Rooms with Views: InterContinental Hong Kong
- brittanypanter
- 2014年10月31日
- 讀畢需時 4 分鐘
Rooms with Views is a brand new series of articles on Ladybird of Leisure that introduces hotels around the world that afford guests sensational and unique views from across the globe. We are happy to feature the InterContinental Hotel in Hong Kong as the first in our series.
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most vertical cities with over 7,600 skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, which is why when choosing a hotel in this sprawling metropolis a view that encompasses these amazing feats of architecture is a must. One hotel – perhaps the hotel - that fits the bill is the Hong Kong InterContinental. Perched on the Kowloon waterfront, rooms on the south side of this 503-room hotel provide jaw-dropping views of the towering skyscrapers that span the north shore of Hong Kong Island from North Point to Sheung Wan, as well as the hundreds of ships, sampans and junks that traverse Victoria Harbour every day.
Built in 1980, the hotel was not only erected with spectacular views in mind, but with careful consideration of feng shui, with was incorporated into details located throughout the lobby, restaurants,and rooms. A prime example are the glass doors located at the entrance of the hotel and the dramatic three-storey glass windows facing the harbor, which allow for the passage of the legendary nine dragons that sweep down into Kowloon daily for their morning bath in the harbour (after depositing a little wealth into the hotel before leaving of course).
The first thing you notice as you walk into the hotel is the view, which momentarily distracts you from the beauty of the rest of the interior. Sleek granite and marble feature throughout, while the check-in desk is an island in the center of the lobby (the first in Hong Kong and another feature inspired by feng shui).
Our room was on the 16th floor, and the views were just as magnificent as the ones from the lobby. We were staying in the Deluxe Junior Suite that had amazing views of Central. A platter of fresh fruit awaited us, along with a friendly welcome card from the hotel. The rooms are contemporarily decorated with Asian accents throughout. Tasteful furniture matches the brown and yellow tones of the curtains, bedding and floor, along with a 37-inch LCD TV and Bose DVD/CD sound system. The marble bathroom seemed very spacious (made even more so by the lengthy mirrors at every angle) and featured a spa bath, separate shower, bathrobe and slippers and Salvatore Ferragamo bath amenities.
For an additional charge, guests can gain access to Club InterContinental, which is a great option if you are looking for more personable aspect to your stay. Club InterContinental includes access to the executive lounge located on the second floor of the hotel, which also provides dramatic harbour views and an opportunity to partake in some people watching in the lobby lounge on the floor below. Access to the lounge also includes a daily breakfast buffet, afternoon tea and evening cocktails. The breakfast buffet has a range of traditional dim sum as well as standard Western offerings. For afternoon tea, there are sweet and savory snacks, with a range of teas and coffee available. The evening cocktail session is offered from 6-8 PM and includes a very impressive spread of canapes along with a cocktails, wines and beer. Between the barbecued muscles, seemingly endless glasses of champagne, and friendly staff that addressed us by name, we were very impressed with this aspect of our stay and would certainly recommend it for any travelers looking for a home away from home.
Amenities in the hotel include a spa with an expansive menu, a pool area, and a fully equipped open-style gym, which is located in rooms either side of the corridor out to the spa or pool. The pool is surrounded by lounge chairs and looked after by very attentive staff who are on hand to whisk you to cover at a moment’s notice should a spontaneous rain shower descend upon Kowloon. Located around the corner of the pool are three smaller pools which are at different temperatures, the coldest one being much more frigid than the larger pool, but very welcome on a hot summer day.
There are five restaurants located in the hotel. Contemporary French restaurant SPOON by celebrity chef Alain Ducasse and Japanese restaurant NOBU InterContinental by the world famous Nobu Matsuhisa make the InterContinental the only hotel in Hong Kong to house two restaurants by celebrity chefs. Cantonese restaurant Yan Toh Heen (which just received its second Michelin star this week) offers fantastic cuisine in a beautiful setting that features delicate hand carved Jade throughout. THE STEAK HOUSE winebar + grill serves up premium cuts of meat seared on a charcoal grill along with wine from over 500 producers from around the world. A more casual dining option is Harbourside, which offers all day dining with a buffet option or a la carte menu, with the amazing skyline as a backdrop. The hotel also offers a very popular afternoon tea or evening cocktails in the hotel’s lobby lounge.
For the month of December, the harbor is aglow with Christmas and New Year lights that decorate the facades of the skyscrapers, making this time of year a little more impressive than the rest. Coupled with clearer skies and mild temperatures, this is an ideal time to visit Hong Kong. The InterContinental hosts a myriad of events, ranging from wine dinners and cooking classes to gingerbread house building, which launches on November 30th, allowing guests to purchase personalized gingerbread bricks to benefit the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
Of course there is no shortage of hotels in Hong Kong offering harbor views, but if you're looking for a room with a view coupled with impeccable service and a wide range of impressive dining options, the InterContinental will not disappoint. Rates vary depending on the room size and view, with each room type offering the option to upgrade to Club Intercontinental for an additional charge. Through December 28th Club InterContinental room package rates start at HK$4,999 + 10% service charge for a deluxe harbour view room.
