The Langham, Hong Kong

From the outside, the five-pearl Langham Hotel, Hong Kong, looks decidedly modern, with 16 floors of glass windows in an area dominated by similarly modern buildings. Inside, the decor is considerably more classic, featuring an elegant lobby complete with polished marble floors and crystal chandeliers hanging from borderline Rococo-inspired ceilings. The sophistication continues throughout the common areas, with a mix of gold- and mahogany-hued trim around the elevators and a heavy use of gold on the walls, ceilings, and other details found throughout the hotel's restaurants. The hotel attracts a mix of business and leisure travelers, and plenty of non-resident guests drop by throughout the day and evening to attend events or dine at the T'Ang Court, one of the few Cantonese restaurants that's earned three Michelin stars. 

The Langham is located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon Peninsula, one of the liveliest and most popular areas of the city with plenty of high-end shopping and entertainment options. It's a three-minute walk to Tsim Sha Tsui metro station, which connects to all major urban areas, the airport, and to mainland China. It's a four-minute walk to both the East Tsim Sha Tsui metro station and Victoria Harbour's Star Ferry Pier (it's a 10-minute crossing from here to Hong Kong Island and the Central Business District). Getting to the Avenue of the Stars takes six minutes on foot, while the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Space Museum are seven minutes away. It's a 10-minute walk to the China Ferry Terminal, with service to cities including Macau, Zhuhai, and Panyu. Additional drive times are as follows: 

• 11-minute drive to Jade Market 
• 16-minute drive to IFC Mall
• 18-minute drive to Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Expo Promenade
• 12-minute drive to West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade
• 14-minute drive to Kowloon Bay
• 17-minute drive to Hong Kong Stadium
• 22-minute drive to The Peak and The Peak Tram
• 29-minute drive to Hong Kong Disneyland
• 34-minute drive to Butterfly Beach
• 36-minute drive to Lantau Island
• 38-minute drive to Hong Kong International Airport

The Langham, Hong Kong offers 471 rooms and 27 suites spread over 16 floors, measuring from about 32 square meters (340 square feet) to 36 square meters (384 square feet), and either city or courtyard views. Decor is consistent across room categories, consisting of gray-and-yellow patterned carpeting, modern black-and-gray tables and desks complemented by gray pincushion headboards, desk chairs, and sofas, and black-and-white fashion prints on the walls. Suites, however, have a decor scheme all there own, with soft, pastel-dominated decor in the One-Bedroom Suites and individual styling in the one-of-a-kind Harmony, Director, and Chairman Suites. 

Bathrooms in all units are sleek and spacious, equipped with white-and-gray marble floors, walls, and countertops, separate soaking tubs and walk-in showers, and a reasonable amount of counter space. Some have windows looking into the rooms, but shades are available for privacy. All units come equipped with desks, DVD players, iHome docking stations, safes, kettles, Nespresso coffeemakers, and minibars. Guests of Executive Rooms and suites get access to the hotel's Langham Club lounge. Note that some past guests have complained occasionally of noise.

The Langham, Hong Kong offers an exceptional array of amenities for both business travelers and tourists. The 24-hour fitness center, located on the top floor of the hotel, offers an excellent selection of cardio and weight-training equipment, and there's a small outdoor heated pool right next to it with lounge chairs for sunbathing and poolside drink service. The hotel also has a spa, Chuan Body + Soul, offering massages and other treatments.

Wedding and meeting services are also available, with space for groups of up to 500 people, including a ballroom and a number of smaller meeting and board rooms. Guests of Executive Rooms and all suite types can take advantage of The Langham Club lounge on the 11th floor, which comes with a free hot and continental breakfast, afternoon tea, an evening cocktail hours, and free garment pressing of up to three items per guest. The club also has a boardroom, The Library, which guests can use for two hours per stay, free of charge. Hotel-wide Wi-Fi is free for all guests. 

Perhaps The Langham's biggest selling point is its dining options, the highlight of which is T'Ang Court, which has received three Michelin Stars for its Cantonese fine-dining menu served at lunch and dinner. The Food Gallery offers all-day dining, with large buffet spreads and interactive cooking stations featuring international and Chinese fare. Bostonian Seafood and Grill offers a more international menu with a heavy focus on steak and seafood, while Main St. Deli serves bagels, Reuben sandwiches, and matzoh ball soup reminiscent of a New York Jewish deli. Palm Court is more of a tearoom, which draws inspiration from The Langham, London's famous afternoon tea venue, and offers a traditional afternoon tea service complete with Wedgwood china service wear. There's also a bar, Artesian, with live harp, piano, and vocal performances most afternoons and evenings.