10 Best places to stay in Hong Kong

Couples come to have their pre-wedding photos taken under soaring arches of this former office block turned glamorous luxury hotel.

Built in the mid-century, it’s surrounded by some of Hong Kong’s most iconic sights: I.M. Pei’s Bank of China on one side, the 19th century St John’s Cathedral on the other – there are no bad views from any of the bedrooms.

Inside is just as appealing, with lots of sunlight-infused spaces, seas of black marble, eye-catching Chinese artworks and sprawling outdoor terraces, a rarity in Hong Kong.

The facilities, too, are tip-top – indoor swimming pool, 24-hour gym, a small but thoughtful spa – while its rooftop bar, Popinjays, is one of the city’s smartest alfresco drinking spots.

When guests rave about the standards of service at Hong Kong hotels, it’s usually the Mandarin Oriental they’ve got in mind.

The tallest building in the city when it opened in 1963, it’s dwarfed by newer high-rises now, but it’s head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to hospitality, fine dining and luxurious facilities.

Inside, the design exudes Asian glamour: swathes of black marble, golden hand-painted screens, Ming-era statues, thick Tai Ping rugs and crystal chandeliers.

Soak up the rarified atmosphere with afternoon tea on the mezzanine floor Clipper Lounge overlooking the lobby (more popular with locals than The Peninsula).

Otherwise, there are nine more award-winning restaurants to choose from, including chic newcomer The Aubrey, a Japanese Izakaya with a sexy cocktail bar and a maximalist design.

At 484m, this is one of the tallest hotels in the world and many guests check in for that reason alone. The views are astonishing; cargo ships the size of bathtub toys, Hong Kong island in miniature, the densely-packed skyscrapers a circuit board of rooftops. Sit in the window box of your room and you’ll see helicopters flying past at eye level.

But a lofty location is not all the hotel has to offer. The six restaurants and bars offer everything from afternoon tea to caviar tasting, all in predictably opulent surroundings.

Service is flawless, the interiors are strikingly modern, and the spa – located 116 floors up – is home to the world’s highest swimming pool, perched on the 118th floor.

A favourite with visiting celebrities, this five-star boutique hotel, manages to feel cutting-edge, ultra-luxurious and homely all at the same time.

Propped on the top floors of a 48-storey skyscraper, each swish suite offers sweeping views of the city, either down towards the harbour or up towards Victoria Peak.

The facilities are few (there’s no swimming pool or spa) but you’re here for the spectacular design – a 40-metre atrium soaring through the heart of the building, honey and caramel interiors from
Hong Kong designer André Fu – and the haute atmosphere, best soaked up at the new Mediterranean restaurant Salisterra. The adjoining bar is also an excellent late-night watering hole.

This prestigious, waterfront hotel is where the moneyed movers and shakers stay in HK, with spectacular harbour views from floor-to-ceiling windows, multi-Michelin-starred restaurants and seriously swish rooms designed in either contemporary Western or more traditional Chinese style.

Special treats and perks include an infinity pool that appears to flow directly into the harbour, a walk-in cheese cellar that could have been taken straight out of the French countryside, and Champagne tours aboard a private antique tram.

Right above the Airport Express station, joined at the hip to the city’s smartest mall and with a harbour location to die for, this is a hotel for all seasons.

If you want a hotel with an authentic location, a hip design and a social conscience, look no further than the Eaton Hong Kong.

It’s parked on the corner of one of Kowloon’s busiest thoroughfares, Nathan Road, opposite the dragon-wrapped entrance gate to Temple Street Night Market.

Inside, rooms have copies of the International Declaration of Human Rights in the bedside drawer. There’s a co-working space – Eaton Workshop – that also holds film screenings, art talks and music events. And office space has been donated to an NGO assisting refugees.

Locals love the array of cut-price Asian snacks available at the hotel’s food court, and the cocktails at Terrible Baby, which has a dog-friendly outdoor terrace and happy hour from 2pm-8pm, Sunday to Thursday – meaning there’s always a buzz about the place.

If you want to be in the thick of Hong Kong’s after-dark action, this boutique hotel in Central is the one for you.

Tucked in a skinny skyscraper up and around the corner from the Lan Kwai Fong party zone, you can easily roll from your room to the clubs and back again.

Rooms are slick and unfussy, with bold modern art prints and statement wallpaper in the common areas.

Vegetarians and vegans will love the all-veggie Veda restaurant, while the 24-hour gym, laundrette and just two rooms per floor makes it feel like you’ve got your very own city centre crash pad.

Despite the high-octane location, it’s surprisingly quiet and peaceful.

A host of big names, headed by Terence Conran, shaped this hotel and the main reason to stay here is the innovative design.

The hotel is flooded with light and enjoys superb views from the 262 rooms, the harbour-facing rooftop pool and the gym with wraparound windows. You can’t miss Patrick Blanc’s giant vertical garden on the wall next to the lobby.

But no one should be frightened off by the designer credentials – this youthful, exuberant place will appeal as much to families as trendy couples.

In Hong Kong, rooms with a view of Victoria Harbour usually cost an arm and a leg, but the Hyatt Centric is the exception.

It’s a little off the usual tourist track, but the eastern harbour views are just as sparkly and the old-school neighbourhood is a food-lovers dream come true.

In contrast to the surrounding streets, the hotel is fresh and modern, spread over two multi-coloured towers, one topped with a gorgeous rooftop bar, the other topped with an infinity pool.

Pick your spot for sunset to watch ferries, tug boats and junks criss-cross the harbour as the sun sinks into the South China Sea.

The Peninsula, located on the Kowloon waterfront, has been welcoming distinguished guests for the best part of 100 years, and, today, its Golden Age of Travel grandeur continues to attract the glitterati.

They come for the white-gloved service, palatial surroundings, dazzling restaurants and some of the most enviable harbour views in the city.

Set the tone for your stay with a Rolls Royce transfer (the hotel has its own fleet, in signature Peninsula Green) – or, if you’re feeling flush, there’s always the helicopter.

More ultra-exclusive experiences are on offer at The Peninsula Academy, which offers guests a range of cultural experiences, from dim sum making classes, to traditional Chinese arts and craft lessons, to tours of the Kadoorie Botanic Gardens.