On a recent trip, I was able to have a couple of nights at the opulent Island Shangri-La Hong Kong. It was everything I hoped it would be. And I have high expectations.
I’ve been coming to Hong Kong for over 25 years and I have to admit that I love the excitement of Hong Kong and the pure luxury of a 5-star hotel. I’m a sucker for a piano playing in the lobby lounge, views of bright lights in the big city over the harbor and a fresh floral scent to complement the buzz of a great property.
The Island Shangri-La hotel located at Admiralty was quite new when I first visited this city but it’s retained everything that I fell in love with about Hong Kong’s unique blend of luxury and hospitality.
There are 2 Shangri-La hotels in Hong Kong along with a sister hotel in Kowloon. That property is just as wonderful but more for the tourist than the business guest which the Island property appeals to.
If you want to indulge arrange for the hotel limo to pick you up from the airport. A luxury Mercedes will whisk you off to the hotel with Wi-Fi included.
Upon arrival at the hotel the first thing that hits you is the Shangri-La’s signature scent. It’s so unique and love that they actually sell the room spray in every property.
I like their little touches such as having mats in the elevator that tell you what day of the week it is. This has always been a signature of the hotel and thanks to jet-lag it’s helped me a time or two over the years.
This time I was on the Horizon level. This is a club lounge that is accessible all day long until midnight. Serving breakfast in the morning, snacks in the day, canapés and cocktails in the afternoon to evening. Drinks include Verve Cliquot champagne and it has magnificent views of the harbor.
Decor is old word Hong Kong. Stunning Chinese artwork, blending with gorgeous chandeliers.
I had a suite with a living room and a bedroom set apart. The big sofas and Chinese accents gave me great pleasure every time I came home.
Now the best thing about this property is the food outlets.
Petrus is the French restaurant on the 56th floor that has earned its reputation for decades. Fine French dining at its best and you can even have breakfast and lunch here with sweeping views of the harbor as well.
The Lobster Bar & Grill on the lobby level is famous. This is where I was able to offer my healthy menu for 2 nights featuring fish, lobster and other fantastic seafood. The bar is very busy and is ranked as the 18th best bar in the world. Food features seafood flown in from all over the world and of course lobster.
Then there is Café TOO. A casual dining place that is always fully booked for its lunch and dinner buffet, especially on weekends. They serve an amazing range of seafood along with ten cooking stations presenting the best of international cuisines.
Down two levels is the signature restaurant of Shangri-La, The Summer Palace. This is traditional Chinese that is always full for lunch and dinner in most Shangri-La properties. There is also a bakery, Island Gourmet and a Japanese outlet, Nadaman which I did not have time to indulge.
Hong Kong weather can be very hot and very rainy, so it’s great that the property has an underground connection to Pacific Place shopping mall which is filled with designer brands, great restaurants and a fantastic supermarket in the basement.
The MTR is also here so you are only one stop from Central or one stop to Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui.
The opulent Island Shangri-La Hong Kong provides a true Hong Kong experience, one that may even be better today than my rose colored memories of a quarter century ago.
Daniel Green, the Model Cook is a Celebrity Chef known for his healthy approach to food and living well. With TV, books, magazines and live appearances, Daniel spends his time helping fans to cook better, feel better and live better. He’s also an avid traveler and a self-confessed Foodie.
To contact Daniel or learn more visit www.themodelcook.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook.
