During my last visit to Hong Kong this year, I was so thrilled to have been able to call the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong my home for the weekend. The last time I was there was during their awesome Christmas party INSIDE their pastry kitchen about 5 years ago (Click here, and here, and here for some pics!) — so a much-needed visit was definitely in order.
It’s one of those hotels you stay in that make you want to cancel your itinerary because all you want to do is stay in and lounge in the room! Or schedule all your appointments and nightcaps (ie. “drinks”) at the hotel (as I did).
I’ve listed down 10 reasons why you should stay at the Mandarin on your next visit to Hong Kong– especially this Christmas season as they have a very special rate for Philippine residents up to December 29, 2015 (see #10).
1) The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is an institution.
Since it opened its doors in 1963, the Mandarin has delighted guests– from Hong Kong residents, expats, taipans and high society, and out of town travelers– with over 50 years of its award-winning services and impressive facilities. As mentioned in an article in Travel & Leisure, there is no hotel anywhere woven so tightly into its city’s social fabric— there are very few Hong Kong residents who haven’t dined or drank at the Mandarin.
In fact, in 2015’s book of the year, Kevin Kwan’s “China Rich Girlfriend,” the sequel to the highly acclaimed “Crazy Rich Asians,” one of the characters, Corrina Ko-Tung, born into one of Hong Kong’s most pedigreed families who secretly parlays her extensive connections into a profitable sideline as a “special consultant for social climbers”– was first introduced sitting at the Clipper Lounge of the Mandarin waiting for her clients for afternoon tea. In the book, she describes the hotel to her “new money clients who are looking to integrate into the billionaire class”: “The Peninsula gets too many tourists, and the Four Seasons is where all the new people go. The Mandarin is where proper Hong Kong families have been coming to tea for generations… You must also leave out the ‘Oriental’– we locals simply call it ‘the Mandarin.'”
2) Stunning rooms offer the best views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong cityscape.
Each of the hotel’s 501 guestrooms and suites is furnished and decorated with high quality materials (pure linen bed sheets with goose down pillows); handcrafted finishes and amenities (gorgeous silk robes, hand-embroidered laundry bags, an absolutely stunning Oriental ice bucket); and cutting edge technology (flat-screen TV with interactive entertainment system, SMART lighting controls and faaaassst complimentary Wi-Fi!) They either have views of Victoria Habour (like mine!) or Hong Kong’s cityscape, and there are in-room binoculars should you wish to get a better view.
And one thing I need to mention is the special “valet box” for discreet delivery of your daily newspaper– or additional bottles of water, laundry– or room service! So they don’t have to ring the doorbell to disturb you but when you check your little cabinet (see 4th photo below) it’s there! Love that discreet luxury.
3) High Tech Bathroom with Hermes or Acqua Di Parma Amenities.
My Harbour Room bathroom was outfitted in glass and marble, had both a shower and a bath tub, and all amenities were by Hermes. I loved the touches of greenery via the little plants as decors, and also the fact that the TV is embedded in the mirror— which means I can watch the news WHILE putting on my makeup. And it also rotates, as seen in the photo below, so if you decide you want to watch TV while doing whatever activity in whichever part of the bathroom, you can!
4) Dine at Michelin-starred Mandarin Grill + Bar by Chef Uwe Opocensky.
I can’t believe that in all my visits to Hong Kong, I’ve never dined at Mandarin Bar + Grill til now! Executive Chef Uwe Opocensky serves grill specialties with a touch of progressive gastronomy, and he’s sooooo creative! The breadsticks are the prettiest I’ve ever seen, bread and butter pudding is literally served as bread and butter, and tiramisu is disguised as a potato! What’s admirable as well is that they source all their ingredients from their own 20,000sq-feet organic farm in Cheung Chau island run by Mr. Lam, a retired postal worker.
The restaurant has retained a Michelin star for six consecutive years, and still remains the site of many business deals, wedding engagements and ladies who lunch, earning its moniker “Hong Kong’s favorite dining room.”
5) Daily breakfast at the Clipper Lounge which is a great dimsum selection.
While I didn’t have afternoon tea there like they did in “China Rich Girlfriend” (see #1), I did have breakfast everyday here during my stay. Clipper Lounge offers a beautiful buffet breakfast, with a myriad of choices from Western to Asian– and as I normally like having dimsum for breakfast whenever I’m in Hong Kong, I was very happy to see they had not only an extensive dimsum selection, but also that they had properly identified each one– with pictures to boot, and individual tabs on the bamboo steamer baskets so you can just take them and plunk onto your plate, still hot and steaming, but without burning yourself. It’s this attention to detail that make all the difference.
6) Choose your own nightcap– at M Bar or Captain’s Bar.
My Hong Kong schedules are always super hectic, and I always love catching up with friends for pre-dinner drinks or post-dinner drinks. I loved that two of the country’s most amazing bars are located at the Mandarin! There’s no need to queue for a taxi (or flag one down on the way home), just press up (M Bar, 25th floor) or down (Captain’s Bar, ground floor). Both were jam-packed in the evenings I went, by the way, not just with overseas travelers, but expats and residents as well.
7) The Krug Room!
Hidden behind an inconspicuous doorway at the heart of the kitchen, The Krug Room is a collaboration between the House of Krug and the Mandarin, an intimate 12-seater designed to give diners a “multi-sensory epicurean experience set against an entertaining backdrop of a bustling kitchen and, of course, excellent Champagne,” as described by Billionaire. There is no menu; instead, Chef Uwe creates each evening’s dinner– which can range from 10 to 14 courses– according to his inspiration, with the meal accompanied by the diners’ choice from the largest collection of Krug champagnes in Asia.
8) It is so centrally located, quite literally at the center of Hong Kong.
I cannot stress how important location is when traveling. I used to always say, “Oh, I can stay anywhere in Hong Kong, the MTR is there anyway.” And yes, that is true, but after this weekend at the Mandarin located right at the heart of Central, made my last stay soooo much more efficient and convenient. First of all, it was so close to all the places I had to be in– Sunday mass at the Catholic Centre (same street, on 15-18 Connaught Road!), my friend’s birthday at Ho Lee Fook (Mid-Levels/ Soho), our junk boat trip (we boarded at Central Pier #9), more birthday shenanigans at Sevva (I practically crawled home) and even the crazy afterparty at Lan Kwai Fong (I walked home, too– in heels!!!) It was amazing and sooo refreshing that I didn’t have to fight for a taxi (we all know how that can go after a night out in Lan Kwai Fong!) I was able to walk to all the places I had to be in and that saved me time, money and energy!
9) Airport Transfer in an electric car– plus porter service all the way to check-in.
I was so grateful for the Mandarin’s awesome car service to the Hong Kong airport! Firstly, it’s my first time to ride the electric car, Tesla model S. As we were approaching the airport, my driver asked me if he could call his colleague to assist me when we get there– of course!!! So another hotel staff welcomed me at the airport to escort me to check-in up to immigration. I’m often traveling alone so THESE are huge luxuries to me.. thank you so much!
10) Special Package for Philippine residents this December 2015!
And the best news is… the Mandarin has a special Philippine package/ rate exclusively for us Pinoys! For HKD 2,800* (approximately PHP16,800++) for a night, it’s a steal as it’s normally double the price. This is valid now until December 29, 2015. Just email reservations and let them know you want to avail of the Philippine package, and then show proof of your Philippine residency upon check-in. Happy holidays!!!
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is located at 5 Connaught Rd., Central, Hong Kong. For more information, phone +852 2522 0111 (general inquiries), +852 2820 4202 (reservations), fax +852 2810 6190, email mohkg-reservations@mohg.com or visit mandarinoriental.com/hongkong
