Hotel Three Monkeys Dali
by the TopOfHotel team
Hotel Three Monkeys is a design-led boutique inside the Ancient Town — atmospheric bar, city views, good international food.
Hotel Three Monkeys is a design-led boutique inside the Ancient Town — atmospheric bar, city views, good international food.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Hotel Three Monkeys Dali is one of the more stylish 3-star boutiques inside Dali Ancient Town, and its 8.4/10 score reflects how happy guests are with the design, the service and the location. The look blends traditional Bai architecture with a modern, indie edge — art on the walls, vintage-Yunnan furniture, and a feel that's built for photos. Rooms are nicely put together and clean, with air-con and free Wi-Fi, and the design is what reviewers tend to praise first.
Food and amenities
The bar is the real draw. It pours cocktails, Yunnan beer and local herbal drinks, and the balcony looking onto the old-town street is a lovely place to sit in the evening. The kitchen runs Yunnan, Chinese and Western plates, and the food is both tasty and fairly priced for somewhere this central in the Ancient Town.
Location and getting there
You're inside Dali Ancient Town, so everything important is walkable. Renmin Road is close by, and the Three Pagodas are about a 15-minute walk. Private cars aren't allowed into the Ancient Town, so you leave the car at a lot outside and walk in — not a long way, but worth knowing before you arrive.
Things to know before booking
The trade-off for the central spot is noise: ground-floor rooms can hear the bar on busy nights, so ask for a higher floor if you sleep lightly. There's no parking at the hotel, and as a small boutique it doesn't have a pool or spa — this is a place you choose for the style and the bar, not the facilities.
Our take
For around $31 a night to start, Three Monkeys gives you genuine design, a bar with a view, and an unbeatable walk-everywhere location inside the old town. If you want atmosphere over amenities, book a higher floor and enjoy it.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Genuinely stylish boutique design — a good-looking place that photographs well.
- The bar has a great mood, with a balcony looking down on the old-town street.
- International and Yunnan food at prices that stay reasonable for the location.
- Right inside the Ancient Town, so you can walk to everything that matters.
- Ground-floor rooms can pick up noise from the bar on busy nights — ask for a higher floor if you're a light sleeper.
- No parking at the hotel; since cars aren't allowed inside the Ancient Town, you leave the car at a lot outside and walk in.
- It's a small boutique rather than a full-service hotel, so don't expect a pool or spa here.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Dali
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Dali — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a higher-floor room — it's quieter and the view over the Ancient Town street is better.
- The upstairs bar has a better view than the lower level; head up around sunset.
- The hotel breakfast is better than you'd expect — try it before going looking elsewhere.