Languishing in the lap of luxury

Located in the centre of Tsim Sha Tsui, the heart of Kowloon’s busiest commercial and entertainment district, The Langham Hong Kong, is just minutes away from big-name luxury boutiques and shopping malls. Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Prada are just some of the international brands that have opened stores here and shoppers can also take retail refuge at Harbour City, a mega shopping arcade with more than 700 shops a stone’s throw away.

The Star Ferry, offering a 10-minute ferry crossing to Hong Kong Island, and the Tsim Sha Tsui Mass Transit Railway station, which connects to all the major urban of Hong Kong areas and Kowloon, can be reached on foot in five minutes. Getting to mainland China is just as easy, making The Langham ideal for both business and leisure traveller. 

Stepping into the hotel’s lobby, we are greeted by the scent of the Langham’s signature ginger flower fragrance and a huge vase of elegant pink roses inspired by traditional English gardens. The friendly staff welcome us with pleasant smiles and a pink rose for each lady.

While waiting for our personalised check-in on the 11th floor European-style club lounge, The Langham Club, I rest my tired back on the comfortable sofa, sip a cup of tea and read the latest news on the Club’s iPad.

The Langham Club decoration is a mix between European elegance and the fashion district that the hotel occupies. An antique typewriter positioned gracefully in the corridor leading to The Ante Room, the private check-in area, is a great reminder of The Langham London, Europe’s first “Grand Hotel”, where world class writers like Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle dined. Wilde set “The Picture of Dorian Gray” here while Conan Doyle was inspired to pen “The Sign of Four”, heralding the start of the Sherlock Holmes series.

Tradition demands that we visit the Palm Court, a lounge glamorously restyled after its namesake at The Langham, London where traditional British afternoon tea was first served in the hotel almost 150 years ago.

My choice of Wedgwood speciality tea arrives in tailor-made Langham Rose Wedgwood Chinaware. The delicate china, the fragrant warm tea and wholesome vegan finger foods and desserts specially designed by executive pastry chef Reinhard Lackner automatically make The Langham Hong Kong one of the most memorable hotels I have ever visited.

The hotel features an extensive array of restaurants including the two-Michelin-starred T’ang Court Cantonese restaurant, traditional New York style deli Main St Deli, The Bostonian, which offers a succulent steak and seafood menu and an all-day interactive dining restaurant called the Food Gallery. 

I sip some fine cocktails at Artesian bar, which is adjacent to the lobby and am unashamedly people watching when bell chimes fill the air.

“That’s the Change of the Day ritual which celebrates the transition from day to night at 7.05pm in honour of the year 1865 when the flagship Langham London opened,” the bartender tells me.

And the pageantry is far from over: as the bell chimes seven times, 10 immaculately dressed butlers make a grand entrance into the lobby and stand to attention. At exactly 7.05pm, the butlers proceed to offer guests in the lobby and Palm Court a special treat.

The charming tradition makes me smile as I move to T’ang Court for dinner where endless beautifully presented Cantonese dishes are served. All the ladies in our party ditch their diets from one night, laughingly saying they will resume weight watching in the morning.

Going back to my elegant and cosy room, the tempting welcome pink-dotted chocolate shoe beckons me and I can’t resist a nibble before climbing into my blissful bed. The last words I hear myself saying are, “I’ll exercise tomorrow”. 

 

AT A GLANCE

High points: Attentive and friendly service

Low points: Too much good food to ignore

Find it: 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong 

Pay for it: Check the best rate on the hotel’s website

Browse it: http://HongKong.LanghamHotels.com

Phone it: +(852) 2375 1133