Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar Hotel Review: The Best Place to Stay in the Capital (5-Star)

An in-depth hotel review of the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar, the capital’s top 5-star hotel. Dining tips, room review, why you should get access to the Horizon Club Lounge, and more.

Ulaanbaatar City Tour: Spend the Perfect Day in the Capital

Without a doubt, the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar is one of the best hotels in Mongolia’s capital. It’s central, the service is excellent, and dining here is always an experience. Plus, the hotel’s fitness center and pool are the best in town, hotel or not!

Conveniently, the hotel is attached to the Shangri-La Mall Complex, a four-floor shopping center that sells everything. Inside the mall complex you can shop local at some of my favorite Mongolian brands. Start at Baba for a stylish pair of locally-made felt shoes. Head to Erdenet Cashmere to satisfy your organic and sustainable cashmere fix. Lastly, don’t miss my favorite store for Mongolian souvenirs and handcrafted pieces – Husug.

While you’re at the mall, you could even watch a movie! (You may even see me if you do – this is the theater I always go to when I’m in town.)

As you can see, staying here puts you in the center of everything. It’s a place where I often find myself meeting friends, where I shop and go to the movies, my go-to spa is here, and it’s even where I work out. I’ve paid to be a member of the Shangri-La Fitness Center for years now. It’s usually one of the first places I visit as soon as I’m back in town.

Even though I live in Ulaanbaatar, I booked one night here during the low season to see if it lived up to its 5-star reputation. Below I’ll give a more detailed hotel review, including my honest feedback about staying here.

Keep reading for prices and room photos, insight on what I liked and didn’t like about my stay, details on where the hotel is located, local tips for when you’re staying in this area, and more.

Are you planning your trip last minute?

Here are some top experiences to book now:

🚕 Book a Cheap Airport Transfer (starting at $20 USD)

🛌 Best Places to Stay:

Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar (best 5-star hotel in the capital)

👉 Top Things to Do in Ulaanbaatar:

Cooking Class in a Local Home (unique way to spend a day and meet a local family!)

Ulaanbaatar City Tour (best way to get to know the city with a local guide)

Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue Trip (get a selfie with the great Khan at the world’s largest equestrian statue)

🐴 Best Day Trips While Staying in Ulaanbaatar:

Ride Horses in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (brief introduction to horse riding and Mongolian horses)

Day Hike to Tsetsee Gun Peak (escape the city for this day hike with beautiful views)

Visit the Mountainside Aglag Temple (walk the paths lined with handcarved stones at this unique temple)

Room Review: What are the rooms at the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar like?

Entering the rooms at the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar, the first thing you notice is how spacious they are. Room sizes range from 42 sqm for a Deluxe Room, up to 84 sqm for an Executive Suite, and 226 sqm for the Shangri-La Suite.

During my one night stay, I stayed in room 2117 on the Horizon Club Lounge floor, booked as a Horizon Deluxe Room. My room faced north, giving me a spectacular view of the city, with a peak of Sukhbaatar Square and the Parliament building in the distance. In the late evening, after having happy hour in the lounge, I really enjoyed sitting in my window watching the city light up before my eyes.

All of the hotel’s guestrooms and suites overlook either the Amusement Park and Bogd Khan Nature Reserve to the south. Let’s call that the nature side. Or, they have my view of Sukhbaatar Square and the city panorama to the north. I’ll call that the city side. Either way, whatever view your room has, it will leave you in awe.

In my room, I couldn’t resist taking advantage of the bathtub and really enjoyed that the floors were heated. The room also had an air purifier, a fruit basket greeted me as soon as I walked in, and the blackout curtains are a lifesaver. Especially for travelers battling jetlag!

Overall, the room was extremely clean, well-kept, and comfortable. I was even able to take video calls and get some work done at the desk in my room.

I would have liked a few more Mongolian touches inside the room, like locally sourced bath and shower toiletries, but that’s just me. There was a small bottle of Chinggis vodka in the fridge, so that counted for something!

Horizon Club Lounge

Since I was on the Horizon Club Lounge floor as a Club guest, I could pop into this lounge at anytime during my stay.

The lounge is the equivalent of an Executive Floor lounge. And let me tell you, having access here is great. Not only is it a great place to have a meeting, work on your computer, or make a phone call. Guests can reserve a meeting room here for up to two hours per day, you just have to let them know in advance.

Now, the best part. Happy hour is everyday from 17:00 to 19:00 and includes local and international beers, mixed drinks, and a small bites buffet. This is private only for guests of this floor and let me tell you, it makes you feel special!

I grabbed a plate, some sea buckthorn juice, and watched the sunset over the Bogd Khan Mountains in the distance and couldn’t have been happier to have had this place to sit and unwind.

What is the price to stay at the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar?

The room rates can be priced as low as $240 USD in low season for a Deluxe Room (the lowest tier). June to September high season Deluxe Room rates start at $340 USD.

In low season, Horizon Deluxe Rooms are $288 and in high season these rooms cost $442 and up.

Over Naadam, one of the best and most popular festivals to see in Mongolia, rates will be much higher. These dates are usually July 11, 12, and 13.

As someone who lives here, while Naadam is hands-down an incredible time to visit Mongolia, higher than average hotel rates and peak crowds don’t always make it the most ideal time to visit. Especially if your goal is to escape the crowds and surround yourself in the beauty and quietness of nature.

But that’s just my opinion. If you still want to plan to visit Mongolia during this time plan ahead for your Naadam trip and book your room, flight, and tours as far in advance as possible.

Where is the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar located?

The Shangri-La is very conveniently located in Ulaanbaatar’s city center, near Sukhbaatar Square and the Choijin Lama Temple and Museum.

To the south of the hotel is an amusement park and to the west of the hotel is the new Rio Tinto Park. Think of the park like Ulaanbaatar’s Central Park. You’ll find concerts here, people walking with their families, a dog park, a skate park, and playground areas. The park is a perfect place to visit if you’re traveling in Mongolia with kids.

What’s near the hotel and worth visiting?

The hotel is walking distance to many of Ulaanbaatar’s best museums, restaurants, and bars. Including:

The Chinggis Khaan Museum (15 minute walk)
Choijin Lama Temple and Museum (across the street)
Mongolian National Art Gallery (15 minute walk)
Art of UB Coffee and Gallery (5 minute walk)
Fat Cat Jazz Club (5 minute walk)
La Rosa (5 minute walk)
MB Beer Plus microbrewery (5 minute walk)

Additionally, connected to the hotel is the Shangri-La Mall complex.

Inside here is where you’ll find the hotel’s fitness center (which is also a very popular gym for locals to join), a movie theater, and a Good Price grocery store (like a Mongolian Whole Foods).

You can easily get from your room to the mall in a matter of minutes.

There are plenty of dining options inside the mall. Check out the beer garden at Brussels for the outdoor seating and people watching. Grab a slice of pizza or a burger at Hoba inside Good Price when you want something comforting. Stop by the city’s smallest bar, Bitsy & Co., for the best cocktails in town.

What amenities are available?

Even among locals the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar is known for having the best fitness center (the Shangri-La Sports Club), swimming pool, and spa in town.

Shangri-La Sports Club

For years the Shangri-La Sports Club has been the gym to join and workout at. It’s one of the largest gyms in city center (7,000 sqm) and it’s clean and spacious, with rows of treadmills, ellipticals, free weights, and weight machines. There’s also a spinning studio, Pilates room, and yoga studio, as well as a juice bar.

When you’re staying at the hotel you have access to the gym for free. You simply fill out a piece of paper at the gym’s reception desk and then you’re on your way. Grab a towel and locker key and take advantage of the wet and dry saunas, hot tub, and showers inside the locker rooms when you finish working out.

Even if you aren’t staying at the hotel, you can purchase a day pass to the gym for 62,000 MNT (roughly $18 USD). Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Also, yes.

Lap & Swimming Pool

Inside the fitness center, on the third floor of the complex, a five-lane 25-metre indoor heated pool is one of the best parts of going here. Bring a swim cap and googles if you plan to swim laps here, they’re both required.

Oracle Spa & Clinic

This is a new addition, opening in late 2024.

From Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 21:00, hair, body, and facial treatments can easily be booked by dialing 2 from your room. Treatments are pricey, especially for Mongolian standards, but this is one of the best spa brands from around the world. So, you’re getting what you pay for.

I didn’t get any of the treatments while I was staying here, but I have my eye on a toning with vitamin C and cryo treatment, when I can afford it. This particular treatment costs 390,000 MNT (roughly $113 USD).

Where can you eat inside the hotel?

The hotel has three restaurants, a lobby lounge, and a members-only bar.

Lobby Lounge
Café Park
Naadam Restaurant
Hutong
Vault

The lobby lounge and Café Park, where they serve a sprawling breakfast buffet, are on the first floor. Naadam Restaurant is located on the second floor. And Hutong, known for their Peking duck, is on the third floor. Downstairs from the hotel is where you’ll find Vault, a private members-only club that’s one of the most exclusive spots in town.

I’ve eaten and experienced all four spaces, and I can vouch that this is some of the best food you’ll find in Ulaanbaatar.

The breakfast at Café Park is worth skipping dinner the night before for. There’s a soup bar, omelet station, bread bar with honey from a local bee farm, fresh juice and fruits, and there’s so many things to choose from you won’t even know where to start.

Visit Naadam for their lunch set and afternoon tea in the lobby lounge is always great when it’s paired with something bubbly.

For dinner, the Peking duck at Hutong is one of my favorite meals to splurge on. It’s a whole experience, which is perfect if you’re dining in a group. Order it in advance and take the soup back to your room as a leftover. It makes a great hangover meal, especially if you pop down into Vault, the final spot you’ll want to experience during your stay.

Vault is a private members-only club that guests of the hotel have access to during their stay. You just show your keycard to the doorman and you’re in. Inside, you’ll find yourself in a bar that will likely surprise you. Vault is more reminiscent of a bar you’d find in Hong Kong or New York than Mongolia!

This is the place to order a negroni or Manhattan and get to know a different side of this country.

Is the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar worth the price? Absolutely.

After having finally stayed the night here, I’m happy to report that the hotel lives up to its reputation. It’s easily the best 5-star hotel in Ulaanbaatar in terms of service, amenities, and room offerings.

I would absolutely stay here again.

Author: Breanna Wilson

Hi! Sain uu! I’m Breanna, an American travel writer and adventurer living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for more than 5 years. I’ve written for and been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, CNN, Forbes, and the New York Times, among others. Read more of my Mongolia travel articles here.