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The Langham Mongkok has been on my radar for ages, on the multiple recommendations of AFFers. I've been a long time stayer at the Mira (on Nathan Rd, opposite Kowloon Park) so was interested to compare.
The Langham Mongkok is now the Cordis Langham Place (my taxi driver from Kowloon station had never heard of it until I said the old name).
I had a Club room booked, at a rate that included late (3pm) check-out. I arrived at the pub about 8:50pm and in spite of the taxi driver leaning on the horn a few times, there was no-one there to greet us. I usually want to do my own bags, but this time when I was tired and the bag weighed a ton, with business documents from my trip away, I was a bit peeved not to get any help. Fortunately a guy turned up in time to point me to the right bank of lifts for the Club floor and check-in. There, the lady tapped away for seemingly forever. Un-oh .. I really don't need a problem right now ... dinner at Ming Court is a-waiting! Finally, key card was produced and a sheet showing all the Club benefits. Then she checked her screen again, went to the cupboard and brought out a cold towel. I'm guessing that should have been first!
My room was on the 39th floor and judging by the emergency evac diagram, was one of the smaller rooms on the floor. No matter - I was only there to crash for the night.
Room was good - aircon working and unobtrusive; views OK; blinds give total black-out; bathroom functional.
Met a friend at their 1 Michelin Starred Ming Court restaurant. Will review elsewhere; it was OK, but we didn't really have the meal to give it a decent test.
I went back to the Club at about 10:30, hoping to squeeze in a drink in before they closed, I thought at 10:30pm. Indeed, the staff were clearing everything away, but I managed to help myself to a white before it disappeared. I was really, really annoyed when I went back to my room and reviewed the Club perks sheet, which said that the lounge would be open for drinks until 11:00pm!! Clearly as there was no-one there at 10:30pm (until I arrived and a couple of others arrived at the same time) they decided to close up. Absolutely pizz-poor.
More of the lounge in daylight
One of the views, and the drinks selection. Wines European.
Breakfast in the lounge was good, without being spectacular; on the way to breakfast, outside a room on my floor I passed the same used room service plates etc. that was there the night before. One of the Club perks on the sheet was 30 mins free of a 60m spa session OR a free foot massage. When I went to claim the latter, after a morning trotting around HKG, it was denied, with the attendant saying the foot thing was part of the 60 minute session. I couldn't be bothered arguing.
Check-out was uneventful, but I have a niggling thought that I was some-how over-charged for dinner. Can't find the docket until I unpack.
The Cordis is directly opposite the Langham Place shopping centre, with the Mongkok MRT accessible through it. Otherwise, I can't see much to recommend the location - the traffic getting out to Kowloon station was horrendous. (And why would you get guests to stand in line in the heat waiting for a taxi, rather than calling them outside when the taxi arrives?)
Overall, the hard product is very good and there are virtues and drawbacks for the location; views are great. The soft product (service) is, frankly, cough for a hotel of this standard. Will be interested to hear from people who had stayed here under the former branding / management; for their sake I hope my experience wasn't indicative, otherwise I might be welcoming them down the road at the Mira
It was an interesting diversion, but I'm going to stick with the Mira.
The Langham Mongkok is now the Cordis Langham Place (my taxi driver from Kowloon station had never heard of it until I said the old name).
I had a Club room booked, at a rate that included late (3pm) check-out. I arrived at the pub about 8:50pm and in spite of the taxi driver leaning on the horn a few times, there was no-one there to greet us. I usually want to do my own bags, but this time when I was tired and the bag weighed a ton, with business documents from my trip away, I was a bit peeved not to get any help. Fortunately a guy turned up in time to point me to the right bank of lifts for the Club floor and check-in. There, the lady tapped away for seemingly forever. Un-oh .. I really don't need a problem right now ... dinner at Ming Court is a-waiting! Finally, key card was produced and a sheet showing all the Club benefits. Then she checked her screen again, went to the cupboard and brought out a cold towel. I'm guessing that should have been first!
My room was on the 39th floor and judging by the emergency evac diagram, was one of the smaller rooms on the floor. No matter - I was only there to crash for the night.
Room was good - aircon working and unobtrusive; views OK; blinds give total black-out; bathroom functional.
Met a friend at their 1 Michelin Starred Ming Court restaurant. Will review elsewhere; it was OK, but we didn't really have the meal to give it a decent test.
I went back to the Club at about 10:30, hoping to squeeze in a drink in before they closed, I thought at 10:30pm. Indeed, the staff were clearing everything away, but I managed to help myself to a white before it disappeared. I was really, really annoyed when I went back to my room and reviewed the Club perks sheet, which said that the lounge would be open for drinks until 11:00pm!! Clearly as there was no-one there at 10:30pm (until I arrived and a couple of others arrived at the same time) they decided to close up. Absolutely pizz-poor.
More of the lounge in daylight
One of the views, and the drinks selection. Wines European.
Breakfast in the lounge was good, without being spectacular; on the way to breakfast, outside a room on my floor I passed the same used room service plates etc. that was there the night before. One of the Club perks on the sheet was 30 mins free of a 60m spa session OR a free foot massage. When I went to claim the latter, after a morning trotting around HKG, it was denied, with the attendant saying the foot thing was part of the 60 minute session. I couldn't be bothered arguing.
Check-out was uneventful, but I have a niggling thought that I was some-how over-charged for dinner. Can't find the docket until I unpack.
The Cordis is directly opposite the Langham Place shopping centre, with the Mongkok MRT accessible through it. Otherwise, I can't see much to recommend the location - the traffic getting out to Kowloon station was horrendous. (And why would you get guests to stand in line in the heat waiting for a taxi, rather than calling them outside when the taxi arrives?)
Overall, the hard product is very good and there are virtues and drawbacks for the location; views are great. The soft product (service) is, frankly, cough for a hotel of this standard. Will be interested to hear from people who had stayed here under the former branding / management; for their sake I hope my experience wasn't indicative, otherwise I might be welcoming them down the road at the Mira
It was an interesting diversion, but I'm going to stick with the Mira.
