Turned out it was a great idea that we extended our weekend staycation at Cordis at the last minute thanks to a new room package with steep discount. We thought Mongkok is a somewhat familiar neighborhood to us but still there were much to see and do plus the extra day gave us more time for a much-needed break from the hectic life.
Their room is definitely on the petite side, not atypical of a city hotel but just so we set the expectation right. Nonetheless we like our studio room on one end of the long corridor nearest to the elevator. Slightly bigger than their regular room with the large windows offering 180-degree panoramic view of Kowloon with the harbor and Hong Kong Island skyline at the background - the view is gorgeous day or night. The presence of microwave and yoga mat inside the room were unusual but a practical touch for some - we didn't use it but good to know they were there if we need to.
We were offered access to the Club lounge just one level above our room, and I like the homey feel of the common area completed with a self-serve bar, buffet counter and a lounge with comfy couches - a tad bit laidback than a normal executive lounge more catered towards business travelers. While they didn't offer the widest variety of food (they didn't even serve breakfast in the morning) but it was adequate for a relaxing afternoon tea or happy hour snack before dinner. (Their scones were excellent, by the way)
Breakfast was instead served at the cafe on the lobby level. The Place - as it's called - was absolutely packed on weekend mornings with the staycation crowd, but they did offer a good lineup of breakfast dishes and a bit more, like the juice station with many items freshly made. I especially like those local-style pastries (pineapple buns and egg tarts) and the counter where you could make your own Hong Kong-style milk tea (with a choice of evaporated milk or condensed milk)
We managed to hit the pool the first morning before the crowd set in. Unfortunately the heated pool on the rooftop was not hot enough for a dip in this weather (water was more like lukewarm) but the hot jacuzzi was great especially we had the whole tub to ourselves. The highlight of our stay was the Chuan Spa, where we spent one afternoon with one of their signature packages that included a body scrub, facial and massage. So good that we almost went for an encore and definitely somewhere we would come back even when we are not staying in.
We wrapped up our long weekend with an elaborate lunch at Alibi prepared by their chef James Oakley on Sunday. The dishes were well crafted and delightful – starting with the foie gras pate in the form of a cherry accompanied by cashew mousse and crisp, then the chilled abalone with yuzu jelly and quinoa with the nice citrusy touch. After the main course of beef with scalloped potatoes, we finished with the black truffle mille feuille with hazelnuts and icecream. I am impressed with their extended wine list and cocktail menu too. All were more than decent and I love the creativity of the dishes and solid cooking.
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