Following its multi million-dollar refurbishment the Mandarin Oriental is a true jewel in Hong Kong’s list of great hotels. Our room (a 'Premier Room' on their website) was totally gorgeous. Hotel staff were great and the facilities first class.

All good businesses aim to “surprise and delight” their customers and on that basis the hotel scored 10/10 when we were met from our limo transfer from the airport by staff who knew our name and escorted us straight to our room to complete check in formalities. Excellent.

FOOD
Breakfast in the Clipper Lounge overlooking the lobby was fantastic. There is also a buffet lunch and dinner there which looked wonderful. The other restaurants require an expense account to fully enjoy them.

BAR
Although the hotel has a formidable list of bars, they are mainly quite small, “intimate” would be a kinder word, and full of business folk smoking! For a USD2 cab fare you can have a lobby bar drink in the Conrad hotel or the JW Marriott, which were (broadly) smoke free and more relaxing.

OUTSIDE SPACE
Sadly none – I’m surprised they couldn’t have managed a roof garden in the refurbishment … but if that’s the biggest complaint … it’s not much.

RECOMMENDATION
Go and enjoy!

I have stayed at the Mandarin Oriental twice since it re-opened following its closure and complete makeover in 2006. It is back to top form in terms of service from the pleasant and ever helpful staff. The rooms are larger as the former balconies have been incorporated into the rooms, and are as one would expect very well appointed. Part of the former balcony has been used to create a very nice work area. In terms of space the rooms now compare well with the Ritz Carlton, but those in the Four Seasons, a newly built property, are substantially larger.

Among the pleasures of Hong Kong can be spectacular harbor views. Such views from the Mandarin Oriental have suffered from Hong Kong's landfill extension toward Kowloon. The Mandarin Oriental still has good harbor views from rooms facing that direction, but there are other hotels in Hong Kong that command more spectacular views.

The bars and restaurants are back to pre-renovation levels of quality and activity. The Mandarin still commands the top location at the center of Central. It is the place to see and be seen. If you want to be in Central on Hong Kong island, whether for business or pleasure, the Mandarin Oriental is an outstanding hotel in the right place.

Quibble: both the Mandarin Oriental and the Landmark Mandarin use a video/entertainment system which is overly complicated and slow to navigate.

Hong Kong is not my kind of place. You either love it or hate it. I hate it. I have only visted twice in 6 years and on both occasions I stayed at this hotel. The first visit was nothing to write home about but after the recent renovation, the rooms are very chic, almost sexy. I still find it annoying that they put guests in a smokers room without asking. And equally annoying that they give you a room with no view when in fact they have several with views. Are they trying NOT to impress you? After asking for a non-smoking room & one preferably with a view, I was given one. So what were they thinking at reception? Very silly. Breakast also starts very late - too late for business travellers. Dinner was very pleasant in the Chinese restaurant on the top floor... even with a step into the restaurant that has most patrons tripping on it. The staff make you aware of it, in which case why not light it accordingly and save your patrons from embarrassment. The bar, also on the top floor, has superb views. Not sure this is the best place to stay in Hong Kong, as I have not stayed anywhere else but having said that it is without question a luxury hotel with 5 star service and few but silly faults.

Possibly the best hotel I've ever stayed in - everything in the room (ipod player, music system, tv, dvd, etc etc) is state of the art, the bathroom's incredible, the service is amazing, it's lush, romantic, the new interiors are divine - I love it. The lobby has come under criticism but hey, that's the way it's always been - learn to live with tradition. I recommend this hotel to anyone. Oh and PS The Mandarin Grill is restaurant heaven.