Cloud Living: A Stay at The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong

🏨 The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong ✨ Opened for over a decade, this hotel perched high above Victoria Harbor on more than 100 floors still retains its unique charm. This was our second stay after many years, revisiting this classic and elegant establishment. I must say, Hong Kong's veteran hotels are well-maintained. 🚄 After arriving at the high-speed rail station, we followed the signs and easily found the hotel entrance. Check-in was on the 106th floor lobby, and amusingly, the front desk staff were still wearing the same uniforms as during our last visit! The check-in process was smooth, and we were nicely upgraded to a room with a harbor view, though we had to wait a bit before the room was ready. Perfect timing to visit Tin Lung Heen for a Michelin-starred meal (more on the dining experience later). 🛌 Our room was on the 113th floor. Although it was labeled as a harbor view room, the view was slightly off-center. Well, it was a complimentary upgrade, so we couldn't be too picky. The room wasn't large, and the interior decor showed its age, but the highlight was undoubtedly the unbeatable view outside the window. On a good weather day, you could sit by the window and enjoy the scenery for an entire afternoon. 🏊 The gym was well-equipped, and we went swimming in the afternoon. The poolside loungers and the pool itself were quite crowded. A unique feature was the outdoor terrace, which also had a hot tub. After swimming, stepping outside to enjoy the breeze while soaking in the hot tub was pure bliss. 🍽️ Dining at Tin Lung Heen was one of the main reasons for our return to The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. However, the experience turned out to be slightly disappointing. We arrived at our reserved time and were given a window seat with a nice view. The restaurant was quite busy during lunch, and the staff didn't immediately provide the tea and menu. We ordered dishes like diced beef tenderloin, garoupa belly, shrimp balls, and the recommended prawn toast and steamed spotted garoupa dumplings. While the dim sum was decent, the main dishes were heavily coated in thick sauces, which didn't align with a Cantonese palate. Not terrible, but not enjoyable either. It felt like the flavors had been internationally adapted, leaving us a bit let down. 🍳 Breakfast was served on the same floor, and you could request a window seat with a view. It was a combination of à la carte and buffet. The à la carte menu was quite interesting, offering non-traditional breakfast options. My partner ordered a salmon sashimi rice bowl, which tasted great.