Mandarin Oriental’s Weekend Retreat for Hong Kongers

Staycation heaven for locals!

Even Hong Kong’s biggest fans (us, here at Sassy HQ), are ready to admit that this busy, bustling city can take its toll. I love this place for the excitement, the drive and (undeniably) the food, but keeping up with the pace of it all was leaving me feeling pretty burnt-out. By that I mean, I was trying to fit 24 hours into each day, and the word “holiday” was enough to spark more than just a sense of excitement in my sleep-deprived state.

Sounding all too familiar? Between the cost of travel, the strain of flights, and scheduling annual leave, I turned to the idea of a staycation as my salvation. Initially skeptical of staying in Hong Kong (the whole point of a break is to escape it all, right?), I wasn’t yet convinced that it would feel like a proper vacation. Well, I don’t say this often, but I am so glad that “I was wrong”…

Read more: Sassy’s Favourite Staycation Spots in Hong Kong 

That’s right, girls, I can definitely vouch for this one! If you’re looking to completely unwind and fall in love with Hong Kong all over again, The Weekend Retreat at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong really is the answer. There’s nothing that makes you appreciate the place you live in quite like the top quality service at this classically ‘Hong Kong’ hotel…

The Rooms:

Checking into their Verandah style room was all I needed to fully realise just how much of a treat this weekend would be. Whether you’re looking to relax over a romantic getaway, or have a girly night in, our city’s breathtaking skyline is a dream to fall asleep and wake up to. With gorgeously draped curtains on either side of the king size bed, the bright, airy room transforms into the cosiest of cocoons. It’s a stress-free zone, which is exactly what I was looking for. If you need more convincing, the bathroom lights have a dimmer “night” option for your 2am trip to the loo, and their pillow menu has a ‘NASA’ option (designed for astronauts – good enough for space, good enough for earth!). It was an ultimate getaway, and I can’t count how many times we said “pinch me” over the course of 24 hours.

The Afternoon Tea:

As an added bonus, this Weekend Retreat Package offers afternoon tea from the comfort of your room. On arrival, our tea was set up against the backdrop of the Hong Kong harbour, complete with hot coffee and a selection of teas. And yes, as the pictures suggest, it was tastebud heaven. From the rose petal jam and perfectly fluffy scones, to a layered cake that tasted like white Ferrero Rocher, I’m still convinced my life peaked in that hotel room. From classic to quirky, there was more than enough to exceed our expectations. Fresh juice served in test-tube shots, anyone?

The Food:

To say we were spoilt for choice with the (ten!) outstanding restaurants and bars would truly be an understatement. Hotel breakfasts have got to be one of my favourite things, and after the incredible night we’d had, the standards had been set higher than usual. To sum it up, my friend was so happy eating her bowl of muesli she was close to tears. Putting it in context, Liv had been backpacking all over Asia Pacific in hostels, so the incredible bizarreness of fresh honeycomb being scraped onto her plate was only accentuated.

After suitably stuffing ourselves at breakfast, we had a couple of hours to build up our appetite before heading to their Fine Dining Dim Sum Restaurant, Man Wah. The dining credit of $800 offered with the Weekend Retreat Package is perfect if you’re going for champagne brunch! Growing up with local dim sum featuring as a regular Sunday meal, I wasn’t sure how different fine dining would be, and it’s official, girls: Mandarin’s Man Wah Restaurant has the best beef tenderloin dim sum the world has ever known. Complete with 96 layers of heavenly pastry, and a gorgeous black pepper sauce, it somehow manages to have a crunch and texture, whilst still keeping that melt-in-your-mouth feature. Dream-worthy.

The Service:

Whilst five star hotels are easy to come across, (consistently) five star service is tricky to find. The people who work here are experts at what they do, and really are willing to go above and beyond to make sure your stay is everything you want it to be (and more!). From the receptionists and waiters, to the bathroom attendants and gym instructors, the staff here are all about making sure you enjoy yourself. They completely encourage you to make the most of your time – and with an irresistible spa, a (practically private) gym overlooking the harbour from the 24th floor, they give you no reason to want to leave.

Even though our checkout time was noon, they kept our bags safely stored till 9pm (as we hiked The Peak and popped out for dinner), and even asked if we’d like to use the steam room (again), before we left. So, the highlight for me? A microfibre cloth. I know, you’re thinking all that rose petal jam has gone to my head and made me delusional, but no, I’m being 100% serious. I had left my laptop on the bed when we popped up to use the gym (and steam room), and when we returned to the room, a tiny Mandarin microfibre cloth had been delicately placed beside my embarrassingly unkept screen. If that isn’t 5 star service, I don’t know what is.

The Verdict:

Whether you’re looking for a hotel to really “wow” visiting guests, celebrating a special occasion, or whether you’re just desperately in need of a break, the Weekend Retreat at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is the ideal way to really ignite your love of the city. I know it sounds slightly unbelievable, but all I needed was one night at this heavenly hotel and I basically (read: literally) skipped into the office on Monday morning. I was still gushing about how great it was the following weekend, and I’m still carrying that microfibre cloth in my handbag.

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong, +852 2522 0111, www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong

Terms & Conditions

-Guests are required to present a valid HKID or Macau ID upon arrival.
-Offer is valid for stays on Friday and Saturday only.
-Offer is subject to availability, is not applicable for groups and cannot be combined with any other offer.
-Special Event cancellation policies may apply.
-No charge for bookings cancelled by 4pm the day prior to arrival.