Review: Regent Hong Kong

Why book the Regent Hong Kong?

If you were any closer to Victoria Harbor your feet would be wet. The Regent's views are phenomenal, looking across from the Kowloon side of the water towards Hong Kong Island in all its sparkly glory.

Set the scene

The Regent's expansive lobby funnels through glowing glass partitions into a moody gallery-like space before opening onto a triple-height wall of window that showcases Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline like jewels in a cabinet. It's a good lobby, with all the buzz one hopes to encounter at an international hotel; one of those spaces where you never know who you might bump into, as guests from across the globe mingle happily with locals who swing by for breakfast meetings, trays of afternoon tea, and cocktails during the nightly Symphony of Lights show.

The backstory

The Regent hotel has come full circle, having originally opened on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in 1980. At its inception, it was part-owned by Adrian Zecha and went on to become one of Asia's top luxury hotels for the next 20 years, hosting US Presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter, Hollywood legends Sydney Poitier and Elizabeth Taylor, and musical hip-swivellers Julio Iglesias and Tom Jones, as well as appearing in the top TVs shows of the time, including Dynasty and Noble House. In 2001, the hotel was sold and rebranded as the Intercontinental Hong Kong, which successfully flew the flag until 2020, when IHG Hotels bought a majority stake in Regent Hotels and decided to bring the brand back to the city. A three-year refurbishment later, the Eighties' landmark has returned as Regent's flagship hotel, as the group looks to ambitiously claim a place alongside the likes of Rosewood, Mandarin Oriental and The Peninsula.

The rooms

Zig-zagging along the waterfront, the 17-story building houses 497 rooms, 75 percent of which have a full or partial harbor view. Along with the lobby, the rooms have been designed by Hong Kong-born architect, interior designer and furniture maker Chi Wing Lo, who has deployed a yin-yang palette of charcoal and creams, softened through a variety of touchy-feely textures and materials. In the 38-square meter classic harbor view rooms, all eyes are immediately drawn to the large windows, which were replaced during the renovation and frame the harbor beautifully (although there was some noticeable noise pollution sneaking into my room from the Avenue of Stars walkway below). An unusual Japanese-like bathroom has a soaking tub with a built-in seat and amenities from Perricone MD, with patterned mirrored doors that slide open onto the pale wood and buttery leather bedroom. You need some time in the rooms to appreciate the little details: the stealth storage, the wireless chargers built into the bedside tables, the free movies on the TV, the local Gweilo beers and pre-mixed negronis in the mini-bars. Don't expect a chocolate on your pillow at bedtime either; the turn-down service is more inventive here, delivering different sample-size tubes of face serum, eye gel and hand cream each night.

As comfortable as the rooms are, it's in the 137 suites where Regent really sets out its lofty intentions, with huge spaces decorated with curvaceous leather sofas, moon-like recesses in the ceiling and circular wooden screens opening onto sensual bedrooms. Teamed with electrifying views, they're incredibly impressive spaces. The executive lounge, which includes breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and canapés, as well as daily wellness classes, is only available to guests booking a suite.

Food and drink

The Regent, and the Intercontinental before it, has long been known for its superb restaurants. There are six in total, including the all-day dining buffet restaurant Harbourside, which is hugely popular with locals, and an outpost of Nobu (opening in November). The signature restaurant is two-Michelin star Lai Ching Heen, a vision of jade, lacquer work, and handpainted screens, with the best tables overlooking the harbor, of course. Spearheaded by executive chef Lau Yiu-Fai and head chef Cheng Man-sang the 40-year-old restaurant celebrates Cantonese cuisine by turning out ultra-refined versions of the humble dumpling, roast meats, and super-fresh seafood. Dishes on the tasting menu might include delicate Hokkaido scallop dumplings topped with caviar; steamed lobster with tofu and crab roe; or wok-fried wagyu with garlic, green peppers, and lily bulbs.

For something less formal but packing just as much flavor, there's The Steakhouse, which has a super salad bar and perfectly cooked cuts of beef selected from small sustainable farms in Italy, Spain, Japan, Korea, and Australia.

The spa

There's no spa at the moment. A separate building is being constructed next to the swimming pool and is expected to open in summer 2024.

The neighborhood

Apart from having astonishing views in every direction, the Regent is located in an extremely convenient part of town. The Star Ferry pier is a five-minute walk from the hotel's front door, as is the nearest MTR subway station, and there are countless shops, malls, markets, outlets, restaurants, and bars in the vicinity. Directly in front of the hotel, the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront has undergone a massive multi-million dollar reclamation and redevelopment in recent years and now includes a pretty new promenade lined with seating and sunshades and dotted with museums, galleries and the upmarket K11 Musea mall.

The service

Efficiently delivered by young staff who are bright, bubbly and eager to please, if a little too enthusiastic at times.

For families

The hotel is more focused on business travelers, but while there aren't any family rooms, there are adjoining rooms on every floor and amenity kits, with specially commissioned coloring books, for little ones.

Eco effort

Glass bottles of water are filtered in-house and the staff uniforms (designed by Canadian firm Juma) are all made from recycled plastic bottles. The hotel is aiming for EarthCheck certification but has yet to receive it.

Accessibility for those with mobility impairments

There are rooms adapted for people with mobility on each floor of the hotel but, disappointingly, none of them have a harbor view. All of the public areas, including the lobby, restaurants and gym, are accessible.

Anything left to mention?

The Regent has one of the most delightful swimming pools in Hong Kong, set on the third floor surrounded by an ample amount of sun loungers, tropical gardens, and hot and cold whirlpools overlooking the harbor.