Two weeks ago, I turned 31. It wasn’t a milestone birthday, but since I had spent my 30th birthday in quarantine after returning from London at the beginning of the pandemic, I wasn’t going to object to doing something special this year. As COVID-19 restrictions have eased in Hong Kong, as well as case numbers continuing to decrease (0 new cases were recorded during our visit), I was looking forward to a more “normal” birthday. So when the Four Seasons Hong Kong invited me for a rejuvenating staycation over my birthday weekend, which happens to coincide with the Four Seasons brand’s birthday, I packed my bags several days beforehand and couldn’t wait to finally visit one of the most renowned luxury hotels in the city.
The Four Seasons Hong Kong is conveniently located in Central, right next to the famous IFC Tower and IFC Mall as well as the Central ferry piers and MTR stations. Home to several Michelin-starred restaurants and boasting some of the most personal and enjoyably hospitality, it’s very easy to see why Four Seasons Hong Kong is one of the best hotels in Hong Kong. Overlooking Victoria Harbour and with some of the most beautiful views of the city, calling this spot home for a few days was something I would never forget. On top of celebrating my birthday, I’d be here to indulge in their Sleep Well program as well as their Taste of a Dragon staycation package.
Arrival Outfit
Day 1
Our staycation was scheduled to begin in the afternoon on my birthday, so when I woke up in the morning my beau made me birthday waffles before we grabbed our bags and made our way to the Four Seasons Hong Kong. This was my third time staying at a Four Seasons property (I’ve previously stayed at their hotels in Whistler and in Hội An), but this was my first time staying at the iconic Four Seasons in Hong Kong. The Four Seasons hotel, along with the connecting IFC Tower and mall, looks like it’s made of glass. With the Hong Kong skyline reflecting off of it, it’s hard to miss it when admiring Hong Kong Island from Kowloon or onboard a ferry. If I take a ferry to Central from my neighborhood, the Four Seasons majestically awaits me as the ferry pulls into the pier below.
After checking in, we were escorted to our spacious one-bedroom harbour view suite overlooking Victoria Harbour and Kowloon. The first thing I saw upon entering the suite was the 100+ floor ICC tower across the harbour, with the sun reflecting off the building and bouncing into our room to light up our room. Awaiting us was a lovely birthday card handwritten by the hospitality staff, balloons, chocolate cake, champagne, and a bottle of one of my favorite wines from Napa Valley. The Four Seasons goes above and beyond for birthday celebrations (we celebrated my beau’s birthday at the Four Seasons The Nam Hai in January 2020), and I was feeling extremely grateful and at home on such a special day. On top of all this, if I ever needed anything, including just to order some late night hot chocolate, the Four Seasons app has a Whatsapp feature to simply text someone with my request any time of day.
In-room Afternoon Tea
For about half of the pandemic, Hong Kong put severe restrictions on restaurants and dining outlets to limit the spread of COVID-19. Some restrictions included not being allowed to eat at restaurants after 6 pm (delivery and takeaway were still allowed) and only 2 people were allowed at a table (yes, that meant with a family of five, one person would have to eat by themselves). A lot of hotels began to switch to private dining in your room, romanticizing the setting and making the experience feel ultra private and exclusive.
The Four Seasons Hong Kong offers in-room afternoon tea (as well as in their lobby Lounge). The benefit of having an in-room afternoon tea experience meant we had the room to ourselves and since we were on the 38th floor, we had a bird’s eye view of the city as we indulged in delicious delicacies and English breakfast tea. From egg salad sandwiches to fresh scones (some of the best in the city!) to mini red velvet cakes, this private romantic afternoon tea was the perfect way to kick off my birthday staycation.
Happy Hour at Caprice Bar
After our in-room afternoon tea, we slowly unpacked and watched a bit of TV before getting ready for some wine and cheese at Caprice Bar before our dinner reservation at Lung King Heen. Named one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, this exclusive, intimate bar is tucked in the corner of award-winning French restaurant Caprice. After walking down a hallway of vintage wine bottles (yes, I squealed), I suddenly found myself surrounded by plush seats, a fireplace, dim lights, and views overlooking Victoria Harbour that helped add to the coziness.
With an extensive wine list that made my tail wag, I selected a Burgundy red wine (it’s my latest obsession) while my beau decided to try something from their unique cocktail list, a special twist on the classic Old Fashioned. Since our dinner reservation was still at least an hour and a half away, we decided to enjoy some French cheese with our drinks and ordered a board of all their cheese selections. My standout favorites were the goat cheese and the Four Seasons’s signature cheese.
Birthday Dinner Outfit
Rotate Birger Christensen dress // Amina Muaddi heels (similar here and here) // Loeffler Randall bag
Dinner at Lung King Heen
Confession: I’ve been wanting to dine at the award-winning, Michelin-starred Lung King Heen, which means “view of the dragon”, for months. Lung King Heen was the first Chinese restaurant to be awarded 3 Michelin stars, and for 13 consecutive years they have retained that prestigious honor. I was beyond excited to finally get to experience this culinary wonder. As part of the Four Seasons’s Taste of a Dragon staycation package, part of the offer is an 8-course set menu curated by Chef Chan Yan Tak (he were kind enough to accommodate my many allergies and dietary restrictions). So what kind of food did we eat? Well I’m about to tell you, and as I type this sentence I am already drooling at the tasty memories of each course.
First things first, after serving us chilled glasses of sparkling tea, the sommelier helped us select a delicious bottle of wine that would pair well with our meal. Like I mentioned before, I’m currently on a Burgundy wine kick, particularly wine from St.-George-Nuits (thanks to my wine school for helping me discover this new favorite), so he helped us select a wine that’s pretty exclusive and isn’t easy to find (bottle of wine is not included in the set menu).
Now onto the food. Honestly I do not even know where to begin and I apologize if I use the same adjectives to describe the food. First of all, let me just say the whole dinner was out of this world. I’m pretty sure the only words spoken at our dinner table for the entire evening was, “Oh my gosh” and “Holy crap”. Otherwise we had no words because we were blown away by the food. Swipe through the images below to read descriptions about each dish in our 8-course set menu.
Day 2
After a restful deep sleep, we woke up the next morning to a cool and cloudy Hong Kong. This day was going to be all about rest and relaxation, and despite wanting to take some cool photos for the hotel, we made a deal to keep everything slow paced and simple for the day. Our itinerary wasn’t overwhelming, so we slept in (something I don’t usually do especially with a puppy at home) and ordered room service for breakfast.
Along with local and western breakfast options, I was excited to see Japanese breakfast as an option because that’s usually my go-to breakfast choice for room service in Hong Kong. Along with marinated salmon, miso soup, and rice, I also ordered some dim sum because I will never say no to har gow (shrimp dumpling). I used to be all about sweet and carb-heavy breakfasts, but since spending time in Asia, I prefer savory dishes and seafood. Plus it’s all so beautifully presented and delicious!
Birthday Pajamas
Sleeper feather pajamas (also available in purple, red, and gingham)
After a hearty breakfast and a warm shower, we did a little shopping in the IFC mall next door for some necessities I accidentally left at home. Four Seasons Hong Kong is conveniently located near some of the best shopping in the city, along with being a stone’s throw away from Lan Kwai Fong (home to some of Hong Kong’s best bars) and Tai Kwun, which houses art, amazing restaurants, and fun shops to browse through. I was tempted to return to The Peak, one of the most famous spots in all of Hong Kong, but decided against it simply because I just wanted to relax.
For lunch, we made our way to the Pool Terrace. Pools were closed for use at the time of our visit due to COVID-19 restrictions (of course just my luck, a few days after we checked out they were officially allowed to reopen). That didn’t take away from the ambiance of dining poolside for lunch. I suddenly felt transported out of a hustling, bustling city and instead I felt like I was on a tropical vacation somewhere else. Sipping on rosé and chilled water, I enjoyed some edamame and a crab salad while my beau indulged in Hainanese chicken.
After lunch, we took a bit of a nap before I was due at the spa. Along with getting to experience their Taste of a Dragon staycation, I was also extremely interested in their Sleep Well program. As someone who struggles with sleep (I have a very difficult time staying asleep), and with anxiety during the pandemic causing my sleep to be extremely broken and not deep enough, I was very eager to let the Four Seasons help guide me towards a much more restful and immune system-boosting sleep. From nightly baths to a sleep consultation, there are so many things on offer to help enhance your sleep.
Day 3
The night before was a super simple evening, having ordered room service and arranging the armchairs in our room for an elegant dining experience in the privacy of our own room. We still dressed up as if we were going downstairs, but it was nice to have a night of just us two as we watched Hong Kong’s lights put on a show. For dinner, I dined on some Hainanese chicken (my beau inspired me) and soy-covered sea bass while my beau indulged in butter chicken. For dessert, we enjoyed some fresh cheese and delicious glasses of port for our last evening at the Four Seasons.
The next morning, after a quick photo shoot by the pool and a second order of the hotel’s signature Japanese breakfast, I made my way back to the spa for a very special treatment.
In honor of International Women’s Month, the Empowerment and Nurture Ritual is a 2.5 hour body and facial treatment that will make you not only feel relaxed and renewed, but made to feel like a true queen. After my first full body Lomi Lomi massage treatment, it was then followed by a warm Chakra Crystal Stone massage and Lomi Lomi head and facial massage for a natural lift. The Lomi Lomi massage was probably one of my favorite massages I’ve ever experienced, but I honestly couldn’t tell you much about the facial…. because I fell asleep! I was so relaxed and at peace that my body naturally fell asleep. I was awakened by a beautiful singing bowl therapy that not only grounded me but made me feel recharged and refreshed.
After my spa treatment, I returned to my suite to pack up before our 3 pm check-out time (we called ahead to ask for late check-out). I was sad to see our luxurious 2-night staycation was at an end. I was blown away from start to finish by pretty much everything at the Four Seasons Hong Kong. I know that sounds a bit lazy and vague to write, but it’s honestly how I feel. We still had one more dining experience before our departure, so we were dressed comfortably and headed to The Lounge for lunch. The Lounge not only hosts afternoon tea but has a lengthy menu of a la carte options for lunch and dinner.
After sipping some tea and deciding on what we wanted to eat, we both selected the Japanese Bento box made by the chef at a station near our table. I selected the wagyu beef option while my beau selected the prawn option. This was actually my first Bento box and I was NOT disappointed. I had eaten so much over the last few days but that’s because not only was everything presented so beautifully, but everything was so freakin’ good. After being presented with some champagne and a beautifully arranged fruit plate to mark my birthday, it was time to say goodbye to this one-of-a-kind haven in Hong Kong and head home to the dogs. This was certainly one birthday I will never forget.
Thank you to the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong for partnering on this post. Although we were guests of the Four Seasons, all opinions here are my own.
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