Ritz-Carlton Financial Street

This shiny property is located on the western side of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

• The soothing, earthy color scheme
• The “tea apothecary” with a choice of 88 blends
• The convenient location on Financial Street

The Ritz-Carlton Financial Street is a shiny property in the financial district, on the western side of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. The suburb, which has little intrinsic interest for visitors, does now have a nucleus of posh properties—the Ritz, Intercon and Westin—and is within striking distance of the city center. The standard Ritz rooms are a generous 535 square feet and feature 37-inch flat-screen television sets.

Designers set out to make the lobby lounge different from the China norm, in which bombast usually triumphs over intimacy. They succeeded: the comfy space, with its earthy colors, natural light, hanging birdcages and crystal bar, is a cozy spot. Another novel twist is the “tea apothecary” with its choice of 88 blends; the number is considered auspicious in Chinese culture and, in any event, at least one out of that choice is bound to bring luck.

Business travelers who want to be close to the Financial Street.