Hong Kong



The Experience

Hong Kong should mark time not by B.C. and A.D. but rather before and after arrival of the Grand Hyatt in 1989, a debut that furrowed the brows of the old dowagers and revitalized the local hotel scene. It was no longer enough to be elegant or opulent -- the "GH" proved that you had to be snazzy too. A lobby the size of Grand Central Station. Restaurants with views even more appetizing than the food. A swimming pool big enough for Shamu. Miles Davis rather than Noël Coward at the bar. And martinis instead of gin and tonics. Hong Kong would never be the same. And the Hyatt remains that way today: a hip place to while away nights on the South China Sea.

The Rooms

With space at a premium, most Hong Kong hotel rooms tend toward the pint-size, and the Grand Hyatt is no exception. But as they say, size isn't everything: Jaw-dropping views of the harbor and waterfront more than compensate. And the rooms are both sensible and comfy, a blend of utilitarian workspace and understated opulence. Decor is an ever-so-slight Asian take on international modern, a mélange of natural woods, white fabrics and artsy black-and-white photography. Amp up your size (and swank) with a Plateau Suite on the spa (11th) floor -- copious rooms with direct access to workout areas and a rooftop garden, as well as immediate in-room massage and other treatments.

The Service

One expects good service at premier hotels in Hong Kong, but the Grand Hyatt goes that extra mile with small touches that you don't find at some of the others: a concierge desk that actually seems to know the town, room service that doesn't take all night and reception staff who escort you to the elevator (and press your floor button) when you first check in. And there is a conspicuous pride of place, with people who seem to truly enjoy working at the Hyatt.

The Highlights

A plethora of eateries only befits the GH's status. Grissini has been Hong Kong's top Italian eatery for nearly two decades, the gourmet cuisine complemented by a huge Italian wine cellar. The stylish Tiffin Room is renowned for both its afternoon tea and diet-busting dessert buffet. If Suzie Wong were still around (and working Wanchai), you'd probably find her at JJ's -- a ground-floor bar and music club popular with both locals and out-of-towners. Work it all off at the Plateau Spa, with its whopping 80,000 square feet of fitness and pampering, plus a health-food café that sprawls beneath rooftop trees. But the pool alone is enough to book in here, a large free-form rooftop watering hole surrounded by lush palm gardens and glassed-in decks with dazzling harbor views.

-- Joe Yogerst

Find Hotel Deals on Yahoo Travel»