Spicy Panda: Waldorf Astoria Chengdu Suite Review

I was excited to hear of a Waldorf Astoria in Chengdu. There are only 3 of them in China. The rates also seem rather attractive. This is one of the cheapest WA in the world. I have 5 nights in Chengdu and will be checking out a couple of hotels. I was considering between this and the Canopy. I went for this on an Impresario rate for a single-night stay. Luxury hotels in China are considered to be on the affordable side by Western standards. This is the 3rd Waldorf Astoria hotel in China and the 27th globally. It is located in the heart of Chengdu Financial City in the High Tech Zone. It is about a 20-minute drive from IFS and Chunxi Road. SKP Mall is nearby. The hotel is also located near Chengdu South Railway Station. The lobby is in a high building with the lobby right at the top of 52 floors. You can be sure to get an amazing view if you’re staying here. The hotel was built in 2017 and is about 7 years old now. 

Booking Process & Pre Arrival 

I booked a Hilton Impresario rate for this stay and will be staying here for 1 night. I paid around 338 SGD for my one-night stay. This is rather worthwhile given the inclusion of the rates. Staying on Impresario rates is the most worthwhile on short stays. I will be earning 40X Hilton points for this booking with the promotion. The Impresario rate is pegged to the flexible rate and I will enjoy extra benefits on top of my Diamond status. You get a 100 USD credit, an upgrade, breakfast, double Hilton points, early check-in and late checkout. A couple of days out I can see from the app that I have been upgraded to a Waldorf Astoria Suite. This is an excellent upgrade. The suite goes for around 730 SGD a night. Waldorf Astoria Chengdu features 289 guest rooms including 31 suites across 8 categories. You can check out the breakdown below.

Rooms	Bathtub	Room Size	No.of Rooms
Deluxe	Yes	50 – 55 Sqm	81
Deluxe Skyline View	Yes	50 – 55 Sqm	78
Deluxe with Study	Yes	50 – 57 Sqm	56
Premier Lifestyle	Yes	56 Sqm	43
One Bedroom Waldorf Astoria Suite	Yes	105 Sqm	25
One Bedroom Ambassador Suite	Yes	160 Sqm	3
Two Bedroom Royal Suite	Yes	215 Sqm	2
Two Bedroom Presidential Suite	Yes	377 Sqm	1

Checking In

I got to the city at around 1.45pm after taking the train from Chongqing. The hotel is very near the train station. It is just a 10-minute journey via didi and it cost me just 26 CNY. Upon arrival, the bellboy immediately came over to help us with the doors and our bags. The ground floor is just a reception area with the actual lobby on the 52nd floor. There are some seatings by the reception area. This is also where you can find the connection to the mall. 

I was helped by a rather nonchalant guy at check-in. It wasn’t too busy but none of the staff took any initiative to help out. It was only after some time before this guy helped us with the check-in. He just went around checking the box and wasn’t too welcoming. I expect a higher service level at a Waldorf. He informed me of the information for the stay. The impresario credit is worth 700 CNY including tax. I was extended a 4pm late checkout. They also provide 2 welcome drinks vouchers at Peacock Alley. We can either use this for 1 for 1 drinks or free drinks from a selected menu. Surprisingly, a welcome letter is also not offered. This should be a norm at luxury hotels and for impresario rates. 

The lobby comes with some seating at the side and it boasts unblocked views of the surrounding area. 

Waldorf Astoria Suite

This is the entry-level suite here. I was assigned a Waldorf Astoria Suite on the 45th floor. Suite 4528 to be exact. These are awesome. It might be entry level but the Waldorf Astoria suites measures a ridiculous 107 Sqm. You know you are in for a treat when you have a double-door entrance. The outer doors can be closed such that the suite can be joined with an adjoining room to make this into a two-bedroom suite. The curtains and sheers are automated. 

To the left, you can find a powder room which comes with a toilet and a sink. This will be handy if you are having guests over or having a gathering. It is always practical to have another toilet in the suite.

The living room is gorgeous and well-furnished. It is kind of in a semi-circular layout. You have a full dining table for four people. This will be great for ordering room service or having some takeaway and enjoying in the comfort of your suite. Perfect for parties and gatherings. Left on the table is a welcome amenity consisting of some fruits and a personalised letter from the director of operations. 

The suite comes with a wet bar. This is by the wall. It is great to have this when you are hosting a small party or gathering. The area comes with a generous amount of complimentary drinking water, a kettle and an espresso coffee machine. I appreciate having a proper coffee machine here especially when there is no lounge. Below is also a fully stocked mini fridge with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The minibar is only complimentary if you booked it directly and not if you are upgraded.

In the corner is the working desk with two chairs. It comes with a great view of the surrounding area. This is great for a work set-up. The Wi-Fi connection is very good and stable. Do take note that the usual great firewall of China exists and you will not be able to connect to your usual websites and apps. All sorts of ports and power outlets are within reach. 

The views are amazing, the ceiling-to-floor windows boast a 270-degree panoramic view of the Financial City and park. The views are unblocked and wide. It stretched through the entire living room. I love that the blinds and sheers are electronically controlled over here. This kind of gives me a Vegas vibe.

The other half of the suite lies the seating area. The area comes with two sofa sets and an armchair. It can seat 7 to 8 people comfortably. 

Mounted on the wall is a high-quality smart-screen television. It comes with a good number of both local channels and a selected number of international channels. I did wish that the TV was slightly larger as this feels very small for a suite of this size. 

The bedroom area is separated from the living room by a proper door. I appreciate the setup as you can prevent disturbing your other half or family if you need to rest or get some work done. The bedroom is much more cosy in comparison. It is rectangular in configuration. The room comes with another TV. It will be much better if it is larger and that will be nicer when viewed from the bed. At the side, you also have an armchair. The amount of seating area in the suite is endless.

The king-size bed is found on the other side. It is super comfortable and comes with high-quality 600 thread count sheets. There is also a pillow menu to customise your sleep experience. The bed is slightly on the softer side. Flanking both sides of the bed you can find nightstands with controls for the lighting and power outlets. Right in front of the bed is an ottoman. 

The wardrobe is located to the side. It is in a semi-open layout with plenty of space. All sorts of amenities are provided and there are plenty of hangers. You can find both portable and fixed luggage racks for your baggage here too. 

There is also an amenity corner which I am sure the ladies will find useful. It comes with a mirror and power plugs. There is another entrance here. It does feel that this suite is made by combining two separate rooms in the past. 

The bathroom is classy and retro. It comes with all sorts of amenities and as usual in WA, toiletries are from Aesop and in large-size bottles. This is a fantastic amenity. The double sinks and white marble finish is a perfect pairing. The bathroom comes with a standing shower and a separate bathtub. The shower is in an enclosed room. There is both a handheld shower head as well as a rainforest one. The water pressure is decent and temperature control is good. 

A Dyson hairdryer is provided for your use. 

The bathtub comes with a bath pillow and bath salt. They also had a TV installed here and you can continue binging on your show while having a soak. I feel they can better utilize the space to have a much more spacious and bigger tub. Do not miss having a soak with Aesop! 

Turndown service is automatically provided in the evening. I do feel that the room is slightly dated and showing its age. It still fits the profile of a Waldorf with high-quality items and fittings. The air conditioning can be improved. They are on the weaker side for the summer months.

Fitness Centre

The fitness centre and pool are located on the 48th floor. The gym is open 24 hours for your use. This allows you to get a workout anytime you fancy. The facility is a very welcoming space and comes with a great view of the surroundings to keep you company. It is equipped with the latest technology equipment from Life Fitness and Technogym. The equipment is well-maintained and clean. There is also a yoga room. Bottled water and infused water are provided. Energy drinks are available for purchase. 

Swimming Pool

The swimming pool is similarly located on the 48th floor. The pool is open from 6am to 10pm. The indoor pool is heated. It is gorgeous and well-maintained. The regular size 25m pool is great for doing laps and working out. It overlooks the city skyline. You can find some sunbeds and chairs by the side. The pool is more of one for working out than relaxing. 

Peacock Alley

I came here to enjoy the welcome drinks voucher. This is the Waldorf signature bar. You can find it on the 49th floor. It snakes around the side and offers an amazing view of the surrounding area. You can come here to enjoy a drink or an afternoon tea. It is open from 10am to 10pm.

Diamond members get 2 drink vouchers per stay. You can use this for one complimentary drink from the special diamond menu or opt for 1 for 1 drink from the more extensive main menu. The cocktails go for around 100 CNY each, which is about 18 SGD. This is a pretty good price for luxury hotels. 

I try out the Mojito and the signature Peacock cocktail. This is served with some nuts and tablets. They had some performances from time to time. 

Infinite Luck Restaurant

I also dined at the hotel Chinese restaurant Infinite Luck during my stay. This is known to be one of Chengdu’s finest restaurants. It is helmed by Executive Chef Tony Yang. The main restaurant area is a very intimate affair with only 8 tables. Luxh is offered from 11.30am to 2pm and dinner from 5.30pm to 10pm. The meal ended up being the worst experience of the entire stay and this left a sour aftertaste of my entire Waldorf Astoria experience. I made reservations ahead and even went to check out the menu ahead of my visit. I was keen on ordering their signature duck and was told that we could order it when we dine. 

It came as a shocking surprise that the waitress told me the duck needs 1.5 hours to be ready! This information was nowhere to be seen on the menu and the staff who engaged with me earlier made no mention of this fact. This is unacceptable. The staff was not apologetic at all and gave a snobbish and rude attitude when I informed them of my displeasure of being given the wrong information. After asking for the manager, she told me to make a reservation for another time. WTF! It was only after the matter was escalated to the hotel’s top management before they apologised for it. If given the proper information, I would have pre-ordered the duck before my meal. It is appalling to get such service at a Waldorf. Not only did the restaurant not apologise, they just told me to order something else. Do they seriously expect a customer to wait 1.5 hours for a roast duck after sitting down? They could have simply said it required pre-reservation ahead. The meal was not enjoyable at all after the experience earlier. It is unacceptable to stay at a luxurious hotel and not have to have what you want. We got the Platter Roast Goose, Coconut Soup, Salted Egg Prawn, Chongqing Spicy Chicken and Sweet and Sour Fish. 

The food was delicious but the subpar service and staff standards already affected my mood. 

Breakfast at Brasserie 99

Breakfast is served at Brasserie 99 from 6.30am to 10.30am.  This is extended till 11am on the weekends and holidays. The restaurant is located on the 49th floor. I was there at around 9.30am. Breakfast is included for Gold Members and above or if in your rate. If not included, it would cost 296.70 CNY. The place was very crowded when I was down for breakfast. It comes with a good view of the surrounding area and skyline. We were shown to a table and drinks were offered. 

Breakfast is served buffet style and here are some pictures of the buffet line. You can find some cheese, cold cuts, fruits, fresh juices, cereals, noodle stations, pastries stations, egg stations and all sorts of Western items. I do have to say that the food quality was quite disappointing. I expect it to be better. This is 4 stars at best. The things were messy and cold. Food quality can be improved. Perhaps, I have too much of an expectation after my spectacular experience in Bangkok.  

Conclusion

The value is pretty good given the price I paid and the benefits of staying on a luxury advisor rate. The hardware is pretty good. I got a very nice and comfortable suite. It does feel that the property is slightly dated and shows its age. The single-handedly main disappointment comes from the service and the staff. The hospitality here does not belong to a WA. I do not feel welcomed at all. I do not expect this at Hilton’s highest and most premium brand. Service was subpar for a hotel lack alone a WA. The dining experience that I was extremely looking forward to left a sour taste on the entire experience. No service recovery made it even more ridiculous. Because of this, I can’t recommend this hotel especially when there is a plethora amount of options. I would love to try out the Canopy the next time I am in Chengdu. While I appreciate the elite recognition, upgrade and late checkout. A stay at a WA always needs to be fuss-free and perfect.