Where to Stay in Ulaanbaatar: 7 Cool Boutique and Locally-Owned Hotels (from $59)
Planning your first trip to Ulaanbaatar and not sure where to stay when you arrive? I’ve hand-picked these 7 incredible boutique, locally-owned hotels in Ulaanbaatar just for you.
Personally, I love staying at a locally-owned hotel when I’m in a place. It really gives me a sense of the culture, the hospitality, and the place I’m in. If I’m traveling in Mongolia, I want to feel like it.
That’s why this list of Ulaanbaatar’s best boutique hotels is essential reading for planning any trip.
As a former travel writer who used to write about hotels for a living, all of the hotels on this list have passed my test. While some hotels are small with only 23 rooms, others have upwards of 194 rooms, offering a different type of experience for every traveler. Each hotel on this list has something special to offer, at least in my opinion.
From some of my long-time favorites like Nomado, to new hotels I can’t believe weren’t on my radar until now, such as Bojon Hotel. These are the 7 coolest places to stay when you land in Mongolia’s capital city.
If you’ve stayed at any of these hotels, let me know what you thought of them in the comments. Your reviews and feedback will help other travelers decide where to stay on their next trip to Ulaanbaatar!
For more ideas on what to do when you visit, read these other popular blog posts below.
Table of Contents
Are you planning your trip last minute?
🚕 Book a Cheap Airport Transfer (great, budget-friendly option when landing in Mongolia)
👉 Top Things to Do in Ulaanbaatar:
Cooking Class in a Local Home (unique way to spend a day and meet a local family!)
Mongolian Calligraphy Class: 1-Hour Lesson (try your hand at traditional Mongolian script)
Ulaanbaatar City Tour (best way to get to know the city with a local guide)
🐴 Most Popular Day Trips from Ulaanbaatar:
Brief Introduction to Mongol Horse (the most Mongolian experience you can have!)
Day Trip to Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue (the perfect day trip for active travelers)
Bogd Khan National Park Hiking Day Trip (a beautiful hike with views of the city in the world’s first ever national park)
Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?
Ulaanbaatar is the gateway to Mongolia and when tourists land here they’re often surprised at the cost of accommodation.
Prices hit a peak in the summer months when tourism is at its highest, especially around Naadam (July 11 – 13). Because accommodation options are limited, demand is high, and the tourism season is short, prices soar from June to August to make the most of the high travel season.
Starting in September room rates will begin to drop, hitting an all-time low between November and January. This is when you’ll find great room deals, but it comes with facing blistering winter temperatures outside.
Having said that, the boutique and Mongolian-owned hotels I’ve included in this guide are all what I would consider budget-friendly. There are some wonderful options, from smaller to larger properties, with something for everyone and every taste.
For more insight on what to budget for a trip to Mongolia, read my travel budgets and costs guide →
7 of the Best Boutique and Locally-Owned Hotels in Ulaanbaatar
Below I’ve included the lowest price I’ve found rooms for at each hotel in the low season. Prices in the high season, and especially in July around Naadam (July 11 – 13) may be more expensive.
1. Mika Hotel ($59)
Next to the Japanese, Czech and Turkish Embassies, as well as the best hospitals in Ulaanbaatar, Mika is a great 3-star hotel for a long or short stay.
Operating for more than 27 years, this is the kind of hotel where after you stay here once, it becomes your go-to hotel in town. The staff are friendly and welcoming, rooms are a steal for the price, and the location is great if you’re in town for business or pleasure.
Likes: Near to embassies, hospitals, and other important facilities in the capital. The on-site Enbarr Steakhouse is the first pastrami place in Ulaanbaatar.
Dislikes: Breakfast isn’t included and is $15 USD for adults and $10 USD for kids.
2. Nomado Boutique Hotel ($60)
If you want a hotel that makes you feel like you’re in Mongolia, this is it. The Signature Rooms are tight on space (but great on a budget), so if you can afford it, opt for one of the cooly designed Premium Double Rooms. The Premium Double Room with a giant painting of an Eagle Hunter is my favorite.
Likes: This place feels Mongolian with paintings of warriors and queens everywhere. Plus, you can’t beat this price.
Dislikes: Rooms don’t have air conditioning and they can get very warm in them in the summer. Signature rooms (Double and Twin) are very tight on space. Thirty minute walk to Sukhbaatar Square.
3. Chinggis Khaan Hotel ($62)
The Chinggis Khaan Hotel is one of the most iconic hotels in Ulaanbaatar. An important place for dignitaries and celebrities alike over the years, the hotel has old school charm with a new school renovation. The downstairs Bitter House Cocktail Bar is one of my favorite places to grab a drink, especially in the warm summer months when their patio is open.
Additionally, with Emart just next door, the Chinggis Khaan Hotel is a great place to stay if you need to do supply shopping for a road trip or big adventure.
Likes: The downstairs Bitter House Cocktail Bar is one of the best spots to hang out in Ulaanbaatar.
Dislikes: If you’re looking for a small, boutique experience, this isn’t it. The hotel has 194 rooms and while it has an old-school charm, that isn’t for everyone, either.
4. Edelweiss Art Hotel ($80)
One of the few hotels where rooms have a balcony, Edelweiss Art Hotel is one of the best boutique hotels in Ulaanbaatar. The hotel was remodeled in 2019, the rooms are stylish and cozy. The hotel only has 23 guest rooms, so you need to make your reservation early if you plan on staying here.
Likes: Cute and quaint boutique hotel tucked back from the hustle of the city center. The downstairs sushi restaurant is one of the best in town.
Dislikes: It’s always booked out. You need to book your room far in advance.
5. H9 Hotel Nine ($85)
You can’t beat the location of this funky boutique hotel right in the city center. The rooms are clean, spacious, and comfortable, and the front desk staff is always friendly. I always recommend this hotel because they are also happy to hold bags while you travel to the countryside. No matter where you’re traveling to in Mongolia, I always recommend doing this so you have at least one clean outfit to come back to!
Likes: One of the best hotel locations in Ulaanbaatar, right next to Sukhbaatar Square. Baggage storage area to store bags while you’re traveling through the countryside.
Dislikes: Staff is small and service is friendly, but slow.
6. Bojon Hotel Ulaanbaatar ($97)
This hotel is one of the best-kept secrets in Ulaanbaatar. Located inside the Soyolj Mall, Bojon Hotel is stylish, cool, and is the best place for design-lovers to overnight in the city. Hardwood floors and dark walls add a level of sophistication to every room, while the price point won’t break the bank.
Likes: Staying here puts you on the same road as the Black Market, a short walk away.
Dislikes: Being inside a shopping mall, arriving here initially makes you feel like you’re in the wrong place.
7. Ulaanbaatar Hotel ($105)
As the first hotel to open in Mongolia, the Ulaanbaatar Hotel is an important piece of Mongolian history and culture.
Recently renovated and reopened, the hotel is hard to miss when you’re downtown. Located right on Peace Avenue, the main street that runs through the heart of the city, and next to Sukhbaatar Square and the Mongolian State University, the hotel is as central as you can be. Inside, the newly designed rooms are spacious, elegant, and timeless. If old school charm met modern Mongolia, this would be the result.
Likes: An important historical landmark in Ulaanbaatar worth checking out, even if you don’t stay here.
Dislikes: The hotel was recently renovated and reopened after several years of being closed and is still getting its bearings.
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.
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