Hyatt Regency Hangzhou

The Hyatt Regency is possibly the finest hotel in Hangzhou. Located across the street from the banks of West Lake, the main attraction in the popular tourist town, the property offers stunning views of the water and the boats traversing it. The hotel also houses one of the city’s most lauded restaurants, HuBin Road. You might compete with tourists outside, but inside you’ll feel only calm.

Make sure to request a lakeside room so you can rise each morning to the view. The comfortable rooms feature contrasting red and white designs, TVs with cable, satellite and pay-per-view channels, and a separate marble tub and shower. But you’ll want to spend most of your time outside. And if you’re in one of the Garden Suite King rooms, which have patios facing the water, you can get out while you’re still in the room. The terrace is a lovely place for an evening cocktail or glass of wine from the mini-bar.

The meal I had at Hyatt Regency Hangzhou’s award-winning 28 HuBin Road was the best I had in the four cities I visited in China. The chef achieves stunning consistency for a menu featuring more than 160 items. The crispy sweet-and-sour Mandarin fish was both tender and chewy. Try the pigeon eggs stuffed with goose liver or the shrimp topped with fresh, locally grown longjing green tea leaves. You’ll have to order the signature dish in advance, though: the pork pyramid stuffed with bamboo shoots is steam-finished for two hours, and only 15 are served per night.

Hangzhou is a city of brides and grooms; couples from all over mainland China travel to the scenic town for their fetes. If you choose to get married at the Hyatt Regency, you’ll be in good cultural company—but you’ll have your own private view. The West Lake room in the hotel can accommodate parties of up to 120 people and is available for either a seated or buffet lunch or dinner.

The Hyatt Regency Hangzhou doesn’t offer specific packages geared toward romance—arguably because they don’t have to. Whether sipping scotch from a dark leather banquette in the Bellevue bar, staring onto the lake from the edge of the infinity pool or sharing green-tea tiramisu in 28 HuBin Road, you’ll find there’s not much about the property that isn’t romantic.

Begin or end a day of strolling around the lake—you can traverse the circumference in about four hours—with a leisurely swim in the Hyatt Regency’s brightly lit indoor pool. If you can tear yourself away from your sweetie, detox in the sauna, steam room, and cold plunges in the locker rooms. Or, stay together in the Pure Spa’s treatment room for couples. Try an Eastern wellness service such as the Gua Sha scrape therapy, which aims to stimulate circulation and regulate organ function.

Stunning West Lake is just steps from the lobby. Hire a gondolier to row you across the placid water to one of the verdant islands. Or walk hand in hand across the causeways connecting various areas of the lake; you can cover the circumference it in about four hours. Morning strolls will be more private, but afternoon wanderers will spot brides and grooms staging photos. The adventurous can hop in a taxi for either Lingyin Temple or one of the area’s many tea plantations, all of which are a short drive from the Hyatt.

Hangzhou is the top tourist attraction among the Chinese. The prices at the Hyatt Regency reflect the area’s popularity. While the quality of the hotel is worth the price, guests paying such a premium shouldn’t be nickel-and-dimed. Perks like wi-fi and coffee in the lobby not only come at a price, but at an expensive one.

Due to Hangzhou’s wide appeal, the hotel caters to a range of guests. Those looking for a calm getaway will want for nothing. With its top-notch restaurant and proximity to the lake, guests could spend days in Hangzhou without ever getting in a car—a tempting proposition for weary travelers looking to decompress.

Hyatt Regency Hangzhou
28 Hu Bin Road
Hangzhou, People's Republic of China 310006
Tel: +86 571 8779 1234

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As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation and meals for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.