Review: N2 Grand Deluxe Room at Niccolo Chengdu

The Niccolo Chengdu opened its doors in April this year with 230 spacious guestrooms and suites from 45 to 200 sqm featuring fashion inspired interiors. Here, there are a few category of rooms from the 45 sqm N1 Deluxe and N2 Grand Deluxe carpetted guest rooms as well as the 60 sqm N3 Executive rooms with wooden flooring. The Explorer Suite is 110sqm while the Tiara Suite is 85sqm.

The rooms here are equipped with Nespresso Coffee making and tea making facilities, Twinings tea bags, Mini-bar and refrigerator, 500 thread count linen, complimentary wi-fi internet, and use of Apple iPad mini.

Located conveniently in the International Finance Square (IFS) complex which also houses a mall, one serviced apartment, and two office towers. The Hotel building faces the recently launched Taikoo Li shopping and dining destination.

The five star hotel under The Wharf (Holdings) Limited which also has the Marco Polo Hotels group under it’s Wharf Hotels portfolio is the first Niccolo Hotel in the world. It is also the first Ultratravel Collection property, made up up of luxuriously iconic properties, in China.

The new hotel also recently won the Best New Hotel Brand – Luxury Award at the Fifth Annual China Hotel Awards held in Four Seasons Beijing.

Niccolo Chengdu is designed by Kohn Pederson Fox Associates architectural firm, combining modern architecture with traditional wood epitomising the hotel’s mantra of new encounters, timeless pleasures.

Kon Pederson Fox Associates has also done work for Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental Macau, Park Hyatt Shanghai, Langham and Andaz Xintiandi Shanghai, The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong and Pudong Shangri-La in Shanghai.

Remedios Studios worked on the contemporary urban chic guest rooms and suites. Remedios previously worked on Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, Park Hyatt Beijing, Mandarin Oriental Landmark Hong Kong and Hyatt on the Bund, Shanghai.

 

Art installations found in Nicollo Chengdu’s entrance lobby, grand hallway and reception on level three were curated by Studio Sawada Design. Studio Sawada Design designed the multiple metal-shard installation ‘Breeze Bird’ suspended from the ceiling at the lobby entrance. Hirotoshi Sawada captured the interplay of Yin and Yang by bringing his bold yet minimalist installation into Niccolo Chengdu’s entrance. The 3,800 metal shards intricately suspended from the glass box ceiling of the hotel represents birds, symbolising Niccolo Polo’s voyage and epic journey.

Sawada’s second installation ‘Sway River Surface’ is found on both sides of the hallway between The Tea Lounge and the Reception creates a liquid-like flow through the hallway for guests to journey beyond.

At the Reception, there are several globes suspended from the ceiling. ‘Ball Clouds’ invoke a dream-like state, resembling clouds in the sky.

I spent a few nights in the N2 Rooms when I was in Chengdu for the official opening of Sino Ocean Taikoo Li which was conveniently located just across the road from the hotel.

 

The Rooms

Step into room 2111 on level 21, a 45 sqm N2 Grand Deluxe room, and I walk past the spacious bathroom into a bedroom with a comfortable king sized bed as well as a sofa area that overlooks the Sino Ocean Taikoo Li and the Da Ci temple.

A retractable wide screen television is located right in front of the sofa rest area. So if you want to watch television from the bed, you can pull it out from the wall and adjust it to your viewing angle.

Fruits are offered for you to enjoy as you relax and enjoy the view from your room. By the way Sino Ocean Taikoo Li looks amazing at night.

The beds and pillows are firm and comfortable offering a good night’s rest at Niccolo Chengdu.

The Bathroom

The bathroom in the N2 Grand Deluxe Room is how I would describe as luxurious. It is spacious and has separate frosted rooms for the toilet and shower. A bath tub comes thoughtfully with a cushion to rest your head when you decide to soak using the bath salts provided. The marble flooring, plush towels, and thick bedroom slippers all add into the luxe experience.

 

A round bath sponge, toothbrush, shaver, sewing kit and other amenities expected from a five star hotel are provided.

Toiletries at the Niccolo Chengdu are from Lorenzo Villoresi Firenze.

Lorenzo Villoresi first became interested in the world of spices and essences where he made his first trip to the Middle East in 1981. It was in May 1990 when he turned his passion into a business. Fashion house Fendi commissioned a range of room essences, potpourris and scented candles. He also had other collaborations with famous names ever since. He created fragrances for the home, for the bathroom and in 1991 his first fragrance Uomo. In 2006, he won the “Prix Francois Coty” Paris award, which is awarded in recognition of a perfumer’s career achievements.

The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze was the first luxury hotel to offer its guests an exclusive version with custom made fragrance from Lorenzo Villoresi creations. Other properties in China that offer its guests Lorenzo Villoresi bath and body products include the Rosewood in Beijing as well as the Andaz Shanghai and Four Seasons Pudong in Shanghai.

I enjoyed my stay at the Niccolo Chengdu and would definitely come back again. Hopefully the next time I would have more time to wine and dine in the hotel’s food and beverage outlets. They offer a hearty breakfast buffet at Niccolo Kitchen on level one. Other dining outlets include Yue Hin, a Chinese restaurant that specialises in Cantonese, classic Sichuan and Huaiyang cuisines.