A stay to remember at The Peninsula Hong Kong

A cup of fragrant green tea, sunlight streaming through the window and a panoramic view of Hong Kong's iconic skyline from a room at The Peninsula Hong Kong – this is luxury defined, and everything a city vacation in a five-star hotel should be.

Cathay Holidays is currently offering travellers to Hong Kong a minimum two-night booking at The Peninsula in a Deluxe Room or a Grand Deluxe Harbour View Room as part of a travel package that includes The Peninsula Afternoon Tea Cruise, breakfast for two and an Aviation Tour. The Peninsula Hong Kong boasts two helipads, which you can visit up close, weather permitting, for that added sense of adventure. Beforehand, you can relax in The China Clipper, a private lounge on the 30th floor filled with artefacts, including aircraft parts, historic mementoes and photographs. Keen to know more? One of our editors shares their experience of staying at the hotel.

The hotel

Fans of the James Bond franchise will no doubt recognise the façade that Roger Moore pulled up to in 1974. Stepping inside, I see tables set up for afternoon tea, decorative pillars, large houseplants and a ceiling shimmering with gold. Meanwhile, the elegant sound of a string quartet fills the air, complemented by the clink of silverware (some of which is still in use after almost a century ).

The room

I arrive in my Grand Deluxe Harbour View room to find a welcome gift of sweets inspired by Hong Kong flavours, fresh grapes served on a silver platter and a tea set with loose-leaf green tea. The decor, from off-white walls to modest furniture, is simple and minimal. I’m able to control the lights and blackout curtains with a tablet, but I’m reluctant to draw the curtains on this great city, a city which seems to glow and pulse both day and night.  

From up here, I can see the boats moored in Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter and the ferries leaving Central Pier for the numerous outlying islands. On this side of the harbour, I can make out silhouettes of people traversing a stretch of the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. 

High tea on the high seas

This hour-and-a-half cruise from Tsim Sha Tsui is a truly special experience. The intimate view of Victoria Harbour, as well as the mountains shrouded in fog, only adds to the celebratory atmosphere on board. As the live band plays classic song after song, I enjoy my afternoon tea set of finger sandwiches and sweet treats including scones, naturally. 

The dining experiences 

Besides the package, I visit Spring Moon, the hotel’s Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant. It has a particularly retro feel – from its dark wood furniture to the walls adorned with black-and-white photographs documenting the hotel’s rich history dating back to 1928. The dim sum is phenomenal: tender honey-glazed char siu, a perfect balance of sweet and savoury, and crispy red rice flour rolls with a delicate skin.

Entering Chesa for dinner is like walking into an alpine ski lodge after a day on the slopes. This Swiss establishment is known for its cheese fondue, and I revel in the rich food paired with generous helpings of baguette. It’s an immersive and drawn-out experience where nothing seems to matter more than the next dish.  

The next morning, I wake early and head down to the breakfast buffet at The Verandah where freshly made omelettes, crepes, pastries and more await. Coffee lovers are catered to in full: your cup is refilled every time you run low.

Hotel facilities

Unsurprisingly, The Peninsula does wellness… extremely well. The indoor swimming pool is bathed in natural light, with access to an outdoor patio and sweeping views of Victoria Harbour. Regular gymgoers will also be impressed with the fitness centre’s facilities – from the free weights and resistance machines to the body composition monitor. And if you want to truly pamper yourself, The Peninsula Spa offers an extensive range of treatments and packages for guests.

And finally…

The Peninsula offers a Rolls-Royce limousine service, so when it’s time to check out and bid goodbye, you can leave in true style.