Startle

With its central location in Hong Kong, Kowloon Shangri-La looks like a hotel straight out of a movie. And you know how the movie’s protagonist’s always has a hotel room with a perfect view of the city skyline? Well Kowloon Shangri-La is ready for its close-up. Each of the 688 guest rooms and suites at this Four-Star hotel in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui East shopping and entertainment district has floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the magnificent Victoria Harbour or the city skyline. The lobby and the grandiose ballroom are also cinematic, with a dramatic fountain and chandeliers. And with the hotel’s 24-hour in-room dining and butler service options, you’re likely to feel like a movie star.

The reservation staff at Kowloon Shangri-La say its difficult to give you an average price for a guestroom, since rates change day to day; but when we asked them to break it down, they gave us daily rates for early November that were on the higher end. Standard rooms quoted were between $HK2,700 and $HK3,200 (approximately $381 and $451 U.S. dollars, including taxes). Rest your head on a pillow selected from a menu and control your lights and curtains from a switch by your bed. Guests staying in a Horizon Club room are granted private check-in and check-out, access to an exclusive lounge, a complimentary breakfast buffet, evening cocktails and other amenities; prices for these spots range from $HK3,400 to $HK3,900 ($480 to $550 U.S. dollars). There are also four different suite offerings, all equipped with separate sitting room. The most upscale specialty and presidential suites include a separate dining area and a Jacuzzi. Prices range from $HK4,980 to $HK6,580 ($703 and $929).

If you have to cancel your reservation at Kowloon Shangri-La, make sure you give the Four-Star Hong Kong hotel as much notice as possible. It will take your credit card number when you book your room there; and if you cancel before 4 p.m. local time one day prior to you scheduled arrival, your card will not be charged. However, if you cancel after that 4 p.m. deadline — or you are a total no-show — a one night’s stay will be charged to your card. However, if you stick with your booking, you can reward yourself with the hotel’s aromatherapy and massage services. Kowloon Shangri-La also has a steam bath, solarium, sauna, whirlpool, indoor swimming pool and a fitness center open 24 hours a day.

Kowloon Shangri-La features several restaurants, ranging from authentic Cantonese food to a slice of Italy. Angelini offers Italian dishes and panoramic windows in a nice yet not-too-formal setting every day for lunch and dinner. Café Kool caters to a diverse range of tastes — whether you prefer salad, pasta, dessert, Asian or Indian food — with a six-station buffet open 6 a.m. to midnight every day. You can also order à la carte at Déli Kool, which has breakfast pastries, desserts and other items, and are all quickly prepared and easy to grab when you’re on the go. Choose to eat grill side or at the sushi bar at Japanese restaurant Nadaman. However, the most acclaimed restaurant on the property is Shang Palace, specializing in Cantonese cuisine, open daily for lunch and dinner.

Several of the restaurants at Kowloon Shangri-La have bars, but our favorite place to grab a drink here is in the lobby lounge. It’s only fitting that the lobby lounge features classical music each night, given its refined décor. Besides offering cocktails, it also plays host to afternoon tea and live music throughout the day. But the real highlight here is that it offers a prime view of Victoria Harbor. The Tapas Bar also has stunning views to go with your glass of wine or cocktail, plus tapas dishes like chicken croquette and pepper-seared tuna. The lobby lounge is open from 7 a.m. to midnight every day; and the Tapas Bar is open daily from 3:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. You should dress business causal for both.