Hotel Cote Cour SL
COST: $
This happy little courtyard hotel charms guests the moment they walk through the traditional red-lacquered gate. Reception staffers are friendly and smiling, the gardener sings while working among his persimmon, magnolia, and cherry trees; even the parakeets tweet merrily from their bamboo cages. The property feels like a labor of love, and it is; in April 2007, owner and former investment banker Shauna Liu sank her life savings into converting this historic home into an exclusive 14-room boutique hotel. Liu also handpicked all the interior furnishings and fittings to create a tasteful blend of East and West: guest rooms have lacquered-wood wardrobes, lantern-style light fixtures, and traditional Chinese ceramics and Tibetan rugs—but also fluffy down duvets during the winter and silk quilts during the summer, flat-screen TVs, and slick modern baths with walk-in glass showers and freestanding basins. A chic little communal lounge and bar leads to a large roof deck with a wonderful view over the nearby hutongs—which are part of a protected historic district.
Tip: If you get the chance, chat Liu up a bit; she’s living her dream and is infectiously enthusiastic about the property and the neighborhood.
Room to Book: Room 211, a spacious avocado-colored deluxe suite, has a beautifully appointed sitting room and a deliciously deep soaking tub.
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