries to get it to rise.
- St. Regis Suite: The suite is a whopping 130 m² and features an entryway decorated with fresh orchids, giving it a stylish feel. The long dining table is impressive and even has lightable candles. Although the mini bar isn't free, the spaciousness of the suite is very pleasant. Compared to the standard rooms, the suite has a more generous selection of welcome fruit, and the welcome letter is sealed with wax, clearly indicating preferential treatment and an elevated experience.
🛌 Supplies and Amenities
The public areas and exterior of the hotel have the gilded marble look that was popular in five-star hotels more than a decade ago, which now looks a bit dated. However, the rooms are fully equipped, and the butler service, which includes two free items ironed per day and a constant supply of coffee and honey water, is a great experience. The pool facilities are generally good, with wide lanes and a suitable depth. The lighting effects are psychedelic at night, making it great for photos, but the view from the windows is marred by the faded billboards on the neighboring office building.
🧹 Soundproofing and Cleanliness
The overall cleanliness is generally acceptable, but there is still room for improvement. For example, there was hair in the bathtub, and there was obvious dust in some of the corners that are difficult to reach, presumably due to poor furniture maintenance. The soundproofing is acceptable, ensuring a relatively quiet environment.
Dining Experience
Breakfast
The breakfast selection is similar to that of a Marriott, which isn't extensive, and there are a lot of pre-made dishes. However, there is fresh juice, and the bamboo fungus noodles, which you can customize with your choice of ingredients, are worth a try, and the noodle chef provides excellent service. However, the Eggs Benedict was poorly made. Overall, breakfast will fill you up, but it’s unremarkable in terms of quality and variety.
Other Dining Options
I recommend trying the *dan dan* noodles at the hotel, which are suitable for visitors from out of town. You can use your USD 100 credit at Yan Ting, the Cantonese restaurant on the second floor, for a Cantonese dim sum buffet. The quality is in the upper-middle range for Cantonese buffets in Chengdu, and the dishes are made fresh. The braised abalone with yellow chicken soup, drunken river prawns, and small portions of exquisite Sichuan dishes are all worth recommending. Although the champagne served at the nightly saber champagne opening ceremony at 6pm is of average quality, the accompanying snacks are excellent, and the salmon rolls with caviar are sweet and delicious.
Service Experience
Service is a major highlight of The St. Regis Chengdu, with service levels meeting luxury hotel standards. You can add the butler service on WeChat to conveniently place orders. The butler service seems to be more attentive and thoughtful, especially when staying in a suite.
💰 Average Cost
CNY 800–900 a night for a standard room
💗 Other Tips
1. The Evergrande Group, the hotel's owner, has affected upgrades for Marriott members, making it more difficult to get a membership upgrade.
2. You can take full advantage of the USD 100 credit, whether for laundry, dining, or other expenses, to enhance your stay.
3. The hotel's infinity pool is perfect for taking photos, so be sure to bring your camera to capture some great memories.
While The St. Regis Chengdu has shortcomings such as its dated appearance and average breakfast, its value, unique services, and amazing suites give it a unique position in the Chengdu hotel market, making it a great choice for travelers visiting Chengdu.