Hotel review: Ritz Carlton Hong Kong

Daniella shares the details of her truly lush Hong Kong hotel stay (we’re just a teeny bit jealous of this one!)

Hong Kong. A densely populated city acclaimed for its intense urban nature, the executive lounge at the The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is my first exposure to the magnificent skyline. Seen from the 116th floor of the tallest building in the city, it is breathtaking to see the mountainous range of The Peak dominating the view, overpowering the vast collection of skyscrapers and shiny buildings.

With curved windows to minimise typhoon exposure, the Ritz Carlton was built in May 2011 and has managed to encapsulate the best that Asia has to offer in its 16 floors. Taking the concept of five star to new heights (literally), the personalised service, attention to detail and classy but not extravagant opulence caters to a clientele accustomed to experiencing the creme de la creme of accommodation, cuisine and style.

Zoe Bingley-Pullin

A seamless check in on the 103rd floor takes us to a beautifully furnished room with floor to ceiling windows, breathtaking vistas of Hong Kong Island beckoning from the bed and the bathroom. A personalised espresso machine, a prefilled iPod and a flat screen TV above the bath are among the considerate details that ensure all needs, desires and whims have been
anticipated and satisfied.

Zoe Bingley-Pullin

Our first stop is the world renowned Afternoon Tea at The Lounge and Bar restaurant, which the menu tells us was made fashionable by Queen Catherine in 1633. We sit in luxuriously comfortable lounges overlooking Victoria Harbour as we’re served champagne, tea, and three tiers of indulgent delights. A cello player provides the ambiance as we watch the dancing hues of the sunset, so far above the other buildings that the sun appears level with the window.

Occupying floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre in Kowloon, The Ritz-Carlton offers 312 guest rooms with spectacular city and harbour views. With six dining venues, including renowned designer Chinese and Italian restaurants, the recently opened rooftop bar Ozone has become one of the trendiest locations for a cocktail in Hong Kong. We are shown to the fitness centre, which is full of high tech exercise machines, each with private computer screens.

Zoe Bingley-Pullin

With streamlined white décor, the breathtaking indoor pool on floor 118 has a high tech LED screen on the ceiling which creates an illusion of sunshine.

Opulence, modernity and style, the Ritz Carlton hotel gives new meaning to the concept of luxury. The fourth tallest building in the world, it is a fitting addition to the international “city of dreams” that is Hong Kong.

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