Stay Report: The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong (Club Deluxe Seaview)

Nearest train station	Direct connection to Kowloon Station (via International Commerce Center) from Hong Kong International Airport
Loyalty Programme	Marriott Bonvoy
Elite Status	Gold Elite
Stay Period	December 2023 (redemption stay)
Room category booked	Deluxe City View (50sqm)
Room category stayed	Club Deluxe Seaview (50sqm)* *I paid a supplement for access to The Ritz-Carlton Club for one night.
Dining concepts	The Lounge & Bar (afternoon tea, 102F) Tin Lung Heen (Cantonese restaurant, 102F) Tosca Di Angelo (Italian fine dining, 102F) Café 103 (buffet lounge, 103F) Ozone (cocktail bar, 118F)
Why you should	The hotel location is fantastic – you can reach Kowloon MTR station via Airport Express from Hong Kong International Airport under 25 minutes, with the hotel being directly connected to the train station. The hotel is one of the highest hotels in the world, occupying the top floors of the 108-storey International Commerce Center. (The building goes all the way to the 118th level because many floor numbers are skipped.) This means your views from the room and dining spaces will generally be pretty epic. The Ritz-Carlton Club is pretty impressive, with the offerings across its five food presentations being of high quality (and quantity). The 25/50 cocktail (Martini Extra Dry Vermouth, Perfume Trees Gin) which was served during evening cocktail service was exceptional, and a brilliant showcase for the pleasingly floral Hong Kong gin. In addition, while the club usually serves Moët & Chandon champagne, they do break out Ruinart (including Rosé and Blanc de Blancs) on special occasions such as Christmas and New Year, and the club engaged live musicians as well as Santa Claus himself on Christmas Eve for that extra touch of magic. Did I mention champagne is available all day? The fitness centre on the same level is expansive and well-equipped, and the indoor heated swimming pool on the top floor (i.e. 118F) is pretty great. You also have access to hot and cold whirlpools as well as an outdoor terrace with a jacuzzi (!). I used the outdoor jacuzzi during my stay when the weather was around 10°C, and it was a pretty darn surreal experience. Pro tip: the purple-hued evening sky is a gorgeous backdrop for your evening swim/soak.
Why you shouldn’t	The very popular property can get pretty busy during peak travel periods, and you can expect service to be slow and hiccups to be frequent, even at the Ritz-Carlton Club. (From my observation, some of the guests at the property can be fairly demanding to the service staff, so do manage expectations if you are there during the holidays.) Guests with club access do not have the option of having breakfast at Café 103, the breakfast venue. For those who are considering paying for club access, Moët & Chandon champagne does feel considerably less luxurious and exclusive when most Ritz-Carlton properties (including The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore) are serving Barons De Rothschild. There are plenty of wonderful new hotels in Hong Kong (e.g. Rosewood Hong Kong, Regent Hong Kong, Mondrian Hong Kong, The St. Regis Hong Kong) which launched in the past few years.
Miscellaneous information	You have to pass through the upscale ELEMENTS mall when you are making your way from Kowloon MTR Station to the hotel. Those seeking dining/shopping options near the hotel will be spoiled for choice. Both Cantonese restaurant Tin Lung Heen and Italian fine dining concept Tosca Di Angelo are both Michelin star-rated. To access the guest room floors, guests have to take a lift from the ground floor to the lobby level on 103F before switching elevators.
Address	International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China