Diaoyutai Boutique Hotel Chengdu

1) Subway station is 30 seconds right across the road. 2) Location is good because it is enveloped by a few famous narrow alleys selling handicraft, snacks, desserts, souvenirs, Chinese artwork etc, and have endless food stalls, coffee shops that surround the hotel, buzzing with activities all day till at least 11pm. 3) Hotel staff speak minimal English but they do understand it albeit not able to converse freely. Naturally using PTH is best. 4) Staff in the entire hotel are very friendly, courteous, pleasant and accommodating, trying to help in any way possible. 5) Bespectacled night manageress in a black suit was very welcoming and sweet. She offered to upgrade us when the room originally assigned for us was not as quiet as we had requested when we booked it. She led us to see the original one ( 2/F )and the other one ( the quieter one on 3/F ) and let us choose. 6) The upgraded room ( 3/F ) was a suite and it was really nice --- very quiet with courtyard view and tasteful lay out. 7) Cannot praise enough for the delightful suite -- spacious and elegant ; super clean ; smells nice , refreshing and just right not overwhelming ; white crispy bed linen ; daily turn down service; endless supply of fresh bottled water on daily basis ; spotless tumbler and fresh bottle of water by the bedside table every evening; everything you touch is spotless ; wooden flooring matching Chinese wooden furniture in simple design giving out this classy Chinese feel ; free to consume anything for the 1st time in the mini bar ; tea & coffee replenished daily ; kettle and coffee machine; free stationery like scissors, stapler, clips, pencil and pens etc; toiletries like vanity set, combs, toothbrush etc replenished daily ; spacious bathroom with double wash basins and clean white towels ; wash basins in rose gold but not tacky; shower drainage not smooth on 1st night but they fixed it and no prob thereafter ; water pressure from shower was good and plenty of marble top inside shower room for your own toiletries ; bathtub with fresh rose petals on 1st night and various types of bath salt ; big screen to watch telly while in tub ; separate toilet near living room; ample wardrobe space and power operated blinds and black out blinds. They provide steam iron on request but it would be better to have a proper flat iron if you want to press pants and other thicker harder material. Steam iron is only good for silk or plain cotton. Even linen is better with a flat iron. 8) This is a 100% Chinese ambience hotel from lobby to our suite but nothing is gaudy or ostentatious because everything is simple, no fuss, low-key, very clean, good architecture, functional and all colour combo is soothing to the eyes. 9) We ate at their restaurant the 1st night and food was ok -- dan dan noodles slightly overcooked so it was a bit mushy. Fried rice was a huge serving with fresh shrimps and nicely cooked. Tea could be hotter. Service was attentive, efficient and proper.

I booked this hotel to compare with temple house and I would definitely recommend temple house over diaoyutai. Despite the no smoking sign there was a distinct smell of cigarette smoke in the room. The room setup doesn't make much sense with the walk in closet at the opposite end of the bed and bathroom. The bed is quite comfy so that's a plus. A lot of the channels on the tv didn't work which was weird because they worked at all the other hotels I stayed at in Chengdu. The original room they gave me was on a higher floor but looked right into the residential building next door so I wouldn't be able to open the curtains hence I requested a room change. The new one was better location wise but the windows were really dirty as if they'd never been wiped. Location is good if you want to explore xuanzhai alley but beware there are A LOT of tourists. Soundproofing is good and you can get a good night's sleep despite the ruckus outside.

Employees have good attention to details; particularly Enola from the front desk.