Review: The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong

From my stay at the St. Regis Hong Kong in Wan Chai, I traversed through the undersea tunnel of Victoria Harbour over to Kowloon, where the almighty The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong towers 118 floors above the city.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is one of the world’s most iconic hotels, given its position at the crowning point of the International Commerce Centre (ICC), with sweeping views of Victoria Harbour and the towering skyscrapers beyond.

Needless to say, I was teeming with excitement leading up to my stay, as this hotel has been near the top of my list of aspirational properties for a long time. 

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong – Booking

Nightly cash rates at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong typically hover around 3,500 HKD ($597 CAD), but can be as low as 3,100 HKD ($530 CAD) during periods of lower demand. You can expect to find prices as high as 4,100 HKD ($700 CAD) during peak seasons.

Redeeming points at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong will typically fall between 77,500–88,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

At either the lower or higher end of the spectrum, a points redemption at this property falls just shy of our target valuation of 0.9 cents per point. It’ll likely be a better deal to save your points, unless cash rates are significantly inflated.

On the dates surrounding my visit, cash rates were lower on account of the ongoing pandemic, and I secured a favourable cash rate of just 2,524 HKD ($430 CAD) for my one-night stay. This was indeed a much better deal than redeeming Bonvoy points.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is part of Marriott STARS, a preferred partner program that gives guests who book through authorized travel advisors exclusive perks. For the same price as the best-available flexible rate, you can enjoy benefits such as a complimentary breakfast for two, a $100 (USD) property credit, and more.

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong – Location

The hotel sits perched at the top of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) building in West Kowloon, on the opposite side of Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong Island.

The building is a towering presence in Hong Kong, standing at 484 meters tall and housing various offices and residential spaces. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong occupies the upper 16 floors of the ICC, boasting the best views in the building.

The ICC is surrounded by a busy highway, which can make walking around on foot somewhat difficult. Therefore, most sights and sounds in the city will be better reached by MTR.

Indeed, a major draw of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is that the ICC is directly connected to major transportation hubs.

From the ground-floor lobby, you can take two escalators down to the Elements Mall, where the Kowloon MTR station is on the Tung Chung MTR and Airport Express lines.

From the airport, it’s an easy 20-minute ride straight to the hotel on the Airport Express Line. Otherwise, it’ll take around 30 minutes to arrive at the hotel by taxi.

If you’d like to explore the vicinity of the hotel, a short distance southwest is the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade.

Beyond here, you can reach Tsim Sha Tsui, a bustling and vibrant district located in the southern part of the Kowloon Peninsula with ample shopping and dining options, rich cultural heritage, and many museums and historical landmarks.

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong – Check-In

As I arrived at The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, my eyes gazed upwards at the architectural marvel in front of me. The striking triangular façade is bold and dynamic, designed to reflect the fusion of international commerce and trade that Hong Kong is known for.

The hotel has two entrances, with one located in the mall that connects to the base of the ICC, and then there’s the main pedestrian and vehicle entrance on the ninth floor of the hotel.

Stepping inside, you’ll find yourself in the arrival lobby, where there’s a small seating area, palissandro-blue marble floors, and opulent chandeliers dangling from the ceiling.

A dark wooden foyer leads to a designated elevator that takes you from the ninth floor directly to the 103rd floor, where the main lobby is located. This journey is no small affair, as it takes about 80 seconds to get up there.

The lobby boasts a sophisticated and modern design, featuring a prominent hand-tufted wool carpet in a cartographic pattern and contemporary interpretations of traditional Chinese artwork.

For seating, a single red curved bench serves as a focal point, and then two plush couches are conveniently located towards the rear, while the check-in desks are situated off to the side of the lobby.

Given the circumstances of my stay, with Hong Kong closed to foreign travellers and many locals opting for staycations, I knew that securing a suite upgrade here would be somewhat challenging.

However, through my persuasive efforts, I was able to successfully “suite-talk” my way into a Deluxe Victoria Harbour Suite. I was thrilled with this outcome, to say the least, as the stunning views of Victoria Harbour are certainly one of the prime motivations for staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

Keep in mind that if you can’t get a suite, it’s definitely worth at least trying to get a room with Victoria Harbour views. 

As a Marriott Titanium Elite member, you’ll also have the choice of 1,000 points or a hotel amenity. Unfortunately, complimentary breakfast isn’t offered to elite members at Ritz-Carlton hotels. 

After a smooth check-in process, I made my way to the elevator lobby, where I was greeted by an abstract depiction of a classic Chinese watercolour of running horses.

I stepped into the elevator and headed up to my room, Room 11016, eager to take in the lofty views from the Deluxe Victoria Harbour Suite.

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong – Deluxe Victoria Harbour Suite

Upon entering the Deluxe Victoria Harbour Suite, the interiors and furnishings consist of an array of patterns and textures.

The suite features wooden touches, silk-panelled walls, and metallic accents. At first glance, the design is contemporary in nature, but certain elements of the furnishings and style have a slightly dated appearance.

The suite opens up to a small foyer that leads to the living area.

Immediately to the left is the suite’s pantry, playing host to a Nespresso machine, a kettle, and a series of minibar shelves with a generous liquor selection.

Venturing further, there’s a contemporary desk, complete with an ergonomic chair and a comfortable armchair nestled next to a floor-to-ceiling mirror.

The room had been proactively set with a welcome gift in the form of three small pastries and a handwritten note welcoming me to the hotel.

At the far end of the living area is a cozy nook with stunning corner floor-to-ceiling views. The nook is appointed with a chaise longue, a reading chair with an accompanying lamp, and a side table.

A padded banquet is strategically positioned at the window ledge, where corner floor-to-ceiling windows offer an iconic dual vantage point. A telescope is thoughtfully placed within each room to further indulge in the commanding views.

Lastly, the living area has a large flat-screen TV mounted on the opposite wall.

Moving into the bedroom, the space is dominated by a plush king-sized bed, while a secondary flat-screen TV is mounted on the opposite wall.

Conveniently located bedside is a set of electronic controls that allows for easy manipulation of lighting and drapery, and offers two USB ports for charging your devices.

The marble bathroom, a hallmark of a high-end hotel, is well-equipped with a dual vanity to the left, an alcove bathtub to the right, and a walk-in shower and toilet in separate chambers behind the glass doors.

The toilet chamber also links back to the foyer, allowing it to be used as a half-bathroom from closer to the entrance of the suite as well.

Overall, while the bed was comfortably plush and the bathroom was well-appointed, they were both somewhat secondary to the true draw of the suite – the breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour.

Furthermore, the décor is slightly dated, and the room itself isn’t the most spacious, but these are really inconsequential in light of the stunning views on offer.

Wow, wow, wow…

The views from the Deluxe Victoria Harbour Suite are nothing short of extraordinary and hands-down the best city views I’ve ever had from a hotel room. Furthermore, the telescope provided in the living area was only the cherry on top.

I found myself utterly captivated during my stay, spending most of my time camped out by the windows, in awe of the city views on display. Even by night, the light show of the Hong Kong skyline across the water was a real sight to behold.

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong – Dining

Located on the 102nd floor are the restaurants, bars, and lounges at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, accompanying the lobby lounge. In keeping with The Ritz-Carlton’s ostentatiousness, each dining venue is of the highest-calibre offering panoramic views and opulence.

Tosca Di Angelo offers Southern Italian cuisine, and a dining set inspired by the opera. This Michelin-starred restaurant showcases the inventive cuisine in an open kitchen concept with signature dishes by Chef de Cuisine Pino Lavarra.

Tin Lung Heen is a two-Michelin-starred restaurant run by Chef de Cuisine Paul Lau. This restaurant has been highly regarded as one of the world’s best, serving authentic Chinese cuisine with a focus on dim sum.

The Lounge & Bar is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, where seating is positioned towards the floor-to-ceiling windows for optimal views of the Hong Kong skyline. In addition to all-day dining, you can enjoy afternoon tea and signature cocktails.

Almas Caviar Bar is a luxurious bar with a premium selection of the world’s finest caviar, champagne, vodka, and gourmet food.

The Ozone is located at the highest level of the building on floor 118. This is one of the world’s highest bars and one of Hong Kong’s most popular.

It’s an enormous and colourful space with an outdoor lounge area and live entertainment. Additionally, the restaurant has an impressive outdoor terrace where you can step outside and admire more unobstructed views.

Lastly, Café 103 is located on the 103rd floor, with beautiful velvet banquettes and an intimate setting. This venue is more informal, offering lunch and dinner buffets featuring seafood, local specialties and international flavours.

It’s worth noting that breakfast isn’t included for Marriott Bonvoy elite members, so I made plans elsewhere and didn’t end up checking out the breakfast spread at this hotel.

Nevertheless, I certainly intend to return and scope out the rest of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, including its breakfast offering and Club Lounge, on a future visit.

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong – Other Facilities

The 118th floor, at the pinnacle of the hotel, is home to wellness facilities, including the fitness centre and swimming pool. Once again, you’ll encounter limitless views of the skyline from all angles.

The fitness centre at The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is stunning and modern. There’s an extensive range of Technogym equipment, including Kinesis One equipment, cardiovascular equipment, and free weights.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA is housed on the same floor. It’s a serene space with eleven lavish treatment rooms and two couples’ suites all overlooking the harbour.

Lastly, the hotel features an indoor infinity pool. This is the highest pool in the world, with breathtaking views, a mirrored ceiling and a high-resolution LED wall which plays images of coral and tropical fish. 

Conclusion

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is one of the crown jewels of The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott’s global portfolios, with sweeping city views that are nothing short of extraordinary from the pinnacle of the ICC.

While the rooms may be showing signs of age, the floor-to-ceiling corner views are truly unparalleled and essentially render any minor gripes a non-issue.

The hotel is also blessed with an excellent location, with direct access to the Elements Mall and Kowloon Station allowing you to effortlessly navigate the city by MTR.

Moreover, the Ritz-Carlton further delivers on luxury with spectacular Michelin-starred dining options and its rooftop bar and infinity pool, both of which lay claim to being the highest in the world.

All in all, The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong is a sight to behold, with some of the best hotel views you’ll encounter anywhere in the world and a well-earned reputation as a truly bucket-list-worthy place to stay in Hong Kong.