Recently, I went to Hong Kong again for Leslie. Next month, I’ll continue my trips to Hong Kong because of Milk Tea Lun. The goddess needs to see him, and I’m responsible for securing the concert tickets and hotel in Hong Kong.
During these two Hong Kong trips, I stayed for quite a while—six nights once, and four nights the other time.
I also like to choose different hotels every time I go. These two trips covered the MO, Rosewood, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and Island Shangri-La.
In a few days, I will compile a comprehensive guide on Hong Kong hotels, sharing tips on how to choose accommodations. I’ve stayed in so many recently.
Today’s article is a report on the Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong. Whenever I stay in a hotel that I find satisfactory, I write a report on it.
Let me first explain why I chose the Landmark Mandarin Oriental this time.
The goddess loves shopping, and Central is perfect for that. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is situated in Hong Kong’s financial district, surrounded by luxury boutiques. Right downstairs is the Landmark Atrium, and it’s just a short walk (all connected by pedestrian walkways) to Alexandra House, Prince’s Building, and IFC.
All the major luxury brands have stores here.
We also booked a bunch of restaurants, most of which are near the hotel. This wasn’t intentional, but many of Hong Kong’s best restaurants are located in Central.
The hotel itself houses two Michelin-starred restaurants: the two-star Amber and the three-star Japanese restaurant Sushi Shikon. These are just within the hotel; downstairs in the Landmark Atrium is the three-star French restaurant L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, and across the street in Alexandra House is the three-star Italian restaurant 8 1/2. Within a one-kilometer radius, there are at least 20 Michelin stars.
For those not focused on Michelin stars, there are plenty of renowned old eateries around, like Luk Yu Tea House and Tai Ping Koon, both famous in Hong Kong.
Of course, another reason is convenience.
We took a direct flight to Hong Kong, and the Airport Express terminates in Central, a 32-minute ride that’s faster than taking a cab.
The Landmark MO is also convenient for attending concerts at Hung Hom, just three MTR stops away.
Milk Tea Lun’s concert in May is even closer, at the Central Harbourfront Event Space, just a 5-minute walk away.
No regrets after staying; the Landmark Mandarin Oriental was indeed fantastic.
Though the Landmark Mandarin Oriental is located in the concrete jungle of Hong Kong’s Central, it provides a sense of tranquility amidst the city’s hustle and bustle.
Each time I stepped from Central’s hot, noisy streets into the hotel, I immediately found a sense of peace and comfort. It’s perfect for an urban getaway.
The room I was given was the L900 suite. Understanding the rooms at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is quite straightforward: L450 refers to the basic rooms, L600 to mid-range rooms, and L900 to suites.
The numbers 450, 600, and 900 denote the area in square feet.
So, the L900 suite means a suite of 900 square feet, which is almost equivalent to what people in Hong Kong would call a “thousand-foot mansion.”
Let me show you the floor plan of the room. It features a bedroom, a bathroom with a large round bathtub, a spacious living room with a dining table, and a walk-in closet… it simply exudes luxury.
A huge living room.
A huge bedroom.
And a huge bathroom.
Anyway, this was my first time staying in such a large room in Hong Kong, and I’ve been to Hong Kong at least 20 times by now.
When I stay at a hotel, I like to “explore every nook and cranny.”
The welcome fruits and pastries at The Landmark MO are placed in a transparent mini-fridge on the wall. This small gesture instantly elevates the sense of luxury.
Welcome champagne
The cabinet holds a collection of exquisite porcelain, and I am fond of these colors.
There’s also a yoga mat; the “thousand-foot mansion” certainly has enough space for you to practice yoga.
MO’s postcards.
The mini-bar is also fully stocked.
In the evening, they place bath bombs and candles by the bathtub, adding an element of surprise and romance; The Landmark MO knows how to craft these experiences.
Each morning, the daily newspaper is hung on the room door right on time.
The dining experience at The Landmark MO is also worth highlighting.
I remember reading a survey about which hotel group has the most Michelin stars, and the top spot went to MO.
The MO group doesn’t have many outlets.
Top recommendation is definitely Amber, a French restaurant that has held two Michelin stars for several years.
In recent years, I often see Amber appear in my friends’ social media posts.
They have a signature dish: Lobster jelly with cauliflower purée base, paired with Hokkaido sea urchin, caviar, and gold leaf.
When you enjoy it with the crispy seaweed, the oceanic sweetness of the lobster and sea urchin is complemented by the bursting caviar and the thin crispness of the seaweed, creating an extremely rich texture.
Sometimes, a single memorable dish in a meal is enough.
Another distinctive aspect of Amber is a dish you can enjoy right in their kitchen.
About halfway through our meal, a waiter came and invited us for a kitchen tour to taste a dish. As we walked through Amber’s kitchen, he explained various details.
Amber has the confidence to open up their own kitchen.
Amber has the creativity to prepare and serve a dish right in the kitchen.
Furthermore, every dish has its optimal tasting period, and having it prepared and consumed on the spot is undoubtedly the best way.
The kitchen tour at Amber is quite interesting. On the walls, there are photos of other Michelin chefs during collaborative events at Amber, and the chef’s favorite halibut.
I’ll share a few other dishes from Amber. Although it’s a French restaurant, it features a lot of “Japanese genes,” with most ingredients sourced from Japan.
In any case, the food is both visually appealing and delicious.
Next, I recommend SOMM. With its barrel-shaped décor and high aesthetic appeal, SOMM is a new-style French bistro.
SOMM and Amber share a kitchen and the same chef team. If you want an Amber experience with good value for money, go to SOMM.
SOMM offers breakfast, and its specialty is champagne with breakfast, setting a luxurious tone for your morning. For those of us who don’t drink, tea or coffee is also an excellent choice.
Another spot at Landmark MO is the MO Bar, where you can have a drink in the evening or enjoy breakfast in the morning.
The highlight of MO Bar is its wine cabinet, which uses mirrors to make it seem like the entire cabinet is filled with wine.
Breakfast at Landmark MO is served here, offering a unique experience of having breakfast in a bar setting.
MO Bar has a hidden gem: when you go to the upper level of the bar, you’ll see a phone booth. Dial a number, and a heavy curtain will slowly open. Inside is the bar-within-a-bar, PDT HK.
This bar is a collaborative work between New York’s legendary bar Please Don’t Tell and the Mandarin Oriental, with only 25 seats available.
PDT NY has consistently ranked among the Top 50 bars worldwide.
Finally, let me post some photos of the public areas at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental.
Gym and pool
SPA
This time, I accompanied the goddess, who went for a spa treatment and highly recommends it.
She mentioned that the SPA area at the Landmark MO also has Pilates and yoga studios, as well as a Turkish bath.
And there are some artworks within the hotel.
The Landmark MO’s exclusive “storefront fan.”
Well, isn’t the Landmark Mandarin Oriental impressive? I hope to secure a package from them next. It feels like a challenging endeavor.
Related reading:
Looking across the whole Hong Kong area, only this new hotel offers such a view!
After a 14-hour journey, it was all worth it to sleep at this luxurious dream brand!
If you’re staying, stay at the pinnacle of Hong Kong.
I’m here at the Hong Kong Coliseum to attend your concert.
