Lonely Planet Review

One of Ulaanbaatar's newest landmark hotels, the German-built Narantuul occupies a 12-storey block at the eastern end of town. Eye-pleasing rooms have modern but subtle decor, with a few nice touches such as flat-panel TVs. The hotel is also decked out with two restaurants, a business centre, sauna and beauty salon.

A highlight of the hotel is its 12th-floor restaurant, Le Soleil. With a panoramic view of the city, this is one of Ulaanbaatar's more attractive dining experiences. Along with the view you can enjoy fine European cuisine and excellent deserts of cake or ice cream. The hotel also has a coffee shop and bar on the third floor. One drawback is that the Narantuul does not have a fitness centre (although we saw one guest making due by jogging up and down the stairwell). The most distinctive feature of the hotel is the glass elevator that provides great views but unfortunately breaks down sometimes - take a cell phone so you can call the reception to get you out! If you chose a half-lux or suite, the room comes with a separate living room and a handy kitchenette. It appears quite classy, except for some elements of tackiness, like the picture of the topless girl in the bedroom. Location-wise, the hotel is reasonably central, although it does lie on the gritty edge of downtown.