From the moment I first disembarked the Star Ferry onto Hong Kong Island from Kowloon, I knew that Central was going to be a place that I’d love. Compared to the chaos of Kowloon across Victoria Harbour, the finance-forward stylings of Central make seem a little sober and tame.
Don’t let its raison de être fool you: Central is one of the best areas to stay in Hong Kong for business travellers and tourists alike.
Not sure where to start looking? Check out this complete guide to the absolute best hotels in Central Hong Kong:
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Why stay in Central?
While most first-time visitors to Hong Kong (especially those on a budget) will most likely end up staying in Kowloon, Central makes for a great dark-horse HK accommodations alternative. Staying in Central, I quickly fell in love with its hilly geography and sporadic layout of uphill climbs and staircases. It was simply the perfect area for enjoying the aimless wandering that’s characteristic of my travel style.
Whereas Kowloon seems to bustle with crowds day-and-night, Central provides more opportunity to relish in Hong Kong’s quieter moments. Outside of the rush hours and daily grind (barring bar nights in Lan Kwai Fong, of course), the streets of Central are nowhere as packed as Kowloon, giving it a more relaxing feel for exploring.
On top of that, its—well, central!—location also makes for the perfect base to explore the wilder fringes of Hong Kong Island where some of Hong Kong’s best hiking trails and a few of the best day trips from Hong Kong lie.
For shopaholics, there’s hardly a better place to stick close to than Central. Within Central itself, there’s a whole slew of high-end boutiques and shopping centres. Other prime Hong Kong shopping destinations like Causeway Bay are just a few MTR stops away.
Hosting one of the world’s most important financial districts, it’s hardly surprising that Central is also home to some of the very best luxury hotels in Hong Kong. You’re hard-pressed to find bargain-basement budget hotels here, but the experience of staying in Central is, naturally, far less riddled with annoyances than laying down your head in Kowloon’s more budget-focused accommodations market.
Where to stay in Central, Hong Kong: A guide to the best hotels
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
Address: 5 Connaught Road, Central District, Hong Kong
It’s rare to find a hotel anywhere in the world as impeccable as the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. Peering out upon Victoria Harbour, this elegant 5-star hotel prides itself on a classic world-class accommodations experience that’s unmatched in the Hong Kong luxury market.
The rooms at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong blend modern sophistication with traditional Asian motifs. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows shine in wondrous harbour and city views that bestow a new appreciation of one of the world’s finest skylines.
To squeeze the most out of your stay at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, unwind with some time in the relaxing spa featuring a steam room, hot tub, and sauna along with traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese treatments. Or spend a night sipping wine while savouring modern French cuisine at the Michelin-starred Pierre, one of the hotel’s ten delectable on-site restaurants.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
Address: 8 Finance Street, Central District, Hong Kong
An air of sophistication swirls around the gorgeous Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Like other Central District hotels of its ilk, this brilliant 5-star delivers spacious and luxurious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows gazing onto one two of Hong Kong’s most famous natural attractions, Victoria Harbour & Victoria Peak, or the city’s famous skyline.
Rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong surprise guests with an earthy harmony of Western modernism and traditional Chinese grace. The spacious bathrooms take your relaxation seriously with deep soaker tubs and walk-in rain showers surrounded by marble floors and sprinkled with extras like high-end toiletries and candles. A well-equipped spa elsewhere in the hotel pushes your chillaxing one step further with soothing massages, steams rooms, and saunas.
Among the best experiences of staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong though is a chance to dabble in its succulent cuisine. This luxury hotel features 7 eating & drinking options including Lung King Heen, the world’s first Chinese restaurant to receive three Michelin stars, and Caprice, a two-Michelin-star restaurant fusing classic French dishes with modern international twists.
The Upper House
Address: Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Central District, Hong Kong
Shopoholics will love spending their HK nights at The Upper House, one of the best hotels in Central. Located above Pacific Place, one of the city’s top destinations for fashionistas, this top luxury property impresses with spacious modern rooms boasting striking views of Victoria Harbour and The Peak.
Besides large elegant rooms with all the requisite amenities (including a free Maxi-bar), The Upper House keeps you in tip-top shape with its well-stocked fitness centre and free weekend yoga classes to help you limber up for tackling the hilly geography of Hong Kong Island.
Elsewhere at The Upper House, don’t miss out on the modern European cuisine of the Café Gray Deluxe, a contemporary take on a traditional grand café swaggering with glorious views of Victoria Harbour.
JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong
Address: Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Central District, Hong Kong
Another 5-star gem perched upon Pacific Place, the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong delivers the ultimate luxury HK travel experience with a complete menu of spectacular amenities and conveniences for the discerning luxury traveller.
Starting at its rooms, the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong shows off its lofty position through wide panoramic windows puffing out views of Victoria Harbour, the city, and the lush mountains of Hong Kong Island. Premium extras like Bose audio systems, large flat-screen TVs, and soaker baths give the rooms & suites a feeling of a home-away-from-home in Hong Kong.
Outside of your room, the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong sharpens your escape with a heated outdoor pool and a Health Club fanatical about your relaxation, offering a steam room, sauna, and soothing massage treatments to temper your stay.
Elsewhere on-site seven eating & drinking options await, none more popular that the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong’s signature Man Ho Restaurant, delighting your tastebuds with its award-winning fine dining Cantonese cuisine including dim sum.
Island Shangri-La Hong Kong
Address: Supreme Court Road, Central District, Hong Kong
From its ridiculously lofty perch upon Pacific Place, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong surges forth some of the best views in Central, hardly an easy feat among a formidable pack top HK luxury hotels.
Rooms at this pristine 5-star hotel truly live up to its mystical brand-name. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows shine in views of The Peak and Victoria Harbour, highlighting the rooms’ elegant decor that seamlessly fuses classic European grace with Asian sophistication.
If the chaotic streets of Hong Kong have left you stressed, batten down in the health club to take a relaxing dip in the outdoor pool, stretch out with some Hatha Yoga or simply unknot with a calming massage.
For a quiet evening in, let the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong take your tastebuds on an adventure at the on-site Summer Palace Cantonese Restaurant, a Michelin-starred restaurant serving up award-winning authentic Cantonese cuisine.
Butterfly on Wellington Boutique Hotel
Address: 122 Wellington Street, Central District, Hong Kong
Surrounded by the giants of the Hong Kong luxury accommodations scene, the mid-range Butterfly on Wellington Boutique Hotel is a fantastic option for those attracted to Central’s prime location if not its lofty price tags.
Rooms at this 3.5-star boutique hotel are sparked with a colourful modern Asian simplicity that doesn’t skimp out. At Butterfly on Wellington Boutique Hotel, you’ll enjoy extra value-added amenities, none more practical than a free 4G Pocket WiFi device for roaming around the city.
Perhaps best of all is the location. The Butterfly on Wellington Boutique Hotel sits on one of Hong Kong’s best food streets, featuring famous restaurants like Mak’s Noodle and the Lin Heung Tea House. Less than 10-minutes by foot is historic Lan Kwai Fong, a warren of staircases and narrow alleyways hiding some of the best bars & restaurants in Central.
Conrad Hong Kong
Address: Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Central District, Hong Kong
Yet another luxury hotel piling up upon Pacific Place, Conrad Hong Kong shines with classy modern rooms overlooking Victoria Harbour and Victoria Peak. Each is meticulously crafted with elegant contemporary decor including marble-laden bathrooms with soaker tubs for your relaxation.
Other than enjoying the views from your room, Conrad Hong Kong assembles a dream team of dining options that cater to every taste. From the award-winning Italian fine dining of Nicholini’s to the modern Cantonese of Golden Leaf to the poolside skyline views of Garden Café and more, your tastebuds are bound to find new love at the Conrad Hong Kong.
Summary: The best places to stay in Central, Hong Kong
- Craving the ultimate in Asian luxury? The world-class service & wide-ranging amenities of the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong make it a top luxury pick for the city if not the entire continent.
- Looking to save a little cash in Central? There isn’t much in the way of budget accommodations in Central, but the mid-range Butterfly on Wellington Boutique Hotel will get you into the area at about half the cost of the other best hotels in Central Hong Kong.
- Seeking elegance for your stay in Central? There’s no classier choice than the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong featuring graceful decor, stunning city views, and a Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant.
Need alternatives to these Central accommodations? Check out these other top Hong Kong districts…
- Kowloon: Travellers flustered by Central’s puffy price points should head across the harbour for hijinks in Hong Kong’s chaotic peninsular half. Get started finding your perfect accommodations with this guide to the best Kowloon hotels.
- Tsim Sha Tsui: Looking for more luxury choices in Hong Kong? Head over to this small area of the tip of Kowloon to find the other half of the list of Hong Kong’s best luxury hotels. Dig into all it has to offer with this guide to the best places to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui.
- Wan Chai: For see Hong Kong Island at its more traditional, cozy up to this exciting neighbourhood just a couple stops to the east.
- Causeway Bay: Continuing where the swanky boutique and malls of Central left off, this Hong Kong Island shopping mecca lies a quick MTR ride away from the heart of Central.
- Sheung Wan: Heading west of Central drives away from the present into the past of Hong Kong Island. Explore this interesting traditional HK neighbourhood in depth by spending a night or two in one of the best places to stay in Sheung Wan.
