[Hong Kong] Birthday Staycation at The Ritz-Carlton

February 15, 2020

[Hong Kong] Birthday Staycation at The Ritz-Carlton

Besides dining at Arbor, I also celebrated my birthday this year with a staycation at The Ritz-Carlton - one of the highest hotels in the world! I have been to the hotel many times for its dining outlets but it was my first time staying there. We stayed in a Club Deluxe Victoria Harbour Room with sweeping views of the Victoria Harbour skyline and access to the Club Lounge. Because we were staying in a Club Level room, we were whisked to the Club Lounge on the 116/F to complete our check-in process instead of the lobby on the 103/F. Service was prompt and professional (as it would be during our entire stay), so before long we were off to our room and opened the door to this beautiful birthday decor inside! Aside from the decor, I also found a handmade birthday card from the team at The Ritz-Carlton, a rainbow birthday cake and a bottle of Champagne Barons de Rothschild created exclusively for the hotel brand - what a wonderful surprise!

ROOM:

At 540 sq ft, our room is decently sized with a king bed, a working desk, a 42-inch flat screen LCD TV, and a full marble bathroom. It is the smallest room type in the hotel but comfortable enough for 2 people.

Smart controls for the room including lights and curtains are located on either side of the bed, and I liked that it also had USB ports so I can charge my phone while laying in bed.

The bathroom features a separate bathtub and standing shower, his and hers vanity sink and exclusive Asprey bath amenities.

The mini bar is well-stocked with complimentary coffee and tea as well as snacks and alcohol you would need to pay for.

To be honest, I think the biggest selling point of the rooms at The Ritz-Carlton is the unparalleled views of the Hong Kong skyline and Victoria Harbour - you can even catch the daily Symphony of Lights show from your room!

FACILITIES:

As I mentioned before, we were staying in a Club Level room which offers an elevated experience including personalized check-in service, dedicated concierge service and 24-hour access to the Club Lounge where food and drinks are complementary. Breakfast and four food & beverages presentation are offered at different times of the day. The lounge is spacious with lots of comfortable seating and was never crowded during our stay.

I went to check out the lounge shortly after I checked in and enjoyed an exclusive afternoon tea set with a glass of champagne!

After our afternoon tea, we then went up to the 118/F to swim in the highest pool in the world! The indoor infinity swimming pool features breathtaking views of the city's skyline of course and an LED display wall plus three outdoor and indoor soaking tubs. The fitness center is also on the same floor but we didn't have time to check it out.

The spa is located on the 116/F and I'd highly recommend it - especially the private couple's spa suite where you can enjoy personalized spa treatments, spa cuisine, bubble bath jacuzzi and panoramic views of the city with your loved ones!

DINING:

The dining options at The Ritz-Carlton are vast from fine dining restaurants, casual cafes to the highest bar in the world including Tin Lung Heen (Cantonese restaurant), Tosca di Angelo (Italian restaurant), Ozone (world's highest bar), Cafe 103 (known for its afternoon tea), The Lounge & Bar (all day dining venue), and a few more.

During our stay, we had an enjoyable lunch at the 2 Michelin-starred Tin Lung Heen where we got to try signature dishes such as the honey glazed Iberico char siu (which needs to pre-ordered 24 hours in advance), double-boiled chicken soup with fish maw in coconut and chilled mango cream dessert with sago and pomelo! The rest of our menu included:

Steam Spotted Garoupa Dumpling with shredded ginger

薑絲星斑燒賣

Barbecued Iberian Pork with honey
蜜燒西班牙黑豚叉燒

Wok-fried Spotted Garoupa Fillet
油泡斑球

Double-boiled Chicken Soup with fish maw in baby coconut
原個椰皇花膠燉雞

Simmered Vegetables and Shiitake Mushroom in supreme broth
上湯花菇三色蔬

Chilled Mango Cream with sago and pomelo

香芒楊枝甘露

At the end of the meal, the staff presented this super cute birthday dessert platter - how sweet!

Pro tip: one of the dazzling golden hallways that you see on Instagram is located inside Tin Lung Heen.

The other fine dining restaurant at the hotel is 1 Michelin-starred Tosca di Angelo where Chef Angelo Agliano of Locanda dell'Angelo in Happy Valley serves as culinary director with the aim of showcasing Mediterranean cuisine. I was just there recently for its ongoing collaboration series "Gems & Pearls" which celebrates the talents of female chefs from Italy - FYI there will be a few more collaboration meals taking place later this year.

While the Ozone is known as the highest bar in the world, it also has a not-to-be-missed Dom Perignon Sunday Brunch (read about my experience here)! And then there's Cafe 103 which offers signature afternoon tea with themes such as the "I Believe in Pink" collaboration with Givenchy Beauty last year.

Because the Club Lounge was closed on the day we were checking out, we ended up having breakfast at The Lounge & Bar - the all day dining venue at the hotel. The breakfast buffet offered high quality options including a cook-to-order omelette station, western and Asian selections, pastries and desserts.