Why Stay?

An artsy bolt-hole in the backstreets of Kowloon, this complete reinvention of the former Hotel Panorama debuted as the Mondrian brand’s sophomore East Asian outpost (after Mondrian Seoul Itaewon) at the end of 2023. Victoria Harbour views and a seductive steakhouse by high-profile Italian butcher Dario Cecchini aren’t the only draws—Mondrian Hong Kong has swag and personality in spades. Its bold, cheerful design is full of tributes to local culture and the city’s deep-rooted cosmopolitan nature. That internationalism is also reflected in the diverse makeup of guests, with Australia, Germany, Thailand, and mainland China being some of the top places of origin.

The Neighborhood

Mondrian Hong Kong stands near enough to the major sights of the Tsim Sha Tsui district yet feels distinctly removed from the crowds. It’s less than 10 minutes on foot from the waterfront Avenue of Stars, and even closer to busy Nathan Road. Just around the corner, K11 Art Mall features six levels of shops and restaurants bisected by a shaded piazza-like pedestrian thoroughfare. The more interesting boutiques are found on the upper levels: these include CarryIn, which specializes in casual-outdoor Japanese apparel, and Metalwork, where local designer Ivan Keung showcases his nature-inspired necklaces, bracelets, and cuff links. As for public transit, the hotel is a few paces from Exit N5 of East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station; an air-conditioned underground walkway leads to the older Tsim Sha Tsui station for quick hops across the water to Hong Kong Island.

A large-scale mosaic installation graces the lobby at Mondrian Hong Kong.

The Feel

Amsterdam-based designer Karin Krautgartner led the revamp of the hotel except in the signature steakhouse, whose interiors are by local hero Joyce Wang. The Mondrian’s unstuffy and playful-chic vibe is amplified with the help of international and local artists. Taking pride of place in the compact but high-ceilinged lobby, an underwater photograph by Christy Lee Rogers has been reproduced in a striking double-height mosaic—a nod to the tiling commonly found in Hong Kong’s cha chaan teng (neighborhood diners) and MTR stations. Fantastical undersea creatures, be it a moose-whale or an octopus with a rabbit’s head, adorn the wallpaper in corridors upstairs. Inside the guest rooms, ruby red armchairs and headboards provide pops of color on a white and blond wood canvas, as do framed artworks and hand-painted lacquer boxes in gold and black.

Guest Quarters

The 324 rooms (including 12 suites) have large dual-aspect windows oriented to take maximum advantage of the city and harbor views. Accommodations come in a variety of layouts—Deluxe Harbour rooms feature a shower booth directly overlooking Victoria Harbour (don’t fret: the windows use one-way mirrors). Malin + Goetz amenities are standard for all bathrooms. Made for entertaining, each of the hotel’s 49-square-meter Harbour suites include a spacious living room. These are furnished with a J-shaped banquette around two overlapping coffee tables, a squiggly mirrored lamp embedded in the ceiling, and an abstract work by Dutch artist Ruben de Haas, who reinterpreted key scenes in Wong Kar-wai films using digital formatting. Suites are also equipped with bedside Sonos wireless speakers and Dyson hair-dryers in the wardrobe.

Food and Drink

The two dining venues at Mondrian Hong Kong are also accessible from street level via express elevators. Spanning the 38th floor, Avoca is a light-filled space for mainly à la carte breakfasts (guests can build their own set meals by choosing five of 20 small dishes), but morphs after dark into a suave cocktail den serving locally inspired tipples. Try the clarified version of a Bloody Mary made with Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, or the sweet Mango Pomelo Colada recalling a classic Hong Kong dessert. Upstairs, retro-glam Carna by Dario Cecchini is a meat-lover’s dream: be sure to order the superb, unashamedly beefy steak tartare and the deep-fried polpette mixed with bone marrow.

Rolf Flaminiano, head bartender at Avoca; polenta with tomato sauce topped with Italian sausage and mushrooms at Carna.

Wellness Factor

Mondrian Hong Kong’s relatively small pre-existing footprint does not allow for a full-service spa or pool, though there is a first-floor fitness center stocked with Technogym equipment. Concierges can point guests to reputable Thai massage and reflexology parlors in the vicinity.

Family Matters

No age restrictions apply to guests at the hotel; while the Mondrian has no kids’ club or specific activities aimed at families, children are most welcome. The breakfast menu at Avoca features kid-friendly options such as steamed pork buns and banana pancakes with Nutella.

Sustainability Cred

In-room minibars come with a high-tech Culligan water filter and dispenser; power is shut off and window blinds come down automatically when guests leave their rooms. Plastic bottles have been upcycled into staff T-shirts and lamps hanging over the bar at Avoca, which relies on low-waste distribution firm EcoSpirits to source wines and spirits. Carna adheres to a nose-to-tail philosophy. Offcuts and kitchen leftovers infuse cocktails, with beef fat used to wash bourbon. Mondrian Hong Kong supports single parents by offering more flexible working arrangements like shift-sharing.

What Else?

Right across the street lies The Corner Shop, a tiny wedge-shaped space run by the hotel for small-scale art exhibitions and sometimes performances by local buskers. Depending on the showcase, some artworks may be scattered around the covered 40th-floor Roof Garden, which hosts pop-up events like dinners when Dario Cecchini is in town. Mondrian Hong Kong also publishes its own digital guidebook, City Hunts, on Instagram and PressReader. Updated every month with insider recs, it focuses on lesser-known local eateries, shops, and exhibitions. Neighborhood walking tours are available on request.

Reviewed by James Louie

mondrianhotels.com
+852 3550 0388
8A Hart Ave., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Mondrian Hong Kong: Harbour Views

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