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Checking in: Cordis, Hong Kong
- Rob Garratt
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
HONG KONG
Cordis is a younger, artier sister brand of old-world luxury kingpin Langham – inaugurated in 2015 when its Langham Place, Mongkok property was reborn. Since then, six more addresses have popped up across mainland China, and one in Auckland, and with five further Chinese properties in development, Cordis (that’s “heart in Latin”) is clearly on the up. However it all started here in Hong Kong – where we checked in for a celebratory staycation.
Art, Art, Everywhere
“Art gallery masquerading as a hotel” is how The New York Times once described Cordis, Hong Kong, and the stats don’t lie – the hotel’s 1,500-piece collection of Chinese contemporary art is more than double the property’s 669 beds. Art is indeed the first thing you notice arriving, the ground-floor entranceway dominated by Jiang Shio’s Red Guards – Going Forward! Making Money!, a pointed comment on China’s rapid evolution from communism to commercialism, from a hotel chain rooted in the same country.
One flight up in the lobby, it’s impossible to ignore the looming, life-sized sculptures – the leaping stone man of Wang Xinggang’s North Wind, Yin Hong’s quiet Meditation – that punctuate the luxurious space with a sense of purpose and gravity alike. Sensing our awe, staff quickly passed us a pack of cards, a nice take-home touch detailing many of the key pieces encouraging guests to make their own art tour of the hotel.
The Executive Experience
Before being able to pontificate further on the grotesque caricatures of Luo Zhenhong’s Dwarf Series – arranged on shelves to the right of the check-in-desk – we’re whisked up to the 36th-floor lounge. Booked into a Club Executive Suite, we’re ready to indulge in all those hassle-solving little extras that come with access to the spacious and ever-inviting Club Lounge area. Who needs to nip out for a snack when there’s a plethora of fancy finger foods and a DIY crêpe station – at the complimentary afternoon tea, served 3pm to 5pm daily. Why worry about where to have a pre-dinner aperitif when the liquor cabinet is open for happy hour come 6pm? (Our only grumble? No scotch in sight!)
The Room
At just over 800 square feet, the room itself is larger than most Hong Kong apartments – and better equipped. With family in tow, the separate living space complete with a second washroom is a godsend. A fully equipped kitchen – complete with oven, microwave and all the pots and pans the unenthused gourmand might need – makes longer stays a delight rather than a chore. The separate office room made getting work done on the go easy, and definitely sped up the completion of this review. The walk-in wardrobe minimises clutter, and there was even a washing machine in the guest toilet. Toiletries come courtesy of Christophe Laudamiel … and did we forget to mention the 39th-floor view west across Kowloon, towards the sea?
The Game of Dice
In surely one of the smartest marketing gimmicks we’ve encountered, inside our room was a large, soft dice in the brand’s trademark orange hue. Rolling it offers an instant boredom-annihilating activity that can be found inside the hotel – from joining a wine tasting or a neighbourhood market tour to visiting the spa.
These serve as not-so-subtle reminders to make the most of Cordis’ impressive roster of value-added “experiences”, which include daily culinary, cultural and fitness classes at no extra charge. Naturally your diligent CSP reviewers tried them all to report back.
Are You Experienced?
Begin the day poolside at 9am with a tai chi class led by Master Cheung – but don’t be fooled by the septuagenarian si fu’s grey hair – this is no retirees’ park workout. Instead, we are taught an advanced class of six different punches, parries and throws, with scary-sounding names including “As if shutting a door” and “Embrace Tiger and Return to the Mountain” (the latter, a chance to throw your attacker upside-down!). The sunset yoga class was equally unconventional, satisfying all comers with a focus on deep stretching and table-top variations that somehow managed to avoid downward-facing dog, savasana, or a moment’s meditation.
On the same floor sits the excellent Chuan Spa, where our signature couples’ massage begins with a self-report survey revealing which of the five elements we both are – and subsequently what oil is used on treatment – a nice regional touch which elevated our visit beyond the often generic hotel spa experience.
The daily market tour offers guests quick geographic pointers on where to find key local attractions such as Ladies Market and Sneaker Street.
The sustainable cocktail workshop takes guests into the hotel’s hip lounge bar Alibi – a classy yet characterful space with regular guest shifts from international bartenders, DJs spinning kooky and eclectic vinyl at weekends and, you guessed it, art all over the walls. We were taught how to make a signature cocktail based on local gin, white wine reduction, and a blend of three different teas – only complete following the obligatory shaker-waving experience.
Hosted in Ming Cellar, the evening wine tasting is thankfully free from pretension, with no quaffing, spitting or tasting notes in sight. Styled more like a happy hour meet with fellow guests, we’re simply presented with a glass each of sparkling cava, white and red – and encouraged to collectively polish off each bottle before we leave. Each is paired with snacks, including mouth-watering signature char siu pork from the neighbouring restaurant, which we’ll get to next…
The Signature Restaurant
Before there was Cordis, there was Ming Court, the Michelin-listed restaurant which has been serving premium Cantonese cuisine with respectful nods of modernity since 1988. The meticulously plated eight-course degustation menu offered an array of tastebud-exploding knockouts, with the local lobster and deep-fried stuffed crab shell especially satisfying for this seafood lover. Particularly impressive was the vegetarian degustation menu, which didn’t disappoint in comparison, as is so often the case.
Suitably vowed, we returned for dim sum barely 12 hours later and were no less satisfied by the restaurant’s “deluxe” take on the beloved daytime dining tradition. The cute roasted goose puff, assorted mushroom bun, abalone tart and wellness dumpling trio will all be on our next order.
Overall
This jaded writer has reviewed seven hotels in the past three months alone, but came away genuinely and seriously impressed with this Cordis staycation. Despite the brand’s scale, the Hong Kong hotel remains rooted in the city – evident in the self-published top-100 attractions guidebook in all rooms. It’s also completely unique – evident in the owner’s thrilling personal art collection. Finally, we almost forgot to mention it’s a great hotel for kids, with Cody the red panda as its ambassador, and every kiddo gifted a wearable goodie bag upon check-in, complete with an activity book and crayons. Certainly cute, smart marketing no doubt – but more than anything, an invaluable dinner table distraction.
Cordis, Hong Kong, 555 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, cordishotels.com
Disclaimer: The writer was invited by Cordis, Hong Kong, to experience the property. All observations, assessments, and opinions expressed are based on the writer’s independent experience and professional judgement.
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