Hotel Review: Grand Hyatt Guangzhou (Grand Premium Suite) - Great Location but Dated Rooms

The Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, a luxurious five-star hotel, is situated in the heart of Guangzhou's Zhujiang New Town CBD, offering panoramic views of Huacheng Square and the iconic Canton Tower. Opened in 2008, it was among the first international-brand properties in the Tianhe District, marking the area's transformation into the city's new central business district. In 2021, the hotel underwent significant renovations to enhance its facilities and guest experience.

Click HERE to check out the best rates for the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou!

Living Room
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

After arriving at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) on SQ850, I booked a DiDi ride to the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, which took approximately 45 minutes—though this could be longer depending on traffic. Upon arrival, the hotel staff promptly assisted with my luggage and offered to have it sent directly to my room. However, I opted to carry it myself as I was eager to change out of my outfit and head out for a meal. During check-in at the main hotel lobby, I was warmly welcomed as a Globalist member and given the option to complete my check-in at the Grand Club on level 20. However, wanting to get to my room as quickly as possible, I chose to finalise the process at the lobby before heading down.

Living Room
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

For this stay, I redeemed one of my Suite Upgrade Awards and successfully secured a Grand Deluxe Suite in advance. At the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, the standard suites allocated for Globalist suite upgrades are the Grand Suite and the Grand Deluxe Suite. If possible, I’d highly recommend securing the Grand Deluxe Suite, as it is significantly larger and features more modern finishes compared to the Grand Suite. Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my room had been further upgraded by one category to a Grand Premium Suite. While essentially the same as the Grand Deluxe Suite, the key difference is that Grand Premium Suites are located on higher floors which offer better city views.

Minibar
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

Measuring 90 sqm, the Grand Premium Suite at Grand Hyatt Guangzhou offers panoramic views of the city and gardens, providing an expansive and elevated stay experience. For those booking this suite without World of Hyatt top-tier status, it also includes complimentary access to the Grand Club on Level 20, where guests can enjoy breakfast, evening cocktails, and all-day refreshments. One thing to note is that all suites at the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou come with a king bed, which may not be the most ideal setup if you're sharing the room with a friend rather than a partner. Additionally, unlike the standard guest rooms, the suites are equipped with a basic Nespresso machine in the living room, adding a small but welcomed convenience for coffee lovers.

Complimentary Nespresso coffee capsules and TWG-branded teabags are provided in the suites at the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, which is a nice touch for guests who enjoy a quality brew without leaving the room. As I was travelling with friends who stayed in a connecting lead-in category room, I noticed that their in-room selection included Dilmah-branded teabags instead - still decent, but a clear step down from the TWG offering in the suites. One small but thoughtful detail I really appreciated was the generous provision of bottled water throughout the suite. I tend to go through quite a bit of water during the day, and not having to constantly call for more made a noticeable difference in overall comfort.

Welcome Amenities
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

As part of my welcome amenities, I received a platter of fresh fruits along with a few smaller containers filled with snacks like nuts and cookies—a thoughtful gesture that added a warm, personalised touch to the stay. However, based on a previous stay as a Globalist in a Grand Deluxe Suite, I was only offered a bowl of fruits with no additional treats. This suggests that welcome amenities at the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou may not be entirely consistent, and could vary depending on room type, time of stay, or even operational discretion.

Bathroom
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

The bathroom in the Grand Premium Suite is impressively spacious and is strategically positioned between the living room and bedroom, which makes it particularly suitable for sharing with family or friends. The layout not only provides convenient access from both sides but also enhances privacy and functionality.

Toilet
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

The main bathroom is well-appointed with double vanity sinks, a separate enclosed toilet (in addition to the guest toilet located in the living room), a wardrobe area, and a separate shower complete with a compact yet deep soaking bathtub.

Bathtub
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

While I always appreciate having a bathtub in a hotel suite, the one in the Grand Premium Suite at the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou leaves a bit to be desired in terms of comfort. Due to its compact, squarish design, it’s not particularly well-suited for a leisurely, full-body soak. In fact, it's probably more practical for a quick foot soak rather than an extended session of relaxation. The depth is decent, but the awkward shape makes it uncomfortable to sit in for long periods, which is a bit of a missed opportunity in an otherwise well-designed bathroom.

Bath Amenities
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

In line with brand standards, the bath amenities at the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou are provided by Balmain, presented in bulk-sized pump bottles mounted on the wall. While I fully understand and support the move towards reducing single-use plastics, the fixed placement of these bottles does make it slightly impractical. Additionally, I couldn’t help but notice the contrast between this sustainability effort and the generous supply of bottled drinking water provided and replenished daily. While I'm certainly grateful for the convenience, it does come across as a bit inconsistent with the environmental messaging of switching to bulk bathroom products.

Bedroom
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

The bedroom in the Grand Premium Suite is located at the very end of the suite, offering a good level of privacy and quiet which is particularly useful if you're sharing the space with a connecting room or travelling with others. It features two floor-to-ceiling windows that provide plenty of natural light and views of the nearby office towers and landscaped gardens. While the light-filled space is certainly a highlight, the close proximity to the office building across the way does make it somewhat awkward to keep the sheer curtains drawn, especially if you're mindful of privacy. That said, the layout of the suite - with the bedroom tucked away at the far end - means it remains peaceful and undisturbed, even when the rest of the suite is in use.

Bedroom
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

The plush king-size bed in the Grand Premium Suite is exceptionally comfortable, and I consistently enjoyed high-quality sleep during my stays. While many of the light switches and power outlets in the bedroom are clearly older and haven’t been upgraded like those in some of the other guest rooms, I did appreciate the thoughtful addition of a power outlet extension placed by the bedside.

Universal Power Outlets
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

It came equipped with USB charging ports, which made it easy to charge multiple devices overnight without having to search around the room for available sockets—a small but very practical touch.

View from Bedroom
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

As mentioned previously, the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou is located in Zhujiang New Town, the city’s modern central business district (CBD). It’s conveniently situated near Huacheng Square, which is surrounded by major landmarks. Getting around the city is relatively easy, whether you're taking a DiDi ride or hopping on the subway, with several metro stations within walking distance of the hotel. The area itself is dotted with excellent restaurants, ranging from upscale dining to casual local eats so you won't have to venture far for a good meal. There's also a scenic public park nearby that’s quite popular among locals. If you're someone who enjoys staying active, consider going for a morning or evening run - the area is well-paved, safe, and offers a pleasant mix of greenery and skyline views.

Interiors
Grand Club Lounge - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

As a World of Hyatt Globalist, I had complimentary access to the Grand Club Lounge during my stay at the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou. I also managed to apply one of my expiring Club Access Awards to the second room occupied by my friends, which meant all of us could enjoy the lounge benefits together. The Grand Club Lounge offers evening cocktails and canapés, and during my stay, it never felt overcrowded - even at its busiest, it was probably only about 75% full, which made for a comfortable and relaxed environment.

Evening Cocktails and Canapes
Grand Club Lounge - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

That said, the standard of food and beverage in the lounge is fairly underwhelming. While it's perfectly acceptable if you're after a quick glass of wine or a light snack, I wouldn’t go out of my way to return early just to enjoy the offerings. The food selection is basic, and the wine list is average at best. Although they do serve a sparkling wine, the rest of the options are of relatively low quality - fine for a casual drink, but nothing to get excited about.

Evening Cocktails and Canapes
Grand Club Lounge - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

One small touch I did appreciate in the Grand Club Lounge was the rotation of soup offerings each evening - a different kind of soup was served daily, which added a bit of variety to an otherwise modest spread. I also managed to find all the ingredients needed to put together an extra-strong Negroni, which was a pleasant surprise for a hotel lounge.

Seating Area
Grand Club Lounge - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

That said, while the lounge does tick the boxes for a light pre-dinner drink and nibbles, the culinary experience is nothing to shout about. Given the abundance of excellent restaurants in the surrounding area, you'd be much better off saving your appetite for a proper meal outside rather than filling up on the average fare offered at the lounge.

Seating Area
The Market Café - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

On the other hand, breakfast at The Market Café is genuinely fantastic and one of the highlights of the stay. Unlike what you might encounter at many hotels in the US, Globalists at Grand Hyatt Guangzhou are entitled to the full breakfast experience at the main restaurant, even if a continental breakfast is served in the lounge. My friends, who had a Club Access Award applied to their room, also enjoyed the same benefit and were able to have breakfast at The Market Café.

Buffet Breakfast
The Market Café - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

The spread is extensive and well-executed, featuring both local and international options to suit every palate. That said, the restaurant does tend to get quite busy in the morning, so I’d recommend arriving before 8:30am if you prefer a quieter experience. Alternatively, arriving around 45 minutes before breakfast ends usually allows for a more leisurely and peaceful meal, as the early crowd begins to thin out.

I particularly enjoyed the local breakfast selection at The Market Café, especially the variety of congees, noodles, and dim sum. The century egg and pork congee was easily the most popular option—it was consistently in demand and replenished frequently throughout the morning. The dim sum selection was also quite decent, making it a treat for those who enjoy starting their day with something warm and comforting.

Buffet Breakfast
The Market Café - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

In addition to the Asian offerings, the Western pastries were excellent, with a great variety and noticeable freshness. Honestly, breakfast here was a real highlight each morning, and I looked forward to it daily. The only minor gripe would be the coffee service - orders placed through the waitstaff weren’t always fulfilled promptly. To avoid the wait, I found it much quicker to help myself at one of the coffee machines conveniently located around the restaurant.

Fitness Centre
Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

The Grand Hyatt Guangzhou also features a decent gym, conveniently located on one of the highest floors of the hotel, offering a bright and elevated space to get in a workout. While it is a bit odd to still see plastic separators between the treadmills - a remnant from the pandemic days - it didn’t really detract from the overall experience. I did appreciate the variety of machines available as well as the range of dumbbells, which made it easy to get in a full session, whether cardio or strength-focused. Just next to the fitness centre is the indoor swimming pool, which offers a peaceful setting and panoramic city views. However, do note that swim caps are required to use the pool - this is standard practice at most swimming pools in China, so it’s worth packing one if you plan to take a dip (or you will have to purchase one for a ridiculous price at the hotel).

Fitness Centre
Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

I was also pleasantly surprised to find a reformer bed in the gym at the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou and that is quite rare in hotel fitness centres, even at the luxury level. It’s a great addition for those who enjoy Pilates or more structured mobility work. The gym itself is also spacious enough to allow for core exercises or stretching, with a dedicated open area where you won’t feel cramped. It’s clear that some thought has gone into the layout and equipment offering, making it a solid space for both casual workouts and more intentional training sessions.

Bedroom
Grand Premium Suite - Grand Hyatt Guangzhou

Having previously stayed at the newer W Guangzhou, which is located just across the park from the Grand Hyatt, I can confidently say that the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou offers far better value for money. There's no denying that the W Guangzhou is a lot trendier, with a sleek, modern aesthetic that definitely appeals to a different crowd. It's also one of the very few W properties that feature a proper executive lounge, and if you're comparing just the club lounges, the W’s offering does stand out more in terms of both design and F&B quality.

That said, it's also not uncommon for room rates at the W to be double what you'd pay at the Grand Hyatt. As both a World of Hyatt Globalist and Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member, I enjoy guaranteed lounge access and a 4:00 pm late check-out at both properties. However, when it comes down to overall value and comfort, I personally prefer the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou. It may not have the same cool factor, but it delivers a more balanced and rewarding stay experience at a much lower price point.

Grand Hyatt Guangzhou
12 Zhujiang W Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, 510623
Website | Email