Header image: All About Durian afternoon tea option at Hotel ICON
Rising over the Tsim Sha Tsui East district, Hotel ICON is noteworthy for its gorgeous harbour views. The upscale hotel also stands out from others in Hong Kong for its youthful hospitality, reflected in the young, cheerful and energetic management team. With the majority of staff consisting of students currently studying at the prestigious, competitive School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, they are given first-hand exposure to a career in hospitality, learning from seasoned professionals.
Hotel ICON’s Epicurean Escapades package (from $2,000/night), on until 31 May 2021, includes the following benefits:
- One-night stay in an ICON 36 City Room
- Afternoon tea of your choice: All About Durian afternoon tea at The Market or seasonal afternoon tea at GREEN
- Two-course French dinner at GREEN (option to add on free-flow for $128/person)
- Buffet breakfast for two at The Market
The room
I have stayed at Hotel ICON before and adore the modern, eco-conscious design of the ICON 36 rooms. Upon entering, there’s a hallway leading to the room, a large, built-in closet covered by a sliding wooden door and a curvy wooden wall separating the bathroom, giving the space a sleek touch. A king-sized bed and decent-sized workspace greeted us, with a partial view of the harbour.
It’s the details and accents that make the room extra special. The refillable water station in the bathroom makes a big difference in reducing the use of plastic water bottles, and the therapeutic Australian APPELLES bath products sing of lemongrass and eucalyptus. If you’re on the go, a power bank is located on the glass desk.
The bathroom is the star of the room. A huge walk-in shower faces the mirror and sink, with the bathtub tucked away in a corner with its very own TV. I found this area super relaxing during my evening wind-down, especially because I do love a good bubble bath!
Afternoon tea and dinner at GREEN
At the weekend, the hotel lobby is always bustling with groups and families coming in for tea and checking in and out. GREEN was a full house on the day with visited. I love the eatery’s bright, open-plan design and its sustainable statement wall of plants stretching across the entire lobby.
Collaborating with chocolate brand Lindt for the month of March and Easter, the afternoon tea ($568/2) will be switching to a floral design, with some changes to the desserts for spring. All the sweet and savoury bites contained chocolate or cacao powder. Some of my favourites were the spiced dark chocolate ragout vol-au-vent and the foie gras ball. We added on free-flow Prosecco for $98, which is such as steal!
In case you are curious - here is the menu for the All About Durian afternoon tea option, which includes a number of durian dessert options, including creamy and bitter sweet Mao Shan Wang durian flesh.
At dusk, the lobby quiets down following the rush of afternoon tea, and GREEN becomes candlelit. Our two-course French dinner ($288/person) was simple, featuring a small selection of starters and mains. Most of the dishes on the menu are actually not French, but we stuck with the theme, ordering the comforting French onion soup and whipped duck liver terrine to start.
I recommend ordering the duck leg confit for your main – it was executed to perfection, showcasing tender, fall-off-the-bone meat.
Breakfast buffet at The Market
I have tried The Market’s buffets a few times, and the food never disappoints. Compared to other hotel buffet restaurants, The Market is spacious, with an even split of Western and Asian stations. The sashimi bar and diverse selection of desserts impressed me the most. I recommend being seated on the tranquil patio, filled with lush greenery.
Verdict
I’ve never been disappointed with the hospitality provided by Hotel ICON, and now with the rooftop pool and gym open, the hotel’s amenities will be in full swing for guests enjoying staycations in April and onward. At my next check-in here, I’m also going to book a spa appointment (I didn’t know they had one!). I hope the hotel spotlights its Michelin-recommended Chinese restaurant Above & Beyond, located on the top floor, in a future foodie-focused staycation offering.
17 Science Museum Road, TST East, 3400 1000, book online
This write-up is based on a complimentary media staycation provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here represent the author’s.
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