Celebrity Life

It goes without saying that mothers deserve recognition all year round, but with Mother's Day approaching -- it falls on Sunday, 10 May this year in case you were wondering -- there's no better time to celebrate the first lady in your life this weekend. Whether she prefers to enjoy a leisurely brunch, indulgent dinner or spot of afternoon tea, Hong Kong's luxury hotels are offering the most opulent ways to spoil her. So without further ado, here are our top Mother's Day menus worth booking now.

Rosewood Hong Kong

Whisk mum away for a little afternoon tea at Rosewood's The Butterfly Room and indulge in a five-course spread of sweet and savoury creations. A complimentary Japanese strawberry shortcake and Asaya spa gift certificate is included in the offer. Or opt for dinner at The Legacy House where Cantonese cuisine with a Shunde influence is on the menu for lunch and dinner. Think classic style dim sum, traditional Cantonese soups, seafood and delicacies, in addition to a collection of speciality herbal teas for mothers to take home.

To Book: call +852 3891 8732 or email

Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Mandarin Oriental

From an indulgent Sunday roast at the Mandarin Grill + Bar with all the trimmings (complete with dessert trolley), or French fine dining four-course lunch at Pierre, to Cantonese lunch or dinner at Man Wah or a family-friendly Clipper Lounge brunch with a variety of seafood and mouthwatering desserts Mandarin Oriental has whatever takes your mum's fancy and then some.

To Book: call +852 2825 4000 or email

Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Road, Central

The Ritz-Carlton

There's plenty of options at The Ritz-Carlton on Mother's Day. Choose from a 3-course brunch, 3-course dinner and afternoon tea at The Lounge & Bar; a 4-course Italian brunch or dinner at Tosca di Angelo; or  an exclusive six-course Michelin-starred private dining experience focused on health-forward dishes and a well-being menu at Chinese restaurant Tin Lung Heen.

To Book: call +852 2263 2270 or email

Ritz-Carlton, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon

The Murray

For a modern European style treat featuring plenty of bubbles, head to Popinjays at The Murray. Here, an elegant semi-buffet spread offers fresh seafood, salads, cured meats, cheeses, desserts and more. Guests can also pick one of five main courses including dishes such as the Slow-cooked Atlantic halibut and Black onyx beef striploin. The Murray Brunch at The Tai Pan and Garden Lounge also offer a full on feast featuring salads, oysters, cold cuts and carvery delicacies.

To Book: call +852 3141 8888 or email

The Murray Hong Kong, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central

Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong

Spend the afternoon sipping on this decadent pu’er tea-themed afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge in Kerry Hotel which features sweet treats with all the health benefits and antioxidant properties from the tea. What's more, each tea set will include a Cha Ling gift set made up of a fragrance, scented camelia brooch, young Pu’er tea and a complimentary Cha Ling facial experience.

To Book: call +852 2252 5237 or email

Kerry Hotel Hong Kong, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom Bay

The post The 5 Best Mother’s Day Menus at Hong Kong’s Luxury Hotels appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Leaving Hong Kong Island for Kowloon may not be the farthest you'll travel for a luxury hotel, but it sure does feel like you are exchanging city life for something a little calmer, especially at Kerry Hotel Hong Kong.

The five star brand from the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Group has named itself an "urban resort", which has a lot to do with the vast amount of space it stretches over. It also has an incredible vantage point overlooking the Kowloon waterfront, which is definitely one of the better views Hong Kong has to offer. How else does the Kerry Hotel fare? Well, read on for our full review below.

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Location: 8/10

Situated near Hung Hom Pier and Whampoa MTR station, it's safe to say that Kerry Hotel is somewhat well-connected, depending on how you're travelling. There are also private parking facilities at the hotel, which helps if you are driving. Unfortunately, there isn't too much going on in close proximity to the hotel, except for a local residential area and shopping centre. It is however, close enough to walk to the more vibrant part, to Tsim Sha Tsui and a leisurely stroll along the promenade is quite lovely.

Design: 9/10

This sixteen storey hotel's interior is designed by none other than Hong Kong's prolific designer André Fu. It makes use of the expansive area it covers with a spacious lobby, floor to ceiling windows and multi levels of al fresco gardens and areas to enjoy. The building itself is curved and creates a fluidity that runs from the outside in, while over sixty percent of the guest rooms offer stunning harbour views. All of which add to the relaxed luxury that Kerry Hotel exudes in a timeless manner.

Ambience: 9/10

Thanks to the hotel's design, the relaxed vibe runs throughout. In fact, upon entering, guests may feel swept away by the view in the lobby, as if automatically loosening up the shoulders to ready you for the stay. It's bright and airy, creating an atmosphere that feels positive with a slight buzz of happenings across the hotel. A mix of Chinese and foreign tourists were visiting during our stay, while local families and couples, along with people on business were also seen at the hotel.

Rooms: 8/10

The Club Premier Sea View room promises a sea view, and a spectacular sea view is what you'll get. And if uninterrupted sea views don't provide enough entertainment, the complimentary movies and mini bar will. Once again, the timeless design comes into play with muted tones of beige, stone and blue in different textures cut through with warm wood tones dotted around the room. The pillow menu and blackout curtains induce a superb slumber while the bathroom offers a rainfall shower, but sadly no bathtub here.

Service & Facilities: 8/10

We arrived and headed straight to reception in the lobby to check in. But of course, with Club access this means you are able to check in at the Club Lounge, which is laden with snacks and drinks. This can take a longer time though, and a little back and forth with passport copies and whatnot may slow you down. However the cheesecake, available during afternoon tea time, will likely make you forget all that. For active visitors, the outdoor pool and 24-hour health club will appeal. But if spa treatments are more your bag, don't forget to check out their Spa in Base Camp to unwind properly.

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Food & Drink: 9/10

There are four restaurants and a bar, complete with an open terrace, at Kerry Hotel. Big Bay Café features a wide array of cuisine and is where breakfast is served. We recommend the Asian hot foods including soup noodles and dim sum. Meanwhile, Hung Tong delivers high end Cantonese fare, Dockyard offers quick-style Asian foods, and Bong-Italian provides dry aged steak and wines. For drinks, the Lobby Lounge mixes up cocktails with a side of Hong Kong-style classic dishes, and Red Sugar, in which we had the chance to enjoy their Long, Lazy Brunch before we left, offers a fantastic Spanish tapas-style spread with stellar views (again) to boot.

Rates: From HK$2,200/night for a Deluxe City View Room to HK4,200 for Executive Sea View Suite (prices may vary depending on availability and season). For the Specialty Sea View and Presidential Suites, guests can enquire through +852 3069 9988 or e-mail reservations.khhk@thekerryhotels.com.

Rating: 8.5/10

Perfect for:  relaxing in an expansive yet intimate space with spectacular views.

The post Hotel Review: Kerry Hotel Hong Kong is Big, Bright and for More than Business appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

As we all know, life in Hong Kong can be a little hectic. The daily grind, cramped commutes and hours spent hunching over technology can combine to become the main cause of not only emotional stress, but also physical tension. Needless to say, massages are a must if you want to truly relax and revitalise your tired body. Enter one such massage that focuses on the soothing art of aromatherapy at The Spa at Base Camp, located inside Kerry Hotel.

The Treatment: Relaxing Aromatherapy Massage

Pressure: Light–Medium

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Products:

Organic, sustainable and hand-harvested ingredients form the base of all Zents products, including the oils used in this massage. Born from the need to heal, Zents has been mindfully formulated for those with scent sensitivities, resulting in aromas that are gentle yet stimulating. Prior to my treatment, I was invited to choose my preferred aroma, so that they could soothe my soul and shoulders with a scent that fits my exact need. Here, four scents are offered; warming Mandarin (with ginger and cardamon), energising Oolong (with lavender and lime), sensual Ore, (with orris, ylang ylang and spicy clove), and the oil of choice for my massage: calming Sun, a blend of vanilla, sandalwood and amber.

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Service:

My own personal frustration with massages has always been the amount of pressure used for all that rubbing and kneading of my body. Most times, it’s simply too painful; other times, it’s even reduced me to tears. I’m sure I’m just the wimp in these situations, but it sure is comforting to know that I can select the amount of pressure I prefer prior to my treatment, and that’s exactly what The Spa at Base Camp offered me. I simply ticked the two boxes that indicated a light to medium pressure and my massage therapist did the rest. What’s more, I could even cross out the areas that are too sensitive to touch, or where there are any injuries; reducing any risk of painful or even awkward massage moments.

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Environment:

The spa’s back-to-basics theme has been set to feel like an escape from the bustling city. And it certainly feels that way, but only after you get past the reception area (where I filled out my consultation form) which sits next to the gym pumping loud, motivating music. Thereafter, it is indeed relaxing with a design concept made up of natural materials. Dark wood, bamboo and stone are used across the walls and décor of the three private ensuite treatment rooms and VIP couples suite. Base Camp facilities are open to club members and hotel guests, which include the gym, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room and outdoor swimming pool. The showers provide full sets of toiletries, towels and bathroom amenities that feature Zents products, too.

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Experience:

The massage began on my front, where I took deep breaths to take in the aromatherapy oil that I had chosen. Filled with warm base notes and a lingering zest of summer sun, I became calm and most importantly, relaxed. My body naturally began to sink into the bed as she worked my body using Swedish massage techniques that aim to reduce muscle tension and increase circulation. Working diligently from my back, arms, legs, feet and hands, I was blown away by how my massage therapist loosened it all up. It may not have been a deep tissue massage that I went for, but I could definitely feel that some (if not most) knots were released during the process. The almost hypnotic experience seemed to end all too soon as I came to my senses and headed off to shower in the modern and airy changing rooms.

After the treatment, I headed straight to the spacious outdoor terrace which leads to the infinity pool and lounge areas. There's an impressive view of the harbour and considering the perfect weather Hong Kong was having that day -- it would have been a crime not to lounge a little and enjoy it fully. It didn’t take long until I was feeling fully rejuvenated and ready to tackle my next challenge: The challenge of booking in my next spa appointment at Base Camp.

The post Spa Review: Relaxing Aromatherapy Massage at Kerry Hotel’s Spa at Base Camp appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.