Trip review of Guangzhou: One above the rest in the capital of food

This trip was completed in March 2026.

In the unofficial list of economic powerhouses among Chinese locals, Guangzhou is included as one of the four prominent cities (with Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen rounding up the list). Apart from its modernity, we find Guangzhou to offer food options that are very suited to our palate. The freshness of the ingredients, combined with the Cantonese food preparation techniques, left us yearning for more in our next trip back to Guangzhou.

Baiyun Airport is well-connected to various transportation modes, so travelling to downtown Guangzhou was a breeze. For this trip, we also took the opportunity to stay in the two skyscraper hotels, although the experience will largely be a hit-or-miss depending on the weather and mist conditions affecting the window views.

Below are our reviews of notable parts of the trip.

Accommodation: Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou

Rating: 8.3/10

Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou is located in the heart of the city, with its residences arm adjacent to it. Compared to the other Ritz-Carltons in China, the main entrance of Guangzhou's was relatively understated and unassuming.

Furnishings are clean and well-maintained, though through its designs, one can tell that the hotel has been around for some time. Aesthetics aside, one can expect the same high-quality service and stay with Ritz-Carlton.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with Ritz-Carlton's consistent warm friendliness. Check-in was smooth and fuss-free. We also managed to purchase their city-exclusive lion plushie from the concierge directly.

We got ourselves a corner room, offering generous floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a good view of the city. The bedroom was spacious, with ample seating area.

The bathroom has an old-school design, with a combination of wooden and marble finishing. Amenities are supplied by Diptyque and the bathtub was tucked neatly into a corner.

Even though the fitness center was more functional than modern, it is well-equipped with exercise machines. What struck us with a surprise was the swimming pool just outside the gym, as the design has an old elegance to its architecture.

The hotel breakfast has a good variety, complete with multiple live cooking stations. From our recollection, this property probably has more of these cooking stations than a standard 5-star hotel. On our last night, we had desserts at its Chinese restaurant and it was hands-down the best dessert we had for the trip.

Accommodation: Rosewood Guangzhou

Rating: 8.1/10

Considered to be the highest hotel in the world, Rosewood Guangzhou occupies the top floors of the CTF Finance Centre, which stands neck-to-neck with IFC Guangzhou, another skyscraper just across the pedestrian square.

With its hotel lobby on the 95^th floor and guest rooms taking up levels 96 to 106, guests can be treated to an elevated view of the city, including the iconic Canton Tower in the vicinity. The design elements of Rosewood are modern and luxurious with a playful nod to traditional Chinese arts and culture.

The elevator to the hotel lobby was surprisingly fast, and the check-in process was fuss-free. We observed that the reception was heavily-staffed, ensuring that every arriving group of guests can be attended to.

For the rooms, it is worth mentioning that there are three different views for their room categories. Aside from the city view in their entry-level room, the more confusing ones may be the Pearl River view and the Canton Tower view. While they are technically facing the same general direction, the Canton Tower is only at a particular section of the river, hence the Canton Tower room is the only category with both the river and tower views from the room windows.

Out of the three hotels we stayed during this trip, the bathroom at Rosewood Guangzhou was the most impressionable for us. The modern finishing is matched with intricate details and tasteful design.

Where the hotel shines are in its facilities and breakfast. The fitness centre located at level 93 is comprehensive and spacious, with luxurious finishings and higher-end variant of the training machines. Moreover, the pool and spa at level 94 has the same luxurious interiors, complete with top notch showering facilities and amenities.

Hotel breakfast was a treat, the limited variety more than made up by the high quality ingredients and meticulously-cooked dishes. Apart from the buffet spread, there is an a la carte menu with items made-to-order. In our first, we also observed staff approaching every table to offer some food for guests to try throughout the breakfast service.

Overall, the stay in Rosewood was pleasant with their strength in hardware and design language, though from our personal experience, more attentive and sincere interactions with the service staff at the concierge and front desk would have been the cherry on top.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Guangzhou

8.7/10

A reputable name in hospitality, Four Seasons Guangzhou delivered high quality service coupled with good luxury design. Hotel reception was situation on level 70, with the Canton Tower in sight upon stepping out of the lift.

The staff was meticulous and attentive, perhaps even more so than other hotels of a higher price point. For instance, we were attended to while waiting for our turn at check-in and were subsequently informed via WeChat when the room was ready. In addition, we were given an additional adorable goat-shaped room key card which could be taken home as a souvenir.

The room is spacious and opens up to panoramic views of the city comprising that of the Pearl River and Canton Tower. However, the layout of the room may not be that common as there is a structural column/pillar oddly placed in the room.

The ensuite is designed with burgundy marble which stood out. Amenities are supplied by Frederic Malle. An independent bathtub with a free-standing showerhead installed beside the tub serves as a centerpiece of the bathroom.

What truly sold us was the impeccable hospitality we received throughout our stay. From the patient and not pushy staff in their gift shop to the front desk who arranged a temporary code for us to have our lunch in the hotel's Japanese restaurant before our check-in time, we felt kindly received and warmly welcomed as hotel guests.

Dining: Jade River (White Swan Hotel)

Rating 8.5/10

One Michelin-starred Jade River is a renowned Cantonese restaurant located within White Swan hotel, one of the earliest luxury hotels established in Guangzhou. Despite decades of operations, the hotel is very well-maintained, with an iconic man-made chinese garden at the atrium, adding a sense of tranquility to the space.

Given the popularity of Jade River, with reviews citing a 2-hour long queue, we made reservations a month prior to our visit. Perhaps because we visited on a working day, the restaurant was not overcrowded, and we were shown to our seats upon arrival.

Entering the restaurant, one would not miss the elaborate traditional Chinese interiors, including a Chinese garden near the entrance. This sense of tradition is consistent throughout other touchpoints in the restaurant, including its wide selection of fine Chinese teas prepared via a ceremonial tea ritual at each table.

The food menu was extensive, with many dim sum options and several classic Cantonese dishes like roast meat. A separate seasonal special menu was also available, including premium items like lobster dumplings. We mainly picked from the regular dim sum menu and were impressed with the exquisite presentation and taste.

The rainbow har gow comprised of 4 colours each representing a different flavour, such as wasabi and truffle.

The abalone swan puff pastry with an intricate puff pastry, surprised us with how aromatic it was. We observed from neighbouring tables various other fancy presentations such as flaming char siew, contributing to the sensorial dining experience.

Overall, Jade River scored in terms of taste, quality, service and presentation, although it is on the pricier side compared to other restaurants in the city. Since the hotel is located on Shamian Island, an island with rich colonial history slightly off the city’s center, visitors can also take the opportunity to explore the island lined with beautiful colonial architecture.

Dining: Tao Tao Ju Ya Yuan (Zhujiang New Town)

Rating 8.2/10

Tao Tao Ju is a well-known franchise in China, most famous for its dim sum. During our visit in Guangzhou, we came across Tao Tao Ju · Ya Yuan, which is its premium sub-brand, marketed to be suitable for business meals. Given its prime location, it is undoubtedly well-poised for professional gatherings, which was the clientele we observed on a Friday afternoon as well. Walk-in is possible for this outlet in the Central Business District if arriving before 12pm.

Apart from dim sum, there are other Cantonese signatures and premium seafood selections as part of the Ya Yuan arm. We had a mix of dim sum and main dishes, plus a classic Hong Kong style milk tea. Every dish was executed well and adequately brought out the taste of the fresh ingredients used, such as the braised scallop with eggplant and stir-fried mushroom.

Overall, we would recommend Tao Tao Ju · Ya Yuan for classic Cantonese dishes in a more upscale setting. Given its positioning, it gets very busy at lunch hour, hence do plan an off-peak visit for a more comfortable dining experience.

Dining: Ease Sichuan Cuisine

Rating 8.0/10

Ease is a Sichuan Cuisine franchise found in a few cities in China. This one in Guangzhou can be found within the popular Parc Central mall. We visited at dinner time and waited about 15 minutes before we were seated. Visitors can take a queue number, receive real-time updates via a QR code and return when their turn is close.

The menu of Ease comprises Sichuan favourites like spicy chicken cubes with dried chilli and mapo tofu, and dishes with a modern take such as peppercorn beef cubes and garlic broccolini. While Cantonese cuisine focuses more on bringing out the tastes of its ingredients, Ease is true to the rich spicy flavours signature of Sichuan cuisine.

The peppercorn beef cubes were a standout for us. Stir-fried generously with brussels sprouts and button mushrooms, the richness of the beef was nicely balanced out. Another dish worth mentioning was the stir-fried potato slices with bird’s eye chilli, spring onions and garlic. The mapo tofu was a slight miss in our opinion as the oiliness, spiciness and saltiness overwhelmed the dish.

Service staff was also friendly and professional, explaining every dish in detail when it was served. Although perhaps because we visited at peak dining time, the staff were clearly busy and the restaurant can get noisy at times.

After the meal, do consider exploring Parc Central mall. Likely one of the most well-known malls in Guangzhou, Parc Central offers upmarket boutiques within a fancy facade. When we visited around the last few days of Chinese New Year, the mall was elaborately decorated with lanterns and lights to ring in the year of the horse.

Dining: T12 Lab

Rating 8.0/10

An established name in China's specialty coffee scene, T12 Lab has an outlet in Guangzhou's city center, in addition to its first store in Shanghai which we also reviewed.

Located at the ground floor of the same building that houses Grand Hyatt hotel, T12 Lab has the similar intimate atmosphere as its counterpart in Shanghai, with a cozy seating of about 20 pax.

Ordering your coffee at T12 Lab entails a choice from a selection of coffee beans as well as the type of coffee. This time, we had their signature dirty and an “ice-free” cold latte paired with their medium-dark roast beans. The smoothness and depth in flavour of their coffees were enjoyable. From their small selection of baked goods, we also had a canelé which didn’t miss the mark.

Apart from its good quality coffee, something else that stands out for T12 Lab is its emphasis on maintaining a quiet environment through signages reminding visitors to speak softly. Ideal for coffee lovers who enjoy a sliver of calm amidst the vibrance of the city.

Dining: Deeper Deeper Coffee

Rating 7.7/10

Deeper Deeper Coffee is a popular cafe on social media platforms. It’s a quirky homely space tugged in a trendy residential estate, giving coffee-goers a sneak peek into how locals live. In addition to specialty coffee, Deeper Deeper creatively uses the beans to produce chocolate bars that bear the same tasting notes.

Similar to T12 Lab, you could select a coffee bean to go with your preferred style of coffee. Interestingly, there are options to select a mini portion of 2 types of coffee with the same bean, so we had a pourover and latte with a columbian bean. The fruity and floral notes came out well, although we personally felt it lacked depth. We did not have a chance to try the chocolate bar this visit and observed likewise that most visitors mainly came for their coffee.

Being nestled in a trendy estate, we noted that there are a few more cafes located in the same area. It could be worth dedicating a morning here to check out a few of them.

Activity: Grandview Mall

Rating 8.1/10

This was by far one of the most comprehensive mall we have visited. While the actual floor area is indeed huge, it is the layout and variety of tenants which triumphed other large malls we have been to. The sheer amount of shops (both local boutiques and global brands) and entertainment parks will satisfy most age groups of visitors to the mall.

We recommend dedicating half a day for travelers who are into shopping and also look out for tourist tax refund as Guangzhou has streamlined the policy to be more convenient for tourist shopping in the past few months. The latest instant refund service allows for on-site claims after providing a credit card pre-authorization guarantee. However, do note that the VAT rebate forms and receipts still need to be submitted to the tax refund counter at the airport on departure day.

Overall, we are pleasantly surprised with what Guangzhou city has to offer. It is no wonder that the city is popular with Hong Kong travelers as a weekend location. There are direct high-speed rails and coaches from Hong Kong to Guangzhou downtown, hence the shopping streets of Tianhe District are always crowded.

The food we had tasted during the trip also exceeded our expectations in terms of quality of the ingredients. We highly recommend to give this city a try if you happen to be in the Greater Bay region.