Words by Aude Camus
Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui is opening its doors today (16 September 2025) bringing the boutique lifestyle brand to Hong Kong for the very first time. And they’re doing it in style: with 495 rooms, this is not only their debut in the city but also the largest Kimpton hotel in the world, positioning Tsim Sha Tsui as the brand’s global flagship.
But while size matters here, what really makes this opening special is how it blends contemporary style with local heritage and hyper-local touches.
A site with heritage
Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui is opening its doors today (16 September 2025) bringing the boutique lifestyle brand to Hong Kong for the very first time. And they’re doing it in style: with 495 rooms, this is not only their debut in the city but also the largest Kimpton hotel in the world, positioning Tsim Sha Tsui as the brand’s global flagship.
But while size matters here, what really makes this opening special is how it blends contemporary style with local heritage and hyper-local touches.
A site with heritage
The hotel rises from the site of the old Mariner’s Club, which opened in 1967 as a rest house for international seafarers docking at Victoria Harbour. For decades, the Mariner’s Club was more than just a place to sleep — it was a social hub with affordable accommodation, a swimming pool, and even a chapel, offering comfort to those who spent their lives at sea
When the time came to redevelop, the mission was clear: preserve the spirit of this historic address while reimagining it for modern travellers. That sensitivity shines through. Design details draw from the Mariner’s Club itself and from nearby Signal Hill Tower, a red-brick time-ball tower dating back to 1907. Once used to signal accurate time to ships in the harbour, it remains one of Tsim Sha Tsui’s most distinctive landmarks — and you can still glimpse its outline from the hotel. Together, these references root Kimpton firmly in the neighbourhood’s maritime past.
All about the views
When the time came to redevelop, the mission was clear: preserve the spirit of this historic address while reimagining it for modern travellers. That sensitivity shines through. Design details draw from the Mariner’s Club itself and from nearby Signal Hill Tower, a red-brick time-ball tower dating back to 1907. Once used to signal accurate time to ships in the harbour, it remains one of Tsim Sha Tsui’s most distinctive landmarks — and you can still glimpse its outline from the hotel. Together, these references root Kimpton firmly in the neighbourhood’s maritime past.
All about the views
If you’re staying in TST, you want the harbour views — and Kimpton delivers. Every single guest room and suite comes with floor-to-ceiling windows framing Victoria Harbour, so whether it’s sunrise or the Symphony of Lights, the skyline becomes part of your stay. It’s an impressive detail that makes even the simplest rituals, like a morning coffee, feel like a moment to pause and take it all in.
More than a hotel: a lifestyle hub
Step inside and the vibe is more lifestyle hub than corporate hotel. Interiors are bold, playful, and designed in collaboration with some of Hong Kong’s leading studios, but it’s the hyper-local partnerships that give the property its soul.
Coffee lovers will appreciate that Elephant Grounds created a bespoke house roast exclusively for the hotel, while Conspiracy Chocolate, Hong Kong’s bean-to-bar mavericks, crafted chocolate bars that guests will discover in-room and at events. These aren’t superficial branding moves but part of Kimpton’s commitment to being rooted in community.
Food, drink, and those rooftop views
More than a hotel: a lifestyle hub
Step inside and the vibe is more lifestyle hub than corporate hotel. Interiors are bold, playful, and designed in collaboration with some of Hong Kong’s leading studios, but it’s the hyper-local partnerships that give the property its soul.
Coffee lovers will appreciate that Elephant Grounds created a bespoke house roast exclusively for the hotel, while Conspiracy Chocolate, Hong Kong’s bean-to-bar mavericks, crafted chocolate bars that guests will discover in-room and at events. These aren’t superficial branding moves but part of Kimpton’s commitment to being rooted in community.
Food, drink, and those rooftop views
Dining is a big part of Kimpton’s DNA, and Tsim Sha Tsui is no exception. Birdsong is the all-day café and bar where you’ll start your mornings with artisanal coffee and perhaps end your evenings with craft cocktails. Hillside brings third culture cuisine — where chefs whose lives span multiple cultures bring their own interpretation of nostalgic flavours, while Swim Club, the rooftop pool bar, is destined to be a favourite for sundowners with its Victoria Harbour views. The hotel also hosts JĪJĀ by chef Vicky Lau (the only female chef in Hong Kong to run a two-Michelin starred restaurant, TATE, she is also the creative mind behind Michelin Green Star-awardee Mora), adding even more culinary prestige. And for those in search of something more intimate, there’s High Dive, an 8-seat speakeasy bar that whispers exclusivity.
Wellness with an edge
Wellness with an edge
Wellness here is taken seriously. Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui houses Hong Kong’s only HYROX-affiliated hotel’s gym, fully equipped with brand-new Technogym machines, perfect for those training for the global fitness race that combines strength and endurance.
Guests can also swim laps in the heated 20-metre rooftop pool, practice yoga in their rooms equipped with lululemon mats, or (soon) book treatments at the Angsana Spa by Banyan Tree, which will bring holistic therapies to the property.
Hong Kong Madame’s favourite part
Guests can also swim laps in the heated 20-metre rooftop pool, practice yoga in their rooms equipped with lululemon mats, or (soon) book treatments at the Angsana Spa by Banyan Tree, which will bring holistic therapies to the property.
Hong Kong Madame’s favourite part
What stood out most during my media tour? Without hesitation, the Swim Club and rooftop pool. With its Southern California-meets-Wes Anderson vibe, it’s more than just a place to swim — it’s a destination in itself. Think stylish design, chilled-out poolside energy, and some of the best views in town. For me, it sums up what Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui is all about: bold, playful, and perfectly in tune with Hong Kong’s mix of history and modern lifestyle.
Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong
11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
https://www.kimptonhongkong.com
Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong
11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
https://www.kimptonhongkong.com