Regal Hongkong Hotel

Gleaming gold windows along one corner of the Regal Hongkong Hotel make this 35-story tower hard to miss from the outside. Built in the early 90's, the interiors combine high ceilings and bright three-story windows with a baroque-style European decor. Louis XV chairs, crystal-festooned candelabras, brass scrollwork, huge mirrored columns, and a sea of pink marble all misses the mark on elegant and looks spectacularly dated and borderline gaudy. Although the massive lobby offers loads of seating, it's too imposing to feel inviting and armchairs tend to stay empty.

The hotel is conveniently located between two MTR stations, just a four-minute walk down the street from the Causeway Bay Station, and a seven-minute walk in the other direction to Tin Hau Station. Hong Kong's biggest public green space, Victoria Park is one block away, and the popular Times Square Shopping Mall is seven minutes away on foot. Depending on traffic, it's about a five-minute drive to the harbor and Wan Chai Ferry Pier, with the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre another two-minutes away. Expect a 40-minute drive to the Hong Kong International Airport.

A bit less extravagant than the hotel's common spaces, the Regal's 481 rooms exude a classic European style. There's far less marble and gold, but the mirrored and gilded accents remain, paired with wood trim and modern white furniture. Patterned carpets and impressionist paintings hung over the beds complete the tableau. Glass-topped work desks and white roller chairs come standard, along with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and electric kettles. The bathrooms have walk-in showers and many have separate soaking tubs as well. Executive rooms add automatic espresso/coffeemakers, iPod docks, and access to the Executive Club Lounge (which serves a free breakfast).

Four restaurants cover both Western and Asian palates, with traditional Cantonese served at the Regal Palace and contemporary Italian at Alto 88. Both have a fine-dining atmosphere, while Café Rivoli is more casual and has a popular all-day buffet with a broad range of international food. Off the lobby, the Tiffany Lounge serves light meals, cocktails and afternoon tea, and the Regal Patisserie is the hotel's own cake and pastry shop. The Executive Club Lounge also serves a free continental breakfast for club members (and guests upgraded in the Executive Rooms and Suites). The views from the rooftop pool are noteworthy; unfortunately, the size doesn't allow for laps, but it's big enough for a relaxing plunge, and it's accompanied by a small sundeck with a hot tub. An adjacent 24-hour fitness center has state-of-the-art cardio machines and treadmills with built-in screens. Business facilities include a 20 different meeting rooms and banquet halls, the largest of which can accommodate 480 people. The hotel also operates a free shuttle bus to other Regal hotels around Hong Kong, as well as to the airport (for a fee).