Holiday Inn Express Hong Kong Mongkok is a compact, practical hotel at 1 Dundas Street, right in the middle of Mong Kok, and it is a sensible choice for travellers who care more about location and value than about extras. It has 147 rooms, is smoke-free throughout and is rated as a four-class property. The standout benefit is breakfast: a free cooked-to-order breakfast is included, served at Great Room, the on-site international restaurant, which saves money and time on busy sightseeing days. Other facilities include a twenty-four-hour gym, free in-room Wi-Fi, air conditioning, laundry and dry cleaning, luggage storage, a twenty-four-hour front desk and a vending machine. There is no swimming pool. The walking distances are the real strength: Nathan Road's shopping district is about two minutes away, Langham Place Mall about three, the Ladies' Market five, the Mong Kok Computer Centre six and Victoria Harbour about thirteen. Staff are multilingual, which helps first-time visitors, and the hotel is aimed squarely at people who want a clean, reliable base for exploring Kowloon on foot and by MTR.
What to expect from the rooms
Modern, simple and compact, in line with the Holiday Inn Express brand and the size of Hong Kong hotel rooms in general. The beds and bathrooms are designed for comfort and function, and air conditioning and Wi-Fi are standard. If you need extra space, look at family or larger room types when booking.
Mong Kok is noisy at night, so ask for a higher floor and a quieter orientation, and consider earplugs on a light-sleeper's first night. Breakfast is cooked to order, which makes it fresher than a typical buffet, and having it included on every morning is a real saving in a city where a restaurant breakfast adds up fast.
The location is the whole point. Mong Kok is the most intense and exciting district in Kowloon, with street markets, neon signs, small restaurants and shops selling everything from phone accessories to goldfish. The Ladies' Market, with its stalls of clothing and souvenirs, is a short walk away, and Temple Street Night Market, Sneaker Street and the Flower Market are within reach by foot or one MTR stop.
Langham Place Mall gives you air-conditioned shopping and dining, and Mong Kok MTR station connects you quickly to Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and the rest of the network. For food lovers, the surrounding streets are packed with noodle shops, cha chaan teng and dessert cafes, so you can eat well without ever booking ahead.
Who it suits
Budget-conscious couples, solo travellers, small families and anyone who wants a clean, central hotel with breakfast included and no frills. The trade-offs: there is no pool, the rooms are small, the neighbourhood is busy around the clock and there are no harbour views. If you want a pool, look at Royal Plaza nearby; if you want luxury, look at Cordis.
For first-time visitors who plan to be out all day and want an efficient base, with markets, food and transport on the doorstep, this is one of the best-value choices in Mong Kok. Book early for weekends and holidays, when demand is high and rates rise.
Why stay here
- ✓Free cooked-to-order breakfast
- ✓Great Room international restaurant
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓Free in-room Wi-Fi
- ✓Smoke-free throughout
- ✓24-hour front desk and luggage storage
- ✓Laundry and dry cleaning
- ✓Two minutes to Nathan Road
Good questions
Is breakfast included?+
Yes, a free cooked-to-order breakfast is included and served at the Great Room restaurant.
Is there a pool?+
No. The hotel has a twenty-four-hour gym but no swimming pool; Royal Plaza in Mong Kok has a heated pool if you need one.
How close is it to the markets?+
The Ladies' Market is about five minutes on foot, Nathan Road about two and Langham Place Mall about three.
