Right off the bat, The Royal Garden hotel is one of the best hotels I’ve ever been to. At the time, the rate for one night at The Garden was less than $100 per night. I booked on www.trip.com and that was a breeze. (Look at my review on trip here: Crimson21 Trip.com Royal Garden Review) When I arrived at the hotel, a row of taxis was parked along the curb right outside the hotel. Seems they were just waiting for any hotel guest to step out of the hotel and step into their vehicle. It was truly welcoming to see doormen patiently holding the door open for arriving or departing guests.
In the lobby, check-in was smooth as butter. Polly said she had upgraded my Deluxe room to a Superior one with a better view of The Victoria Harbour. This was the second welcoming act The Royal Garden had going for them in my book. (I guess this is why I remember her name) Because of this kind gesture and her welcoming smile plus the ease of our conversation, I wondered if the stay would feel as good as checking in. Please note after presenting my ID, I was told the hotel requires a deposit of HK$1000 or its equivalent during my stay. This amount is refunded upon check-out I was assured.
Synopsis review: Superior non-smoking room with 1 Queen bed (smoking rooms are also available), a bathroom with a bathtub, a small closet with 2 bath-robes, hotel slippers, and a safe, complete with an electric kettle and blow-dryer. Amenities such as a toothbrush, a shaving kit, and a sample-sized body wash are also present.
To be honest, the elevator ride up to my room was an experience in itself. When you step into the elevator you are greeted by the view of the hotel dining hall plus the outcropping of hotel rooms. It’s a gorgeous sight to see as you ascend to your floor, especially at night when the tables and floors are lit up. It put me in an already better mood than I was already.
The room was clean and fresh and when my friend pulled those curtains, we were both amazed at the view they were hiding. Their spa service is located on the 15th floor and they have a variety of massages. I opted to get a full body massage for an hour. Please note this service is no longer an option beyond 10 PM. I went downstairs for breakfast which is buffet style. Breakfast begins at 7, is crowded around 9 and ends at 10:30AM. There is a cook available if you want a customized omelette done for you as well, I enjoyed this service.
I had dinner at the Vietnamese restaurant, Le Soleil. It was pretty late for them considering I went at 10 and they close at 10:30PM. I quickly ordered stewed beef with poached egg, fried chicken wings, a side order of rice and a cup of tea. The chicken wings were my favorite for they were semi-crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside. It would be nice if the sauce served had a bit more of a kick being paired with something tangy but it was late and I was just happy to be fed that night. See if this is a hotel you would consider based on the pictures plus the pros and cons below.
The PROS
- Great location if you are in the Tsim Sha Tsui Area for nightlife and shopping plus the waterfront is just within walking distance
- Immaculately clean hotel room (Mention must be made of the bathroom which was the cleanest I’ve seen in a hotel. The shower curtain was pristine and so was the bathtub)
- Restaurants inside the hotel in case you don’t feel like going out to eat
- Heated pool, gym, spa, and room services are available
- Housekeeping everyday
- Great Harbor View
- Charging cable on the bedside table if you forgot to bring one (HKD50 fee if you take it)
The CONS
- I’d have preferred an earlier check-in time of 2 but check-in here is an hour later
- Similarly, guests must check out by 11, although it would be nice to check out by noon instead
- I would have liked if dinner time went beyond 10:30pm so if you do feel peckish, you must grab something off property
My overall stay at The Royal Garden was delightful. I have no complaints. Check-in and check-out were a breeze, there are restaurants in the vicinity outside of the hotel should you want to stretch your legs. I mainly walked to get to the shopping Malls on Canton Road but if you want a taxi, Uber works, or just hail a taxi outside. This is the only hotel I have been to twice and never regretted it. I hope you found this review helpful, let me know if you plan to visit or have any questions about it.
You can also check out the review for Hotel Alexandria in Hong Kong: Is Hotel Alexandra the best choice for you?
Thanks for reading!
