"What an absolute wonder! Having afternoon tea at The Lobby of The Peninsula Hong Kong is not just a mid-day treat; it is a ritual, a journey back in time, and undoubtedly one of the most iconic culinary and cultural experiences in the world. From the moment you walk through the revolving doors and step into that majestic, colonial-style hall, you realize you are experiencing something truly special. Whether you are planning your visit, reliving the experience, or sharing it with someone, here are the pillars that make this Afternoon Tea so legendary: 1. The Setting: Classic Elegance The high ceilings with gilded neoclassical moldings, the towering columns, and the crystal chandeliers instantly transport you back to the 1920s. As you enjoy your meal, a live string quintet (The Lobby Strings) plays from the balcony above, creating an atmosphere of absolute serenity right in the heart of bustling Kowloon. 2. The Stars of the Menu: The Scones While the seasonal menu features delicate savory finger sandwiches (the classic cucumber is a must) and fine pastries, the undisputed king of the three-tiered stand is the traditional raisin scones. • They arrive wrapped in cloth to keep them warm. • They are served with authentic Devonshire clotted cream and organic strawberry jam. 3. The Tableware and Details The experience is elevated by the finest touches of luxury: • Fine Silverware: The bespoke Tiffany & Co. silver tableware gleams impeccably. • The Tea: They offer a massive selection of loose-leaf teas, ranging from the classic Peninsula Afternoon Blend to premium local oolong and pu-erh teas."

"Our stay here showed us outstanding service levels that we have never previously enjoyed. In the months/weeks prior to our arrival, the staff reached out several times to get details on the reason for our stay (celebrating a number of milestones) so that they could arrange a special welcome for us.  TRANSPORTATION and CHECK IN: We arranged for airport transportation thru the hotel. A host was waiting for us after immigration, and we were efficiently and smoothly handed off to our vehicle. Upon arrival at the hotel, we were taken immediately to our room, where check in was quick and efficient. On our outgoing flight, the attendant escorted us all the way to the check in desk and waited until we were fully checked in to make sure there were no issues. My friend decided to pay for a flight upgrade, which meant he had to go to a few different lines - the Peninsula staffer stayed with him the whole time! ROOM: The entire hotel exudes grandeur from the moment you walk in, everything is absolutely immaculate. Our room was fairly large with a king bed, a lounging chair, separate working desk and cosmetic desks, and a table for in front of the window, allowing for a wonderful view of the harbor. Bathroom was massive, with double sinks, a soaking tub (with TV), and separate water closet. I have no idea what their housekeeping protocol is - it felt as if no matter how many times a day we left the room, someone came and magically straightened it up while we were away. LOCATION: Though some people might consider this area more Westernized and touristy, we preferred it as we feel it is slightly less hectic and shoulder-to-shoulder than HK island. The Peninsula is just a few minutes from the main shopping strips, ferry, and subway system so it was easy to get everywhere.    RESTAURANT: The breakfast buffet was outstanding, there was every Western and asian option one could imagine. I was waiting for the omelette chef to prepare my eggs when a well dressed man handed him a plate with a few pieces of bacon and walked away. I had a puzzled look on my face when the chef explained the man was the GM of the hotel and felt the bacon was not of sufficient quality - goes to illustrate the meticulous attention to detail!!!"

"We’ve been to Hong Kong more times than I can count, but for some reason, we never actually stayed at The Peninsula until this past March. Now I’m wondering why we waited so long. There is a reason people call it the Grand Dame. The history is everywhere, but it doesn't feel stuffy, it feels incredibly polished. We did the classic High Tea one afternoon, and the atmosphere and the service made it feel very special. Our room was stunning and really well-appointed, but the real showstopper was the view. Having a full, unobstructed look at the Hong Kong harbor from our room never got old.. What really stood out, though, was the team. A huge thank you to LeeAnn Brown, Amanda Law, and Megumi Kawai. They were so attentive and made our first stay feel like we’d been regulars for years. It’s rare to find a place that can balance that level of old-school prestige with genuine warmth, but they nailed it. If you’re on the fence about staying here, just do it. It’s a completely different experience being an actual guest. We’ll be back for sure."

"I returned to this historical property for 11 nights after 3 years, beginning with 2 nights in the Courtyard Suite before moving to the Harbour View Suite in the new wing. I loved the Courtyard Suite; although it didn’t offer much of a view, all the amenities were in very good condition. The housekeeping team was exceptional, and the airport transfer service was equally impressive, aligning with their reputation as the "Grand Dame of the Far East." The spa service was also excellent. However, the breakfast experience was a bit disappointing. The arrangements were chaotic, and I didn’t enjoy breakfast at the Verandah. On some mornings, hotel guests had to wait up to 20 minutes in line. It was clear that the service staff were struggling to meet everyone's needs, and asking them to maintain a smile seemed like a challenge. As a result, the atmosphere in the restaurant felt tense, which led me to skip breakfast on a couple of mornings. Checking out on Sunday afternoon felt like waiting outside the entrance to a football match. Fortunately, I was able to check out on a weekday well before the checkout time. During that process, I was unexpectedly greeted by a fantastic front desk staff member, Hannah, who gave me a truly professional and memorable farewell. If I return to the Peninsula, she would definitely be one of the reasons."

"We are sad to leave this poor review after receiving 1 star service in The Peninsula Hong Kong, a supposedly 5 star hotel brand. Bad services include: 1. The assistant event manager went MIA on our wedding day 2. The assigned butler also went MIA except for a brief 45 minutes period 3. The butler did not help the bride with her gown train 4. Lack of seating plan as arranged by the host 5. No staff notified us when guests arrived in the banquet hall 6. Forgot to play background music during reception 7. Played the wrong video during lunch banquet 8. The staff who played the wrong video told us verbatim he was "faked" by the assistant event manager 9. Delay in between courses causing overrun 10. Guests raised comments on a slight bitter taste on the suckling pig skin 11. The captain even asked us to sign a bill when we were greeting guests waiting for the delayed event to start The bad services above have been fully investigated and acknowledged by The Peninsula Hong Kong and they sent us an apology letter taking full responsibility afterwards but this does nothing to erase the bitter taste it left on our special day ... Actually, the apology letter signed by their Director of Events, Vindy Lui, also contained a glaring error — stating the bill presentation was “handled properly” when it should have been “improperly” — showing how little care went into the apology itself. We have stayed in The Peninsula Hong Kong and visited their restaurants on separate occasions. The live band and food at Gaddi's are particularly good. The spa is on the pricey side but the treatment makes it worth it. If only their service staff for Chinese banquets, as well as the event management personnel, were not such a huge dropoff in terms of service standards, and did not have such an outdated service culture lagging behind other 5 star hotel brands in Hong Kong. We are truly disappointed!"