Review of The Peninsula Hong Kong

Victoria Harbour divides Hong Kong – on one side, the Island – complete with Central, Happy Valley, the Bank of China Tower, and Victoria Peak – and on the other, the Chinese mainland – from where roads lead to Chek Lap Kok airport, Lantau Island, Shenzhen and beyond … 

The Peninsula Hong Kong dominates the fashionable Tsim Sha Tsui district on the “mainland” side of the Harbour. From its place – on the corner of Nathan Road and Salisbury Road – two of the main streets in TST - it is just a short walk to the Star Ferry Pier (for water shuttles over to the Island), the waterfront and the Avenue of Stars – Hong Kong’s version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Peninsula Hong Kong is located 32.5 kilometres from Chek Lap Kok. A taxi from the airport will take around 30 minutes but you can arrive in style by booking one of hotel’s fleet of Peninsula Green Rolls-Royces … or even arrive by helicopter – by special arrangement.

The Peninsula Hong Kong offers 246 guest rooms and 54 suites set over 36 floors. Offering views of the Island, Kowloon or the Harbour, every guest room at the hotel oozes sophistication, class, and comfort. Contemporary Far East décor is prevalent, and the quality of the furnishings is artisanal. The carpeting is thick and the beds comfortable … one could spend whole days relaxing in-room while endlessly watching Hong Kong change from day to night … and back again. The marble bathrooms all feature walk-in showers, baths, and wall-mounted televisions. All the accommodations boast complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, tablets, complimentary VOIP telephone calls and ... a nail dryer.

The suites offer better views and more space. Expect dining areas and larger living rooms … but when you arrive at the Peninsula Suite level, suddenly you are in the private terrace, butler service, private chauffeur, and private gym territory! 

Guest room sizes start at 41 square metres (441 square feet) and increase to 377 square metres (4058 square feet) for the Peninsula Suite. 

The guest experience starts at the airport when your pre-booked hotel Rolls-Royce - one of the fleet of 14 that is at the beck & call of all guests – chauffeurs you to Tsim Sha Tsui in style. Despite the hotel offering this service for many years, the sight of a Peninsula Green Rolls on Hong Kong’s streets still turns heads. You are greeted at the front doors of the hotel by an army of pageboys & girls dressed immaculately in white uniforms. A glance left and right at the Chinese stone lions – there to guard against evil – and you are through to the opulent Main Lobby. From then on, you are - metaphorically - carried around the hotel on a soft cloud of love and attentiveness.

Asia is renowned for offering the finest and the most genuine service in the world and The Peninsula Hong Kong – being one of the oldest luxury properties on the continent - helped define the word “service”. It is testament to the staff-first culture that The Peninsula management promotes, that many of the staff have stayed at its properties for their entire careers. In Hong Kong, over 30 employees have each over three decades continuous employment at the hotel … Johnny Chung Kam Hung joined the property in 1967 and has remained as a Senior Bartender – learning how to create the “Screwdriver” cocktail from Hollywood legend Clark Gable along the way. Johnny is Asia's original mixologist.

The Peninsula Spa is 1,100 square metres (12,000 square feet) of peace & tranquillity – an oasis in a city that really never sleeps. The Spa boasts 14 treatment rooms (and two couples suites), an 18-metre indoor swimming pool that enjoys superb views over Victoria Harbour, saunas, aromatherapy steam rooms and relaxation lounges. On those beautiful hot and cloud-free Hong Kong days, the spa terrace is an ideal temple for sun worshippers.

Every evening at 8 p.m., the Symphony of Lights – a theatrical, spectacular music & light show brings the waterfront buildings on the Island side alive. Over 40 of these buildings – from banks to City Hall – light up and the best places to see this spectacle is from Kowloon, the Peninsula (Felix – the top-floor restaurant) and indeed from the Harbour onboard The Peninsula Yacht. Available for private hire, guests can enjoy the Symphony of Lights in the privacy of their own “hotel” yacht – a unique experience. 

The Peninsula Arcade is a luxury shopping mall within the hotel that offers 80 boutiques boasting brands including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Davidoff and La Perla. 

The Peninsula Hong Kong is wheelchair accessible. Pets are not allowed in the hotel. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome though. 

The Peninsula Hong Kong opened its door to guests on the 11th December, 1928 – after three years of construction. Originally the property was built with just 6 floors and 168 guest rooms. The architects adopted the Baroque style bringing drama, grandeur and luxury to the hotel which was to welcome travellers from Europe – that used the trans-Siberian railway – and affluent visitors arriving by luxury cruise ships from all over the world. 

One can still clearly see the Baroque stylings in the Main Lobby and first floor Tea Lounge – with stained glass, draperies, and a stunning ornate plaster staircase. The columns in The Lobby are carved with 76 different gargoyle faces … and the chandeliers and swathes of gleaming white marble are more in place in a palace than in a hotel. 

In 1994, a 30-storey tower was added to the main building – creating The Peninsula Hong Kong as we know and love it now. 

The hotel boasts two, 1-Michelin starred restaurants – the first is Gaddi’s – named after a former General Manager of the hotel – Leo Gaddi. It was opened in 1953 and offers fine French cuisine and wines. Chef Albin Gobil takes diners on a culinary journey through France at both lunch and dinner time. The Saint Jacques d’Hokkaido, Chou-fleurs Multicolors, Épices Tandoori, Raisins Muscats (scallops, with cauliflower and Muscat grapes) is a delight. In the evening, your fine meal – in this formal setting - is accompanied by the musical talents of Gaddi’s house band. 

Spring Moon also holds a Michelin star and offers fine Cantonese cuisine. The dim sum is simply wonderful. The restaurant serves an XO Sauce that is made to a secret recipe. Indeed, the hotel was the first in Hong Kong to serve this distinctive Oriental sauce and some say that it was invented at The Peninsula! 

On the 28th floor of the hotel sits Felix – that offers modern European dishes. Designed by Philippe Starck, Felix is one of the chicest places in the city to see & be seen. From here, you can enjoy unparalleled views of Victoria Harbour and indeed the Symphony of Lights show. Felix was named after another of the hotel legendary General Managers, Felix Berger. The restaurant also leads up to a superb bar & drinks balcony. Felix is funky. 

Chesa is a Swiss restaurant – serving up sausages, raclette and fondue. It is an unusual dining experience - especially as it is in Hong Kong - but one worth giving a try. The surroundings are very Swiss and with the help of traditional staff uniforms, transport diners to the Alps in summertime.

Imasa offers fabulous Japanese cuisine. From sushi and sashimi to tempura and sukiyaki, Imasa serves authentic Japanese dishes in stylish surroundings.

The Verandah serves buffet-style dishes for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

The Bar is an ideal place to meet for drinks … it is welcoming and serves the finest whiskies and spirits from around the world. In the evening, a jazz band keeps you entertained. 

The hotel offers – of course – all-day in-room dining.

And finally, The Lobby – saving the best for last. For over 8 decades, The Lobby has been one of Hong Kong’s seminal meeting places. The room is opulent and when the light jazz from the house band plays – you are transported to a different, more classical & sophisticated era. Light bites and Afternoon Tea are the main draws to The Lobby – but just sitting there with a cup of tea, people watching, is a wonderful way to pass the time … 

The Peninsula Hong Kong has a plethora of sustainability initiatives – which are shared by all her sister properties. These include implementing policies of only using responsibly sourced seafood (no shark-fin soup is served in the hotel), of using only sustainable coffee, tea & chocolate and ensuring that welfare of animals is paramount  before it enters the food chain.