The 14 Best Luxury Hotels in Kowloon

In the luxury hotels in Kowloon you almost always swim with a view: of the harbor, of the island or across the rooftops of the peninsula.The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong · West KowloonRight at the top: On the 118th floor of the ICC lies the indoor pool of The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, an infinity pool beneath a mirrored LED ceiling measuring 28 by 7 meters, with a whirlpool alongside. On the roof of Cordis Hong Kong in Mong Kok, on the 42nd floor, the 20-meter pool is heated and comes with a hot tub and underwater sound.

On the harbor: Rosewood Hong Kong has a 25-meter outdoor infinity pool on its landscaped sixth-floor deck. At Regent Hong Kong the Pool Terrace with pool, Jacuzzi and infinity spa pools sits above Victoria Harbour, and at The Peninsula Hong Kong you glide through the heated indoor pool on the eighth floor along floor-to-ceiling windows facing the skyline.

In the open air: If you like to swim outdoors at your 5-star hotel in Kowloon, Kerry Hotel Hong Kong has its infinity pool on the fourth floor, and the roof of The Langham Hong Kong on the 15th floor holds a heated pool with a hot tub. W Hong Kong serves cocktails at the WET Deck right beside its outdoor pool.

Above the rooftops of Tsim Sha Tsui: Over Nathan Road, Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers has a temperature-controlled rooftop pool looking out to Victoria Harbour. The Swim Club bar keeps the infinity pool on the roof of Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong company with an almost all-round view, and at InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong on the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront the Sun Court Pool sits on a timber deck.

For a full spa day we recommend the Asaya Spa by Guerlain at Rosewood Hong Kong. Marble vitality pools, steam rooms, saunas and an ice-mist shower are part of it, the Silky Glow facial is the house specialty, and at the Rossano Ferretti HairSpa you can have your hair done.The Peninsula Hong Kong · Tsim Sha TsuiOverlooking the water: The spa at The Peninsula Hong Kong on the seventh floor has six harbor-view treatment rooms and a couples’ suite with a whirlpool at the window, plus hammam-style steam rooms. On the 116th floor of The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong there are eleven rooms behind floor-to-ceiling glass, and The Spa at Base Camp at Kerry Hotel Hong Kong opens onto a garden terrace above the harbor.

Five elements and colored light: Chuan Spa at Cordis Hong Kong on the 41st floor follows the five elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine. MiraSpa at The Mira Hong Kong has nine treatment rooms, two VIP suites with steam bath and sunken tub, and an Aura Room with color therapy. Choosing your 5-star hotel in Kowloon for a good night’s sleep? Then look at Chuan Body + Soul at The Langham Hong Kong and its Sleep Matters program.

In Mong Kok, rates start at 132 € at Cordis Hong Kong; on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront they climb to 1,110 € at Rosewood Hong Kong. In between are, for example, The Langham Hong Kong at 166 € and The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong at 365 €. The table lists all 14 hotels by area; which rate applies to your dates is shown in the hotel list below.

Always included: breakfast for two every morning, at each of the 14 hotels. The benefits start with the first night everywhere except at Mondrian Hong Kong, which asks for two nights.Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong · Tsim Sha Tsui EastUpgrade: All 14 hotels offer one, subject to availability. At Rosewood Hong Kong and The Peninsula Hong Kong it is already built into the rate, excluding a move from room to suite.Cordis Hong Kong · MongkokCredit: You receive 100 US dollars at Regent Hong Kong, Mondrian Hong Kong and The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, for instance, and at The Peninsula Hong Kong for the hotel’s restaurants.

Smaller amounts and extras: At Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong and Kerry Hotel Hong Kong it is 50 US dollars, at The Langham Hong Kong and Cordis Hong Kong at least 150 Hong Kong dollars, up to 450 on longer stays. At The Mira Hong Kong, afternoon tea for two, evening cocktails and unlimited tea and coffee are included, and staying at The Peninsula Hong Kong means calls at home and abroad cost nothing.

Loyalty programs: 12 of the 14 hotels belong to a program, four of them to Marriott Bonvoy and three to IHG One Rewards. Two each count toward Shangri-La Golden Circle and Brilliant by Langham, one toward ALL (Accor). Since suitespot reserves directly with the hotel, you collect points and status nights as usual.

When to travel: Kowloon has its charm in every season. From October to December the evenings on the promenade are often clear, winter is mild enough for long walks through Mong Kok and Kowloon Park, spring brings blossoms, and in summer the peninsula really comes alive after dark, with rooftop bars, night markets and a dip in the hotel pool.

How many nights: Three nights at a 5-star hotel in Kowloon are enough for Tsim Sha Tsui, an evening in Mong Kok and a day on the island; add the museums of West Kowloon and you will want four.