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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian


<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Why stay?</strong></h5>



<p>A landmark that has set the standard for five-star hospitality in Hong Kong since its debut in 1928, this legendary grande dame hotel is synonymous with old-world glamour and polished, heartfelt service. Pillbox-hatted pageboys welcome guests into a soaring neoclassical lobby that is <em>the</em> place to have afternoon tea. The Peninsula’s historical charm is matched by a crop of excellent restaurants and refined rooms; those on higher floors afford front-row views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Island skyline.</p>
<h5><strong>The neighborhood</strong></h5>







<p>The hotel sits in Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui area, home to a plethora of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Guests will find themselves a short stroll from the Star Ferry Pier and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, as well as the recently overhauled Hong Kong Museum of Art. Two neighboring MTR stations allow for easy explorations to places farther afield.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-131121 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-6.jpg" alt="A Grand Deluxe Harbour View room at The Peninsula Hong Kong." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-6.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-6-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>







<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The feel</strong></h5>



<p>Successive restorations of The Pen’s six-story heritage building have retained original details like the ornate cornices and ground-floor archways, while Chinese guardian lions at the entrance and protective deities painted on plate glass windows inside the lobby contribute to the East-meets-West vibe. A sympathetic tower wing added in the mid-nineties is so well integrated to the point that it’s hard to know where the old structure ends and the extension begins. The last big revamp, completed in 2014, spruced up the public spaces and transformed the rooms and suites with a contemporary-classic style.</p>





<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Guest quarters</strong></strong></h5>



<p>High ceilings, two marble bathrooms, and walk-in closets with discreet valet boxes are a given, whether you’re booked into a 41-square-meter Deluxe room in the old wing or a triple-aspect Deluxe Harbour View suite in the tower. So too is the soothing decor characterized by taupe wallpaper with reflective black wood trim and Chinese-inspired ink paintings. Smart technology has been deftly incorporated into the custom-made furnishings and overall design: there are LED touchscreens for lights and curtains, along with bedside and desk tablets that do triple duty as a digital hotel compendium, thermostat, and TV and audio controller. Maintenance is arguably a cut above comparable five-star hotels in Hong Kong—the accommodations look as good as new.</p>





<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong><strong>Food and drink</strong></strong></strong></h5>



<p>Aside from high tea in the lobby, a meal at one-Michelin-starred Gaddi’s in the former ballroom is another must-do. This classic French venue became Hong Kong’s first fine-dining spot when it opened back in 1953. Cantonese restaurant <a href="https://destinasian.com/spring-moon" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="broken_link">Spring Moon</a> also boasts a Michelin star of its own: gourmands come for the dim sum and heartier dishes paired with homemade XO sauce (the condiment is said to have been invented here four decades ago). Up on the 28th floor, Philippe Starck–designed Felix offers an updated contemporary European menu and jaw-dropping nighttime vistas. Also notable is long-standing Chesa, which plates up the best Swiss food in town. Expect classics like raclette, Zürich-style veal with <em>rösti</em>, and soft-center meringue drizzled in raspberry sauce, all enjoyed in rustic surrounds reminiscent of a snug alpine cabin. Nearby, The Bar is a clubby and intimate wood-paneled space ideal for a nightcap or a pre-dinner cocktail.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-131122 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-7.jpg" alt="The Peninsula Hong Kong’s Roman-inspired indoor pool." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-7.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Peninsula-Hong-Kong-7-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>





<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Wellness factor</strong></h5>



<p>Recreational facilities at The Peninsula span two floors, one of which contains a Roman-inspired indoor pool with knockout views of Victoria Harbour (the square Jacuzzi inside the couples’ spa suite provides a still more romantic vantage point). Personalized “Life Lived Best” experiences booked through a 24-hour Wellness Concierge may include one-on-one sessions with a gifted sound healer who can deliver an accurate assessment of one’s character traits.</p>





<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>Family matters</strong></strong></h5>



<p>While there might not be a kids’ club, younger guests will be pampered with their own amenities (like fluffy Frette bathrobes) and in-room entertainment choices. Babysitting services are available through the concierge. The Peninsula Academy, an activity and learning program for guests of all ages, is being relaunched later this year: previous offerings ranged from pastry-making workshops to a garden picnic at The Peak.</p>
<h5><strong>Sustainability cred</strong></h5>
<p>The Pen’s parent company, Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, made waves back in 2012 when it became the first hotel group in Asia to take shark’s fin off the menu. That commitment to responsible sourcing has continued to evolve, with special attention paid to seafood traceability and a blanket ban on the purchase of all endangered species. Globally, The Peninsula aims to more than halve its carbon footprint and water consumption (based on 2010 levels) by 2030.</p>





<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><strong>What else?</strong></strong></h5>



<p>A ride in one of the hotel’s signature Rolls-Royce Phantoms is hands down the most stylish way to arrive from the airport or any other pick-up location in town. For an even more elevated experience, a lunch or afternoon tea session for two can be preceded by an 18-minute helicopter flightseeing tour that departs straight from the rooftop.</p>
<p>Reviewed by <strong>James Louie</strong></p>





<p><a href="https://www.peninsula.com/en/hong-kong/5-star-luxury-hotel-kowloon">peninsula.com/en/hong-kong/</a><br />+852 2920 2888<br /><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/rp5q6x4sk5DXd4ha7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">22 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong</a></p>






The Peninsula Hong Kong

Hong Kong Hotels