A billiard table stood in the middle of the floor, above it, a ceiling finished in dark wood planks. Black leather sofa surrounded an electronic fireplace and on one corner of the reception desk, two big-ass industrial metal drums loomed. We padded on soft gray rugs and was greeted by one of Pentahotel’s all-business staff dressed in Diesel shirts, how may we help you, he asked.

PARCELS AND WHAT-NOTS AT THE PENTALOUNGE

Hip was the word to describe our hotel for our last three days in Hong Kong. It’s not easily apparent from its simple façade, but once you enter its ground floor lobby cum pizza bar, you’d know this is no run-of-the-mill hotel.

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PENTAHOTEL HONG KONG ENTRANCE, THAT CEILING!

Pentahotel, which has chains all over the globe, has its Hong Kong branch at the San Po Kong area of East Kowloon. The place is quite far from the happening places in the country, but it is easy enough to access, thanks to the hotel’s complimentary shuttle rides. In fact, we went there by waiting for their prompt shuttle at the K11 Art Mall, right at the heart of Hong Kong—Tsim Sha Tsui.

LOUNGE AREA AT THE SECOND FLOOR LOBBY

A MAZE OF ESCALATORS AT PENTAHOTEL

With street signs, mall-style escalators, black and white photograph murals of the city, and charming people icons decorating its walls, you’d immediately surmise that Pentahotel is trying to cram in the bustle of Hong Kong’s urbanity right into its halls. And it’s working for them. The rawness of the city combined with glitzy sophistication makes for a unique design I’ve only seen at this hotel.

THE PENTAPLUS KING ROOM

THE VIEW FROM OUR ROOM

After filling in our details on tablets, we were immediately escorted to our Pentaplus King Room. The interior echoes that of their upper floor lobby. There’s a working table complete with huge decals detailing the bedlam of signs that is Hong Kong and a comfy queen-sized bed hovered over by an overly-exaggeratedly huge lamp. By the bay window, a view of what I first imagined the city to be rushed into the room—lush mountains interspersed with towering skyscrapers complete with a Tang Dynasty-style monastery acting as base to the whole tapestry.

I was struck at how they managed to make something as simple look so sophisticated.

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HANDY SMARTPHONE FOR EXPLORING HONG KONG

ALL-BLACK TOILET AND BATH

Our room, one of the 695 rooms they have, is well-equipped with amenities befitting a four-star hotel; coffee and tea-making facilities, a mini-bar, electronic safe, fast and free Wi-Fi, a complimentary 3G-enabled smartphone (which you can bring out and connect to for free while roaming around the city), and of course an en suite toilet and bath with hot shower. Again, the only thing missing, as with most Hong Kong hotels, is a bidet.

PENTAHOTEL’S OPEN-KITCHEN DINING HALL

ONE OF PENTAHOTEL’S TWO GAME ROOMS

The hotel itself does not lag behind in terms of features. They have two game rooms, an Internet kiosk, music stations, pizza bar, meeting rooms, a dining hall, and an outdoor swimming pool. It was just too bad that the pool was closed at the time since it was the winter season in Hong Kong.

BREAKFAST IS SERVED

THE BAR AT PENTALOUNGE, WASN’T ABLE TO TRY THEIR COCKTAILS THOUGH

ONE OF THE FOUR COOKING STATIONS AT THE BREAKFAST BUFFET

The dining hall, dubbed as the Eatstreet is located right at the Pentalounge lobby. It has four cooking stations, Grill How, Wok Kitchen, Steam Corner, and Noodle Bar. The hotel provides free breakfast fare for guests, so we usually can be found here, chowing down early in the morning before exploring the city. Their kitchen provides buffet-style dining with a mix of Asian and Western cuisine. I find their food to be on the average though, which could’ve changed in a jiffy if they had bacons, lol.

EXACTLY WHAT I IMAGINED HONG KONG TO BE

We stayed for two nights at Pentahotel and those nights were, hands down, the best we’ve had throughout the whole trip. I really can’t say anything I didn’t like about the hotel, well except that they don’t have bacons, but on the whole, I totally dig Pentahotel, even with its somewhat offbeat location.

~ SPECIAL THANKS TO PENTAHOTEL FOR SPONSORING OUR TWO NIGHTS IN HONG KONG

Pentahotel Hong Kong Kowloon ► ROOM RATES
Address: 19 Luk Hop Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon District, Hong Kong
Contact Number: +852 3112-8222
Email: kowloon@pentahotelsasia.com | Facebook
GPS Coordinates Map: 22.337297, 114.199663

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