The Peninsula Hong Kong

Overview & Heritage

Built as the ultimate railway hotel at the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, the 'Grande Dame of the Far East' is Hong Kong's oldest surviving hotel and a defining monument of the city's colonial-era luxury.

• The Kadoorie Family — The hotel remains the flagship property of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, chaired by Sir Michael Kadoorie. The Jewish-Iraqi family has controlled the company since the late 19th century and originally built the hotel to accommodate elite passengers arriving at the terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
• The Rolls-Royce Fleet — The Peninsula operates 14 Extended Wheelbase Rolls-Royce Phantom VIIIs, all painted in the trademark 'Peninsula Brewster Green'. The partnership began in 1970 when the hotel placed a record-breaking order for seven Silver Shadows; today, the fleet requires a dedicated underground garage and custom maintenance crew.
• The Pageboys — Guests are still greeted by pageboys wearing crisp white pillbox hats and matching uniforms, a sartorial tradition that has remained largely unchanged since the hotel's doors opened in 1928.

Signature & World-Exclusive Facilities

The Peninsula distinguishes itself through a level of proprietary infrastructure rarely seen in urban hotels, combining its own aviation department with bespoke transport logistics.

• Rooftop Helipads — The 1994 tower is topped by twin helipads, making it the only hotel in Hong Kong with private aviation facilities. The hotel operates MD902 Explorer helicopters for sightseeing tours and eight-minute VIP transfers to Hong Kong International Airport.
• The China Clipper — Aviation passengers check in at this 30th-floor private lounge, named after the Pan Am flying boats that connected the US to Hong Kong in the 1930s. The space acts as a mini-museum, displaying vintage propellers, aeronautical maps, and original Pan Am memorabilia.
• The Peninsula Academy — A bespoke cultural programme that grants guests access to exclusive local experiences, ranging from dim sum masterclasses in the Spring Moon kitchens to private viewings of local contemporary art and guided tours of Kowloon's heritage sites.

Dining & Bars

The property houses several historic culinary institutions, ranging from Hong Kong's first French fine-dining room to experimental modern venues in the tower extension.

• Gaddi’s — Opened in 1953 and named after former general manager Leo Gaddi, this was Hong Kong's first European haute cuisine restaurant. It features a Christofle silver-and-crystal chandelier acquired from Paris, original Tai Ping carpets, and a live jazz band. The four-seat Chef’s Table is located entirely inside the working kitchen.
• Spring Moon — Designed to resemble a 1920s Shanghai dining room with stained glass and teak panelling, this Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant is renowned for inventing XO sauce in 1986. The proprietary condiment, made from dried scallops, shrimp, and chili, is still prepared in-house.
• Felix — Occupying the 28th floor of the Tower, this avant-garde European restaurant was designed by French visionary Philippe Starck. It is famous for its glowing floor, zinc-clad pillars, and men's washroom, which features urinals mounted against floor-to-ceiling glass offering uninterrupted views across Kowloon.
• The Lobby — The hotel's neoclassical heart features gilded plasterwork ceilings and soaring columns. It serves one of Asia's most famous afternoon teas, accompanied by a live string quartet playing from the mezzanine balcony. The Tiffany silver tea sets produce 80,000 cups of tea annually.

Wellness, Spa & Grooming

Spa facilities are concentrated in the modern tower, providing high-altitude wellness spaces that capitalise on the harbour views.

• The Peninsula Spa — Occupying 12,000 square feet across two floors of the tower, the ESPA-designed facility features 14 treatment rooms, thermal suites with crystal steam rooms, and saunas overlooking Victoria Harbour. It exclusively offers facial treatments by Swiss brand Margy’s Monte Carlo.
• The Roman Pool — Located on the 8th floor, the 18-metre heated indoor pool is surrounded by neoclassical columns, statues, and cornices. Floor-to-ceiling glass panels look out toward the Central skyline, and an adjoining sun terrace provides outdoor lounging space in the warmer months.

Rooms, Suites & Occupancy

Rooms blend classical residential styling—cream leathers, dark burr walnut, and marble—with highly advanced, proprietary in-room technology developed by the brand's own research and development facility.

• Original vs Tower configurations — The 300 rooms are split between the six-storey 1928 Original Building and the 30-storey 1994 Tower. Original Building rooms have classic courtyard or Kowloon city views and slightly lower ceilings; Tower rooms offer sweeping views over Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Island skyline.
• Gettys Group tech refit — A HKD 450 million renovation in 2012–2013 introduced custom technology, including bespoke interactive bedside tablets that control room functions in 11 languages, VOIP phones for free long-distance calls, and built-in nail dryers in the dressing tables.
• The Valet Box — Every room features the brand's signature double-doored valet box built into the wall. Guests place shoes for polishing or laundry inside, and staff retrieve and return the items from the corridor without ever knocking or entering the room.
• The Peninsula Suite — The hotel's top key spans 377 square metres on the 26th floor. It features double-height ceilings in the living room, a private cinema, a baby grand piano, a gym, and dedicated security features including a private secure lift and bulletproof glass facing the harbour.

Location & Getting Around

Positioned in the prime tourist and cultural district of Kowloon, the property acts as a luxurious basecamp for exploring both sides of Victoria Harbour.

• Location — The hotel anchors the intersection of Salisbury Road and Nathan Road at the southern tip of Tsim Sha Tsui, forming the historic gateway to the Kowloon Peninsula.
• Walking distances — The Star Ferry Pier, providing the classic five-minute water crossing to Central on Hong Kong Island, is a five-minute walk from the forecourt. The K11 Musea shopping and cultural complex, as well as the Avenue of Stars along the waterfront promenade, are directly adjacent to the hotel.
• Public transport — The Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station (Exit E) is less than two minutes away on foot, connecting guests to the Tsuen Wan Line. The East Tsim Sha Tsui station provides access to the Tuen Ma Line.

Milestones

1. 1928

   Opening of the Grande Dame

   The hotel officially opened on 11 December, establishing itself as the premier accommodation for passengers arriving at the adjacent Kowloon-Canton Railway terminus.

2. 1941–1945

   WWII Occupation

   The hotel was requisitioned as the headquarters for the Japanese occupation forces. On 25 December 1941, Hong Kong Governor Sir Mark Young signed the surrender of Hong Kong on the third floor of the hotel.

3. 1953

   Gaddi's Opens

   Gaddi's opened its doors, becoming the first establishment in Hong Kong to offer European haute cuisine and introducing the concept of formal dining to the city's post-war social scene.

4. 1970

   The First Rolls-Royce Fleet

   The hotel initiated its defining partnership with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars by ordering seven Silver Shadows. This marked the largest single order ever placed with the British automotive manufacturer at the time.

5. 1994

   Tower Extension

   A 30-storey, 132-room tower extension designed by Hong Kong architect Rocco Yim was completed. The addition introduced twin helipads, a Roman-style swimming pool, and sweeping harbour views.

6. 2012–2013

   Comprehensive Refit

   The Gettys Group executed a HKD 450 million renovation of all 300 guest rooms, introducing highly customised, proprietary room technology including multi-lingual interactive tablets.

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