The DNA: Named for the guest house that sits across from the main house in a traditional Chinese courtyard home is The Opposite House. The hotel is located in Beijing’s Sanlitun district surrounded by trendy bars, restaurants and boutiques. The luxury design hotel is set in a cubic structure clad in green glass. Inside is a massive central atrium, loosely divided into distinct semi-public spaces, unapologetically modern in style and geometric in form. It’s kept warm by rich colors and liberal use of natural materials, right down to the guest suites, where even the odd rectangular bathtubs are carved from deeply grained wood. The smallest is not all that small, and the biggest is big indeed – all come equipped with the very latest in high-end design furniture and fittings, along with the occasional weathered wood antique. The hotel has an extensive spa, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre. and an art gallery. The Michelin starred Jing Yaa Tang reflects the connection between traditional and modern Chinese cuisine. Superfly, the new casual Sichuan bar and restaurant features vibrant interiors inspired by local street culture and pop art, which is juxtaposed by Frasca, a sleek trattoria serving Italian classics by chef Marino D’Antonio. Designed by critically acclaimed design firm, AvroKO, the sleek new Union Bar embodies the spirit of 1920’s modernism, showcasing artwork and objects reminiscent of International Expos with copper architectural frames and metal mesh sheets.

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 99 rooms & suites (45-390m2) • hotel opened: 2008 • architecture: Kengo Kuma • interior design: Kengo Kuma and AvroKo (Union Bar) ✅ free on-site parking ✅ pet friendly, no charges • 24-hour front desk