Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel

Great breakfast. Neat and clean. Very kind staff. Room on the third floor not musty. Monk tea in the room. Ac is working well. Nothing to complain about.

Warm service, modern comfort, and a breathtaking breakfast view I was warmly welcomed at Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel in Guilin — my luggage was immediately taken off my hands and brought to the room without having to ask, and check-in was both smooth and courteous. Compared to other properties I’ve stayed at recently, the staff here showed genuine friendliness, offering smiles and warmth that immediately set a positive tone. The hotel itself has a boutique feel, not extravagant, but tastefully designed. The lobby is modest yet elegant, and the corridors — softly lit with indirect lighting — create a pleasantly contemporary atmosphere that extends into the rooms. My room was spacious and well-appointed, with a large bed, seating area, and a clean modern aesthetic. Though I wouldn’t call the design “classic”, it strikes a comfortable modern note, enhanced by thoughtful layout and good materials. My only disappointment was the room allocation: I had been given a room on the second floor, whereas I typically prefer upper floors for better light and outlook. The view from my window was compromised by an architectural overhang that created a kind of inner courtyard tunnel — technically bright enough during the day, but certainly not what one might hope for when staying in a city renowned for its scenic views. While it wasn’t a dealbreaker for a single night, I would not have accepted this room for a longer stay. It’s worth noting that other hotels on this trip had honoured my request for a higher floor, so I’m unsure whether it wasn’t passed on by my agency or simply overlooked. The breakfast was served on the seventh floor, in a restaurant that truly does justice to the hotel’s name: the view is stunning. Overlooking the Li River and the iconic Guilin karst hills, it creates a dining atmosphere that’s genuinely memorable. The restaurant staff were, once again, warm and accommodating. As for the breakfast itself — there was plenty on offer. A selection of noodles, salads, sweetcorn, and other hot items formed the buffet base, though it leaned heavily towards meat and seafood. This was the one area that disappointed me as a vegetarian: both vegetable dishes were mixed with either shrimp or meat, which felt unnecessary and could have been easily avoided by keeping the vegetables separate. That said, I was delighted to find proper fresh bread (including wholegrain options), goji berries, and walnuts for the muesli — not a given in many hotels and much appreciated. The room’s cleanliness and overall condition were very good. The black marble bathroom was striking, with a separate shower and a deep bathtub, and everything was in good working order. Slippers and amenities were neatly arranged, and the space felt thoughtfully maintained. In sum, this was a satisfying stay. The room, while not ideally located, was stylish and well-equipped. The staff’s friendliness was a particular highlight, and the breakfast room alone makes the experience worth considering — especially if you can secure a room on a higher floor with a view to match.

We didn’t stay at the hotel but went to the restaurant on the rooftop, it was a great place to get away from the crowds and eat different food, and have a drink in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s obviously more expensive than the local restaurants (2-3x the price) but you have a good selection of local and western food. We had the tomahawk steak which to be honest wasn’t really a tomahawk steak, and was cooked a bit strangely (like it was tossed in oil); and a ‘dim sum platter’ which was actually a dessert platter (we decided to laugh about it vs. make a scene because it was more as a result of a bad translation - it translated into English as dim sum platter in the local menu, and was alongside noodle dishes but then when it came to our table it was dessert!). I had mojitos which were very good. A table next to us had ordered wine but sent it back because apparently it was not good. The staff were nice but service was a bit slow and not everyone spoke English so it was sometimes a bit hard to communicate. The view was great.