The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong Review

If you are looking for a hotel with some serious bragging rights in Hong Kong then there is only one place to stay, The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong. Rising 118 floors above the city in West Kowloon’s ICC building, The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong transports you to a place of luxury, tranquility and harmony. With two Michelin-star dining options, the highest bar in the world, a dedicated caviar bar, a spa that is heavenly and last but not least views of Hong Kong which can only be described as incredible, it’s the complete package! TLE were kindly asked along on our latest trip to the city to discover more about this iconic luxury hotel in the city, read on to discover more.

Background & Concept

The Ritz Carlton brand is known the world over and synonymous with luxury and perfection.  The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong follows this brand ethos to a tee and really knows how to put on a show.  The hotel really has the bling factor, featuring marble, crystal, black lacquer and chandeliers in the communal areas, while the guest rooms are generous in floor space but also cosy in design while making the most of the views of Hong Kong with their floor to ceiling windows. The wow factor in the hotel are its views of Hong Kong, which are uninterrupted from all sides of the building given that it the tallest building in the city and one of the tallest in the world.

Lobby and Check-In

Check-in is a fun experience as the hotel starts at the 103rd floor of the ICC building! We took a taxi to the hotel entrance and were eagerly greeted by a number of doormen who welcomed us, took our luggage and escorted us up to the ground floor mini lobby. One little touch I thought was very helpful was they provided a slip of paper which included the cab drivers details, had you left anything in the taxi when you got into the hotel.

From the ground floor lobby it is an 80 second ear popping elevator journey up to the main lobby area. The 103 floor lobby is a sea of black marble and crystal it really does have the wow factor, to the left of the elevators is luxury jewellery company Graff  and the escalators across from the reception desk take you down into their bar and restaurant area which covers the entire floor below the lobby.

As we were staying in a club room this gave us access to the club experiences at the hotel which includes food and drink perks (more on that later), but also a separate check in desk. Check-in is simple and quick and post check-in you are escorted up to your guest room by reception staff.

Location

Located in the ICC (International Commerce Centre) this juggernaut of a building is the highest in Hong Kong (and one of the tallest in the world) and can be seen from all over Hong Kong. Sitting directly below the ICC is the glitzy Elements Mall, packed full of luxury shopping.

The mall connects with the Airport Express train line which whisks you to airport in around 20 mins. There is also a convenient airport check in desk too which means you can drop your bags off there rather than taking them all the way to the airport, how’s that for efficiency.

The mall is also connected to the Kowloon MTR which means in one stop you can be in Central, and the new West Kowloon train station is located there too, which offers high-speed rail services to mainland China.

Such an incredible building needs space and this means you are not in the heart of the city, but it is an easy journey to Central by MTR and the hotel also provide a complimentary car service which can drop you in and around areas in Kowloon and we used this service to take us down to Mong Kok during our stay at the hotel.

Rooms and Suites

The hotel offers a large range of guest room options, all luxurious and with breathtaking views, their standard rooms range from their Deluxe Rooms with 540 sq ft of floor space to their Grand Victoria Harbour and Grand Seaview Rooms with 700 sq ft of floor space. There are five types of club room which follow a similar format to the standard rooms, but offer access to their complimentary club dining and drinking experiences which take place at six presentations though-out the day, club rooms

Moving up to their suites, which come in one and two bedroom layouts, separate living and sleeping space and club access, their Deluxe Victoria Harbour and Deluxe Suites are laid our over 800 sq ft, while their largest suites start at 1920 sq ft and move up to their Ritz Carlton Suite with Victoria Harbour view that covers 3930 sq ft. If you want to go all out their price on demand Presidential Suite is gigantic and you can see more pictures of this below.

Club Deluxe Victoria Harbour Room

During our stay at the hotel we had a Grand Victoria Harbour Room, these rooms sit in the corners of the building, so you have a double vantage point of Hong Kong.

A welcome refreshment of sweet Hong Kong tea was left in a thermos flask accompanied by some beautiful hand crafted sweet desserts.

There isn’t a bad view in the hotel but if you want the best view, the guest-rooms that face Hong Kong Island are incredible.

The corner angle offers two views of the city, this view looks out west towards Tsing Yi.

The guest room is split into a bedroom area, a business area with office desk, which includes multiple plug points and next to it a mini bar area with complimentary Nespresso and next to that a large build in wardrobe with safety deposit box.

Nespresso pods are topped up daily as is the complimentary water, there is also a range of drinks and snacks which can be paid for at an additional cost.

Coming back later in the evening the room had been turned down and evening chocolates placed on the bed, with a menu should you wish to have breakfast in your room in the morning.

The bathroom is finished in marble and tiles, with twin sinks, there is a separate bath and shower cubicle too and the sink drawer included a wealth of amenities all presented in boxes.

Asprey is the bathroom amenities brand used throughout the hotel, which is a London fine luxury brand.

Presidential Suite

During my stay I managed to organise a tour around the best suite in the hotel their Presidential Suite, which starts at approx £16k a night. You can see a full tour of this incredible over on our Instagram Profile @theluxuryeditor

Food & Drink

The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong presents some of city’s best and most elegant dining options. Starting with the Ozone Bar on the top floor of the building, it’s the world’s highest bar, with live Dj’s, an incredible cocktail menu and a great food menu too. It’s very popular with guests and non residents and the best time to visit is during sunset when the buildings on Hong Kong Island start to twinkle. A cocktail here is an absolutely must on any trip to Hong Kong and we have included it in our guide to the best cocktail bars in the city.

Tosca Di Angelo

With high ceilings, stately fountains, majestic chandeliers and sweeping Hong Kong view, Tosca Di Angelo restaurant is a beautiful example of Italian fine dining in Kowloon. Led by chef Angelo Agliano and the master sommelier, diners embark on a gastronomic journey where Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, seasonal ingredients sourced from Italy and fine wines are brought together.

Tin Lung Heen

Tin Lung Heen celebrates traditional Cantonese cuisine in a fine dining setting. Dishes, including dim sum, are paired with exquisite teas, and six-course tasting menus showcase the beautiful presentation and careful execution that earned the restaurant its Michelin stars. Eight private dining rooms are available for corporate gatherings and family celebrations.

Club Dining

Club rooms offer access to the club dining presentations which take place at six points throughout the day. After we checked in we went down for afternoon tea, which was beautifully presented and huge! Served next to the window it was a beautiful way to spend an afternoon in the hotel.

In the evening we took advantage of their Club lounge dinner presentation which was a full a la carte menu split into four food categories and came with free flow wines, beers and champagne.

We stayed until around 9pm and watched the daily light show on Hong Kong Island and I can guarantee you there is no better place to watch it!

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in the club lounge, it is a la carte and offers a range of Western and Eastern options that you can tailor into your perfect breakfast and is served to your table.

Spa and Pool

I love a hotel spa and pool and the hotel really know how to showcase theirs! Opening until 10pm ten you can enjoy a post dinner swim in their infinity pool which is on the highest floor of the hotel, it’s incredible looking out to Hong Kong or swimming on your back and watching yourself bob along as the ceiling is mirrored.  The pool also has an indoor and outdoor jacuzzi and if you are feeling energetic there is a gym too.

Final Thoughts

I love the Ritz Carlton brand and the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong really knows how to deliver luxury. We stayed in a Club Deluxe Victoria Harbour Room during our stay which is priced at £600 per night and includes access to the full Club food and drink experience. We love the hotel and have included it in our guide to the best luxury hotels in Hong Kong.