Originally Posted by
AtomicLush
Yes, you might want to reconsider, especially if you can find better value elsewhere. If you are looking for value, the ICHK lounge definitely does not have it. I had lounge access during my last stay (it was included in a special promotion with Virtuoso) and I would not have paid out of pocket for it. The breakfast selection is good. The buffet has a small variety of western and dim sum options. There's also a custom order menu where you can get eggs benedict or steak and eggs or corned beef hash. However, the quality is the same as your local HK cafe (i.e. I would have gotten the same spending ~$10 usd) - you're just paying to eat in a fancier seat. Drinks and snacks are only available at certain hours of the day - there's no all-day grazing. And the cocktail hour snacks are fancy - each one is individually plated and garnished but I didn't think it tasted that great. IMHO, there is no way for you to eat and drink $200usd/day to make it worth it. Now if you factor in the snootiness factor, it might make up the difference. It's exclusive and and there's never a ton of people there at any given time, and you're paying for some of that exclusivity.
If you intend on staying at the ICHK, pay for the harbourview upgrade, then eat elsewhere (for me, it's either harbourview or stay somewhere else - nothing in the hotel can offer you value for their base rates - rooms are dated and small, service is nearly nonexistent, inconvenient locale, etc). The only restaurant we tried in the hotel was Nobu and it was excellent (but we had been wanting to go to Nobu regardless of what hotel it was in). We ordered the tasting menu to share + 1 extra waygu steak entree. With drinks, it was about $200 usd and completely worth it.
Thanks
AtomicLush, this is exactly the kind of personal experience I hoped would be shared. ^ I could really care less about the snootiness factor of my lounging, just the quality.
Interestingly, I got an email back overnight after I responded to their last offer asking me for my smoking & bed preferences, and the club upgrade price dropped down to HK$1140 (including the 10% tax) / US$146. Still seems to be of mediocre value, but at least it's going in the right direction...
I was going to make a Nobu reservation myself, so I'm glad to hear that it was able to live up to the hype! Do you recommend any special requests, like seating location? This is my 1st time in Hong Kong and at a Nobu establishment.
CLG