The List

The Peninsula Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong

46

The Peninsula Hong Kong

Hong Kong

A Hong Kong grande dame approaches its centenary

Give us a quick history lesson: Hong Kong's oldest hotel opened in 1928 on what was then the Kowloon waterfront. Its location opposite the city's ocean liner terminal immediately drew in wealthy guests from around the world. It claims to be the first hotel in Asia to have page boys and to have invented XO sauce, a now ubiquitous condiment. Still majority controlled by the founding Kadoorie family, The Peninsula group's flagship is a beacon of old-world luxury coupled with 21st-century amenities.

Tell us about the rooms and suites: The 300 spacious rooms and suites are in the heritage wing or in the 30-storey tower added in 1994, which provides knockout views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline. Each is outfitted in contemporary Asian style and features tablet controls that can be set in 11 different languages, easy-to-use lighting controls, nail dryers and work desks with printers and even fax machines. 

Arriving in style: As the only city hotel with a rooftop helipad, The Peninsula offers guests speedy airport transfers by helicopter, with a bonus bird's-eye view of the city, harbour and mountains along the way. Or, book one of the hotel's Rolls-Royce Phantoms, with their distinctive Peninsula green livery and customised interiors.

How about dining? If it isn't broke, don't fix seems to be the theme at The Peninsula's nine longstanding F&B outlets. Among them: fine-dining French at Gaddi's, opened in 1953; Spring Moon, which has been serving elevated Cantonese cuisine for 40 years; and Chesa, a beloved alpine chalet serving traditional Swiss fare since 1965. The Lobby, with its colonnades and double-height ceilings, has drawn queues for its afternoon tea for more than 80 years, while the comparatively new, Philippe Starck-designed Felix has the best views, including from its famous toilets. 

And wellness? The 1,400-square-metre Peninsula Spa is anchored by an 18-metre Romanesque indoor pool with an outdoor sun terrace capturing harbour and skyline panoramas on one level, and treatment rooms and steam and sauna facilities on another. The gym is open 24 hours.

Anything else to add? Say goodbye to rigid check-in and check-out times with Peninsula time, the group's programme that allows guests to arrive as early as 6am and depart as late as 10pm. 

Key Information