Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong

BACKGROUND

The Intercontinental Grand Stanford completed a US$43 million renovation of its 572 guestrooms in November 2017. The redesign, led by John Chan Design, aimed to introduce a “brandnew, sleek design combined with efficient technology, ensuring the most modern and user-friendly experience for guests”, according to the hotel, which also promises “exquisite upholstery” and “hand-tufted carpets and curtains” that are “carefully chosen in a warm palette of earthy tones to establish a welcoming ambience”.

WHERE IS IT?

A seven-minute walk from Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) East MTR station’s P1 exit, or a ten-minute walk from Hung Hom MTR station.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

Despite being nearly 40 years old, the hotel is far from in its dotage. Management keeps the hotel trendy and modern with things like a Nespresso bar pop-up in the lobby, while maintaining classical touches like a tasteful flower arrangement and a pianist who sits a floor above the lobby so his gentle tinkling of the keys trickles down agreeably to guests reposing on the sofas below.

ROOMS

The hotel has 572 rooms split between 13 types. I stayed in a Premier Harbour View suite. At 65.5 sqm, this is a very good sized room for Hong Kong and more than double the size of the hotel’s most basic room type, the Premier room. Strategically placed mirrors also help make the room feel even bigger than it is.

This suite is split between a living room, bedroom and bathroom. Wifi is provided for up to four devices; if you need wifi for extra devices, you need to ask the hotel staff to assist. There is also a Handy-brand smartphone that you can carry around with you outside the hotel free of charge.

The harbour view from this room ought to be quite splendid, though it was spoiled by the bad air pollution during my stay, which clocked in close to “high” on the government’s Air Quality Health Index. The buildings on the other side of the harbour were obscured by the haze, though it was still nice to see some of the passing pleasure boats and cargo ships plying this part of the harbour. The bed was soft and comfortable, and there is a pillow menu from which you can choose from six different types of pillow.

Overall, this is a very comfortable room and it would be easy to spend a week or more here without feeling claustrophobic. Perhaps if you stayed for that long you might be treated to at least one non-polluted day so you could enjoy the harbour view to its fullest.

LOUNGE

The lounge was not busy when I arrived around 4.30pm on a Saturday. The tables and seating areas are spaced generously apart, ensuring a good deal of privacy. Delicate piano music was playing, creating a relaxing atmosphere. There is a great selection of reading material, both newspapers and magazines. The lounge also has workstations with PCs. When I returned to the lounge on Sunday morning for breakfast, I was impressed by the large menu from which you can order. I went for the omelette, which was light and fluffy. I also ordered the pancakes, which were just as light and fluffy as the omelette. Besides the extensive menu, there was also a great selection of items to be had from the breakfast buffet.

FOOD AND DRINK

The main watering hole is the atmospheric Tiffany’s New York Bar. I didn’t get a chance to drink there, but when I poked my head inside I immediately enjoyed the ambience and was impressed by its size. I was lucky enough to have excellent dinners at two of the hotel’s inhouse restaurants, Hoi King Heen and Theo Mistral by Theo Randall, both located on the B2 floor of the hotel, and both top quality.

LEISURE

Unfortunately, the hotel’s Sun Court Pool was closed during my stay, though upon request guests were being brought to other hotels in the area to use their pools. The 24-hour gym is of medium size and has a decent amount of equipment.

VERDICT

The room, food and service during my stay were outstanding. The very good in-house food and beverage options – especially Theo Mistral and Tiffany’s Bar – made dining and drinking in a real pleasure. The lounge, especially during breakfast time, was a wonderful place to relax.

If your meetings are on Hong Kong Island, you may find the location a little out of the way, though if you’re planning to be in Kowloon for most of your trip you can’t really go wrong with this hotel. Michael Allen

The very good in-house food and beverage options make dining and drinking in a real pleasure