Amy Adejokun
Section editor
The Langham, Hong Kong's sole representative in the 'Leading hotels of the world' group in 2009, offers a personalised service in a luxurious setting where baroque and classic features blend with the hotel's own original style. With its marvellously warm welcome, numerous services on offer, superb paintings and delicious, original cuisine, this hotel is certain to impress.
The Langham Hong Kong - © EASYVOYAGE
The Langham Hong Kong - © EASYVOYAGE
The Langham is located next to Harbour City, whose 700 shops make it the largest shopping mall in Asia. You can find all the famous brands here (Chanel, Dior, etc.). Canton Road is sometimes regarded as Hong Kong's version of Bond Street. Hong Kong international airport is about 40 minutes away.
The very cosy and fully renovated corridors, decorated with black and white photos, lead to the hotel's 495 rooms, including 26 suites. Unlike many of Hong Kong's hotels, the Langham does not boast amazing views. The very elegant and comfortable rooms are designed in an appealing and original manner (e.g. the corner windows, with one side glazed and the other side forming part of the wall), conducive to relaxation. There is a large flat screen television on the wall (37 inches), with a choice of twenty channels, opposite a superb king-sized (or twin) bed, the headboard of which is decorated with a Chinese painting and modern light fittings. The well-stocked minibar in the rooms also has the unexpected addition of a menu with a selection of different bottled waters from around the world. Photos of the district of TST in the years between 1910 and 1920 adorn the lounge areas. The walls of the rooms are clad in cashew wood panels, cream leather and mirrors (to make the rooms seem bigger). There is also a menu to choose what type of pillows you want, a fine oval transparent glass desk, an Ipod holder, quality wood storage space, a touch-screen telephone, a free safe, a telephone, Internet connection, individual air-conditioning, etc. The cream marble bathrooms are average in size, with a large bathtub and a separate shower, scales, a magnifying mirror, a hair-dryer, bathrobes and Langham hospitality products. Transparent glass partitions separate the bedroom from the bathroom. Room service and a butler are available 24-hours a day. The 'Grand Langham' rooms, i.e. most of the hotel's suites, are much larger than the standard rooms and this is the major difference between the two equally cosy categories. A large penthouse is also available.
The hotel has 16 floors and was renovated in 2009. The superb, high-ceilinged lobby on the 2nd floor of the shopping mall is designed in the Venetian style. A brochure is on display for guests to read up on the many well-known Chinese artists whose works are on display in the hotel. Unlike the cutting-edge modernity of the Langham Place, the style of the Langham is much more classic, with beautiful vaulted ceilings and exuberant gildings up above. However, both display impressive originality. It is well worth stopping to browse at the 'Pink Shop', where products with the Langham brand are displayed. The decor of the entire hotel complex is the work of a designer who manages to create truly unique and distinctive settings. At the reception, look out for the charming 'Guest lady' who is dressed all in pink and present from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm to answer your every question. She can also be found - in virtual form - on the television screen in your room, where she can take you through all the services on offer here. A few steps further up are some extremely comfortable armchairs, in case you feel like taking the weight off your feet. Don't miss Langham's afternoon tea and the irresistible little cakes that are served up from Monday to Friday, and on the weekend, it's themed buffets! The hotel's 24-hour split-level gym has light parquet flooring and mirrors on all sides, and each of the numerous machines has its own television screen. As far as 'well-being' in the hotel is concerned, there are two hammams and two massage rooms: one for men and one for women. There is also a rather small communal area, whose Roman-influenced decor is very stylish. Along either side, ochre arcades provide a bit of shade to relax on wooden deckchairs with comfortable cushions, and in the middle, bathed in sunshine, lies a 46 ft swimming pool lined with pretty blue mosaics. For an additional charge of HK$600, guests can enjoy access to the vast, sophisticated and classic 'Langham Club'. The many perks include private check-in/check-out, breakfast, early evening cocktails and use of the business centre (in addition to the one open to all of the hotel's guests), etc.
The hotel has five restaurants which prepare a full range of eastern and western specialities. There is a real New York-style 'Deli' with lots of kosher meat on the menu, like in the States. Burger fans will be in seventh heaven, whether they go for the most popular choice, the Wagyu burger, or the lobster burger, a successful option in its own right. be aware that the size of the pastries here is based on US standards. The second restaurant, the Bostonian, prepares dishes straight from the US and, in keeping with the speciality of the town it is named after, it is well known for its lobster dishes. Indeed, the Boston-style lobster bisque is one of the specialities of the kitchen, whose refined cuisine also includes other seafood and steak. Bench seats line the red brick walls of the dining room, which also serves as a gallery, and most of the paintings are displayed here. The dishes are ordered a la carte, but the starters are set out on buffet counters at lunchtime. Presided over by a sommelier, the impressive wine list includes around a hundred appellations and it received the 'Award of Excellence' from the American magazine 'Wine Spectator' in 2008. Asian cuisine is strongly represented in the split-level Chinese restaurant with its amazing central staircase whose banisters are supported by abstract dancers from the Tang dynasty! The five private rooms and one large room with carmine red walls, well spaced tables and background music are very pleasant settings for a meal. As long as the restaurants are open, guests can order any dish of their choice from the a la carte menu, so if they really feel like it they can have breakfast at dinnertime! An English designer has worked his magic on the main restaurant, creating an highly attractive modern setting. Here too, the kitchens are open for the benefit of the guests and the buffets are generous too. The seafood (various sizes of lobster, 3 kinds of oyster, crab paste), the selection of pasta dishes (cooked as you want by the chef), the salad bar (organic products), the Japanese counter, the oysters, the sliced Italian and Spanish ham, the desserts, the grills and the teppanyaki are all worth a special mention.
The first hotel of the 'Langham' hotel chain was opened in London in 1864, and classic, luxurious sophistication has been the hallmark of the chain every since.Gold and pink are the hotel's dominant colours.A brochure has even been published to enable guests to find out about the various artists and their work on display throughout the different parts of the hotel.
massage, sauna, hammam, keep fit, spa, Turkish bath, wellness
tennis, gym, dance, fitness
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