The Peninsula Hong Kong

The Peninsula opened on 11 December 1928 as the first hotel of what became the Peninsula brand, and it remains the most historic luxury hotel in Hong Kong. Its colonial-era building, with an Italianate exterior and a lobby that mixes Edwardian and Second Empire styles, faces Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. The hotel has its place in history too: on Christmas Day 1941, Governor Mark Young surrendered Hong Kong to Japanese forces here, and the building was renamed the Toa Hotel during the occupation.

In 1994 a 30-storey tower was added behind the original building in a matching style, while the facade, forecourt and lobby were preserved. The hotel now has 300 rooms and suites, and a major refurbishment programme was carried out in the 2010s. It is owned by the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels group.

Dining is a major part of the experience. Afternoon tea in The Lobby, served in the English style, is a Hong Kong ritual for guests and visitors alike. Gaddi's serves French cuisine and was home to one of the city's first chef's tables, Spring Moon is the Cantonese restaurant, and there is also Japanese and Swiss cooking at Imasa and Chesa. Felix was designed by Philippe Starck and is as well known for its design as for its food.

The hotel's fleet of 14 long-wheelbase Rolls-Royce Phantoms, painted in the hotel's green livery, has been in service since 2006, and a helipad on the roof of the tower can fly guests to the airport in about seven minutes. These details give a sense of the level of service on offer, and prices match.

The Peninsula suits couples on a special trip, luxury travellers and anyone who values history and tradition. Even if you are not staying, coming for afternoon tea is a good way to see the lobby. The location is central to Tsim Sha Tsui: the Star Ferry pier, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the harbourfront are a short walk away, and Rosewood Hong Kong and the Salisbury YMCA are neighbours on the same road. For enquiries, the hotel publishes a contact email on its website.