Continuing our staycation series, we check-in at Mongkok’s Cordis Hong Kong, a luxury enclave that brings this fascinating neighbourhood to life.
When was the last time you ventured into the depths of Mongkok? If the answer is any version of ‘a while’ then it’s time for you to return if only to check out the Cordis, one of Hong Kong’s most popular hotels. Perched above the Langham Place mall, Cordis Hong Kong (formerly Langham Place Mongkok) is an urban retreat at the heart of one of the city’s most vibrant destinations – and staycations are all about contrast, right?
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First Impressions
As Hong Kong’s borders are still restricted due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the main lobby of Cordis Hong Kong is quieter than usual. However, because I’m staying in a Club Room, I’m quickly directed to banks of elevators that whisk me up to the hotel’s elegant club lounge, where the check-in process is completed in a flash, and a minute later I’m in my spacious guest room.
If you’re are headed to the Cordis, don’t cheap out as there are plenty of benefits that come with one of the hotel’s club level rooms, including access to the club lounge (more on that in a minute).
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The Room
My 310sqft (29sqm) Club Deluxe room, one of 665 rooms and suites at the Cordis, is airy, well-lit, and contemporary in its décor without making a big deal about it. Located on the 37th floor, the room boasts a signature queen-sized Dream bed, large picture windows overlooking Mongkok, a 40-inch Samsung LED flat-screen television on one wall, a large glass work desk with wired and wireless broadband and an iHome Bluetooth entertainment system, and a marble-lined bathroom with separate bathtub and shower – everything you could want really. There’s plenty of room for luggage, and the bed lives up to its name.
For a little more elbow room, you might like to opt for the Club Studio, which weighs in at 450sqft (40sqm) and includes views of the South China Sea and of the Hong Kong skyline.
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The Lounge
As mentioned, the hotel’s Club Lounge is one of the real drawcards at the Cordis, especially if you’re looking at a staycation. Located on the 37th floor, the Club Lounge is an elegant space of individual, interconnecting rooms, each with lounge suites and some with very Instagrammable swing chairs, meaning every guest can find their own little corner of serenity.
Perfect for couples looking to laze around their temporary home, the lounge offers a number of perks, including the more intimate check-in and check-out process, daily breakfast – served in The Place on the lobby level, where the selection is impressive – and refreshments through the day. There is also two hours use of the Club meeting space, garment pressing, and discounted spa treatments in the Chuan Spa if you’re looking to be poked and prodded into submission.
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While this is a great space throughout the day for those looking to entertain, soak up the views, or grab a coffee or a snack during the afternoon tea presentation, it’s in the evening, when the city’s lights come on far below, that the lounge really shines.
During cocktail hour, when the lounge could be mistaken for a seductive cocktail bar in the city, there’s access to a full bar as well as a range of hot and cold dishes. During our recent stay, we found the staff to be attentive and very accommodating and the evening experience a highlight of our stay and despite how busy the hotel was the lounge remains serene.
However, the club floor offers only a hint of the dining experiences on offer at the hotel.
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Dining
Cordis Hong Kong is a dining destination for locals and hotel guests alike, and there is a setting for pretty much every palate. For elegant bespoke cocktails and sustainable sharing plates with Asian and European influences, head to Alibi, on the fifth floor, accessible directly from the lobby. Here, you’ll dine on the likes of Hereford OBE organic grass-fed beef short ribs with a marmite and Guinness glaze; cheese toasties of Serrano ham, Comté cheese, and black truffle; and plant-based Impossible tacos with Shisitio peppers, avocado, green peppercorn, and semi-dried tomato salsa.
During Hong Kong’s balmy evenings (and they’re not far away), the place to be is Garage Bar, an expansive outdoor food truck and craft beer concept where both western and Asian bites can be paired with almost 40 local and international brews.
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The Place is the hotel’s semi-buffet restaurant and where complimentary breakfast for Club Lounge guests is served, so be sure to leave plenty of time to graze the open kitchen counters and try classic western dishes as well as some iconic Hong Kong fare. The restaurant also does thematic spreads that are extremely popular.
However, if you’re looking to make that staycation extra special, make a beeline for Michelin-starred Ming Court, which serves the refined Cantonese cuisine of Executive Chef Li Yuet Faat, matched with an enviable wine selection of over 400 labels, many of which can be found in the hotel’s glass-encased wine library. Offering a luxurious take on timeless Cantonese cuisine, signature dishes at Ming Court range from Eight Treasure Soup, with abalone, fish maw, and dried tangerine peel; and giant garoupa fillet with minced shrimp; to cubed M9 Wagyu beef with foie gras, basil, and cashew nuts.
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Wellness
Another great reason to visit the Cordis is its acclaimed spa, gym and rooftop pool, all spaces well worth a visit.
The popular Health Club is comprehensive and features a wide range of weight and cardio machines, all with staggering views of the city, while the 20-meter rooftop pool, with its adjacent Jacuzzi, attentive bar waiters, and 360-degree panoramas, is the perfect destination from which to watch the sunset.
Finally, spoil your bed buddy with a treatment at the acclaimed Chuan Spa, which has a comprehensive menu of traditional Chinese treatments that follow the principles of Wu Xing and incorporate the elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
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The spa also features a range of more contemporary treatments, ranging from the Chuan Body Elements, which restores balance and reduces tension (and we can all do with a little of that), through to the Chuan Tao of Detox, which includes a full-body exfoliation to stimulate the lymphatic system, as well as a warm marine algae wrap to aid detoxification. The spa is also home to herbal steam rooms and Japanese onsen showers.
What We Loved
The Club Lounge is well worth the additional expense and is one of the best of its kind in the city. Save on evening drinks, pop in for a bite, and then either delve into the eclectic chaos that is Mongkok or snuggle up with a movie in your room.
What We Didn’t
The Place can be very chaotic at breakfast time, especially during weekends, so either get in early and claim your spot or treat yourself to room service and soak in those views a little longer.
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Summary
We can all do with a change of scenery from time to time and until the borders reopen, that change will need to be found in Hong Kong. Make for the Cordis for a luxurious alternative to the harbourside hotels and use it as the perfect excuse to explore Mongkok.
Cordis Hong Kong, 555 Shanghai Street, Mongkok, Tel: 3552 3388, www.cordis.com
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AM Reviews: Cordis Hong Kong
Continuing our staycation series, we check-in at Mongkok's Cordis Hong Kong, a luxury enclave that brings this fascinating neighbourhood to life.