Some hotels move forward without the design touches of old to create a completely new look, but the Sheraton Hong King Hotel and Towers has embraced some of the old to keep a sense of occasion and have a nod to some quirky retro design elements which we loved.
Centrally located in the vibrant Tsim Sha Tsui, the location is unquestionable with easy access by premier public transportation, thanks to its octopus-like Metros as well as the Express Rail Link and the ferry terminal, walking distance to most commercial hubs and premium shopping and entertainment precincts such as the arty K11 Musea, Harbour City among those well established restaurants and retails bringing the tireless and colourful, lifestyle to the neighbourhood.
Despite the hotel being located on the long stretching Nathan Road, the official entrance of the hotel is off Salisbury Road if you chose to arrive by car or taxi. On arrival at the ground level, a full Concierge service is available, but the check-in is on level two and easily accessed by the spacious lifts. The level two foyer has a high ceiling, more like a gigantic duplex complex designed in the harlequin style wall woodwork with the mezzanine gallery and balconies. The retro architectural hanging chandelier in the grand staircase curves that takes you back to yesteryear glamour that is quite arresting to the eye in a pleasant way.
The check-in was busy during our arrival and it seemed to take longer than expected. Despite the check-in time is 3pm and we were delighted that they managed to check us in around noon which was a blessing allowing us to settle in as early as possible. We were allocated on the 16th floor, with the 30sqm newly renovated Harbour View Room which was not very big, yet comes with a fresh, modern interior in calming neutrals mood tone with contemporary comforts looking out through the large windows framing the iconic and legendary Victoria Harbour.
The room is sensibly designed and maxed out the space to allow you to enjoy the stunning Victoria Harbour view even from the shower/bath through to the bedroom. With seating and desk space right at the window, there were plenty of opportunities to take it all in. We still managed to open two suitcases with room to spare, plus there is a small wardrobe just as you enter which is also quite essential to hang your suits and coats. It was genuinely a pleasant surprise with the modern design touches and elements, so we were impressed.
The room also features quality bathroom amenities and the shower had excellent water pressure. Of course it is all about the view and this room had it in spades, with sweeping views of Victoria Harbour and the skyscrapers all along Kowloon and Hong Kong Central waterfront to Causeway Bay and beyond. It is completely mesmerizing especially if you are a first time visitor for an unforgettable urban retreat staycation.
The harbour view rooms are worth the extra investment, along with the Sheraton Club access which provides an added dimension of comfort and luxury. The club lounge is located on the 16th floor and suffice it to say, you cannot go wrong with this added benefit. Once again the harbour views and Tsim Sha Tsui precinct views of bustling Nathan Road is another highlight to chill in the Club Lounge. The cocktail hour food and wine selection is pretty good – better than some more luxurious hotels and everything was plentiful. It can be a little tricky to secure a harbour view seat, but that is trifling.
As expected, refreshments are available throughout the day, but they sensibly don’t do breakfast, as they have a huge all day dining at The Cafe to accommodate guests on level two and the Sheraton Club is not exactly capacious or suited for breakfast service with its set-up. The team were super attentive and at no point did you feel you were wanting for anything.
Other amenities include a gym with views over Nathan Road and a small rooftop pool facing the harbour and three heated Jacuzzis that let you relax in the fresh air and a reasonably sized sundeck to sunbathe in good weather, although it is a rather circuitous path to get there.
As the hotel has the perfect location, you have bucket loads of shopping and sightseeing right on your doorstep too and the locale is fantastic for a stroll to soak up the sights and sounds of Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and beyond.
Breakfast at The Cafe turned out to be a daily highlight with an enormous all-you-can-eat international buffet covering Cantonese favourites, including noodles, assorted dim sum, congee and more, Western dishes that hit the spot and lots of delicious bites in between.
It was very busy given the number of rooms accommodation over two towers, but the queue to get a seat didn’t take long to clear and the service team were pretty switched on. The only observation was that the tea and coffee quality were not that great, more like banquet standard, but other than that we very much enjoyed our breakfast and it ticked all the boxes for buffet lovers.
Appetites other than breakfast can be sated in house with a number of options, encompassing Celestial Court Chinese Restaurant for dim sum and classic Cantonese food, Unkai Japanese Cuisine for sushi and Teppanyaki, Oyster & Wine Bar on the top floor with harbour views offering fabulous seafood and champagnes to chill and unwind, the Sky Lounge on the rooftop for vintage wines and cocktails alongside the spectacular views, the Lobby Lounge for light bites and the list goes on.
The Concierge, Front Desk, Sheraton Club and The Cafe teams are quite warm and friendly and are willing to go some extra miles by offering their attentive and prompt service and well interacted, so well done. The location is hard to beat and if your are first time visitors looking for an affordable option with spectacular Harbour views, then the Sheraton Hotel & Towers is warmly recommended.
Location: 5/5
Design & Decor: 3.5/5
Food & Beverage: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Value For Money: 4/5
Experience: 4/5
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2369 1111
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