Plunging headfirst into the sophistication of one of Hong Kong’s famous establishments, Emma Gleason sees where the city’s chic, connected guests stay when they’re in town.
The name alone conjures up visions of glamorous jet-setters, bespoke suits and luxury luggage. Mandarin Oriental five-star Hong Kong flagship has been in business since 1963 – it was called The Mandarin then – and in the decades since has catered to a who’s-who of movers and shakers.
Business people, blockbuster stars, diplomats, they all come to Hong Kong and they all come here.
A-listers Stanley Tucci, Michele Yeo and Bryan Ferry are among its fans. Princess Diana stayed in 1995, reportedly in a suite on the 24th floor.
When visiting, you’ll witness a steady stream of chauffeured cars and Hong Kong’s famous red taxis pull up outside, their passengers whisked through the doors by staff in dashing scarlet uniforms.
The scent of freesias – the hotel’s signature - hits you as soon as you enter the decadent lobby. It’s a heady aroma that sets the tone for your stay in one of the hotel’s 387 rooms or 60 suites.
We’re booked into the Club Harbour View Rooms, which offer bespoke services suited to business travellers – perfect if, like us, you’re in the city to work (which applies to the majority of the hotel’s clientele).
You get to enjoy exclusive access to The Mandarin Club - the hotel’s exclusive executive space - complimentary garment pressing for two items, access to the guest office, and you can check in and out privately at The Club.
Our quarters are handsome and welcoming with glossy wood and warm lighting. The king-size bed is made up with pure linen sheets and there’s even a pillow menu if you’re particular about what your head rests on - though mine were perfect.
With the window offering sweeping views of the harbour and foreshore, the desk is well-placed to admire the city while having a coffee (there’s a Nespresso machine) and one of the perfect madeleines that’s waiting for me, made by the hotel’s excellent patisserie kitchen.
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Advertise with NZME.Still on New Zealand time, I’m up by 4am or 5am most days during our stay, so watch the city wake up and Connaught Rd start humming with traffic.
There are other treats in the room too. A clever and very convenient detail is an unobtrusive valet window, located in a cupboard beside the door. Designed for efficiently having things attended to, it’s also a vehicle for surprise and delight. One morning a monogrammed luggage tag appears in my cubby.
Thoughtful details like this punctuate our entire stay; returning to my room one day I find the dog-eared page of my book has been replaced with a bookmark.
After a busy day in the city there’s peace to be found in your room. Perch by the window and take in the glittering skyline and harbour (there are even binoculars, a genius touch). Relax in the marble tub and enjoy the Diptique product range, then fall into bed for a good night’s sleep.
Breakfast is on the 23rd floor at The Mandarin Club, which offers an a la carte menu alongside a comprehensive buffet serving everything from dim sum to sourdough bread. The smoked salmon is excellent and so is the congee, while the chef-helmed omelette station is a popular way to start the morning. Enjoying the calm atmosphere and the attentive service from Club staff, we read the international and local newspapers and plan our day ahead.
They also serve afternoon tea and evening cocktails, and for more business-orientated matters there’s a boardoom (which you can use for two hours during your stay), quiet corners for working, streaming-quality Wi-Fi, and a dedicated concierge desk.
The Club is an elegant and spacious place – an impressive 6200 square feet – with a dress code that invites a level of etiquette; no torn jeans, singlets or jandals here. And really, why shouldn’t you make an effort? You’re in a special place and it demonstrates respect and decorum – two things matched in spades by the hotel’s staff.
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Advertise with NZME.Dress to impress is an unspoken mandate here, and all the Mandarin Oriental’s guests look smart. With the hotel located in the gleaming financial district – corporates and high-net-worth individuals abound – you’ll want to as well.
Pressing, laundry and drycleaning services ensure you’ll look put together throughout your stay, and if you’re looking to add to your wardrobe and luggage allowance, The Landmark – an extension of the Mandarin Oriental – is attached to the main hotel, housing luxury brands like Bottega Veneta, Chanel and Dries Van Noten.
Something ornate from the Belgian brand would look very good at one of Mandarin Oriental’s nine gorgeous restaurants; the sumptuous Michelin-starred Man Wah is renowned for its Cantonese food, exceptionally pretty dim sum and striking blue walls.
Other options on the food front are the classic Mandarin Grill And Bar, which also holds a Michelin star, Café Causette, Clipper Lounge and Captain’s Bar.
The Chinnary is intimate and handsome in a private club way - it’s particularly popular with a cohort of locals, and is renowned for its single malt whisky collection.
Smaller still is the Krug Room, a “hidden restaurant” with a communal table and the largest range of Krug Champagne outside France. It operates Tuesdays to Fridays and can also be booked for private events.
Balancing all the wining, dining and work are the Mandarin Oriental’s wellbeing-focused facilities.
The gym is open 24 hours a day, which makes squeezing in exercise convenient. The perfect spot for people looking to maintain their fitness routines in between dim sum feasts and business lunches, it’s well equipped with all the amenities you need for a decent workout, and if you’re travelling from New Zealand, jet lag works in your favour here as the gym is fairly quiet at dawn so you can get a fully uninterrupted workout in peace. For those who prefer laps, there’s an indoor pool.
Need a haircut? You can get one at the Mandarin Barber on level two, which has six chairs and three private rooms for services like facials. You can get a wet shave and, at the other end of things, one of their famous Shanghainese pedicures (in high demand and often booked out).
It’s all part of the Mandarin Spa, which spans three floors of the hotel. Award-winning services include facials, massage, lymphatic drainage, hot stone massage, non-surgical facelifts and traditional Chinese medicine treatments and reflexology. Get there early to enjoy the herbal steam room.
There’s the Mandarin Salon if your coiffure needs seeing to, and the spa also sells a curated range of pieces from Yim Tom Jewels. They make for beautiful mementos of Hong Kong, and there are plenty more things to take home in the gift shop on the ground floor.
Pick up a glossy magazine or a gorgeous coffee table book – there’s everything from the historical Old Hong Kong: The Way We Were to the quirky Catisfy: A Hong Kong Cat Journal – and Mandarin Oriental’s signature sent in candle and room spray form.
The fragrance of freesias can follow you home.
Visit the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong at 5 Connaught Rd, Central. Mandarinoriental.com/en/hong-kong
Hero Image / Ziying Zhao from Quest Models wears Gucci resort 2025 look with Yim Tom earrings from Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong spa. Behind them is art by the late Gerard Henderson. Mandarin Oriental guest services manager Karl Maglana carries a Prada tote. Photographer / Babiche Martens. Fashion Director / Dan Ahwa. Hair and make-up / Krystina Te Kanawa. Shoot assistant / Emma Gleason
The Viva team were guests of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and travelled to Hong Kong courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board. Cathay Pacific flies daily from Auckland to Hong Kong.
Emma Gleason is the Herald’s deputy editor of lifestyle and entertainment (audience), and has worked on Viva for more than four years, contributing stories on culture, fashion and what’s going on in Auckland and abroad - she canvassed the sights and sounds of Singapore last year, from great food and drink spots to fascinating locals.
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