Tried and Tested: The Kerry Hotel
TESTED BY Dan Booth
HOW MANY ROOMS? 546 guestrooms and suites, over 60 percent with harbor views.
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS Stunning views, large rooms, expansive layout indoors and out, splendid service – and did we mention the views?
PRICE A mid-week stay in October starts at HK$2,000 ($256).
CONTACT The Kerry Hotel Hong Kong, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong; tel (852) 2252 5888;
VERDICT: The Kerry Hotel Hong Kong takes its role as an urban resort seriously, offering a relaxing, uncrowded escape for locals and global visitors alike. Luxurious spaces, great food, gracious service, and, oh! the views. What more could you ask?
BACKGROUND: Kerry Hotels are part of the Shangri-La Group and this property is the brand’s third, following the openings in Shanghai and Beijing. The Kerry Hong Kong bills itself as an ‘urban resort’ – a relaxing retreat in the heart of the city. And certainly on that score the hotel succeeds magnificently.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? This property is something of a rarity in high-density Hong Kong, where size means money. The first impression of the Kerry is one of openness and space. The lobby’s sweeping windows overlook generous outdoor gardens and the pool, and seamlessly transition beyond that to the harbor and skyline. The whole effect beckons guests to leave city life behind.
WHERE IS IT? The 16-story André Fu-designed building sits on the harbor’s edge in Kowloon, rising above the Hung Hom pier with its ferry to the North Point district on Hong Kong Island. A block or so away is the Whampoa MTR station, connecting you to practically anywhere in populous Hong Kong.
ROOM FACILITIES: The theme of grand-but-genial spaces first encountered in the lobby carries into the guestrooms. My Premier Sea View room was 560 square feet of well-appointed luxury with a vast window that delivered – you guessed it – a premier sea view, along with the skyline and its backdrop of mountains. The only quibble I had was the seating areas all seemed to face away from the window, an oversight quickly remedied by turning one cushy armchair around. The marble-clad bathroom was also resort-like in its appointments. Access to the eighth floor Club lounge includes complimentary breakfast, through-the-day snacks and soft drinks, and evening cocktails and canapés.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS: The Big Bay Café offers a choice of six pavilions with different cooking methods – Steam, Grill, Chill, Fry, Stew, Dessert Lab and something called the Nook. I found the food to be plentiful and excellently prepared. Just off the lobby is Dockyard with a selection of quick-serve kiosks with a range of cuisines. The fine dining option is Hung Tong which offers an excellent contemporary Chinese menu in a setting that hearkens back to the city’s past, and Red Sugar, the bar, presents an assortment of thoughtfully rendered cocktails and favorite beverages. The standout here is evening drinks and conversation on the outdoor terrace bathed in the lights of Hong Kong Island reflected on the water.
MEETING FACILITIES: At nearly 19,000 square feet, the hotel’s pillarless ballroom is the city’s largest, with a foyer that welcomes guests with more admirable harbor views. The hotel also features 16 other multi-function rooms and a variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces.
LEISURE FACILITIES: The 25-meter outdoor heated pool overlooks the bustling harbor as does the 24-hour fitness center, which offers dedicated studios for cycling, yoga and Pilates. At the time of my visit, the spa had not yet opened, still awaiting required licensing by the government.
