Mondrian Hong Kong review: a design-led stay with a welcoming, modern vibe

Hong Kong’s vibrant Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood has welcomed some exciting new hotels over the last year, including the glamorous Regent Hong Kong. But the most recent addition to the scene is the Mondrian, the eclectic brand’s first property in Greater China. We headed to the “dark side” to review the Mondrian Hong Kong, a sprightly new hotel that’s bringing a touch of whimsy and fun to the city.

P.S. our local’s guide to Hong Kong will help you skip the tourist traps and take you to lesser-known parts of town.

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

Mondrian Hong Kong review

Mondrian Hong Kong is a bold hotel concept in a city saturated with five-star properties. Instead of trying to bowl guests over with unfettered glitz and glam, the exciting new hotel reinterprets elements of Hong Kong’s traditional culture and invites guests to kick back in cosy surroundings while enjoying easy access to the city’s best attractions and plugging into the local scenes.

Dynamic design

Guests get their first taste of the Mondrian experience at The Corner Shop, which sits across the road from the property. A multifaceted street-front space, the “shop” will function as an event venue where visitors can enjoy everything from avant-garde art installations to raucous pop-up concerts by local performers.

Step through the double glass doors, and Mondrian Hong Kong’s artistic immersion continues in its deceptively sparse lobby. Soaring ceilings and swathes of white form a simple backdrop for the lobby’s focal point – a massive glass mosaic of ethereal underwater dancers by Christy Lee Rogers. It’s all rather Titian-esque, but the artwork is an appropriate tribute to Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour, which sits a short walk away.

Hong Kong’s history, culture, and architecture all lent inspiration to the hotel’s designer, Karin Krautgartner of byKK Design. A stay here is filled with encounters of the city’s past, from its legacy fishing villages to the infamous tailors that set up shop in the area. Even the lifts aren’t spared – mosaics of triangular mirrors are meant to represent the local game of Tangram.

Locally-inspired digs

It might not seem like it from the outside, but Mondrian Hong Kong is a surprisingly large hotel that boasts 324 guest rooms and suites. This being Hong Kong – and the maze-like streets of Kowloon specifically, rooms here are rather compact. But, they offer cheeky winks to the city and its history that you won’t find anywhere else.

We check into a Harbour King Suite that features an elegant lounge and cosy but well-appointed bedroom (main image). The first has plenty of plush seating and a half-bath for guests, while the second has a comfortable king-sized bed, a table set with a chessboard overlooking Victoria Harbour views, a separate dressing table, and even a small ensuite featuring Malin & Goetz amenities and even a little bathtub.

What really catches the attention, though, are all the subtle Hong Kong references. It’s the artwork in the lounge inspired by that famous cheongsam dress from the classic Wong Kar-Wai film “In the Mood for Love,” the chic black-and-gold minibar made to look like a traditional Chinese chest, and the lighting in the ensuite mirror that’s designed to mimic the precise stitches of the neighbourhood’s tailors. Despite its smaller size, the suite is perfectly comfortable and even sustainably-minded – though the minuscule water filter machine in the minibar requires constant refilling.

Social spots

When it comes to dining and drinking, Tsim Sha Tsui generally leans one of two ways – casual spots that get rowdier as the night wears on, and bougie boltholes with prices as high as the quality of their offerings. Enter Mondrian’s Hong Kong two restaurants, which strike the perfect balance between approachability and well-crafted offerings.

Sophisticated Avoca is a multi-talented space that effortlessly remakes itself for all times of day. In the mornings, it offers a great semi-buffet breakfast bathed in natural light; come afternoons, it’s a workspace or coffee spot; and by evening, it’s a fun-filled nightlife destination. This is the place for a fun but relaxed night out – the central bar whips up creative cocktails that are an homage to Hong Kong (try the punchy Claypot Negroni) and best paired with the menu of Asian-style comfort food, such as the 24-hour Slow-Cooked Beef Belly Baos. Ready to hit the dance floor? Later in the evenings, local DJs hit the decks to get the party started.

For a more traditional sit-down restaurant experience, head for the hotel’s top floor, where you’ll find Carna, a sumptuous Italian restaurant masterminded by Netflix’s Chef’s Table alum Dario Cecchini. In the restaurant’s foyer – which looks like that of an aristocratic Italian palazzo – guests are welcomed with light bites and an aperitif before being seated to feast on Cecchini’s nose-to-tail menu. With plenty of marble and plush drapery, the décor here is opulent, but it’s beautifully balanced by humble touches such as photos of Cecchini’s family. The standout dishes here are undoubtedly the Italian meats, which include exclusive cuts like the Bistecca Etrusca and Fascia di Reale that you won’t find anywhere else in Hong Kong – and the Tiramisù alone is worth a trip.

Final thoughts

Great hotels are a dime a dozen in Tsim Sha Tsui, but guests often have to choose between ritzy, pricy options, and humble accommodations at wallet-friendly prices. Mondrian Hong Kong strikes the perfect balance between design-forward luxury, a great complement of offerings, and affordability, while also plugging out-of-town guests into the heart of Hong Kong.

Discover more about Mondrian Hong Kong or Book through Booking.com

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