A masterclass in hospitality at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Whether you’re flying to Hong Kong for business, leisure or a stopover, get the most out of your visit with our Flight + Hotel + Experience packages. Fly with us, then stay and explore with one of our luxury hotel partners, for a seamless transition from the comfort of our cabins to the tranquillity of your hotel room and the glamour of the city beyond. 

Of course, we only partner with the best in Hong Kong hospitality, including Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong . Make your booking and stay at this venerated property by 31 August, 2025 to enjoy a complimentary room upgrade. Plus, when you dine at the hotel’s Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant Mah Wah, you’ll be treated to an exclusive Cathay menu. To make your stay even more memorable, add a personalised local experience like the Bespoke Old Town Central Walking Tour or Wing Chun Masterclass to your hotel booking, and explore Hong Kong with the help of one of Mandarin Oriental’s expert guides or try your hand at traditional martial arts.

Want to know more? Our Group Sub-editor, Charlotte Ames-Ettridge, details her stay at the hotel. 

The hotel 

No sooner have I entered the glamorous lobby of Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, than I find myself 23 floors up, sipping champagne in the laid-back elegance of The Mandarin Club. Later, in my room, a platter of fresh fruit awaits me alongside a handwritten note from my hosts. 

None of this comes as any surprise. This is Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, where no detail is too small.

The room

The tranquillity of my Club Harbour View Room is a welcome retreat in the bustling heart of Central. Subtle divisions create three distinct areas in this open-plan space, starting with the palatial bathroom: consisting of black-and-white marble with chrome accents, a walk-in shower and a generously sized tub. Then there’s the luxurious bed, framed by dark wood and bathed in amber light. Virtually nothing could rouse you from your sleep. 
 
Finally, an elegant cove by the large windows offers sweeping harbour views with cream wood panelling and a cosy loveseat from which to watch the world drift by. A large desk is also useful for squeezing in a few hours of work in between afternoon tea and evening cocktails. Prefer not to be disturbed? A hidden deposit door allows staff to drop off snacks, newspapers or dry cleaning without ringing your doorbell – one of many thoughtful touches that make this room as functional as it is beautiful. 

The dining experiences

The Mandarin Club

There may be no better setting for afternoon tea in Hong Kong than The Mandarin Club . Suffused with sunlight, adorned with nods to Classical Chinese design and emanating an aura of calm, it feels like it’ll never end – a good thing too, as the Mandarin Oriental Afternoon Tea is best savoured slowly. I recommend starting with the scones with clotted cream and rose petal jam, before working your way up the tiers of nibbles – from dainty finger sandwiches of egg salad and salmon, through matcha-flavoured madeleines and Sakura tarts, until you reach a light, airy apple mouse cake and decadent signature 1963 Cheesecake. 

Mah Wah

Michelin-starred Mah Wah is pure culinary theatre. In a polished setting of rich blue wood and soft yellow lighting, dishes that showcase the best of Cantonese cuisine are crafted with ingenuity and presented with flair. The eight-course Cathay-exclusive dinner set is an elaborate affair. 
 
A vegetarian alternative sees each dish thoughtfully adapted for non-meat eaters: deep-fried prawns are replaced with crispy bites of shiitake mushroom coated in a sweet and sour sauce, while baked green crab is substituted for perfectly textured braised bean curd. Thoughtfully paced and delicately portioned, you’ll also encounter creative flavour pairings, like cucumber and yuzu. 
 
The meal ends with chilled fig cream and seaweed sago served in a swirling fog of dry ice, followed by chocolates and fresh berries presented in traditional red wooden baskets – the perfect final flourish. 

The Aubrey

From the eclectic decor to the colourful dishes, everything at izakaya-slash-bar The Aubrey evokes a sense of creativity and play. Gold-framed paintings cover sage-coloured walls, bright green foliage hangs from elegant glass partitions and Art Deco lamps and glistening chandeliers illuminate polished round tables. 

The Set Bento Lunch is a five-course marathon that unites meticulous craftsmanship with a spirit of culinary adventure. Again, a plant-based version of the menu has been carefully devised, and I start with a plate of oshinko maki (pickled daikon radish with rice and nori) – in the standard set, this becomes a selection of nigiri and maki, plus a supersized, milk-white oyster. Then arrives a medley of sharing bites, including edamame seasoned with chilli salt, sweet fried cauliflower, and aubergine korrokke served with a dab of wasabi mayonnaise.

After a plate of perfectly cut sandos and a selection of grilled veggie skewers, the set concludes with an assortment of sweet morsels, including miniature bowls of refreshing peach sorbet and matcha ice cream.

Cultural experiences

Bespoke Old Town Central Walking Tour

The heart of the city has a wealth of history and culture to explore, which is best done in the company of one of the hotel’s expert guides. On this curated walking tour – just one of several tours and classes Mandarin Oriental offers – newcomers can enjoy a taste of Hong Kong’s distinct old-meets-new, East-meets-West character, while old-timers will be surprised to discover gems hiding in plain sight. 

My friendly guide, Michael, meets me in the lobby, and as we make our way by taxi to the tour’s starting point – Sheung Wan’s Blue Lotus Gallery – he shares his own fascinating family history. In addition to being endlessly knowledgeable about Hong Kong, he’s a natural storyteller.

Next stop is Kwong Wah Printing Company in Sheung Wan; one of the last of its kind in Hong Kong, it’s a piece of living history, kitted out with mechanical presses and rows of moveable type. From there, we present incense offerings at Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road, before exploring the underground ruins at PMQ. Each location we stop at takes on a new significance as Michael reveals its storied past. 

This enchanting tour ends with a touching gift that underscores the thought and personalisation that goes into the entire experience – but I won’t spoil the surprise.