We review Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong and discover a city hotel where wellness takes centre stage

Hong Kong is filled with charming boutique and luxury hotels that make ideal landing pads for exploring. And one of the newest kids on the block is Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong. When former HK resident, travel writer, and personal trainer Jo Robinson recently checked in, she discovered a property that puts wellness at its heart.

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We review The Kimpton Hong Kong

Hotel Snapshot

Hotel: Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong
Location: Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Address: 11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Rooms: 495 rooms (including 25 suites)
Brand: Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, now part of IHG
Style: Contemporary lifestyle hotel with a big focus on wellness and local partnerships
Wellness facilities:
Family amenities:
Price range: From approx $2950HKD per night, depending on room and season

Setting the scene

Hong Kong is not short of luxury hotels, particularly along both sides of the harbourfront where five-star properties compete for the best skyline views. And whilst The Kimpton has views for days, it’s their contemporary approach to hospitality which sets it apart. Wellness, local partnerships, and modern design are all intentionally integrated throughout the hotel, and that’s what both shapes and makes the Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui experience.

Comprising 495 guest rooms over 30 floors, including 25 suites, Kimpton TST is a new star on Hong Kong’s (almost) harbourfront block.

First things first: the gym

Whereas a lot of hotels will reserve top-tier panoramic views for their dining outlets, Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui has opted to put wellness at the forefront. Notably with their, quite frankly, outstanding gym on the 11th floor, which might just be one of the best, if not the best, equipped hotel gyms I’ve set foot in.

As someone who has visited more gyms than I can count, the aesthetic of this gym beats a lot of standalone gyms. They’ve partnered with leading brands such as Technogym and Rogue Fitness, meaning you’ll find proper squat racks, weight plates, heavy dumbbells, and enough space to actually train rather than rotate around a few machines. For me, the layout is the most impressive part: it’s open plan with tonnes of space, and more natural light than you’ll see in 99% of other gyms. The only setback is that if you’re not over 6ft tall, you likely won’t be able to reach the pull-up bars without a box or bench – and even then, it might be a stretch.

But for anyone who likes to keep their training consistent while travelling, this hotel gym is the place for it. It perfectly reflects how people train now, rather than assuming a treadmill and a yoga mat will suffice.

The room

If you like a plunge pool with views, then the Premium King Room with Harbour View (main image) is the place for you. All suites, plus a number of rooms on the higher floors, have an impressive walk-in bath with floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of Hong Kong.

The rooms are beautiful, they’re modern, spacious, and have rain showers that you’ll want to stand under for hours on end. The modern part speaks for itself when it comes to the bathroom, the separate toilet and shower rooms are directly off the room, rather than in an enclosed bathroom, so if you’re travelling with someone, it’s highly advised that you’re uber comfortable with minimal privacy.

The blackout blinds were true to their word and shut out every single millimetre of light, which is something everyone should be looking for in a Hong Kong hotel.

Le spa

⁠⁠The Angsana Spa hadn’t yet launched when I stayed, but I got a sneak peek ahead of its imminent opening. It’s an urban sanctuary in the heart of Kowloon to simply relax and recharge. There’s a total of five treatment rooms (two doubles and three singles), and each room is complete with a shower, washroom, and changing room, with the two double rooms also featuring a treatment Jacuzzi.

All the food options

Now for the dining. There are four dining outlets in the hotel, each with its own personality and offering. Birdsong is the hotel’s café-style spot, which greets you when you check in on the 15th floor, and Hillside on the 12th floor is where breakfast and a laidback dinner vibe live. The breakfast buffet had something for everyone, with a mix of western and eastern dishes, including, much to my delight, a dedicated egg waffle station.

For some fine dining, there’s Chinese restaurant JIJA, led by Michelin-starred chef Vicky Lau. And finally, perched on the 50th floor is Swim Club, a Southern California-inspired hangout for drinks, snacks and, as the name suggests, poolside lounging.
The 20-metre rooftop pool has incredible views over Victoria Harbour and benefits from all-day sun, something which can be hard to come by in a densely packed city like Hong Kong. It didn’t give off the typical hotel pool vibe; it feels more like a members’ club where you can relax on a lounger in the day and enjoy drinks in the evening. In fact, even if you’re not staying at the hotel, you can book a cabana here.

The finer details

Despite now sitting under mega hospitality behemoth IHG, I was impressed that Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui has intentionally integrated homegrown Hong Kong businesses into its offering. Local coffee roaster Elephant Grounds has created a custom coffee blend, as well as supplying custom Nespresso pods for the in-room coffee machines. Local chocolatiers Conspiracy Chocolate can be found in the minibar, and my personal favourite, the aforementioned fully-serviced Hong Kong egg waffle stand at the breakfast buffet.

One small feature, which is in fact an absolutely huge feature, is the complimentary stainless steel reusable bottles available in each room. We’ve all been to hotels where plastic water bottles are the norm (although we are seeing a lot more convert to glass bottles, and we love to see it!), but the Kimpton has set the sustainability precedent here. Each room has stainless steel bottles for you to take home, and there are water fountains by the lift lobby on each floor so that you never run out. As somewhat of a hydration queen, where the standard 500ml bottles just don’t cut it, this was an absolute highlight for me.

Frequently asked questions: Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Final thoughts

Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui combines the brand’s signature design-led approach with a real sense of the city it calls home, and it has definitely set a benchmark when it comes to hotel gyms. Situated directly opposite the MTR exit and only a ten-minute walk from the Star Ferry pier, it’s a fantastic base for exploring the city.

Learn more about Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong or Book through Booking.com Book through Expedia Book through Agoda

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