Mong Kok

Cordis Hong Kong

★★★★★

Cordis Hong Kong is the upscale choice for travellers who want to stay in Mong Kok, Kowloon's most crowded and electric neighbourhood, without giving up comfort. It opened in 2004 as the Langham Place Hotel and was rebranded as Cordis, the flagship of Langham Hospitality Group's upscale brand, in 2015. The 42-floor tower rises directly above Langham Place, a vertical shopping mall with its own famous long escalators, and has direct access to Mong Kok MTR station, which makes it one of the best-connected hotels in Kowloon: you can be on a train to Tsim Sha Tsui, Central or the cross-harbour lines within minutes, without stepping into the heat or the rain. There are around 665 rooms and suites, contemporary and comfortable, with marble bathrooms featuring separate bathtubs and rain showers, and high floors give sweeping views over the Kowloon cityscape. The hotel owns a collection of more than 1,500 pieces of contemporary Chinese art, displayed throughout the public spaces and rooms, and it is one of the more interesting hotel art collections in the city. Ming Court, the hotel's contemporary Cantonese restaurant, has long been recognised by the MICHELIN Guide and is a destination for dim sum and refined Cantonese dishes in its own right. Other facilities include an outdoor heated pool, a spa and a fitness centre, plus several other restaurants and bars. Outside, Mong Kok is a sensory overload in the best sense: the Ladies Market on Tung Choi Street, Sai Yeung Choi Street's pedestrian buskers, the goldfish, flower and bird markets, sneaker street and countless noodle shops and dessert cafes are all within a few minutes' walk. For travellers who want to experience the energy of Kowloon with the comfort and transport links of a large international hotel, Cordis is the obvious choice in the district.

Room tips: book a higher floor for city views and quiet. Club rooms give access to a lounge with breakfast and evening drinks, worthwhile on longer stays. The pool is a welcome retreat after a day in Mong Kok's crowds. Reserve Ming Court in advance for dim sum or dinner, especially at weekends, and look out for pieces from the art collection in the public spaces.

Location: the direct link to Mong Kok MTR station is the hotel's greatest practical asset, with Tsim Sha Tsui two stops away and Central about fifteen minutes. The Ladies Market, Temple Street and the other Mong Kok markets are within walking distance, and Langham Place mall is downstairs for shopping, dining and a cinema. Taxis and airport buses are easy to arrange from the hotel.

Who it suits: couples and families who want a comfortable, full-service hotel in the heart of Kowloon's street life, food lovers drawn by Ming Court, and shoppers. The trade-offs: Mong Kok is intensely crowded, especially at weekends, and there are no harbour views from this part of Kowloon. Prices are higher than the district's budget hotels but generally lower than comparable hotels on the harbourfront.