Getting ready for the ultimate Hong Kong adventure? There’s nothing more deserving of your attention than choosing where to stay in Hong Kong. The accommodations scene in HK isn’t easy to navigate. Here, some of the world’s best luxury hotels mingle with bonafide dives you’d best avoid telling your loved ones back home about.
Nowhere is this gap more visible than in Kowloon. The area is home to both some of the best luxury hotels in Hong Kong and its most notorious & rough edges. (Hello, Chungking Mansions!) Kowloon is a wild ride, to say the least.
Not sure where to start looking for your Kowloon accommodations? Begin your journey with this complete guide to the best hotels in Kowloon!
Looking for more ideas for your trip? Check out our Hong Kong Travel Guide for recommendations on when to visit, where to go & what to do!
Why Treksplorer? Founded in 2011 by Ryan O’Rourke, Treksplorer provides travel recommendations and advice to millions of readers every year. Our content is rooted in our writers’ firsthand experiences, in-depth research, and/or collaborations with other experts and locals. Read more about our editorial policy.
Why stay in Kowloon?
Most first-time visitors to Hong Kong often land in Kowloon—whether intentionally or not. Kowloon hosts the city’s most extensive selection of accommodations. They range from budget guesthouses with rooms resembling a glorified closet to swanky luxury digs fit for royalty. So it’s not surprising that Kowloon is among the top choices for where to stay in Hong Kong!
Besides its broad inventory of hotels, Kowloon offers up the city’s most interesting experiences. Compared to the tamer and more sober districts on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon is edgy and brash. The streets of Kowloon are always filled with excitement. Whether it’s your brand of fun will be up to you to decide!
Kowloon hosts some of the best things to do in Hong Kong. In Kowloon, you’ll enjoy culinary delights at Temple Street Night Market. You’ll marvel at beautiful Victoria Harbour views at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. Either way, spending time in Kowloon is a must for any Hong Kong trip. On top of that, Kowloon is one of the city’s best destinations for eating & shopping.
Yes, the incessant crowds and never-ending chaos can get under the skin of all but the most battle-hardened urban travellers. But spending a few nights at one of the best hotels in Kowloon is an experience every visitor to Hong Kong should have at least once in their lifetime.
Where to stay in Kowloon
Hotel ICON
Address: 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
An architectural masterpiece inside and out, Hotel ICON oozes with style and sophistication. And it does it without an ounce of pretension. The rooms tow modern design lines. They feature contemporary furnishings blended with rich wood grain accents. You’ll also dazzle at floor-to-ceiling windows shimmering with unforgettable harbour and city views.
Want to pop your relaxation into overdrive while staying at the Hotel ICON? Enjoy a dip in the heated rooftop pool as sweeping vistas of Hong Kong filter in. Or you can chill out with a soothing massage at Angsana Spa. There’s also a handful of on-site restaurants. None is more appealing than Above and Beyond. The restaurant serves up 28th-floor skyline views alongside fine dining Chinese cuisine.
Looking to get out and about? Hotel ICON is within a 20-minute walk of most of Kowloon’s main attractions. Temple Street Night Market is not far away. You’ll also be within 10 minutes of Knutford Terrace, home to some of the best restaurants & bars in Hong Kong.
Cordis Hong Kong
Address: 555 Shanghai Street
Soaring above Mongkok, Cordis Hong Kong skates alongside the best hotels in Kowloon. It charms with an elegance that privileges clean & minimalist modern stylings over pomp & excess. All the rooms and suites at this lovely 5-star hotel impress. They feature wide panoramic windows offering HK skyline views. You’ll also delight in luxurious bathrooms replete with rain showers and soaker tubs.
Besides charming rooms, the Cordis Hong Kong also stacks up world-class amenities. They help propel guests’ stays to legendary status. You can limber up with a morning yoga class amid harbour & city views. Or you can let your cares melt away at Chuan Spa. Either way, the Cordis Hong Kong won’t disappoint.
The street food delights of Temple Street Night Market are two MTR stops away. But the Cordis Hong Kong also drops several dining options to keep you anchored down. Relish the modern Cantonese flavours of Michelin-starred Ming Court. Or lap up the hip European dishes & cocktails of Alibi. Cordis Hong Kong delivers one of the best in-hotel eating & drinking experiences in the city.
Kerry Hotel Hong Kong
Address: 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom Bay
Kerry Hotel Hong Kong was meticulously designed to take full advantage of its waterfront location. The upscale hotel feels more like an urban resort than a run-of-the-mill luxury hotel. The delicate outdoor spaces are fringed with greenery. They complement the hotel’s stunning guest rooms. Both are well-versed in showing off sweeping views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island.
Throughout the Kerry Hotel Hong Kong, modern furnishings fuse with earthy decor. The blend hints at the hotel’s Asian roots. The appeal extends to the hotel’s amenities. Luxuries like spa treatments, a sauna, steam bath, and yoga classes are abundant. Best of all is the year-round outdoor infinity pool. The pool is set to dramatic harbourside cityscapes.
For foodies, the Kerry Hotel Hong Kong is also home to four restaurants. The most popular is Hung Tong. The restaurant melds delightful modern Chinese cuisine with the hotel’s stunning vistas.
Hotel Stage
Address: 1 Chi Wo Street, Yau Ma Tei
Hotel Stage occupies a prime location among the bustle of Yau Ma Tei. It’s one of the best hotels in Kowloon for mid-range travellers who can’t get enough of the peninsula’s non-stop buzz. Temple Street Night Market is 5 minutes away on foot. There’s also a host of popular restaurants & clubs nearby. With its location, rest might appear optional at Hotel Stage. But the hotel sets a high standard of comfort with its delightful guest rooms.
Throughout its walls, Hotel Stage boasts a simple modern design. It heeds minimalist concepts while adding colourful or quirky accents to break up its sober palette. Staying here, you’ll enjoy extras like a free-to-use fitness centre. The staff also bends to your every need and adds tremendous value to this brilliant 4-star hotel.
InterContinental Hong Kong
Address: 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
InterContinental Hong Kong is a forerunner among the best luxury hotels in Kowloon. It delivers all the swank you’d expect from a 5-star hotel in one of the world’s priciest accommodations markets.
The InterContinental Hong Kong squeezes everything it can from its lofty location. It’s perched high above the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade alongside Victoria Harbour. The sky-high location shines through mega-sized floor-to-ceiling windows in the stylish guest rooms. You’ll also enjoy vistas from the three glorious outdoor infinity pools. The views over Hong Kong from the InterContinental Hong Kong are among the city’s most swoon-worthy.
Want to take a step back from the busy streets of Kowloon? Step into a world of relaxation at the InterContinental Hong Kong’s I-Spa. Here, you can enjoy a luxurious soak in the hot tub or unleash your stress with a calming massage. Elsewhere in the hotel, drool to delectable food at one of the five on-site restaurants. Most famous is Yan Toh Heen Restaurant, a Cantonese fine dining restaurant that boasts a coveted Michelin star.
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Address: International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon West
Even without snagging a room here, you’d be hard-pressed to ignore The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong while staying in Kowloon. It’s perched above the city between the 102nd and 118th floors at the International Commerce Centre. This soaring luxury hotel unleashes impossibly lofty views. You’ll feel like you’re staring down at Hong Kong from the heavens.
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong does more than deliver some of the world’s best vistas from a hotel. The rooms here feature snuggly cloud-like beds fitted with luxurious linens. The bathrooms are serious about your comfort, too. They come fully loaded with a soaker tub and a separate rain shower.
As if staying in Hong Kong’s finest rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong wasn’t enough of a treat, there’s more. Don’t miss a chance to soak to scenes of Victoria Peak & Victoria Harbour at the glamorous 116th-floor indoor infinity pool. Or indulge in a signature spa treatment for an extra special pampering.
Elsewhere in the hotel, a wide assortment of food & drink awaits. You can choose between several on-site dining options. The selection includes two Michelin-starred restaurants. Get gourmet Italian cuisine at Tosca Italian, a one-Michelin-star Italian restaurant. Or try fine Cantonese cuisine at Tin Lung Heen, boasting a prestigious two stars under its belt.
For a dazzling nightcap, zip up to the ultra-trendy Ozone. It’s the highest bar in the world, soaring above the 118th floor.
The Langham Hong Kong
Address: 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
The Langham Hong Kong unloads the classic Hong Kong hospitality experience. With its elegant and sophisticated rooms, it’s among the top Kowloon hotels. The hotel features a superb location. It’s mere blocks from Victoria Harbour and the upscale boutiques of Canton Road. This 5-star gem is the perfect choice for aimless wanderers and shopaholics alike.
Besides relaxing in rooms dashed with Euro-inspired grace, The Langham Hong Kong spoons out luxurious extras. You’ll enjoy a 24-hour fitness centre, and spa treatments. There’s also a rooftop pool for your relaxation. Several on-site restaurants also beg for a taste. Save time for T’ang Court. This famous Cantonese restaurant has landed three Michelin stars for its excellence.
Final recommendations
- Trying to find the trendiest hotel in Kowloon? Look no further than the Hotel ICON. It’s set upon the beautiful Victoria Harbour waterfront in Hung Hom. The views are magnificent!
- Craving a world-class accommodations experience? Not only is The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong one of the highest hotels in the world, but it’s also one of the best. Let the massive views suck you in while you explore everything it has to offer. From its spa treatments to its trendy nightclub Ozone, the highest bar in the world, it’s the finest luxury experience in the area.
- Looking for top-value luxury? Check out the stunning Kerry Hotel Hong Kong. It’s steps away from the bustle of Kowloon and offers a resort-like experience in the heart of the city.
Related Hong Kong accommodation guides
- Tsim Sha Tsui: The somewhat upscale tip of Kowloon, this loaded-up district is home to most of the best luxury hotels in Kowloon. (And the kitschy Bruce Lee statue. Never forget the Bruce Lee statue.) Get started finding your accommodations with this guide on where to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui.
- Central District: Business district by day, party central by night, this area is at the centre of Hong Kong Island. It fills in the Hong Kong luxury accommodation market where Kowloon leaves off. Get started looking for the perfect hotel with this guide to the top-rated hotels in Central District.
- Wan Chai: Take a step back into the city’s past by staying in one of Hong Kong Island’s more traditional corners. Find the perfect place to stay with this guide to the top-rated Wan Chai hotels.
- Causeway Bay: Shopaholics rejoice! Causeway Bay is Hong Kong Island’s most popular consumerist enclave. For shoppers, it needs to enter into the discussion of where to base yourself in HK.
