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This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s guide to Hong Kong
Sporting a fetching slouch hat, a young doorman pulls open the large wooden front doors. They feature rows of embedded metal studs — a nod to traditional gateways in Chinese palaces and fortresses. It’s the first of countless subtle design motifs at Regent Hong Kong, a multiple-award-winning, 497-room waterfront property in Kowloon.
Stepping inside, guests are immediately immersed in designer Chi Wing Lo’s intimate world of light and shadow, where gently opulent marble, stone and timber combine to beautiful effect.
An illuminated onyx check-in counter is backed by a 50ft-long LED screen playing captivating visuals by the digital-media artist Hung Keung. Among dozens of installations throughout the hotel, another screen behind the concierge desk is inspired by ancient scrolls and shows images from the hotel’s former art collection — a reminder that the Regent Hong Kong has seen different iterations over the years. After opening its doors as The Regent back in 1980, it then became an InterContinental, before reopening under its original name in late 2023 following a multi-year transformation.
What has stayed constant over the years, however, are the hotel’s astonishing views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island. About two-thirds of the rooms and suites face the water, so it often feels a bit more luxury cruise liner than bricks and mortar. At just 17 storeys high, it’s relatively vertically challenged compared to most Hong Kong hotels, but it also means that the harbour’s always-on energy from junks, ferries, yachts and cargo ships is almost tangible.
Rooms and suites
Another welcoming staff member accompanies me for the in-room check-in. As we enter my Harbourview Suite with Daybed, a 700 sq ft haven on the 11th floor, the blinds automatically rise to reveal Victoria Harbour in all its sun-kissed, late-afternoon glory, a cinematic interplay of light and water best viewed from the daybed, which stretches the entire length of the window.
Framed by verdant Victoria Peak, the Tetris of skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island reflects the fading daylight before the skyline illuminates to even more dramatic effect come nightfall, even if many of Hong Kong’s famed neon lights have sadly disappeared.
As no guest is going to stare at the walls with those vistas, interiors of the rooms and suites understandably channel a less-is-more, Japanese-style design ethic. Local craft beers and pu’er tea are nice complimentary touches in the “In-room Refreshment Gallery” (otherwise known as a minibar) and luxury Perricone MD amenities are decidedly fragrant, before 400-count bed linens and blackout blinds lull guests to deep sleep.
Dining and bars
Dining with a stellar view frequently entails cuisine that doesn’t reach the same heights, but happily Regent Hong Kong skewers this trope. Two-Michelin-starred Lai Ching Heen is a calm, ultra-elegant Cantonese dining room where beautifully plated dishes demonstrate flawless technique and celebrate the finest ingredients.
Harbourside lives up to its name and makes many guests rethink the buffet, a beloved Hong Kong staple, thanks to the jaw-dropping variety and generosity of the live cooking stations and towers of prime seafood. The Steak House and Nobu Hong Kong both meet expectations, but it’s Qura Bar that comes as the biggest revelation. Fantastic no-alcohol cocktails include The Euphoria, melding Lyre’s American malt, basil, pomegranate and citrus, but those on the harder stuff will love the collector’s library of rare and exclusive spirits. A hidden cigar salon is a further draw and the plates and bar bites are another reason to visit, but once again it’s those staggering views that prove the most intoxicating part of an evening.
Spa and wellness
A full spa is in the pipeline, although no opening date has been announced, while the pool deck features an expansive terrace with yet more knockout views and three heated spa pools that help to ease muscle and join tension. There’s also a sauna and a 24-hour gym with the latest multifunctional Technogym machines and cardio equipment.
Location
Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui district offers dozens of luxury boutiques just a few minutes’ walk away, while the hotel also sits close to the historic Star Ferry pier and is a short drive from the newly opened Kai Tak Stadium, home to concerts and international sporting fixtures. Kowloon is also Hong Kong’s arts and culture hub thanks to the exceptional M+ Museum, Xiqu Centre, Palace Museum and dedicated museums covering history, science and space.
At a glance: Regent Hong Kong
Good for: Views so perfect and enthralling that they feel almost AI-generated
Not so good for: Bedside room-control buttons. They need to be more clearly defined, especially at night
Rooms and suites: 497
Rates: From HK$5,000 (£480)
Address: 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Chris Dwyer stayed as a guest of Regent Hong Kong
Where do you like to stay in Hong Kong? Tell us in the comments below. And follow us on Instagram at @ftglobetrotter
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