Intercontinental Hong Kong

Apr 08, 2011 Avatar Pam Jacobs Pam Jacobs

The Intercontinental Hong Kong Hotel sits right on the edge of Victoria Harbor on the Kowloon side, with nothing but water views from anywhere in the hotel. Victoria Harbor is a very busy harbor with Superstar cruises going in and out each day. Dinner cruises on junks are very popular and of course the Star Ferry goes back and forth every few minutes until 10pm. Victoria harbor boasts the largest sound and light show in the world! I saw it 4 times (Once from my bed in my Jr. Suite!) 33 of the city’s major high-rise buildings in Hong Kong have their lights synchronized with symphony music piped in along the waterfront every night at 8pm, for 18 minutes. What a sight; the entire waterfront becomes packed with people watching this amazing show.

The restaurants in the hotel are amazing; of course there is Nobu (?) for probably the best Japanese dining experience you will ever encounter, and the Harborside Restaurant which has an amazing view of the harbor and a fabulous breakfast and dinner buffet. Spoon Restaurant was another option in the hotel. Below are reviews of each restaurant.

SPOON by Alain Ducasse
Location: In Hotel – Lobby Level
Serves: Dinner
the world’s most awarded chef is in residence at SPOON by Alain Ducasse, a modern space showcasing contemporary French cuisine. Chef Ducasse gives you the freedom to mix and match food and cooking styles to create truly audacious dishes such as Gratinated Tiger Prawns, Vegetable “”Nem”” and “”Satini-coco”” Sauce. The “”Sexy SPOON”” is a six-course tasting menu created by Chef Tjaco van Eijken. In the wine cellar is an amazing collection of 4,800 or so bottles of 450 diverse vintages.

NOBU InterContinental Hong Kong
Location: In Hotel – 2nd Floor
Serves: Dinner
NOBU InterContinental Hong Kong hardly needs an introduction, now that Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa has established his innovative style in restaurants all over the globe. In a setting inspired by the Japanese countryside where he grew up, Chef Nobu prepares signature dishes such as Fresh Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno, Black Cod Saikyo Yaki and Toro Tartar with Caviar. The Omakase, an eight-course tasting menu, is an excellent way to experience NOBU’s new-style Japanese cooking.

Yan Toh Heen
Location: In Hotel – Lower Level
Serves: Lunch | Dinner
Yan Toh Heen lives up to its standing as one of the world’s best restaurants with understated elegance. Authentic Cantonese cuisine, prepared by Chef Lau Yiu Fai and his staff, is presented on signature hand-carved jade place settings, with 18th-century Chinese tapestries and views of the harbour providing the backdrop. A glass-enclosed wine cellar and a private room for up to 30 guests are extra special touches in an already exquisite environment.

THE STEAK HOUSE wine bar + grill
Location: In Hotel – Lower Level
Serves: Dinner
Meat lovers, rejoice. THE STEAK HOUSE winebar + grill features fine beef from around the world, including the best cuts from Australia, Japan, Argentina and the US. Taking the dining experience up a notch are a selection of 10 gourmet steak knives, a collection of specially blended mustards and eight exotic rock salts from various areas of the globe. The wine list earns applause for more than 270 labels, 3,000+ bottles and a large selection of red and white wines by the glass.

Harbourside
Location: In Hotel – Lower Level
Serves: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Harbourside’s atmosphere may be laid-back, but you can bet the kitchen is busy creating elaborate buffets and a la carte selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The aroma of freshly baked pizzas, breads and cakes wafts from the open kitchen, and on Sundays, the champagne flows during a lavish brunch. Joining fresh salads, sandwiches, pastas, burgers and Asian favorites are a seafood and sushi buffet and regional specialties such as Hainanese Chicken Rice, Nasi Goreng and Lamb Marsala.