FAB HOTELS ASIA 100

Hong Kong has long been an incubator for luxury hospitality, from the historic Peninsula Hotel to the luxury Mandarin Oriental and Langham groups. We checked into some of the most prestigious addresses of Hong Kong to curate a list that sums up the best hotels and hospitality landmarks of the Chinese territory.

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The Launchpads

The Peninsula Hong Kong

Just three years shy of crossing its 100 year mark, The Peninsula Hong Kong has been for most of the century a beacon of luxury hospitality. The progenitor of a luxury chain that has maintained impossibly high standards in the age of mergers and shadowplay in the industry, the Peninsula Hong Kong has much to celebrate, and offer, as the property progresses towards its centennial milestone.

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Facing down younger, brasher competitors with a composure of ease and a milieu of timelessness, a stay here will elevate just about any visit to Hong Kong, whether one is wont to paint the town red or play hermit in one of its comfortable, stylish suites dripping with views and thoughtfully curated creature comforts. The Peninsula Hong Kong is unabashedly, still, the finest grand dame east of the Suez.

 

Culinary highlights

 

Aficionados of old world refinements will be thrilled by the eternal finesse instilled at Gaddi’s, the classically French culinary establishment raised in this part of the world that still dishes out the crystal and silverware amidst synchronised service. Here, your bread and butter is plated and served from the trolley right before your table at the beginning and you wait for your souffle to rise perfectly at the close of the evening — which you must for all good endings, as cliche and rarefied as such traditions have become.

For ages since its inception close to a century ago, the tradition of tea has been the top draw at The Lobby Lounge and the queues here snake on perennially on a daily basis, not just for the delectable scones and dainties that line the three-tiers, but also for anyone to partake in a ritual that has been done so right for so long. A string of other great restaurants await in the flank — Spring Moon serves fine dining Chinese cuisine, Chesa offers Swiss classics the likes of raclette and cheese fondue, and Felix is a hopscotch of contemporary European cuisine with the territory’s most chromatic vistas.

 

The Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR

 

Regent Hong Kong
 

Once upon a time, the Regent Hong Kong was touted as the hotel with the best view in the territory. The property ceased operations in 2001 and over two decades on, this bayfront hotspot is still invested with some of the best views in the city. The erstwhile Intercontinental Hong Kong shuttered for three years from 2020 for a thorough renovation and was magnificently revived as the Regent Hong Kong in 2023, welcoming guests to a sumptuous interior glowing with contemporary aesthetics.

 

With its proximity to the bay, one actually feels like one is on the water, not unlike a luxurious liner replete with a bevy of prime restaurants and leisure spots. The Regent is of course on a prime stretch of Hong Kong terra, steps away from Avenue of Stars, which the hotel has received plenty over the years, and the other fabulous distractions of Tsim Sha Tsui. The Club Lounge here is steadily coming onto its own with tempting culinary presentations throughout the day and discerning service that suits the brand to a T.

 

Culinary highlights

 

Rebranded as Lai Ching Heen after the Regent Hong Kong was re-opened in 2022, this two-Michelin-starred Cantonese institution has lost none of its old-days prestige and popularity as executive chef Lau Yiu-fai and head chef Cheng Man-sang continue to expand on the culinary finesse the restaurant has delivered for 40 years. The renovated space takes inspiration from a jade jewellery box and its interiors are completely encapsulated by Hong Kong’s alluring harbour views. We particularly relished the chef’s signature wok-seared lotus root patties and fried rice with conpoy and egg white, because etched within these simple dishes is a significant dose of home-cooked goodness that really is the soul of the best Cantonese fare.

At Qura Bar, your perch can be quite literally next to the harbour, which isn’t such a common feature for drinking holes in Tsim Sha Tsui. It helps that the decor here is also sophisticated and worldly, the drinks subtle yet powerful, and the establishment attracts a crowd that mostly fits its milieu.

Regent Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

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The St Regis Hong Kong
 

The St Regis Hong Kong opened in Wan Chai in 2020, slightly removed from the waterfront which means a sizeable chunk of its rooms feature city views, with only a few suites offering partial vistas of the harbour. But alluring as the bay views of Hong Kong may be, this is a hotel that stands out with its classic and abundantly lavish design courtesy of Andre Fu, who seems to be really in his element when the palette is earthy and the mood opulent.

 

The rooms of the St Regis Hong Kong are unexpectedly large, starting at 50 sqm, raised with plush embellishments and decked with the right accoutrements that will have fans of say, brown marble bathrooms, cooing with delight. The property is overarchingly classic, but far from boring, and in this era of instagrammable excess, this understated beauty is the very study of quiet luxury.

 

Culinary highlights

 

Run is a two-Michelin-starred Cantonese fine dining restaurant that first impresses the eyes with its stately interiors and polished plating, then the palates, with Chef Hung Chi-Kwong’s many subtle refined interpretations of the genre’s classics. Elegant setting notwithstanding, the cuisine is naturally the main draw here and we are particularly impressed by the dim sum dishes which are dainty and packed with flavours, the char siew that is roasted to perfection, and the double-boiled soup which is satisfying and nourishing. Clearly the sterling reputation of Run is well deserved and well-worth the trek to Wan Chai for.

The St. Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

 

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
 

The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong sets the industry benchmark for Asian luxury hospitality on many fronts — historically it was The Mandarin Hong Kong before its merger with The Oriental Bangkok in 1985. As one half of the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel brand, it was once the tallest building in Hong Kong and the first hotel in Asia with a bathtub in every guest room.

 

Signature allures here include classical interiors, inspiring views and a service orientation so distinct, it has garnered a legion of international fans over the decades. Nostalgia is however a tough feature to push as somewhere around the corner is always a younger, more glamorous upstart waiting to unseat the dame.

luxury hospitality landmarks of hong kong
 

On that score, the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong has announced that the flagship hotel will undergo a major renovation costing USD 100 million. Guestrooms and suites will be refreshed with a contemporary style featuring exquisite fabrics and crafted details, while a reconfiguration of the guestroom floors will also introduce 11 newly appointed apartments. Fans are doubtlessly waiting with bated breath.

 

Culinary highlights

 

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong currently operates nine F&B outlets that comprise both casual and fine dining options. Man Wah serves fine dining Cantonese and is one of the best culinary institutions in the territory to get acquainted with the beloved South Chinese cuisine. Captain’s Bar is also a favourite haunt of tourists to throw back a pint or two, well within earshot of the casual flings and pick-up lines that are bound to be uttered just a little down the bar.

 

New, elevated dining experiences post-renovations will include a new interior for the renowned Mandarin Grill + Bar, a refined expansion of the old favourite Clipper Lounge as well as an exclusive pizza counter with acclaimed Chef Daniele Cason, he who is responsible for the feted eight-seat Pizza Bar at Mandarin Oriental Tokyo.

 

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong

 

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
 

When Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong opened in 2005, it set the yardstick for Hong Kong hospitality for close to two decades with the promise of decadence up in the clouds. With signature Four Seasons service delivery within the atmospheric IFC tower looming over the rest of Central, travellers of a bygone era couldn’t have asked for more. A recent overhaul has imbued the hotel with renewed vigour and we are definitely glad that both owner (property titan Sun Hung Kai) and operator didn’t just stay inert and complacent with lofty views here; the once-staid interiors were injected with new forms and fixtures for a current, contemporary appeal.

The suites here are plush and welcoming, and despite a muted colour scheme that might be viewed by the younger set as overtly traditionalist, these are still some of the territory’s most coveted rooms. The executive lounge offers a panoramic view few other competitors can match.

 

Culinary highlights

 

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong currently boasts eight Michelin stars garnered by four of its restaurants, with three stars awarded to its French fine dining restaurant Caprice and two each for Chinese fine dining Lung Kin Heen and the Italian ‘Omakase’ Noi by Paulo Airaudo.

 

By reputation alone Caprice warrants a visit because the culinary and service presentation here is said to be close to matchless. Lung Kin Heen remains ridiculously popular with incessantly packed sessions both day and night. As it is with many Four Seasons’ watering holes, Argo is the hotel’s highly lauded cocktail bar with spirit

and pizzazz ricocheting through its dazzling interiors in the after-dark hours.

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Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong

 

The Langham, Hong Kong
 

The Langham Hong Kong is the flagship property of the hospitality group, its largest by key-count with 471 rooms standing ground near the junction of Peking and Canton Road in land-starved Tsim Sha Tsui. With its roots stretching back to the historic Langham London, The Langham Hong Kong was dreamt up as the philosophical amalgamation of two continents, which has proven to be rather hard to define on the design brief.

 

What that translated into is a city hideout with smallish rooms decked with comfortable fixtures in an unbeatable location just minutes from some of Hong Kong’s best city attractions. From this Asian fountainhead sprung forth close to 30 Langham hotels of similar design over four continents, with a significant concentration in China today.

 

Culinary highlights

 

There are three restaurants in the hotel. The Food Gallery serves buffets, while Palm Court is known for its lovely afternoon teas, and Tang Court is one of Hong Kong’s most hallowed fine dining addresses with fabulous Cantonese cuisine.

 

Tang Court, having clinched three Michelin stars for nine consecutive years at press time, is currently under the helm of Executive Chef Wong Chi Fai, who is best known for his classical signatures like braised pork with preserved vegetables and baked stuffed crab shell with crab meat. Despite the accolades, the cuisine here is presented with surprising simplicity — the roast goose, stuffed beancurd and braised abalone noodles are heavenly in taste but earthy in presentation.

 

The Langham Hong Kong, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

 

Mondrian Hong Kong
 

Mondrian Hong Kong is one of the latest entrants to Hong Kong from the international hospitality set, and differs from the rest around its locale on both the design and attitude front. While neighbours like The Peninsula and Regent Hong Kong are storied dames that cling on to history and traditions to forge their futures, Mondrian Hong Kong has carte blanche to define its own presence within this overcrowded patch of Hong Kong.

 

Raised tall and svelte, the Mondrian Hong Kong nevertheless harbours 324 rooms and suites that start from 21 sqm. Diminutive they may be, many of them are imbued with grand views of the Victoria Harbour and the old faces of Kowloon. Our abode of choice here are the 49sqm Harbour Suites that open to stunning harbour vistas and comfy plush interiors.

 

Culinary highlights

 

Situated right in the heart of Kowloon where plenty of culinary options abound, the minders here have opted for a smart, trimmed approach to its F&B offerings with just one bar and one restaurant set at its crown.

Avoca is a trendy bar that blends handcrafted and innovative cocktails with a thoughtfully selected food menu while Carna by Dario Ceccini, the legendary celebrity butcher from the village of Panzano in the Chianti region of Tuscany, is a fabulous steakhouse that serves comforting Italian entrees with some of the territory’s most meticulously prepped prime cuts, grilled meats and seafood.

 

Mondrian Hong Kong, 8A Hart Avenue Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

 

Conrad Hong Kong
 

In the blink of an eye, Conrad Hong Kong has been maintaining its presence on the island for 35 years. From its advantageous foothold in Admiralty linked to both Pacific Place and the MTR station, this gleaming tower is an ever-popular business address that serves the travel needs of corporate and leisure travelers alike.

With its last major renovation completed in 2013, the design orientation is better suited to those with a penchant for classical styles. The location is however central and convenient with retail and dining options aplenty to set out from. The service rendered in the executive lounge is outstanding — it even serves freshly baked pastries from its own club ovens.

 

Culinary highlights

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Conrad Hong Kong operates six F&B outlets presently, from fine dining restaurant Brasserie on the Eighth offering continental French fare to Garden Cafe specialising in buffets. Golden Leaf, its fine dining Chinese restaurant, is an ever popular option for connoisseurs of dim sum and other Cantonese classics in Hong Kong. Years may have passed but the taste delivered here has withstood the test of time.

Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway Hong Kong, 518000 Hong Kong

 

JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong
 

Predating its neighbour Conrad Hong Kong by just a year, JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong is essentially also a great business hotel in a very convenient location (connected to the adjoining Pacific Place) within the island’s concrete jungle that is Central. Because it was raised with a little bit more shine, swathed in a metallic blue that often reflects the sky, the design elements of this property sits very well with Hong Kong’s chromatic cityscape.

Popular with the corporate set, executives and well-heeled clackers are truly in their element here, with refreshed interiors and plush redesigned rooms offering a heightened sense of comfort within Hong Kong’s CBD district since the property’s full renovations in 2018. The Bauhinia Suite — close to 90 sqm of space framed by grand harbour views from level 33 of the hotel, is a joy to inhabit.

 

Culinary highlights

 

JW Marriott has seven F&B outlets under its roof, and is a culinary hotspot in the Admiralty neighbourhood. JW Café is hugely popular for its daily seafood buffets that present sumptuous spreads of anything under the sea, including braised abalones and Alaskan king crabs.

Fish Bar is an alfresco diner that offers sustainable fish and seafood options while Michelin-starred Man Ho is still one of the territory’s best fine dining Chinese restaurants with lovely interiors and fabulous Cantonese cuisine that is inventive yet respectfully traditional.

 

JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong

 

The Murray Hong Kong
 

The Murray was carved from the erstwhile government building on Cotton Tree Drive in Hong Kong’s CBD in 2013 for a staggering HKD 4.4 billion, and for a while there was so much hype surrounding the hotel, owned and managed by the Marco Polo Hotels Group. Industry watchers waited for years with bated breath for its opening and open it did, in 2017 to much fanfare.

 

The Murray was generally lauded for the modern aesthetics Foster + Partners melded into the existing lines of the iconic building. Its rooms and suites, carved from former office spaces, are bathed in muted earth tones and imbued with light and views. Considering its billion-dollar price tag, decorative fresh florals throughout the interiors really isn't too much of an excess.

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Culinary highlights

There are six dining outlets at The Murray offering a myriad of cuisines including Chinese, Italian and afternoon tea. The Tai Pan provides a pleasant grill menu amidst sophisticated ambience with an open kitchen serving up a variety of cuts from land and sea. Garden Lounge offers afternoon tea sets alongside a comforting all-day menu for hotel guests who are not quite tempted by the tantalising array of dining options out there in nearby Central.

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The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong

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Rosewood Hong Kong
 

The Rosewood Hong Kong had its moment stolen when it opened in 2020, right before the advent of a global lockdown due to the dreadful pandemic. Four years on, it is clear that the statuesque hotel was poised to push the boundary on the superclass in luxury hospitality by the Chengs, owner of both the property and the Rosewood brand.

 

Firstly, there is no mistaking the tone in the expansive venue installed with so many flourishes — contemporary art pieces from Damien Hirst paintings to Lynn Chadwick sculptures decorate the public spaces, while Loro Piana fabrics cover the walls of its rooms and suites, which all point towards some quintessentially Hong Kong vistas. For those seeking an oasis of calm in frenetic Hong Kong, an overnight stay at the tranquil recesses of Asaya, comprising 2 wellness lodges, each with a private treatment room, is just the ticket. Tony Chi has raised a babel worthy of praise while the Chengs have festooned it with an abundance of objects deemed necessary for such a mantlepiece.

 

Culinary highlights

 

It is quite clear that Rosewood Hong Kong was out to make an impression on the culinary front, with a dozen F&B options in operation. Two of them, Chaat and The Legacy House, have been awarded Michelin stars.

Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

 

Hotel Icon
 

When it comes to representing Hong Kong’s creative circle, most establishments have nothing on Hotel Icon, the teaching and research hotel built for the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

 

The honour roll for the hotel’s inception is as follows — the architectural design was by Hong Kong-based Rocco Design Architects while homegrown CL3 Architects designed the interiors, including the guestrooms, the Silverbox ballroom and the lobby’s grand staircase. Fashion designer Vivienne Tam, herself a Hong Kong Polytechnic University graduate, conceptualised the Designer Suite by Vivienne Tam and compatriot Barney Cheng fashioned the staff uniforms.

 

Only the restaurants and the lobby’s flower wall were courtesy of non local talents, the former by British design house Conran and Partners and the latter by French botanist and artist Patric Blanc. The milieu here, though not as glitzy as a Ritz-Carlton or a Four Seasons, is percolating with creativity and keenness for the hospitality arts. The professionalism rendered here is clearly performance-driven, oiled by the apparent drive from the staff and management to do Hong Kong proud on all accounts.

 

Culinary highlights

 

There are three F&B outlets here: Above & Beyond crowns the culinary offerings here with delectable Cantonese cuisine while GREEN is a casual brasserie and bar situated on the lobby level. The Market, located on the second floor, is an all day diner that features open kitchens and an endless stretch of service space that is transformed each morning with one of Hong Kong’s most incredible breakfast smorgasbord encompassing local and international favourites. It is not a trivial observation to note that the breakfast spread here alone is a compelling reason for visitors to pay the Hotel Icon HK a visit.

Hotel Icon, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong

 

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
 

The tallest hotel in Hong Kong, and quite possibly in the world, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong scales from level 102 of the iconic ICC spire, and commands a vantage that is unmatched by any in the territory, The rooms here start from a spacious 50sqm, each imbued with signature Ritz-Carlton accents like luxurious bath amenities, wonderful plush beddings and unique to this property, epiphany inducing views.

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Upping the ante here are the club floor rooms and suites that also roll out personalised stationery, private in-room check-in, dedicated club concierge services as well as five F&B presentations at the Club Lounge located at level 116 of the building. A stay here can be highly gratifying for all the obvious reasons.

Culinary highlights

 

The hotel features five dining venues including the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant, Tosca and two-Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant, Tin Lung Heen, a popular fine dining spot which serves inventive renditions of classic dim sum and Cantonese staples like roasted meats and double-boiled soups.

The Lounge and Bar features an international all-day dining menu, while the rooftop bar, Ozone, is truly a stunning venue at 490 metres above sea level.

 

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong

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