The mothership of all The Peninsula Hotels worldwide, we expected The Peninsula Hong Kong to be the most indulgent, lavish and spectacular of all their luxury properties across the world – and we weren’t disappointed! Based on the most prime piece of real estate in Kowloon, facing Hong kong harbour, this is the very best in far eastern luxury hospitality, personified.
For close to a hundred years, The Peninsula Hong Kong has been trading off the reputation of being the Far East’s finest hotel. And it’s a reputation well earnt as the Peninsula Hong Kong is pretty flawless. It’s not for everybody, mind you, we understand that some luxury travellers, looking for more intimate and perhaps quirky vibes to this melting-pot of a city that is Hong Kong, may find this property too imposing… but despite its grand dame opulence and 300-room size, we felt that the flagship Peninsula still manages to provide a homely feel, with an ever-welcoming team of staff that is more like a family than hospitality providers.
We loved staying on the Kowloon side of the city, primarily because we got to look back at Hong Kong (and for many, this is the ‘real’ Hong Kong). And up in the lofty heights in our Superior Harbour View, Corner Suite, we got just that. Wall to wall windows made the most of the unobstructed vista over Victoria Harbour and to the contemporary city of Hong Kong beyond it – spectacular by day and enthralling by night, when the light show comes out to play. Even in our luxurious bathroom, we enjoyed a soak while drinking in the view, and some gorgeous jasmine tea (and homemade chocolate) – fine amenities to suit a fine destination.
The suite imbued the essence of travel, harking back to Hong Kong’s trading-port past – with an art-deco, steamship vibe when it came to furniture, complete with lacquer-box details and a large, embroidered cherry-blossom mural for that oriental sense of place. The layout was minimalist, clean and timeless, but still felt rich without needing to step into opulence. There’s the rest of the hotel for that.
There are more sumptuous views from the hotel’s infamous pool and spa, reason enough not to ever leave the property. And at every turn, the hotel’s amazing team were there to ensure we were enjoying ourselves, always addressing us by name, proactively acknowledging throughout that we were a couple, and second-guessing our every move – from a fluffy towel and robe appearing out of nowhere when we swam, to knowing our choice of hot drink every morning at breakfast.
We were so spoilt for choice when it came to food, we struggled to get out to eat in one of the world’s foodie capitals. Dim sum and yum cha at Spring Moon is an art – we ate here twice in two nights, ignoring what we’re told is an equally amazing Chesa (a Swiss Chalet-style restaurant serving up Alpine treats) and Gaddi, the French haute cuisine restaurant. We did check out Felix, the Phillip Starck-designed eatery at the hotel’s pinnacle, just to have a look. And it looked amazing. Equally impressive is the hotel’s institution that is afternoon tea, we people-watched locals having it, but just didn’t have the room in our already bursting bellies after lunch at Spring Moon to eat any more.
There are also many other places to graze in the hotel, or drink, that we haven’t mentioned and didn’t try. The options at the Peninsula Hong Kong are endless. But hey, when in Rome – or Hong Kong, even – don’t blame us for opting for the very best in Cantonese cuisine. Frankly, we’d do it all over again, given the chance.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Sophisticate | HKG | GMT +8 |
| While you’re Out There |
| For the ultimate experiential journey – perhaps you have someone to impress, or want to make a proposal – take a whirlwind trip from the hotel’s double helipad and climb aboard the Peninsula Hong Kong’s private chopper for a flight of fancy over the UNESCO Hong Kong Geopark’s 400-million-years-old rock formations, as well as the shale rock cliffs of Ping Chau Island, once the centre of the island’s opium smuggling industry. Then, you’ll return by yacht, champagne or cocktail in hand as the lights switch on in the harbour. Magic. Just ask the concierge. They’ll gladly arrange it all. |
Photography courtesy of The Peninsula Hotels
At OutThere, we believe in boundless travel. But we understand that some destinations can pose challenges to travellers that complicate visiting them. We advise all visitors to inform themselves about local legislation and customs, and to work with a trusted travel provider in order to ensure a safe and pleasant holiday.
