Hotel review: New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel

In 2014 the old Hotel Nikko Hongkong, a Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) East waterfront landmark, was rebranded as the New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel. The 464-room property completed a full renovation at the end of 2017.

On the waterfront in TST East near the end of Mody Road, a vibrant business and shopping district and home to a raft of competing hotels. It’s a five-minute walk to the TST East MTR station, about 45 minutes’ drive (with good traffic) to/from the airport, and a short walk to Hung Hom Station, from where trains to mainland China depart. The hotel operates a free half-hourly looping shuttle service to various points in TST.

A 15-storey glass and marble block of a building from the outside, enter the lobby and the warm marble floors stretch to columns rising three storeys to hidden windows that let in natural light. The effect is to draw you in and focus attention past large wooden panels and up a few stairs to the airy lobby lounge beyond. The lobby space was bustling almost every time I passed through, but the lounge area had a peaceful ambience and for all its hectic volume of traffic, the hotel felt cosy and welcoming.

These are split between superior, deluxe and Residence Club (floors 11-15) rooms, which can be city view or harbour view, and there are three suite types. I was in a Residence Club Harbour View room (35-37 sqm); the large window (shin to head height) provided a panorama taking in Causeway Bay and away towards the eastern end of Victoria Harbour, though directly below the hotel the view was of the elevated double expressway and a large construction storage area beside the Hong Kong Coliseum – not quite so picturesque.

Rooms are decorated in dark-wood panels, grey walls and carpet and light-beige marble, giving them an earthy, warm atmosphere. A single large modern abstract Chinese painting was the only artwork in my room, but it was attractive and a colourful embellishment to the rest of the space.

The standard room layout offered a 42-inch flatscreen TV and blu-ray disc player, a minibar with free non-alcoholic drinks provided, the requisite in-room safe inside the wardrobe (where you’ll also find an iron and ironing board), and wifi that was easy to connect to and fast. A Handy smartphone is placed in all rooms – it allows local and overseas calls to 20 select destinations, unlimited 3G mobile internet access and can be used when you’re outside the hotel to hotspot your own phone.

The glass-topped work desk was a good size and had a useful stainless-steel cantilevered work light. The hidden socket panel at the back of the desk had UK-style three-pin sockets and an adapter (more can be requested from the front desk), but interestingly there were no USB ports here – though two are available by the bed in the top of the alarm clock, which can be Bluetooth paired to your devices if you want to listen to your own music through a good speaker.

Residence Club rooms also get a Nespresso machine and a Corby trouser press. I particularly liked the electric blackout blinds, operated by switches by the bed. These were excellent – especially if you’re jet lagged and want to sleep in near darkness in daytime.

The bathroom housed both a bath and (pleasingly powerful) walk-in shower – this is standard in all rooms, a remnant of the old Nikko hotel’s high volume of Japanese customers, who like their baths.

Elemis bathroom products are provided, and deluxe and higher room categories get a Toto washlet toilet with heated seat and bidet functions.

The Residence Club Living Room was renovated in late 2018. Located on the 14th floor, it’s a relatively small space but is comfortable and relaxing, with a welcome desk (where Residence Club room guests can check in and out), a combination of seating, and excellent views out over the harbour. Continental breakfasts are available here, as well as complimentary all-day refreshments and evening cocktails and snacks.

This is a strong point for the hotel. On the first floor are: all-day dining restaurant Café East, where the buffet breakfast is served each morning (it’s an extensive setup, heavy on delicious Asian offerings); La Table French Brasserie, open for lunch and dinner (and with a VIP room); and Sagano, a Japanese restaurant with a bamboo and wood décor that focuses on Kyoto-style cuisine and also contains Ranzan, a teppanyaki room with 12 seats and a famed Japanese chef from the Nikko hotel days.

On the second floor is Cantonese restaurant Tao Li, whose tables look out over the harbour. Its dim sum is particularly good, but it also offers signature dishes such as smoked silver cod with herbs and osmanthus, and barbecued black pork with osmanthus honey sauce. The lobby lounge provides light snacks, as does Bar on 15, the moody, dimly lit bar located on the top floor. Drinks here are mixed by award-winning chief sommelier Sam Chong, and night-time views across the harbour to Hong Kong Island are spectacular.

The fan-shaped grand ballroom on the second floor can hold up to 500 people and features an LED wall, and there are nine other meeting and event rooms of various sizes (the lower ground floor has four that can be combined into one). The Chairman’s Place is a small function room in a corner of the lobby for cosy, private events.

The fitness room is on the 15th floor, a compact but functional space with a good selection of machines and free weights (it was empty on both occasions I used it). There are also male and female saunas, and up a few steps is the open-air rooftop pool, rectangular so good for exercise laps, and surrounded by reclining lounge chairs.

There’s a lot of competition in this part of town, and some high-quality alternatives just steps away. Getting the correct balance of price point and comfort levels is therefore important, and I think this hotel has got it just right. I enjoyed my stay, had no issues, and my four main requirements – good soundproofing in the room, a good bed for uninterrupted sleep, a strong and spacious shower, and excellent food at my fingertips – were all catered for admirably.

• Best for… Great F&B options and all-round convenience and comfort.
• Don’t miss… A swim in the rooftop pool and evening drinks in Bar on 15.
• Price A Residence Club Harbour View room in mid-May starts from HK$3,355 (US$427) per night including tax and surcharges.
• Contact newworldmillennium.com