Tsim Sha Tsui East

Hotel ICON

★★★★★

Hotel ICON is the hotel Hong Kong regulars recommend when friends ask for somewhere excellent that will not cost Peninsula prices. It opened in 2011 on Science Museum Road in Tsim Sha Tsui East and is fully owned by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, whose School of Hotel and Tourism Management uses it as a teaching and research hotel; students train alongside professional staff, and the result is service that is attentive, eager and genuinely warm. The building was designed by Rocco Design Architects with interiors by a roster of Hong Kong creative names, and the first thing you see is the lobby's towering vertical garden by the French botanist Patrick Blanc, a living wall of plants rising through the atrium. There are 262 rooms and suites, many with harbour views across Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong Island; they are generous by local standards, with large windows, deep bathtubs and separate walk-in showers, and walk-in closets above the entry category. The minibar is included in the rate, with snacks and drinks replenished daily, which is a welcome touch in an expensive city. Facilities include a rooftop pool and bar with views over the harbour, a spa and health club, and several restaurants, the best known being Above and Beyond on the 28th floor, serving dim sum and seasonal Cantonese cooking with panoramic windows. The hotel has received a MICHELIN Key, and its reputation among frequent travellers is consistently high. The location is quieter than the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui: it sits among the hotels and offices of the eastern waterfront, a short walk from the promenade, the Science Museum and Hung Hom, with the MTR at East Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom stations within reasonable walking distance. For couples, families and first-time visitors who want a polished, characterful hotel with harbour views and fair prices, it is the strongest mid-to-upper choice in Kowloon.

Location: Tsim Sha Tsui East is a business and hotel district on reclaimed land, calmer than Nathan Road, with the waterfront promenade a few minutes away for skyline views and an easy walk to the Avenue of Stars, the Space Museum and the Museum of Art. Hung Hom station, with trains to the New Territories and the cross-border line, is nearby, and East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station connects to the rest of the network. Taxis are plentiful. For the Star Ferry and Central, allow a fifteen-minute walk or a short taxi ride.

Booking tips: pay a little more for a harbour-view room, which is the hotel's great asset; ask for a high floor. Suites are good value for families. Book directly for flexible rates and offers, and reserve Above and Beyond ahead for dim sum at weekends. The rooftop pool is a highlight on warm days, and the green wall in the lobby is worth a look even if you are not staying. Because it is a teaching hotel, you may be asked for feedback, and staff are particularly keen to help.

Who it suits: couples and first-time visitors looking for style and harbour views at a fair price; families who need more space; food lovers who want an excellent Cantonese restaurant in the building. The trade-offs: the location is a short walk from the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui and the MTR, and the surrounding streets are quiet in the evening. For most guests, the quality of the rooms and service more than makes up for it.