Arrival/Check-In: My colleague and I arrived at the Mira on a busy Wednesday afternoon. Several eager doormen saw us trying to cross the one-way street and rushed to help with the luggage and get us safely inside. There were just a few people in front of us checking in, and it gave me a chance to observe the busy and unique lobby scene. The large room is black and white marble, giving a modern feel to the windowless space. After a few minutes, I was checked in and shown to the bank of elevators. Each floor is color-coordinated to the room color scheme and elevator foyer, making it easy to identify your correct floor when you see it.

Guest Quarters: My room offered great views of famous Kowloon Park and the busy street below. The color theme of the room was red, which popped in the quilt on my king-sized bed, a club chair facing the window and a modern rug. The red also offset the dark burl wood flooring and cabinetry. The desk was huge, taking up an entire section of one wall, giving ample space to spread out laptops, newspapers and more. The desk also boasted multiple lighting options, electrical outlets and a “My Mobile” Nokia phone service, which assists guests within the hotel and out.

The bathroom was separated from the bedroom by a glass wall, making the room look even larger. The stand-alone bathtub was deep and enticing, while the glass-encased shower was large with good water pressure. The double sink counter had plenty of room and held a large selection of Aromatherapy products. Above the sink, the mirror contained a second television screen that could be viewed from the bath and shower as well.

Services /Amenities: The 492-room hotel has five restaurants for guests, ranging from casual to high-end dining. Their COCO café has a great selection of designer cakes, pastries and coffee, which I indulged in daily. They also do special orders — a great gift to bring to meetings. In the lower levels of the hotel are a half-dozen rooms for business meetings, with access to complimentary WiFi, hotel catering services and event setup. The MiraSpa is a full-service spa with massage treatments, a hair salon and an impressive indoor infinity-edge pool that is open to all guests. Within the spa is their state-of-the-art fitness center, with enough cardio equipment and weight benches to accommodate plenty of guests, even in the morning and evening rush. Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the large hotel.

The Experience: The Mira is centrally located in Tsim Sha Tsui, the heart of Hong Kong’s commercial, shopping, dining and entertainment districts. You are within walking distance of underground railways and the Star Ferry. It’s a perfect location for both business and leisure, allowing you to experience the busy bustle of the city and indulge in the first-rate dining in your hotel. My only odd experience was finding an unused paintbrush in the bed, under the sheets. I assume the cleaning staff used it, but was disappointed they did not catch it when changing the sheets.

GT Checklist

• Doorman/valet
• Less than 10 minutes for check-in
• Separate tub and shower
• Large vanity
• High-quality towels
• Powerful, unattached hair dryer
• High-quality bed linens
• Large, flat-screen television
• Large desk with convenient outlets
• Complimentary in-room WiFi
• Complimentary bottled water
• Stocked minibar
• Ample lighting
• In-room coffeemaker
• Iron and ironing board
• On-site restaurant and bar
• 24-hour room service
• Large, complimentary laptop safe
• State-of-the-art fitness center

The Mira Hong Kong

118 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon, Hong Kong
tel 852 2368 1111
themirahotel.com