The Murray is one of the most architecturally interesting hotels in Hong Kong, a former government office tower from the late 1960s that was converted into a luxury hotel with 336 rooms. It stands at 22 Cotton Tree Drive in Central, on the edge of Hong Kong Park, and its position is hard to beat for sightseeing: the Peak Tram terminus is about a two-minute walk away, Hong Kong Park is just as close, Pacific Place is five minutes on foot, Lan Kwai Fong eight and Hollywood Road around nine. The building's deep-set windows and brutalist concrete bones, a stylistic rarity among Hong Kong hotels, give the rooms an unusual feeling of space and light, with generous layouts by city standards. There is an indoor pool, a full-service spa open daily and a twenty-four-hour health club, and the rooftop terrace and garden offer a calm retreat from the streets below. Dining is a strength, with five restaurants and two bars across the property, including Garden Lounge, MIAN, Murray Lane, Popinjays on the rooftop and The Tai Pan, plus a deli for quick snacks. It is a hotel for travellers who want a central address with real character rather than a standard glass tower.
Choosing your room
Higher floors catch the best views over the park, the harbour or the surrounding towers, and the deep window recesses create a pleasant sitting area in many rooms. Rooms are larger than average for Central, which matters on a longer stay or when you are travelling with luggage and children.
Suites add separate living space and are worth considering for celebrations or work trips. If you value quiet, ask for a room away from the main road side, and request a high floor for the views. Check room categories and rates when you book, since offers vary with the season and the hotel's occupancy.
The location is the hotel's quiet superpower. You can walk to the Peak Tram station in about two minutes, which allows you to go up early before the queues build or return after sunset without a taxi. Hong Kong Park next door offers an aviary, a tea museum and a green retreat after a day of sightseeing, while Pacific Place and the Admiralty MTR interchange are only a short walk away, linking you to every line.
Lan Kwai Fong and Soho are within a ten-minute walk for evenings out, and the Mid-Levels Escalator and the antique shops of Hollywood Road are close. With five restaurants on site, you can eat well without leaving the building, from relaxed lounge dining to the rooftop at Popinjays, whose terrace is a pleasant place for a drink.
Who it suits
Couples, design lovers and business travellers who want a Central base with space, character and good food, and families who appreciate larger rooms. The trade-offs: the area is quieter in the evening than Causeway Bay or Tsim Sha Tsui, the slopes around the hotel are hilly, and rates are at the upper end of the market.
If you want harbour views from the room, check the room category carefully. For a stay centred on the Peak, Central's dining and the historic lanes of Sheung Wan, the Murray is one of the most convenient and distinctive choices in Hong Kong.
Why stay here
- ✓Converted 1960s tower with deep-set windows
- ✓Indoor pool
- ✓Full-service spa
- ✓24-hour health club
- ✓Rooftop terrace and garden
- ✓Five restaurants including Popinjays
- ✓Two bars and lounges
- ✓Two minutes to the Peak Tram
Good questions
How far is The Murray from the Peak Tram?+
About a two-minute walk, which makes it easy to go up early or come back after sunset. Hong Kong Park is just as close.
Does the hotel have a pool and spa?+
Yes. There is an indoor pool, a full-service spa open daily and a twenty-four-hour health club.
What dining is on site?+
Five restaurants, Garden Lounge, MIAN, Murray Lane, Popinjays and The Tai Pan, plus bars and a deli.
