10 Best Hotels
West Lake shapes Hangzhou, with causeways, wooded hills and pagodas framing its water. Beyond the shore, Longjing tea grows around villages where a walk can end with a freshly brewed cup. Lingyin’s temple halls and rock carvings make a rewarding excursion, while the Grand Canal reveals another side of the city’s history. Leave time for silk and archaeology museums, then explore the restaurants that give local ingredients both traditional and contemporary treatments.
Amanfayun
Xihu, Fayun valley, China
Amanfayun occupies a restored village in a wooded valley near Lingyin Temple, with stone paths connecting clay-roofed buildings and quiet courtyards. Rooms and suites follow individual layouts, giving the stay a character very different from a conventional city hotel. Tea fields, temples and the garden spa shape the experience. Choose this address when you want time in Hangzhou’s green western hills, while allowing separate journeys to the busier shores of West Lake.
Village character among tea fields
Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake
Xihu, West Lake, China
Ponds, courtyards and traditional Jiangnan rooflines give Four Seasons at West Lake the feel of a small garden settlement. Rooms look towards greenery or water, and some have private outdoor space that makes a longer stay particularly appealing. Jin Sha provides a strong reason to dine in, while the spa offers a quiet break between excursions. This is a natural choice for travellers who want the landscape to remain central to their time in Hangzhou.
Gardens and lakeside luxury
The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou
Xihu, Beishan Road, China
The Silk Lakehouse reimagines the home of a Jiangnan silk merchant on West Lake’s northern shore. Rich textiles, elaborate floral details and individually expressive interiors give the hotel a distinctive character, with some rooms placing the lake directly beyond the bath or sitting area. The property opened under Shangri-La Signatures in 2025. It suits travellers who enjoy decorative design and a small-scale luxury setting, with the lake’s walking routes close at hand.
A richly decorated lakeside retreat
Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at Hangzhou Centre
Gongshu, China
Four Seasons at Hangzhou Centre offers a city-focused alternative to the brand’s West Lake property. Large windows frame the skyline and, in selected rooms, the Grand Canal; pale materials and generous living space soften the high-rise setting. An indoor pool and spa provide room to pause between outings, while Song explores Ningbo cooking. Choose it for contemporary comfort and canal-side city life, and specify the view that matters to you when booking.
An urban stay above the Grand Canal
Banyan Tree Hangzhou
Xihu, Xixi wetlands, China
Banyan Tree sits among the waterways of Xixi, where white walls, tiled roofs and bridges create the atmosphere of a small water village. Accommodation is spacious, with suites and villas looking towards ponds or wetlands, and the spa is central to the appeal. This setting rewards a slower stay, especially if you want time away from the main lakeside streets. Treat West Lake sightseeing as an excursion and leave time to enjoy the grounds themselves.
Quiet waterways and spacious rooms
Park Hyatt Hangzhou
Shangcheng, Qianjiang New Town, China
Park Hyatt brings a contemporary interpretation of Jiangnan residential design to the upper floors of the MixC complex. Marble, restrained colours and large windows create a calm setting above Qianjiang New Town, with city and river views from many rooms. The indoor pool on the 35th floor and the elevated Living Room are particular attractions. This is a strong choice for travellers who prefer modern architecture and dining within a polished urban hotel, while planning separate trips to West Lake.
Refined design and river views
Conrad Hangzhou
Shangcheng, Qianjiang New Town, China
Conrad occupies the Raffles City complex, where curved architecture and high-level views give the hotel a distinctly modern identity. Rooms use warm wood and large windows, while the indoor pool, spa and fitness facilities make it easy to spend part of a day at the hotel. Li’An serves Chinese cooking on the 50th floor. Choose this address for the newer business district and skyline, with the understanding that the historic lakefront lies elsewhere in the city.
Contemporary rooms above the city
Qiushui Villa
Xihu, Beishan Street, China
Qiushui Villa combines the character of a 1930s residence with a particularly close relationship to West Lake. Its protected architectural details, antique furnishings and small collection of individually designed accommodation make it an appealing choice for travellers who prefer a personal setting. A courtyard and garden spaces add to the sense of retreat. The strongest reason to stay is the combination of history and location; discuss room layout and lake outlook directly before choosing a suite.
An intimate historic villa
Hangzhou West Lake Anyu Hotel
Xihu, Siyanjing, China
Anyu is a small hotel in the wooded folds of Xihu, close to the Manjuelong area. Dark timber, concrete and restrained interiors give the rooms a quiet, tactile character, with a reading room and restaurant adding to the appeal of staying in. It suits travellers who value intimacy and a hillside setting over a large resort’s facilities. Use it as a base for the tea-growing landscape and western cultural sights, arranging transport when heading farther across Hangzhou.
A small design hotel in the hills
Grand Hyatt Hangzhou
Shangcheng, Hubin, China
Grand Hyatt’s curved frontage faces West Lake’s eastern shore, placing lakeside walks and Hubin’s shops within the same stay. Rooms offer city or lake outlooks, and the indoor pool provides another way to enjoy the setting. The hotel’s 28 Hubin Road restaurant is known for regional Chinese cooking. Choose it when you want a substantial full-service hotel with easy access to the lively side of the lake, and book a confirmed lake-view category if that outlook is essential.
Lakeside convenience and city energy