Read and Rest Hotel

Before coming to Beijing this time, I stayed in the south for two days, which was very inconvenient. After two days of exploring, I decisively decided to check out of that hotel and move to one in the north. I just stumbled upon this hotel; I hadn't heard of it before, but it turned out to be a wonderful surprise! Firstly, its location is simply fantastic and incredibly convenient. There are great places to eat right outside, and it's very close to Yonghe Temple, Gulou, and Nanluoguxiang. After dropping off our luggage, we just walked around and ended up at these spots. Without a doubt, its prime location is the hotel's biggest asset. Secondly, this hotel is quite unique. It's a reading-themed hotel, with a very large library behind the lobby for guests to use. There's also a terrace and laundry drying facilities on the fifth-floor rooftop, which is super convenient. If you're in Beijing for a few days and need to wash clothes, you can hand-wash them in your room and then hang them out to dry. The hotel also has a partnered coffee shop that offers a 40% discount to guests. My daughter's favorite part was the hotel's cats, especially a new little kitten that arrived from Yunda on our second day – absolutely adorable! The overall environment is very clean. Although we stayed in a 'mini-room,' which was indeed very small, the price was reasonable, offering great value for money. It was perfectly fine for one child. Regarding the room facilities, I do have a couple of suggestions. First, the power outlet by the bed had a clock plugged into it, leaving no space for a two-prong plug, so charging my phone required me to place it on the opposite side, which wasn't ideal. Also, the bed faces the toilet in the bathroom. While there's a curtain to block it, it's still not very comfortable. This could have been avoided with a different design. The hotel staff are all very good, and the cleaning auntie kept the room spotless. I would definitely choose to stay here again on my next trip to Beijing.

Extremely close to Beixinqiao subway station, so the location is super convenient. The room was a bit small but perfectly adequate. Having a robot was a nice touch and made things easy. The front desk staff were very friendly. I had a red-eye flight, and they kindly let me check in early since there was an available room. There's also a bus stop outside that can take you to Qianmen, the Bird's Nest, and various other attractions. Plus, there's a fantastic local 'huoshao' (savory pastry) shop nearby!

Here's my detailed review of this hotel: 1. **On the Concept:** I initially booked this place because a review mentioned its unique concept, which is rare in China, plus it had cats and a rooftop terrace. Upon arrival, the overall theme did seem promising. The front desk even mentioned it was a 'reading-themed hotel' during check-in, and so on. However, my personal feeling is that the execution of this concept falls short. While the decor hints at it, the large communal space in the lobby and the adjacent reading area don't quite achieve the envisioned cultural space. There were also posters about coffee on the exterior walls, suggesting it might be sold inside, but I never smelled any. 2. **On the Cats:** Unfortunately, I didn't see any cats from the evening of my arrival until the following morning. Only the litter box and scratching post in the lobby hinted at their presence. 3. **On the Terrace:** I actually stumbled upon the terrace by accident when I was looking for the laundry room. It's a large space, and you can see the old rooftops of the *hutongs* (traditional alleyways), but beyond that, there are no facilities or special views. There's no outdoor bar for a casual drink, nor are there any well-tended plants. I feel this is a huge waste of potential for a rooftop space. When I went up, I saw a foreign couple enter with curiosity, but they left after a few minutes, likely finding it as uninteresting as I did. I believe this area has significant room for improvement. 4. **On the Laundry Room:** As I just mentioned, I found the terrace while looking for the laundry room, which brings me to a point about it. My experience here wasn't great. I expected a self-service laundry like in other hotels, but it was paid. And not only that, there was only one washing machine and one dryer. I even had to go back to the front desk on the first floor to get laundry detergent pods. 5. **On the Room:** I booked a 'mini room,' which was just enough for a single person, and had a bit of a *tatami* style. The room layout was very compact. The biggest flaw in the entire room was the problematic wet/dry separation in the bathroom. After showering, water would overflow onto the floor outside. Given that the window was right next to the bathroom, you can imagine how tight the space was. Definitely don't place your luggage near there, as it risks getting wet. At least the hotel's slippers placed nearby were completely soaked. The toilet was directly opposite the shower, completely open-plan. This might be a bit shocking for people accustomed to domestic accommodations. The disposable amenities were of average comfort; the toothbrush was quite hard, and the toothpaste quality was also mediocre. Furthermore, they were dispensed according to the number of occupants, with limited supply. 6. **On the Location:** To be fair, this aspect is excellent. It's basically at the end of a *hutong*, and a few minutes' walk takes you to the subway station. It's also close to attractions, and nearby dining options are easily accessible. The window view in the morning when it gets light is beautiful. For a room rate of 300+ RMB, the view alone is worth 100+ RMB. Unfortunately, the room space is too narrow, there's no table, and no conditions to enjoy tea or coffee. 7. **On the Service:** I can only say it was average. I understand that front desk work can be tiring, but the visible exhaustion on their faces made me feel a bit uncomfortable. The overall cleanliness of the front desk area was also just average, a bit messy. I recall one detail: I asked to borrow nail clippers the next day, and they said they didn't have any. I truly don't understand, as this is a very common request in the accommodation industry, and it's the first time I've encountered a place that didn't have them. 8. **Summary:** If you're looking for a guesthouse in a *hutong* for convenient transportation, you can give it a try, but don't have excessively high expectations.

The hotel was newer than I expected, it didn't feel like it opened in 2019. The facilities and equipment are well-maintained and quite new. You can tell it's run by a professional team, and the hygiene and service standards are spot on. It's a great place, within walking distance to Yonghe Temple and Nanluoguxiang, so you'll have no trouble finding places to eat and drink as there are plenty of restaurants nearby.