What's it like? A new and stunning five-star luxury boutique hotel in an enviable position in Central. The famous Mandarin Oriental property is close by, so the Landmark aims for something different; it's smaller and appeals to a younger, more design-conscious crowd, with public areas designed by Adam D Tihany. The entrance on Queen's Road Central sets the tone, with concentric bands of black and white Italian marble representing the harbour and the staircase up to reception framed by thick wooden pillars resembling a traditional Chinese junk.
Where is it? In the heart of Central (the business district), 40 minutes by car to Hong Kong's international airport at Chek Lap Kok, adjacent to Central MTR station and a five-minute walk to Star Ferry. Adjacent is the new Harvey Nichols store and the original Shanghai Tang shop.
How many rooms? 113 rooms including 12 suites.
Room facilities Rooms here are among the largest in Hong Kong and are marketed as such, with the square footage of each being used in its title. There are three categories: L450 superior and deluxe; L600 superior, deluxe and spa corner; and L900 Landmark suites. There is also a presidential suite.
All rooms were designed by Hong Kong-born Peter Remedios. L600 rooms (the most common) have glass-walled bathrooms with round spa bathtubs and are noticeably designed for couples, with twin vanities and "his and hers" yoga mats. Rooms are comfortable with elegant furnishings and plenty of room, and a surround-sound entertainment system that includes all the connections necessary to plug in your iPod.
Extreme high-speed internet access, both wired and wireless, is available with additional access through the giant plasma-screen TV. All rooms have 24-hour service, dedicated butler service and a twice-daily maid service.
Restaurants and Bars Amber, on the seventh floor, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner under the supervision of Dutch executive chef Richard Ekkebus. The room is stunning, with a flowing roof created by 4,200 golden tubes hanging from the ceiling.
Breakfast is à la carte, with an outstanding selection of teas including oriental spa teas (awake, digest, energy, lemon supreme C and ginger) and coffee. The standard coffee is by Illy, but there is also a choice from Guatemala, Columbia, Ethiopia and Indonesia. Every taste is catered for, whether your tastes lean to soy milk yoghurt or fruit smoothies.
Lunch and dinner are French-style but with both Asian and southern European influences. The MO bar on the ground floor is visually striking, with a lotus pond on a moving glass drawbridge behind the bar and a circle of light reflecting the landmark's central position – and the hope of designer Tihany that the bar will become a place for people to meet. On the mezzanine floor is a VIP room with a giant plasma screen, and in the evenings the main room changes from a place to have afternoon tea to a trendy nightspot. Signature drinks are MO' Tinis and a Mo Tox, which is Absolut citron, lemoncello, fresh coriander and ginger, fresh pineapple and apple juice (HK$105; £7.90). Interestingly, the profile of the bar changes completely from an afternoon tea crowd to a younger and predominantly expat drinking clientele, and then becomes gradually more Asian as the evening progresses.
Business and Meeting facilities There is no dedicated business centre. The two meeting rooms are on the same floor as Amber (seventh). Tian can hold up to 64 theatre-style and Di takes 53 theatre-style. The two rooms can be combined for larger functions.
Leisure facilities The 1,850sqm Oriental Spa is set over two floors in the hotel and deserves an article in its own right (it will receive a full review in the February issue of Business Traveller). It's an outstanding holistic spa with a gym, fully equipped Pilates studio with a Gyrotonic pulley tower, trapeze and reformer combination, and yoga studios staffed by a team of three yoga instructors. In separate male and female areas there are "experience" showers (with mood lighting and scents), ice fountains, vitality pools and tepidarium chairs. Women can relax in a Roman laconium, Rasul (natural mud treatment) and amethyst crystal steam rooms, while men visit the Turkish hamam baths, tropical rain sauna and dry sauna. There are 15 private treatment rooms, while for couples there is a 65sqm ultra-deluxe VIP sanctuary with steam sauna and plunge pool. There is also a Spa Café.
Verdict One of the city's finest hotels and a welcome addition in the boutique category.
Price Full rate for a standard ("superior") room is HKD4,000 (£338). The internet rate for a midweek stay in early December was HKD2,900 (£245).
Contact The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen's Road Central, tel +852 2881 1288, mandarinoriental.com.
Tom Otley
