2 Best Hotels in Mong Kok, Hong Kong

At this sleek glass-and-steel box that transformed a once seedy block, whimsical sculptures of Mao's Red Guards greet you at the entrance, and luxurious guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, mirrored walls, mood lighting, and glass-walled marble bathrooms. The Cantonese restaurant Ming Court is Michelin starred, and the open atrium lounge, Backyard, is a great place for drinks. While the hotel is about playful luxury, the surrounding area provides a look into local life in an unwesternized neighborhood.

As part of the massive Grand Century Place complex, Royal Plaza's environment may be overwhelming. The mall is almost always swarming with dense crowds of shoppers, and it's easy to get lost in the maze. Simply but comfortably furnished rooms have views of Lion Rock and the rest of Kowloon, and are surprisingly quiet, with some intelligently laid-out family rooms. It's also home to a couple of good restaurants, including a heaving buffet at Scala and sleek Lion Rock Bar, which has lovely views of the eponymous peak. Just across the street, you'll find a string of Kowloon's best markets: the Bird Market lies at the end of Flower Market Road, and pedestrian overpasses will lead you past the Goldfish Market and into the Ladies Market.