When Mandarin Oriental opened its second Hong Kong location in 2005, Landmark Mandarin Oriental, it unveiled a contemporary look within the city’s fanciest mall – a distinct contrast to the old-school opulence of its flagship, just a five-minute walk away. Local interior designer Joyce Wang enveloped the 111 guestrooms and suites in a calming metallic palette. The spa is arguably the city’s best, complete with a sunlit studio for yoga and Pilates, and restaurant Amber has racked up two Michelin stars. Another highlight is MO Bar, which serves lobster lunches by day and DJ sets by night.

Hongkonger André Fu nailed his first hotel commission: The Upper House atop the JW Marriott at Pacific Place. His understated design, relying on natural materials like limestone and bamboo, still feels sexy and modern over a decade after its debut. The 117 studios and suites also have size going for them. A minimum of 730 square feet means bathrooms have both rain showers and huge tubs from which we soaked up harbour views. On the 49th floor, you'll find the popular Salisterra.

When the Murray Building opened in 1969, it was a landmark of its time. Nearly 50 years later, Norman Foster transformed the former government office block on the southern fringes of Central into one of the most buzzed-about luxury hotels in Central. The Murray’s 336 rooms, most measuring over 500 square feet, feature rare stones and textiles and nod to the ’60s spirit in the herringbone wood floors and sleek leather seating. There’s an equally eye-catching art collection. As for ways to indulge, we suggest the lap pool in the spa area – with a live green wall and lounge chairs – and the happening bar scene on the terrace of Popinjays.

For a bird’s-eye perspective on Hong Kong, hotels don’t get higher than The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, which occupies 16 floors atop ICC and Elements mall. An express lift zooms up to the 103rd-floor reception in 80 seconds flat. From there, many tourists continue on to Ozone, famously the world’s highest bar and a great perch for the Symphony of Lights display over Victoria Harbour. Others are here for the Michelin-starred dining: a pick of Italian at Tosca di Angelo or Cantonese at Tin Lung Heen. Overnight guests get to wine and dine knowing it’s just steps back to the palatial rooms, done in shades of champagne with leather-panelled walls and accents in deep reds, purples or greens. Facilities include an indoor pool and the Club Lounge – arguably the city’s best – both with views galore. Since the hotel opened in 2011, the surrounding West Kowloon area has only been getting better; landmarks like Xiqu Centre and the Art Park.

Four Seasons is one of the most plush hotels in Central tucked within the International Finance Centre by the MTR and ferry piers. We checked into a 41st-floor corner suite with extraordinary views of Victoria Harbour and delightful amenities such as a pillow menu (we loved the stone pillow). For food, we managed a six-Michelin-star day: lunch at the three-star Caprice and dinner at the three-star Lung King Heen. In the morning, a three-hour spa session in the harbourfront couples’ spa room ticked every box.

The next Marriot hotel on our list is found in Wan Chai and caused a stir with its grand unveiling in 2019. With lashings of marble, muted tones, vintage deco lamps and high ceilinged lobbies, there’s a distinct sanctuary vibe about the 129 roomed St Regis. By night, you can swim under the stars, dine to the sound of jazz musicians, feast on French cuisine from chef Olivier Elzer, or try chef Hung Chi-Kwong’s Cantonese plates. An outdoor terrace with calming water feature offers further feelings of tranquillity, contrasting the bustle on its doorstep. And be sure to try its own take on a Bloody Mary, the Canto Mary, crafted with tangerine peel and whisky (or one of the bar’s 800 wines and 100 champagnes).

Rosewood Hong Kong’s opening in early 2019 was an important piece in fitting together the puzzle that is the ambitious Victoria Dockside art and design district. It has added a sophisticated option for business and leisure travellers along the East Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront – complete with an outstanding contemporary art collection and high-rise landscaped gardens and terraces. Spanning the top 43 floors of a 65-storey tower in a complex that includes K11 Musea, Rosewood Hong Kong’s 413 rooms start at an expansive 500 square feet. You’re not short on entertainment spaces either, from Darkside jazz bar to the celebration of Shunde cuisine at The Legacy House. The hotel’s wellness retreat Asaya has a spa, a 25-metre infinity pool and a health-focussed restaurant.

Gold-buttoned, red-suited doormen greeted us at the Mandarin Oriental, and the five-star treatment continued at the black-marble reception, with its gold carvings, gorgeous Asian-inspired décor, extravagant chandeliers and a floral signature scent. A recent renovation has brought a fresher face to the property – especially the top few floors, where the new Mandarin Club lounge provides plentiful all-day bites overlooking the harbour and Statue Square. Long-standing Cantonese restaurant Man Wah has also had an overhaul, with rich blues giving this classic eatery a distinctly contemporary feel, while newcomer The Aubrey merges plush gilt decor with hip izakaya fare. The Superior Harbourview Room boasts soft caramel leather armchairs, cabinets designed like old travelling cases and wardrobes hidden with artwork panels – not to mention unobstructed skyline and water views. To really go all out, book the Macau Suite, whose elegant interiors take inspiration from the one-time Portuguese enclave and whose elegant dining room could sit six with ease – as could its palatial wardrobe and bathroom.

The skyline is one of Hong Kong’s most marketable assets, and the city’s waterfront hotels know it. Kerry Hotel makes the most of its harbourfront location east of TST, delivering a panorama of Hong Kong Island that stretches from towering residential blocks in the east across to the skyscrapers of Wan Chai and Central. More than 60 per cent of its 546 guest rooms – designed by the acclaimed André Fu – come with that view; all feature free Wi-Fi, Bluetooth speakers and a Nespresso coffee maker. Guests staying in Club rooms also have access to the Club lounge with complimentary semi-buffet breakfast and pre-dinner cocktails and canapes. Retreat to the pool, get a sweat on in the gym or park yourself on the outdoor terrace of bar and restaurant Red Sugar for sundowners – all of which also come with harbour views.

There aren’t many places you can describe in good conscience as ‘iconic’, but The Peninsula tops the list. Take its fleet of bottle-green Rolls-Royces; the lavish shopping arcade; the service that’s among the finest in the city. Dining options are equally legendary: from high tea in the lobby, to elegant Cantonese fare at Spring Moon, to brunch at Felix – much improved since they pulled up the blinds to let the astonishing view in. Interiors are a study in elegance – a plush cream palette accented in rich, dark woods – and for a hotel opened in 1928, the in-room tech is agreeably up to date. Make time for a treatment at The Spa, in particular ‘Time Together’, which pairs a couples’ massage with whirlpool bath in the Private Spa Suite. And if you can really stretch that budget, plump for a helicopter tour, which departs from the hotel’s rooftop helipad. The experience and the views are – here comes that word again – iconic.

A mature, old-money set has gravitated to the Island Shangri-La since its 1991 opening. After all, the design is the epitome of classic luxury: formal European furnishings with Asian accents are consistent throughout the public spaces and the 565 rooms and suites – all of which deliver panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the Peak. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the Shangri-La is also a short walk from Pacific Place and Admiralty MTR station. One distinctive feature is the library with soaring jade marble columns, navy blue leather chairs and a multilingual selection of about 1,000 titles. Other perks at one of the most eminent hotels in Central include the outdoor pool and the Lobster Bar and Grill for live jazz.

W Hong Kong stays true to the W brand’s sensibilities: bright pops of colour fit with the party vibe, which it has upheld since opening in 2008, thanks to its playlist of upbeat tunes and the regular night-time bashes held at its stunning 76th-floor rooftop infinity pool – the highest outdoor pool in Hong Kong. The skyline view is only obscured by ICC, just next door. That skyscraper is a reminder of the W’s prestigious, convenient location: guests arriving by MTR alight at Kowloon station, which is on the Airport Express line and one stop from Central. The hotel has been known for its weekend brunch buffets and has pushed the envelope in very W fashion with late Sunday brunches (5pm-9pm) featuring drag shows.

In celebration of its 30th anniversary in 2019, JW Marriott gave its 581 rooms and 28 suites a refresh – adding sophisticated and high-tech touches that complement the original design and its use of fine woods. The location, however, needs no improvement; it’s right at Pacific Place mall, between the buzzy neighbourhoods of Central and Wan Chai. Beyond this ease of access, you also get to overlook the harbour, lush hillsides or both from your room. There are 16 event spaces – including a showstopping ballroom that can fit up to 1,000 guests – as well as meeting rooms with AV equipment and restaurants and bars for almost every taste.

Opened in 1990 and renovated in 2007, the Conrad is among the hotels in Central clustered at Pacific Place. It counts 512 rooms, beginning at a spacious 452 square feet, with expansive views of Victoria Harbour or the Peak. Décor is tasteful in tones of beige and gold, with large marble bathrooms and Nespresso machines to help fuel its primarily business crowd. Of the six restaurants and bars, Nicholini’s stands out for its northern Italian dishes and Golden Leaf for Cantonese cuisine. After hours, unwind at the sauna or rooftop pool or hit the 24-hour gym. We found the staff to be gracious and quick to offer help, such as sharing a local jogging map.

Having successfully reinvigorated London’s Belgraves Hotel when it was rebranded as The Hari in 2016, Hong Kong-based Harilela Group has now brought the luxury hospitality brand home with the opening of The Hari Hong Kong at the end of 2020. Towering over the neighbouring skyscrapers of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, the 210-guestroom hotel has interiors by Tara Bernerd, who outfitted the original London hotel as well, featuring rooms with muted tones, mid-century-inspired furnishings, contemporary artworks and all-marble bathrooms. The Lobby is chic and convivial, and offers light bites, while guests can dine in style at Italian restaurant Lucciola or izakaya-style Japanese eatery Zoku. Several top bars and restaurants are also close by, as is the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.