On the north side of Victoria Harbour, Kowloon is just 20 minutes from the airport and one MTR stop or an easy-breezy Star Ferry ride away from Hong Kong Island. The waterfront neighbourhood of Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) is the first port of call for many visitors, drawn to its luxury shops, landmarks – including the renovated Hong Kong Museum of Art – and storied hotels like The Peninsula and Kowloon Shangri-La.

TST also delivers epic views of the Hong Kong Island skyline from its upgraded promenade, perfect for an extended stroll. Those views can be enjoyed from West Kowloon’s burgeoning arts district to the revitalised Avenue of Stars and on to the sleek Victoria Dockside development.

While such shiny new projects are opening in TST, nearby Jordan and Yau Ma Tei still exemplify the gritty, hustle-bustle of Kowloon as captured in the city’s golden age of film. Picture neon signage, streetside fortune-tellers and karaoke, the touristed Jade and Temple Street markets, and small businesses run by ethnic minorities. Hipster coffee shops, arthouse cinemas and affordable hotels await around the border with the Yau Ma Tei area.

In other words, there’s at least as much to explore on Kowloon side as there is on Hong Kong Island, and a variety of places to spend the night. Use our hotel reviews to book your next stay – or staycation.

Tsim Sha Tsui

Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui

Business travellers and tourists looking for a piece of the action in Kowloon.  $$

Set above the K11 Art Mall on Hanoi Road,  Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui  is perfect for anyone looking to indulge in some retail therapy (Victoria Dockside and a Japanese shopping complex are also nearby). Foodies will be pleased, too, as there’s a host of dining restaurants on the hotel’s doorstep – as well as fine-dining establishments on site. The 381 rooms and suites range from 300 to 1,400 square feet, done in a standard contemporary style with art inspired by local surroundings and attractions, including the Star Ferry.

Detail you’ll love: Workshops give you a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into signature hotel creations, from the whisky cocktails at Chin Chin to handmade dim sum at The Chinese Restaurant.

Pool? Yes, two outdoor pools.

18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2311 1234

K11 Artus

For sophisticates who appreciate less-is-more design. $$$$

Looking for a luxurious home away from home? K11 Artus , the flagship residences attached to Tsim Sha Tsui’s gleaming K11 Musea complex, is hard to look past – whether you’re staying short- or long-term; in a studio or a sprawling penthouse. And they really are homey, in a very fancy kind of way: open living spaces, terrace doors, kitchens. Design is high on the agenda at K11 Artus, but it’s not the ostentatious, ‘look at me’ approach. It’s more about comfort. K11 Artus’ residential feel gives it a different atmosphere to your average hotel even at the luxury end of the spectrum. There’s an intimacy to the entire experience, from the library check-in to the homely in-room touches, meaning that it’s the perfect option for a stay where comfort and design are sought in equal measure.

Detail You’ll Love: Balconies in every room, providing more opportunity to soak up K11 Artus’ peerless views.

Pool? Yes, an outdoor pool.

18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2107 3388

Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong

A classic choice for space, service and views. $$

Kowloon Shangri-La  has been a landmark along Victoria Harbour in East Tsim Sha Tsui since 1981. The decor is admittedly showing its age – consider the lobby with its fountain and crystal chandeliers – but the 688 guestrooms are very spacious and graced with panoramic water views. Gourmet delights are doled out from four outlets, most notably at Michelin-starred Shang Palace, which excels at exquisite presentations: shrimp and scallop dumplings resemble a goldfish; green sprouts with crab meat come in a thermo bowl shaped like a dinosaur egg. No wonder they attract a following among hotel regulars, who include businessmen and factory owners.

Detail you’ll love: Carpets in the lifts that mark the days of the week.

Pool? Yes, an indoor pool.

64 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2721 2111

The Langham, Hong Kong

Timeless European elegance and world-class cuisine. $$$

Right on Canton Road, The Langham, Hong Kong ’s prime location is a big draw as it puts you in the middle of Tsim Sha Tsui’s dining and shopping action. But the hotel also feels like an escape from the throngs; there’s a distinct European appeal, from the grand marble lobby up to the serene rooms with cushy armchairs, Wedgwood china, pink accents and, in some cases, decorative fireplaces. The 15th-floor pool and hot tub is an appealing spot to unwind, as is Chuan Body + Soul spa, whose stylish treatment rooms, based on the five elements, fill the entire rooftop. Don’t check-out before dining at T’ang Court, one of only five Cantonese restaurants in the world to receive three Michelin stars for four years in a row.

Detail you’ll love: Business travellers have a range of meeting solutions available to them, while families can enjoy fun branded amenities for the kids, like the Langham Bell Boy teddy bear and the Theodore bathrobe, as well as an in-room tent with toys.

Pool? Yes, an outdoor pool.

8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2375 1133

Page148

A lifestyle boutique hotel catering to millennials. $

Billed as the ‘home of urban explorers’, Page148  has a sleek aluminium facade inspired by New York’s Flatiron Building and takes a generally minimalist yet functional approach. The 197 rooms are divided into six types, from standard two-person rooms to family rooms that can host up to four guests. All have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Kowloon Cricket Club. Bathroom amenities are courtesy of Appelles Apothecary & Lab, an Australian all-natural, cruelty-free label. A 4G pocket Wi-Fi device is also included in select rooms, enabling you to stay connected while you explore the neighbourhood (and post it all to your Instagram on the go). With its communal tables and movable seats, the lobby doubles as a space to mingle or spend quiet time with a laptop or book. On the same floor, Page Common cafe serves artisanal coffee and light meals.

Detail you’ll love: The brand takes coffee very seriously, and each room stocks Page Common blend coffee drip-bags to ensure guests are well caffeinated.

Pool? No.

148 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 3844 8888

The Peninsula Hong Kong

The ‘Grande Dame of the East’ deserves her crown. $$$$

There aren’t many places you can describe in good conscience as ‘iconic’, but The Peninsula  tops the list. Take its fleet of bottle-green Rolls-Royces; the lavish shopping arcade; the service that’s among the finest in the city. Dining options are equally legendary: from high tea in the lobby, to elegant Cantonese fare at Spring Moon, to brunch at Felix – much improved since they pulled up the blinds to let the astonishing view in. Interiors are a study in elegance – a plush cream palette accented in rich, dark woods – and for a hotel opened in 1928, the in-room tech is agreeably up to date. Make time for a treatment at The Spa, in particular ‘Time Together’, which pairs a couples’ massage with whirlpool bath in the Private Spa Suite. And if you can really stretch that budget, plump for a helicopter tour, which departs from the hotel’s rooftop helipad. The experience and the views are – here comes that word again – iconic.

Detail you’ll love: Rolls-Royce transfers lock in the luxury before you’ve even set foot in the building.

Pool? Yes, an indoor pool.

Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2920 2888

Rosewood Hong Kong

Opulent interiors and museum-quality art along the harbour. $$$$

Rosewood Hong Kong ’s opening in early 2019 was an important piece in fitting together the puzzle that is the ambitious Victoria Dockside  art and design district. It has added a sophisticated option for business and leisure travellers along the East Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront – complete with an outstanding contemporary art collection and high-rise landscaped gardens and terraces. Spanning the top 43 floors of a 65-storey tower in a complex that includes K11 Musea, Rosewood Hong Kong’s 413 rooms start at an expansive 500 square feet. You’re not short on entertainment spaces either, from Darkside jazz bar to the celebration of Shunde cuisine at The Legacy House. The hotel’s wellness retreat Asaya has a spa, a 25-metre infinity pool and a health-focussed restaurant.

Detail you’ll love: Being collected in a chauffeur-driven Jaguar makes checking in as effortless as it is stylish.

Pool? Yes, both outdoor and indoor pools.

Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 3891 8888

Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers

A reliable base for families and business travellers alike. $$

On the corner of Nathan Road and Salisbury Road, Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers  is positioned to let visitors dive headfirst into Tsim Sha Tsui. While the interiors – 782 rooms and suites – could use a refresh, we found it perfectly comfortable. The two lounges on the top floor, Oyster & Wine Bar and Sky Lounge, offer sweeping panoramas of Victoria Harbour. The rooftop pool is another prime vantage point – while it isn’t as large as most Hong Kong hotel pools, it can be enjoyed year-round, thanks to the three heated Jacuzzis. The Tower-level rooms and suites offer thoughtful extras: private check-in, access to the Towers Lounge on the 16th floor, use of the boardroom facilities, and complimentary perks such as daily suit pressing.

Detail you’ll love: The Lobby Lounge offers live music daily, along with drinks and a selection of small plates.

Pool? Yes, an outdoor pool.

20 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2369 1111

West Kowloon

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Sky-high luxury and the world’s highest bar. $$$

For a bird’s-eye perspective on Hong Kong, hotels don’t get higher than The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong , which occupies 16 floors atop ICC and Elements mall. An express lift zooms up to the 103rd-floor reception in 80 seconds flat. From there, many tourists continue on to Ozone, famously the world’s highest bar and a great perch for the Symphony of Lights display over Victoria Harbour. Others are here for the Michelin-starred dining: a pick of Italian at Tosca di Angelo or Cantonese at Tin Lung Heen. Overnight guests get to wine and dine knowing it’s just steps back to the palatial rooms, done in shades of champagne with leather-panelled walls and accents in deep reds, purples or greens. Facilities include an indoor pool and the Club Lounge – arguably the city’s best – both with views galore. Since the hotel opened in 2011, the surrounding West Kowloon area has only been getting better; landmarks like Xiqu Centre and the Art Park have opened, with still more to come.

Detail you’ll love: Many rooms come with a telescope and chaise lounge to better appreciate the view – along with the welcome flask of milk tea, a Hong Kong classic.

Pool? Yes, an indoor pool.

1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon; +852 2263 2263

W Hong Kong

The bold style and sense of fun you expect from W Hotels. $$$

W Hong Kong  stays true to the W brand’s sensibilities: bright pops of colour fit with the party vibe, which it has upheld since opening in 2008, thanks to its playlist of upbeat tunes and the regular night-time bashes held at its stunning 76th-floor rooftop infinity pool – the highest outdoor pool in Hong Kong. The skyline view is only obscured by ICC, just next door. That skyscraper is a reminder of the W’s prestigious, convenient location: guests arriving by MTR alight at Kowloon station, which is on the Airport Express line and one stop from Central. The hotel has been known for its weekend brunch buffets and has pushed the envelope in very W fashion with late Sunday brunches (5pm-9pm) featuring drag shows.

Detail you’ll love: Above-average room amenities include a Dyson hairdryer, shoe-shine kit, Bliss toiletries, Nespresso, a cocktail shaker and a yoga mat.

Pool? Yes, an outdoor pool.

1 Austin Road, West Kowloon; +852 3717 2222

Hung Hom

Kerry Hotel

An urban resort with a unique skyline vantage point. $$$

The skyline is one of Hong Kong’s most marketable assets, and the city’s waterfront hotels know it. Kerry Hotel  makes the most of its harbourfront location east of TST, delivering a panorama of Hong Kong Island that stretches from towering residential blocks in the east across to the skyscrapers of Wan Chai and Central. More than 60 per cent of its 546 guest rooms – designed by the acclaimed André Fu – come with that view; all feature free Wi-Fi, Bluetooth speakers and a Nespresso coffee maker. Guests staying in Club rooms also have access to the Club lounge with complimentary semi-buffet breakfast and pre-dinner cocktails and canapes. Retreat to the pool, get a sweat on in the gym or park yourself on the outdoor terrace of bar and restaurant Red Sugar for sundowners – all of which also come with harbour views.

Detail you’ll love: The complimentary mini-bar is a nice touch, ensuring your stay gets off to a good start.

Pool? Yes, an outdoor pool.

38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom; +852 2252 5888

Jordan

Eaton HK

Accommodation meets arts and activism.  $

At the border of Jordan and Yau Ma Tei, Eaton HK  has become a magnet for creatives, activists and eco-warriors. This is largely thanks to the boutique hotel’s art and music programming (though Terrible Baby’s cocktails, generous happy hours and garden terrace certainly help). In 2018, Langham hotel scion Katherine Lo spearheaded the Eaton’s rebranding and renovation to add a coworking space, a wellness centre and an arts hub with its own media company, gallery, live music venue and recording studios. The Eaton Rooms, admittedly on the small side, got a ’70s-style refit. Eaton HK shouts its values loud: to be a gathering place that inspires and nurtures the freedom of ideas, one that welcomes everybody, especially those who wish to make a positive impact.

Detail you’ll love: Himalayan salt lamp to soothe the mind (handy after all that stimulating conversation, art and music).

Pool? Yes, an outdoor pool.

380 Nathan Road, Jordan; +852 2782 1818

Mong Kok

Cordis, Hong Kong

Gorgeous views, Chinese contemporary art and some of the best-value rooms. $$

Cordis, Hong Kong  is part of the Langham Place development, meaning that it sits right on top of Mong Kok MTR station – and right in the middle of one of Hong Kong’s most frenetic districts. But that all fades away as you rise 30 storeys up to your room. The large Club Studio Rooms offer gorgeous, unobstructed views out over Mong Kok and the Tsim Sha Tsui peninsula. The sense of relaxation deepens at the Chuan Spa, which merges the tenets of Traditional Chinese Medicine with a globe-spanning variety of treatments. There’s also an impressively fully-featured gym – complete with squat rack – and a rooftop pool. Make time for the one-Michelin-starred Ming Court restaurant, where cheery service and innovative dim sum come together in a superb whole. Complimentary wet market tours and morning tai chi classes keep the hotel plugged into a Hong Kong identity. Perhaps best of all is the price point, which offers fantastic value for staycationers and visitors alike.

Detail you’ll love: The 1,500-strong collection of contemporary Chinese art, with works by some of the nation’s biggest names scattered around the public spaces.

Pool? Yes, an outdoor pool.

555 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok; +852 3552 3388

Yau Ma Tei

Tung Nam Lou

A vintage-inspired hotel with art and events that attract a young crowd.  $

First a seafood restaurant then a commercial centre, Yau Ma Tei’s Tung Nam Lou  was reborn in 2018 as a boutique hotel, co-working space and art gallery rolled into one. The 52 rooms feel distinctly vintage, with rotary dial-up phones and Victorian green and gold furnishings. Add an Art Explorer Day Pass to gain access to different floors, where you’ll discover hand-painted murals, a DIY fragrance studio and an experimental art lab that encourages rolling up your sleeves. Work your way up to the 22nd floor to pick up a souvenir from the art shop – featuring brilliant work from locals – then take the stairs to room68, a pub that regularly hosts live music, with 180-degree views of Yau Ma Tei and beyond as a backdrop.

Detail you’ll love: The tactile art throughout the hotel, from the knitted stairwell handrail to the fragrance studio that encourages you to create your own scent sachets.

68 Portland Street, Yau Ma Tei; + 852 3708 7788

Hotel Pricing Guide
$ = nightly room rates up to HK$1,000
$$ = from HK$1,000+
$$$ = from HK$2,000+
$$$$ = from HK$3,000+

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