Langham Place

Langham Place Review

When Hong Kong's second Langham hotel opened in March 2005 as part of the shiny new Langham Place Shopping Center, it ushered in an era of prestige and prominence for its once seedy, but still refreshingly unwesternized Mong Kok neighborhood. Contemporary sculptures of Mao's Red Guards greet you at the entrance to this sleek, cyberage hotel made of glass and steel; it's a great exemplar of that specific science-fiction feel that defines much of modern Hong Kong. All luxurious guest rooms feature 10-foot-high floor-to-ceiling windows, mirrored walls, and tastefully low beds, with mood lighting, 42-inch plasma TVs, and an in-hotel mobile phone. Glass-walled marble bathrooms include an oversized bathtub and separate rain shower. A lavish buffet breakfast is served in the light-drenched, open-kitchen The Place, while the Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Ming Court has private dining rooms. The hotel's top three floors are consumed by Chuan spa, with panoramic city views to accompany treatments, and the open rooftop atrium is dominated by a heated outdoor 65-foot-long pool.