Jordan

Hotel Madera Hong Kong

★★★★★

Hotel Madera Hong Kong is a well-placed boutique hotel for travellers who want to stay in the real Kowloon, between the shopping of Tsim Sha Tsui and the street life of Mong Kok. It stands on Cheong Lok Street in Jordan, a short walk from Jordan MTR station and from Nathan Road, and it is one of the closest comfortable hotels to Temple Street Night Market, which makes it a natural choice for food lovers and night owls. The hotel has 87 rooms, decorated in a bright, playful style with bold colours and contemporary furnishings, in categories that include deluxe and grand deluxe rooms, premier rooms and suites, and studios with more living space, up to penthouse suites. Rooms are compact but well designed, with comfortable beds and the usual amenities, and the larger categories suit families or longer stays. The service is friendly and the atmosphere relaxed, more boutique than business. The location is the main attraction. Jordan is a dense, characterful neighbourhood of old tenements, local restaurants, herbal tea shops and markets, with Temple Street's night market stalls and open-air seafood restaurants a few minutes away, the jade market nearby, and the West Kowloon Cultural District, with M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, a short walk or taxi ride to the west. Tsim Sha Tsui and the harbourfront are one MTR stop or a fifteen-minute walk south along Nathan Road, and Mong Kok's street markets are a stop or two north. Austin station, with the Airport Express connection at Kowloon station nearby, gives easy airport access. For travellers who want a stylish, good-value hotel with Kowloon's street life on the doorstep, Madera is a strong mid-range choice.

Room tips: the standard rooms are compact, so families or travellers staying longer should look at the studios or premier categories. Ask for a higher floor for less street noise, since Jordan is lively late into the night. Book directly or compare rates, as prices vary widely with events and seasons.

Location: Jordan MTR station is a few minutes' walk away, with direct trains to Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok and Central. Temple Street Night Market is within easy walking distance, as are the Jade Market and the restaurants of Jordan and Yau Ma Tei. The West Kowloon Cultural District, with M+ and the Palace Museum, is reachable on foot or by a short taxi ride, and the Kowloon station Airport Express is close. The harbourfront and the Star Ferry are about fifteen to twenty minutes' walk.

Who it suits: foodies, night market lovers, couples and independent travellers who want a characterful Kowloon base at a fair price. The trade-offs: compact standard rooms, limited facilities compared with large hotels, and a busy neighbourhood that some may find noisy. For those who want to be in the thick of Kowloon life, that is part of the appeal.