Breathtaking views from dizzying heights, a vibrant city abuzz with café culture and street markets and restaurants boasting some of the best food in the world: it must be Hong Kong. The city sprawled across an island setting offers too many attractions to count, from the harbour tour on the Star Ferry to hiking up Victoria Peak, or the nearby Pak Lap Wan beach and the uber cool seaside town of Sai Kung.
But in a city with hundreds of hotels, how are you meant to pick the right one? Here we’ve rounded up the best there is – and when we say best we really mean the crème de la crème.
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Madonna reportedly stayed here and, at 95, it’s the oldest and one of the most prestigious hotels in Hong Kong. As a venue that has acquired the moniker ‘Grand Dame of the Far East’, it's an enduring symbol of luxury. You can feel the heritage and grandeur in every detail of the 300 rooms. To give you an idea, there is a dedicated team to take care of the silverware alone. And the welcome chocolates in your room (replenished daily) aren’t bought from the local supermarket but lovingly made by the hotel’s chocolatier in their very own Chocolatier room.
Stunning rooms look out over the harbour, boasting panoramic views. A carefully placed bathtub in the window of the suites makes for impressive - and dramatic - bathing opportunities. Get used to asking yourself the unusual question: do I bother closing the blinds when I’m 30 floors high in the sky?
Beds are predictably luxurious and enormous. Why leave when you can control the curtains, temperature, lighting and television from an iPad next to your bed? Well, the eight restaurants are one very good reason. You’re not short of dining options here and every restaurant excels in its own way. Spring Moon is a one Michelin starred Cantonese restaurant, if you want to keep it authentic. Or, for impressive views (and fine dining thanks to chef Chef de Cuisine Aurélie Altemaire) the Felix restaurant on the 28th floor is a showstopper, as you can watch Hong Kong’s famous light show from 8pm every evening.
If you can’t stay at the hotel consider scheduling tea in the beautiful lobby instead, a treat the hotel is famed for. Guests can feast on a range of sandwiches and cakes made by the pastry chefs. Every day a live band plays from midday until 11pm.
The hotel boasts a fleet of 15 Rolls Royce, including one vintage, available to collect you from the airport if you fancy the royal treatment for a special occasion. And yes, that special occasion can be visiting this stunning hotel.
Upper House
It’s the long, dimly-lit, exquisitely-scented escalator up to Upper House’s welcome lobby that indicates you’ve arrived somewhere spectacular. Once you’ve ascended further by lift to dizzying heights, each room you peek in is as impressive as the last. Baths in many of the suites are dramatically positioned next a panoramic window with sweeping views over the waterfront and skyline. It's easy to see why this hotel is popular with celebrities. You can check in to one of the 117 rooms from the comfort of your bed (yes, really). From the architecture to the art, everything about it is stylish, modern minimalism; something about the décor whispers ‘exclusive’. The bar and restaurant are the pièce de resistance, with every corner you walk around or nook for a dining table boasting a more impressive view than the last. There’s drag queen evenings every quarter, or you could book the private dining corner room with scenic views for a celebration. Book in for the meal of a lifetime and to wake up floating above the city.
Rosewood
Harbour views? Tick. Personalised butler service? Of course. An impressive, award-winning range of dining options? Will 12 restaurants do? Looking out over Victoria Harbour this uber-luxurious new hotel has everything from an infinity pool to personalised ‘wellcations’ at their wellness centre, Asaya. It’s the new hotel on the block and it’s already won countless awards, including featuring in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023 and their Legacy House restaurant making it into the MICHELIN Guide Service Award and MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2024.
The Pottinger
If it’s more affordable luxury you’re in need of, The Pottinger offers doubles from HK$1,440 (£138) and yet still boasts a two-Michelin-starred restaurant and one of the best cocktail bars you’ll find. This beautiful hotel couldn’t be more central and it's hard not to feel immediately satsified with your decision to stay here when you walk into the high-ceilinged lobby; here, peruse the black-and-white photographs of 1950s and 1960s Hong Kong. You have the choice of the Gradini Ristorante E Bar Italiano or two-Michelin-starred Ta Vie, for some French-Japanese fusion. Do not miss the palm-filled terrace for cocktails - we recommend pairing with the high-tea menu.
How to get to Hong Kong
Another reason to visit Hong Kong? The airline Cathay Pacific. Hong Kong took a while to reopen to the world after the pandemic, but now Cathay travels up to five times a day from London Heathrow, and up to four times a week from Manchester. All direct flights.
Their business class seats take a 12-hour flight (14 hours on the way back) from long to luxury. From the Bamford toiletries (don’t miss the lip balm, a personal fave) to the generous in-flight entertainment selection and impressively gourmet cuisine, this is an experience that feels more like a treat in itself than a means of getting to a destination.
Beginning a trip in Cathay’s business class lounge means the holiday starts at the airport, not when you get to the hotel. Chefs are on hand to cook a range of Chinese cuisine, from dim sum to pork belly, to get you excited about the trip ahead. There’s also a generous European selection. It’s hard to do but try and save room for your first on-board meal because Cathay have partnered with Michelin-starred restaurant Duddell’s to create an in-flight menu for business class that you’ll wish you could eat again long after your flight has landed. (Think drunken prawns with aged Huadiao wine and steamed halibut). If anything says ‘we mean business’ when it comes to in-flight cooking it's the fact Cathay have a pressurised room (on the ground) where they test their plane meals to ensure food tastes as good in the air as it does on the ground, as our tastebuds are muted when flying.
If fine-dining isn’t enough to lure you in, you won't be disappointed with the range of Oscar-winning new releases included in their onboard entertainment. Missed something recently at the cinema? You can bet Cathay is already showing it. You’ll arrive in Hong Kong full, refreshed, up to speed on the latest cultural talking points and, like me, wishing you still had another 12 hours of flight to go.
• Business class fares start at £3,550 from LHR, £3,942 from Manchester
• Premium Economy fares start from £1176 from LHR, £1382 from Manchester
• Economy fares start at £632 from LHR, £762 from Manchester