The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

China
Asia

The Experience

This minimalist boutique hotel has aspirations to be a little bit funky, a world away from the Mandarin Oriental group's generally conservative style. Formerly an office building, the hotel is right in the middle of Central District. But when evening comes around, it's only a short stroll to the nightlife zone of Lan Kwai Fong and its lively near-neighbor, Soho.

The Rooms

Rooms are designed for the traveling generation that has decided that the bathroom, after all, is the most important feature (in addition to standard items like plasma TV and oversize bed). The cream-colored bathrooms take up to a third of the room space, and come equipped with tubs that make bathing à deux a realistic option. Some are even housed in an enclosed central space to be quirky and different, rather than to offer any practical advantage. Fortunately, the rooms are large overall, starting at a generous 600 square feet; though no matter how fabulous the interiors, there is no disguising the view, or lack of it. Peek out of the window and the vista is of tower blocks, with not so much as a glimpse of the city's most famous sights, the harbor and Victoria Peak.

The Service

This is the hotel group's first attempt at modern, minimalist boutique style, so the lived-in feel, where guests are greeted by name, is impossible. Youthfulness and perkiness are more in evidence than experience and obsequiousness, a tone set by the former general manager who counted surfing among her off-duty pastimes. Glasgow native Anthony Costa has since taken the GM's reins.

The Highlights

The New Age-y theme extends to yoga mats in every room and the cavernous 2,300-square-foot Oriental Spa that covers two entire floors and may justify its claim to being Asia’s premier urban spa. The decor and furnishings--mostly wood, bamboo or stone--give the space an intimate and relaxed mood (the total antithesis of the chaotic Hong Kong that prevails immediately outside), while treatments are from both East and West. Also mixing and matching is the chef of flagship restaurant Amber: While the culinary world may not yet be ready for breakfast cereal bars with sourdough bread shavings, gourmets will be titillated by signature dishes such as sesame oil-seared yellowfin tuna cubes with crispy chicken skin.

 

Find Hotel Deals on Yahoo Travel»