Recommended Hotels

Hong Kong has some of the most luxurious hotels in the world, with properties belonging to nearly all the major international chains. The city welcomes almost 30 million visitors a year, half of whom are from mainland China. Hotels listed below have full air-conditioning, offer 24-hour or more limited room service, and a wide range of facilities. Hong Kong hotels have excellent business services and conference facilities, and many have acclaimed restaurants.

Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly at Christmas, Chinese New Year, during major trade fairs and China’s golden week following 1 May and 1 October. If you do arrive without a reservation, the Hong Kong Hotel Association (www.hkha.org) at the airport can arrange accommodation with its members.

As a basic guide, the symbols below have been used to indicate high-season rates in Hong Kong dollars, based on double occupancy. A 10 percent service charge will be added to the bill. In Macau, there’s a 10 percent service charge and a 5 percent government tax. All Macau hotels charge high rates for Friday and Saturday night stays.

$$$$ above HK$2,500

$$$ HK$1,600–HK$2,500

$$ HK$950–HK$1,600

$ below HK$950

Central

Bishop Lei International House $$ 4 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, tel: 2868 0828, www.bishopleihtl.com.hk. An excellent-value option, owned by the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong and located 15 minutes’ walk from the nightlife hub of Lan Kwai Fong. SoHo is on its doorstep via the Mid-Levels Escalator. There’s nothing remarkable about the decor, but it offers many of the facilities of an upper-range hotel – including a gym, pool, free in-room broadband, 24-hour room service and babysitter and concierge services – at exceptionally reasonable prices. Some suites even have impressive harbour views.

Four Seasons $$$$ 8 Finance Road, Central, tel: 3196 8888, www.fourseasons.com/hongkong. This five-star hotel has rooms with wall-to-wall windows giving spectacular harbour views, and decorated in contemporary style with wood and silk wall panelling. The hotel has an indoor link to the Airport Express station building and the IFC Mall, stocked with up-market shopping, a great cinema and restaurants. 399 rooms and suites.

Hotel LKF $$$$ 33 Wyndham Street, Lan Kwai Fong, tel: 3518 9333; www.hotel-lkf.com.hk. One of the city’s hippest addresses, on Wyndham Street, right in the middle of Lan Kwai Fong. The sleek, minimalist rooms have espresso machines and DVD players, and guests can avail themselves of a whole range of services. Dining facilities include a very sexy 29th-floor cocktail bar and supper lounge, AZURE, which is where breakfast is served. Great hotel, although note that the streets outside can be noisy into the small hours.

Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong $$$$ Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, tel: 2877 3838, www.shangri-la.com. On arrival, the outstanding feature here is a 17-storey atrium with abundant greenery. Large rooms with oversize bathrooms have views of the harbour or hillside. Outstanding Cantonese, French and Japanese restaurants and fine seafood at The Lobster Bar. Outdoor swimming pool and a 24-hour gym. 565 rooms.

Traders Hotel $$ 508 Queen’s Road West, Sheung Wan, Western District, tel: 2974 1234, www.shangri-la.com. A comfortable, excellent-value mid-range hotel in the oldest district on Hong Kong Island. A rooftop pool and swish Sky Lounge on the 28th floor both enjoy superior views. Ten minutes’ drive from Central but a courtesy shuttle bus is provided to the MTR and Airport Express stations. 280 rooms, three of them with facilities for guests with disabilities.

Causeway Bay/Wan Chai

Empire Hotel $$ 8 Wing Hing Street, Causeway Bay, tel: 3692 2333, www.empirehotel.com.hk. A good-value hotel located close to Victoria Park, near Tin Hau MTR and Kings Road trams so it is easy to reach Causeway Bay and Wan Chai shopping and nightlife district. As the newest of three Empires in Hong Kong, this property has a business lounge and spa. Rooms are on the small side, but there is a 42-inch flat screen TV and for added entertainment, the glass walls in the bathroom turn opaque at the flick of a switch. 280 rooms.

The Excelsior $$$ 281 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2894 8888, www.mandarinoriental.com. Busy hotel in excellent location near Victoria Park and bustling Causeway Bay. Guest rooms are plush and comfortable with views over the harbour or park. Italian and Cantonese restaurants and a sociable English-style pub in the basement. 884 rooms and suites.

The Fleming $$–$$$ 41 Fleming Road, Wan Chai, tel: 3607 2288, www.thefleming.com.hk. When location is everything, this 66-room boutique hotel in the middle of the Wan Chai commercial and nightlife district does the trick. Compact but cosy stylish rooms packed with gadgets and thoughtful touches, such as a female-only floor and free access to California Fitness next door. Some rooms have kitchenettes.

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong $$$$ 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2588 1234, www.hongkong.grand.hyatt.com. A futuristic design of marble and glass, magnificent views over the harbour, and an Art-Deco style interior characterise this fine hotel. The rooms are smart and contemporary with luxurious amenities. The Hyatt’s award-winning Plateau Spa has dedicated spa suites where you can stay for maximum relaxation and pampering. 539 rooms.

Novotel Century Hong Kong $$ 238 Jaffe Road, tel: 2598 8888, www.accorhotels.com. A solid four-star establishment. This 23-storey hotel is a short walk via covered walkway to the Convention and Exhibition Centre and is convenient for Wan Chai and MTR. 512 rooms.

Park Lane $$$ 310 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2293 8888, www.parklane.com.hk. Across from Victoria Park, this attractive hotel with modern marble decor is close to restaurants, shops, department stores and nightlife. 803 rooms.

Renaissance Harbour View $$$ 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2802 8888, www.renaissancehotels.com. This spectacular hotel
adjoins the Convention and Exhibition Centre on the Wan Chai waterfront. About half of the rooms have harbour views. There are Cantonese, Continental and international restaurants. 862 rooms and suites.

Kowloon

Eaton Hotel Hong Kong $$ 380 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, tel: 2782 1818, www.eaton-hotel.com. Extremely pleasant hotel with facilities including an attractive outdoor pool and service that rates well above its category. The emphasis is on contemporary styling and good value, and prices are very competitive. Well positioned for trawling markets, shops and cinemas, and halfway between Yau Ma Tei and Jordan MTR station. 465 rooms.

Holiday Inn Golden Mile $$$ 50 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2369 3111, www.ichotelsgroup.com. This hotel is conveniently located in the midst of Nathan Road’s ‘Golden Mile’ shopping. The rooms are a good size and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows that give views of Kowloon’s packed streets and tenement buildings. 585 rooms.

InterContinental Grand Stanford Hotel $$$ 70 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, tel: 2721 5161, www.hongkong.intercontinental.com. On the waterfront, with views over the harbour, this hotel is less glamourous than its sister hotel on the TST waterfront but it provides top service and accommodation at a more reasonable price. About half the rooms have harbour views. There are Italian and Cantonese restaurants. Attractive outdoor pool area. 570 rooms.

InterContinental Hong Kong $$$$ 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, tel: 2721 1211, www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com. One of Hong Kong’s top hotels, set on the waterfront, with luxurious granite and marble decor and harbour views. Guest rooms have spacious Italian marble bathrooms. Service throughout is excellent and the hotel is home to Hong Kong’s first celebrity chef restaurants – Nobu and Spoon. 590 rooms.

Kowloon Hotel $$$ 19–21 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2929 2888, www.thekowloonhotel.com. Tucked just behind the Peninsula, the Kowloon’s rooms are small and the absence of a pool keeps prices low and good value. Guests take a shuttle to swim at the sister property, Harbour Plaza Metropolis, or more conveniently, pay HK$150 to use the up-market YMCA in the next block. 736 rooms.

Kowloon Shangri-La $$$ 64 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, tel: 2721 2111, www.shangri-la.com. Relaxed atmosphere and good service in this hotel. Rooms are large and luxurious; some have harbour views. Nadaman restaurant offers award-winning Japanese cuisine and Michelin two-star Shang Palace Cantonese specialities. Superb Italian food at Angelini. 688 rooms and suites.

Langham Place $$$$ 555 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, tel: 3552 3388, http://hongkong.langhamplacehotels.com. A modern five-star hotel in the heart of crowded Mong Kok, Langham Place prides itself on its use of technology, and shows a softer side with great artwork throughout the building. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary furnishings. Stylish touches include a heated roof-top pool, Chinese-themed Chuan spa and free Wi-Fi in a laid-back business centre that merges into its lounge bar. 666 rooms.

Marco Polo Gateway $$$ Harbour City, 3 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2113 0888, www.marcopolohotels.com. One of a trio of Marco Polo hotels, this one is located in the Harbour City shopping complex, a step from the Star Ferry terminal; others are the higher-priced Hong Kong Hotel and the Prince. Good-sized rooms. 400 rooms.

The Mira $$ 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2368 1111, www.themirahotel.com. After a US$65-million makeover in 2009, The Mira is a design-conscious hotel with a fresh attitude and bold designs. Enjoys a great location in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, with some rooms looking towards Kowloon Park. Close to Knutsford Terrace dining area.

Nathan Hotel $ 378 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, tel: 2388 5141, www.nathanhotel.com. This quiet and pleasant hotel near the Temple Street Night Market has spacious, nicely decorated no-frills rooms. The Penthouse restaurant serves Cantonese and Western food. Business centre. 189 rooms.

Novotel Hong Kong $$–$$$ Nathan Road Kowloon, 348 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, tel: 3965 8888, www.novotel.com. Smart contemporary hotel that offers extremely comfortable accommodation with some neat touches. Strong images of Hong Kong Skyline decorate guest rooms and there are iMacs for guests’ use in the lobby area. It’s close to MTR stations and well-located for exploring the city. 389 rooms.

Peninsula $$$$ Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2920 2888, http://hongkong.peninsula.com. Hong Kong’s most historic hotel, first opened in 1928, is a study in colonial elegance. The famous English-style afternoon tea in the lobby is a must for visitors. Guest rooms in the newer 32-storey tower offer spectacular views; furnishings and amenities are sumptuous, and service is of the highest standard. Gaddi’s is Hong Kong’s premier French restaurant, while other fine choices offer Pacific Rim, continental, Swiss, Japanese and Cantonese cuisine. There are top business and fitness facilities, too. 300 rooms.

Royal Garden $$$–$$$$ 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, tel: 2721 5215, www.rghk.com.hk. An attractive hotel with pool, tennis court, gym, garden and a putting green on its rooftop Sky Clubs. The 25m pool is open-air but heated when the weather is cool. Guest rooms open onto terraces overlooking a plant-filled 15-storey atrium with pools and waterfalls. The rooms are cosy, elegant and inviting, and the most expensive ones have harbour views. There are 37-inch or 46-inch plasma TV screens in each guest room. There are Italian, Cantonese and Japanese restaurants, as well as a restaurant in the atrium. 420 rooms, including 48 suites.

Royal Pacific Hotel and Towers $$–$$$ 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2736 1188, www.royalpacific.com.hk. Located in China Hong Kong City, which also houses the Hong Kong China Ferry terminal, this no-frills hotel is extremely convenient for trips to Macau or Southern China and is just over the road from Kowloon Park. Rooms in the Hotel Wing overlook the park, while those in the Towers Wing have views of Victoria Harbour. 673 rooms and suites.

Salisbury YMCA $ 41 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2268 7000, www.ymcahk.org.hk. You should reserve well in advance for this hotel, which is located next door to the Peninsula. It’s one of the best bargains in Hong Kong, offering the facilities and service of far more expensive hotels at a fraction of the cost. The rooms are simple in decor, but are comfortable and well-equipped. There are restaurant and food outlets, plus two swimming pools, a fitness gym and sports centre with squash courts and a climbing wall. 363 rooms and suites, 7 dorms.

Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers $$$$ 20 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2369 1111, www.sheraton.com/hongkong. Located near the harbour front and the Space Museum and Art Museum. The decor is contemporary with Asian motifs. The guest rooms facing the harbour have great views. Restaurants include a Japanese one, an oyster bar and Celestial Court Chinese restaurant. 782 rooms.

New Territories

Royal Park $$ 8 Pak Hok Ting Street, Sha Tin, tel: 2601 2111, www.royalpark.com.hk. This hotel near Sha Tin’s New Town Plaza shopping complex is easily accessed from the city by MRT or the hotel’s own shuttle bus to Tsim Sha Tsui. The Royal Park served as an Olympic village when Hong Kong hosted the 2008 Olympic equestrian events. The rooms have marble-tiled bathrooms and views over Shatin Central Park and the Shing Mun River. There are indoor and outdoor pools, plus special facilities for guests with disabilities. 443 rooms.

Silvermine Beach Resort $–$$ D.D. 2 Lot ilvermine Bay, Mui Wo, Lantau, tel: 6810 0111,www.silvermineresort.com. A pleasant if basic hotel overlooking Silvermine Bay on Lantau Island, a half-hour ferry ride from Central, and convenient for buses to fine beaches, country walks and the Big Buddha. Some of the rooms overlook the beach, others the mountains or the garden. There is also a coffee shop and Chinese restaurant. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, gym and sauna. 128 rooms.

Macau

Altira $$$ Avenida de Kwong Tung, Taipa, tel: 853-2886 8888, www.altiramacau.com. One of the new breed of integrated casino resorts in the MSAR, Crown Macau opened in May 2007, raising the bar by promising 6-star service. There are Japanese, Chinese and Italian restaurants, two cafés, the great Altira spa and extremely spacious rooms. 216 rooms.

Pousada de Coloane $$ Praia de Cheoc Van, Coloane, tel: 853-2888 2143, www.hotelpcoloane.com.mo. Quiet, family-run hotel in a nice spot by the beach. Decor is rustic Portuguese, with blue-and-white wall tiles (azulejos) and terracotta tiles on the floor. It’s nothing fancy, but there is a small swimming pool with a slide for children. The Pousada’s beautiful terrace is a lovely place to slow down, relax, eat home-style Portuguese food, and enjoy the views of Cheoc Van beach. 28 rooms.