Regent Hong Kong – Review

Overlooking one of the most iconic skylines in the world and commanding an unrivalled position on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour sits the Regent Hong Kong, a legendary hotel that was reawakened in 2023. With 497 guest rooms and suites, six destination dining venues, a rooftop pool terrace and a luxurious club lounge exclusively for suite guests. The Regent Hong Kong has been completely transformed under the direction of Chi Wing Lo whose design approach of using tactile materials and layered lighting has created a calm counterpoint to the dynamic metropolitan outside, ushering in a new era of contemporary luxury for the city. The Luxury Editor recently stayed here – read on to discover more.

Founded in 1970 and opened in 1980 as Regent Hong Kong, it quickly became one of Asia’s definitive luxury destinations. Welcoming world leaders, Hollywood stars and musical icons, and even appearing as a backdrop in popular TV shows of the time. In 2001, it became the InterContinental Hong Kong, a move that maintained its reputation until 2020, when IHG reacquired the Regent brand with plans to return it to the city. Following a three-year transformation, the flagship property reopened once again as Regent Hong Kong, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Hong Kong’s most elite names in hospitality, along with being named the #1 City Hotel in Asia and #14 in the world in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2025.

Location

Set directly on Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui’s waterfront it connects with luxury mall K11 Musea on one side, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Space Museum and the Cultural Centre to the other and Avenue of Stars wraps around its front. A short journey west takes you to the West Kowloon Cultural District, home to M+ and the Palace Museum, while heading north takes you into Mong Kok and its mega mall, Langham Place. East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR is just a few minutes’ walk away, connecting you with Hong Kong’s metro service, and no visit to the city is complete without a crossing on the Star Ferry, which is a few minutes walk from the hotel.

Check in & Lobby

Chi Wing Lo’s transformation of the Regent Hong Kong is most immediately felt in its arrival experience. The grand circular driveway remains, and at its entrance, uniformed doormen greet you with classic formality, however, once inside, the reimagined reception hall opens up into the Lobby Lounge, revealing a three-floor high towering wall of glass looking out to Victoria Harbour with cinematic style.

The reception entrance is anchored by an art installation, the ‘Golden Illusion Passageway’, sixteen vertical glass brick screens inspired by “Liu Li” glass art that resemble floor-to-ceiling chandeliers, brings light and fluidity to the vertically constrained space.

To the left is one of the longest reception desks in the city, carved from softly lit translucent onyx, behind it a 15-metre digital artwork animates the back wall, created to represent the spirit of rebirth and Regent’s return to the city. While the granite floor is detailed with Chinese motifs and features LiuLi glasswork, an ancient art once reserved for royalty.

Suite guests bypass this reception and instead are offered an enhanced welcome, with private check-in taking place in the comfort of the Regent Club on the second floor. Here, seated with a welcome drink in hand, the check-in process offers a relaxed pace as part of a personalised arrival ritual.

History & Art

While much of the hotel has been redefined, references to its storied past remain. The iconic marble staircase, once a focal point for countless grand arrivals, has been restored and remains part of the flow between the lobby levels.

Also within the lobby is an installation called ‘In a nod to generations of treasured memories’, a long scroll-inspired screen recalls the spirit and essence of the art collection which once graced the hotel in the early Regent years. The montage and juxtapositions of abstract and elaborate brush works, spontaneous and deliberate compositions with vibrant and subtle tones, depictions of people, plants and animals, are crafted from pieces of the hotel’s original art collection. From a glimpse of a rare antique golden screen with cranes, which once adorned Plume restaurant, to an excerpt of a colourful Chinese calligraphy by artist David Chan that once lined the guest corridors.

You will find Chi Wing Lo commissioned art pieces showcasing collaborations with acclaimed Hong Kong artists throughout the hotel’s communal areas. One particularly evocative piece is the sculptural installation on the lower lobby level that mimics a lily pond. crafted in bronze and copper, the local metal artisans of Coxper bring to life the natural beauty of raw materials in a serene design inspired by nature.

Another, a focal point at the end of the jade passageway leading to Lai Ching Heen’s main dining room, is a ceramic sculpture of towering white vases with gold leafing detail, by New York based ceramic artist Sin Ying Ho. Entitled “Tilt and Flow”. Using elements of water, earth, fire, wood and metal, Sin Ying Ho transformed them into a porcelain sculpture formed from various shaped vases that appear to topple symbolising human beings who, by leaning and clinging to each other, stand firm and tall.

Regent Club

The Regent Club is open daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm to guests who are staying in a suite, residential-style in format, think of it as your own private lounge. Serving breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails, its mezzanine format allows you to look down at the Lobby Lounge below and across to Victoria Harbour.

Cocktail Hour

Afternoon Tea

Rooms & Suites

Each of the 497 accommodations is grouped into three categories: Rooms, Suites and Signature Suites. Chi Wing Lo’s design contributes to the contemplative spaciousness of the guestrooms, with walls minimised to create an open plan layout. In select harbour-view rooms, a sliding door opens to reveal the view of the harbour from the curved, free-standing soaking tub. In others, a unique moongate design of Nero African granite leads to a unique bath and shower experience.

Rooms and suites come with a Nespresso machine, Nordaq premium water served in recyclable glass bottles, and Perricone MD bath amenities in the Oasis bathroom. A 65-inch Smart TV offering streaming and on-demand movies, complimentary Wi-Fi, and an intuitive lighting and climate control panel. 24-hour in-room dining, concierge support, and access to the Fitness Centre at any hour. The twice-daily housekeeping service includes an in-room Day-to-Evening Ritual, while a dedicated Regent Experience Agent is on hand to provide personal service throughout your stay.

Rooms

Rooms start in Classic and Premium format (30–46 sqm) which overlook the Piazza, Pool, Kowloon skyline or the Harbour. Featuring a generous layout with deep-soaking tubs, double wash basins, and separate immersive showers in their oasis bathrooms, along with windowfront daybeds. Some offer additional features like the Moongate thresholds or circular basin layouts. Studio Suites offer a Kowloon View (47 sqm) or Harbourview (54 sqm), both offering increased space and a living area.

Suites

All suite category rooms include access to the Regent Club and range from one-bedroom layouts to expansive corner residences. Sizes vary from 47 to 100 sqm, all designed to optimise panoramic harbour views and in-room serenity. Separate living areas offer space to entertain or unwind, while oversized bathrooms create a spa-like escape, complete with standalone baths, rain showers and Perricone MD products. Some feature powder rooms, moorgate windows, and wraparound views of the skyline.

My Suite During My Stay

During my stay, I was hosted in a Suite – Harbourview with Daybed. These suites offer dual-aspect views across Victoria Harbour and Tsim Sha Tsui. Windows the full length of the suite maximise natural light coming into the room and connect you with Hong Kong’s constantly shifting skyline.

The layout of this suite reflects Chi Wing Lo’s commitment to spatial harmony, with a unique circular flow. Unlike conventional suite layouts, the living and sleeping areas are designed as part of a continuous loop, allowing access to the bathroom from either side, ideal for guests as they can visit the bathroom without needing to pass through the wardrobe or dressing space.

The living area features a window-side daybed that runs the length of the harbour-facing wall, with a sculptural circular dining table and chairs set just behind. Across from it, a central king-sized bed faces out towards the city. Above, a brushed gold ceiling recess draws the eye upward while Japanese-style sliding timber panels provide an elegant solution for shading the windows overlooking Tsim Sha Tsui.

At the suite’s entrance, a recessed mini-bar made from alabaster stone is softly illuminated from behind, its black granite counter complete with a Nespresso machine, a sink, and a chiller drawer stocked with premium drinks to enjoy.

The suite’s unique design means the bathroom can be accessed from two directions. The wet room concept includes full-sized windows looking down on Tsim Sha Tsui, a sculptural freestanding soaking tub, adjacent, a rainfall shower and don’t worry, a privacy blind can be lowered at the touch of a button, offering discretion when needed.

Outside the wetroom, lies a white stone double vanity and a toilet with a door for privacy. Amenities are arranged and presented in a wooden tray. Connected to the vanity is an open-plan dressing area with two built-in wardrobes and a vanity table.

Signature Suites

The three Signature Suites, CEO Suite, Terrace Suite and Presidential Suite, offer between 4,200 and 7,000 square feet of space. Each is a private residence complete with rooftop terraces, outdoor whirlpools, dining and entertainment areas, and immersive views of Victoria Harbour. During our stay, we had a tour of the CEO Suite and Terrace Suite.

CEO Suite

Terrace Suite

Food & Drink

The hotel is celebrated as a dining destination in Hong Kong with an impressive rosta of award-winning restaurants to its name. Select from the Two MICHELIN star Lai Ching Heen for exceptional Cantonese cuisine, the MICHELIN Recommended The Steak House, world-acclaimed Nobu Hong Kong and Harbourside, known for its elaborate buffets. The Lobby Lounge serves Afternoon Tea and evening cocktails while its newest opening Qura Bar offers an eclectic sensory experience with rare spirits and wine.

Qura Bar

During our stay we experienced Qura Bar located on the ground floor lobby level, which has been honoured as one of Tatler Hong Kong’s Best 20 Bars for 2025. The bar’s eclectic interiors unfold across a series of spaces, each with a distinct mood, from the richly layered drawing room to the sultry cigar lounge. Velvet armchairs, sculptural lighting, emerald parrot lamps and whimsical monkey motifs speak to the narrative of the fictional “Curator” who inspired the interiors, a worldly figure said to ‘collect the extraordinary’.

Seated in the main bar lounge, we began the evening with a cocktail from the Sublime menu, a whimsical creation served with theatrical dry ice and a foamy top. Alongside this, a platter of charcuterie, pickled vegetables and olives was delivered to the marble-topped table.

Qura Bar’s drinks programme is led by Bar Manager Gennaro Pucci, whose passion for rare and historical spirits is unmistakable. The collection includes bottles like the Uniting Nations #3, a rare fusion of Japanese and Scottish whisky traditions, and the Ferrand Distilled Before 1914, a sip of pre-WWI craftsmanship. There’s also the 16-year-old Foursquare Shibboleth from Barbados, the Fiona Macleod 33-Year Old from Islay, and the Jose Arechabala Ron Blanco Arecha from 1960s Cuba.

Later, we moved into the Dining Room, an intimate space covered with bespoke wallpaper by Glasgow-based designer Timorous Beasties, which I was delighted to see, given my Glasgow roots. Murano Glass chandeliers overhead in amber, red and smoked glass, casting a warm glow over the tables below.

The culinary offering by Executive Chef Rajiv Chowdhoory, reflects his global training under Alain Ducasse (read our review of Blue by Alan Ducasse) and delivers elegant comfort food with Riviera flair.

Dinner began with a golden, layered brioche-like creation with a crisp top served warm with olive oil and sea salt, along with a vibrant tart of confit tomatoes and basil, topped with a sphere of creamy burrata. Following that grilled octopus arrived tender and caramelised, set over a bed of silky purée and crowned with delicate crisps.

Service throughout the hotel feels intuitive, a perfect example highlighted when my dining guest opted for a non-alcoholic cocktail during the aperitif. At dinner, without having to prompt they offered an alternative to wine for dinner, presenting a bottle of Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Company’s BLÅ, poured with the same ceremony as my alcoholic counterparts.

The house-made pasta, stuffed and sauced with precision, was scattered with clams and courgette, while the standout plate of the evening was the Wagyu steak, thick-cut, blushing pink at the centre, and dressed in a glossy peppercorn sauce. It came paired with grilled onion and peppercorns and a wedge of gem lettuce topped with a verdant green dressing.

Just as the evening seemed complete, a final flourish arrived. A gleaming sorbet trolley was wheeled to our table, presenting a silver bucket of rich chocolate sorbet and a collection of toppings. A waiter, wearing black gloves, sculpted the sorbet into coupe glasses and layered each with ganache, chocolate pearls, and shards of dark chocolate. It was a very theatrical way to end a very memorable night.

The Steak House

The Steak House at Regent Hong Kong is recognised by the MICHELIN Guide and ranked No. 80 on the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants 2025. It brings together the art of steak preparation with carefully sourced meats from world-renowned farms. Expertly seared on a traditional charcoal grill, the experience is further enhanced by an elaborate salad bar and a prestigious wine programme featuring large-format vintages and rare labels.

Lai Ching Heen

Lai Ching Heen is one of the world’s most celebrated Chinese restaurants, honoured with two MICHELIN stars and a Black Pearl Two Diamond rating. The dining experience begins with its elegant interiors, inspired by a jade jewellery box that opens to reveal a curated world of Cantonese culinary artistry. Guests are taken on a journey through heritage recipes and contemporary interpretations where you can indulge in handcrafted dim sum or signature dishes that pay tribute to generations of culinary mastery.

Harbourside

Harbourside is the hotel’s immersive buffet dining experience inspired by the vibrancy of local markets across Asia and beyond. Set on the lower level of the hotel, looking out to the Avenue of the Stars. During my stay, I experienced their substantial breakfast buffet offering, but they also have an equally extravagant lunch serving.

Breakfast

Nobu

At Nobu, a name that rarely needs introduction, the focus is on Japanese cuisine layered with Peruvian influences, showcasing the distinctive culinary style of world-renowned chef, restaurateur and author Nobu Matsuhisa (read our review of the Nobu Monte Carlo here).

The Pool Terrace

While there’s no traditional spa, its outdoor Pool Terrace and gym more than deliver. Featuring a large swimming pool with sun loungers dotted around its perimeter, and twin heated spa pools dramatically cantilevered above the harbour.

Gym

Final Thoughts

Regent Hong Kong doesn’t just mark the return of a legendary name to Victoria Harbour, it redefines what contemporary luxury looks and feels like in today’s Hong Kong. This isn’t just a hotel reopening, it’s a reclaiming of iconic status.