With its sweeping harbour views, thoughtful family touches and quietly contemporary take on luxury, Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong makes a compelling case for slowing down in one of the world’s most exhilarating cities.
Photo Gallery
For Lewis, our almost 2-year-old son Niko and me, Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong offered just that: a waterfront retreat with enough space to breathe, a distinctly urban energy and the sort of thoughtful details that make travelling as a family feel less like a logistical exercise and more like an adventure.
Set on the Kowloon waterfront in Hung Hom Bay, the hotel occupies an interesting position in the city. Designed by André Fu, whose work is known for its sophisticated interplay of space, texture and light, it feels contemporary without being cold. There is a sense of openness throughout, with the harbour providing a constant visual thread between the interiors and the city beyond. Hong Kong can be wonderfully intense, but here, the water offers a moment of calm.
And what water it is. Victoria Harbour is one of those views that never quite loses its magic, no matter how many times you see it. From the hotel’s harbour-facing rooms, the city unfolds across the water, with Hong Kong Island rising in the distance. Mornings take on a different rhythm when the first thing you see is the skyline catching the light, while evenings bring the glittering spectacle of the city illuminated after dark.
Our base was the Questers Premier Sea View Family Room, a particularly appealing option for those travelling with little ones. At approximately 47 square metres, it offers a generous amount of space by Hong Kong standards, where hotel rooms can often feel compact. When you are travelling with a toddler, that extra room matters more than you might imagine. There is luggage to unpack, toys that somehow multiply overnight and the inevitable collection of snacks, spare clothes and other essentials that accompany family life on the road.
The family-focused touches also help make the experience feel considered rather than simply accommodating. Kerry Hotel offers child-friendly amenities, including its Questers welcome pack with a lantern and polaroid camera to capture your stay, while baby cots and additional beds can be arranged. These may seem like small details, but they can make a genuine difference when you are travelling with a young child. Luxury, after all, is not always about grand gestures; sometimes it is about someone having thought ahead.
Of course, one of the greatest pleasures of staying somewhere like Kerry Hotel is the opportunity to enjoy a little indulgence without having to venture far. The hotel has a collection of restaurants and bars, giving guests plenty of choice whether the mood calls for a leisurely meal, something casual or a drink with a view.
Hung Tong, the hotel’s contemporary Chinese restaurant, offers a taste of Cantonese dining in a setting that draws on the heritage of the surrounding Hung Hom neighbourhood. For families keen to explore Hong Kong’s food culture, having a restaurant of this calibre on the doorstep is a welcome convenience. Red Sugar, meanwhile, brings a more atmospheric mood, with its expansive rooftop terrace and panoramic views across Victoria Harbour. It is the sort of setting that reminds you why Hong Kong remains one of the world’s great cities for an evening drink – although, with a little one in tow, an early evening view can be every bit as rewarding as a late-night outing.
For parents, the hotel’s all-day dining options are another practical advantage. Travelling with a toddler means accepting that hunger rarely adheres to a carefully planned itinerary. A flexible approach to meals, and somewhere comfortable to retreat when little legs grow tired, can make all the difference between a stressful day and a happy one.
Then there is the outdoor swimming pool, which brings a resort-like quality to the experience. Between sightseeing excursions, a swim offers an appealing way to reset, particularly in Hong Kong’s warmer months. The hotel’s fitness facilities add further opportunities to unwind, while its waterfront setting invites slower moments between the city’s many attractions.
Location is another consideration worth mentioning. Although Kerry Hotel feels removed from the busiest tourist thoroughfares, it remains well connected, with Whampoa MTR station nearby and transport links making it straightforward to explore Kowloon’s shopping districts and beyond. That balance is especially valuable with children: the freedom to discover the city, with a comfortable base to return to when the day has run its course.
Travelling as a family has changed the way we experience destinations. I still love the extraordinary hotels, the beautiful design and the feeling of discovering somewhere new, but I have also come to appreciate the places that allow all three of us to enjoy a trip in our own way. Lewis and I want to soak up the atmosphere and explore; Niko wants space to play, interesting things to look at and the freedom to be a toddler. The best hotel stays find a way to bring those needs together.
Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong does this through a combination of generous accommodation, family-minded amenities and an enviable waterfront setting. It manages to feel like a luxury destination in its own right without losing sight of the reason many of us come to Hong Kong in the first place: to immerse ourselves in its extraordinary energy.
KeiKei is a London-based award-winning journalist and videographer with a degree in Broadcast Media and Journalism from the University of the West of Scotland and an extensive reporting background in news, entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
KeiKei has travelled the globe interviewing, reporting and reviewing. Her work has been published in worldwide media outlets including, The New York Post, The Guardian, The Mirror, The Daily Mail, National Geographic and Conde Nast publications.
