2015 has been filled with plenty of travels thus far, both for work and the blog. I’ve travelled a fair bit during the first quarter of the year, including Guangzhou where I had an amazing time during my stay at the Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou. The hotel is located above TaiKoo Hui, a luxury shopping mall in the heart of the Pearl River Delta.
Hotel lobby feature — a fusion of traditional elements and modern identity of today’s “new China”.
Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou is designed by Tony Chi & Associates where the décor showcases traditional elements of the orient, fused with the modern identity of “new China”. There was a lot of courtyard elements which I liked, especially at the lobby. It’s cultural, with a contemporary touch.
Mandarin Room
Stunning floor-to-ceiling windows reveal panoramic views of Guangzhou
I stayed in the Mandarin King Room which allowed me access to the Oriental Club Lounge where guests enjoy a private buffet breakfast, all day refreshments and evening cocktails daily. My room featured sleek wood finishes, warm tones and rich fabrics – reflecting the standard and style of the Mandarin Oriental Group. I’ve grown to appreciate fine details since I travel and review hotels quite a fair bit, and Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou did not disappoint.
Luxurious king bed
My Mandarin King Room features a private entrance foyer, luxurious king bed and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcases the view of the city. The bathroom is one of the largest I’ve seen in hotels – divided in to two separate zones – wet & dry.
Spa-like bathroom
Round bathtub
Coffee and tea making facilities
Wine and fruit platter
The wet area comprises a circular bath tub and glass enclosed shower with bathroom amenities by Ormonde Jayne while the dry area is fitted with a toilet and a large vanity area. Perfect for both rif and I to move around comfortably.
Taikoo Lounge
The Mandarin Cake Shop
The Loft
Jiang by Chef Fei
The hotel has five restaurants and cocktail venues – Ebony (signature fine dining grill), Jiang by Chef Fei (classic Cantonese), Mandarin Cake Shop, The Loft (whisky and wine bar) and The Taikoo Lounge (afternoon tea and beverages).
Breakfast at the Club Lounge
Bubbly at the Club Lounge
Alternatively, guests can opt to order room service which offers a bit of everything from the five F&B outlets available. I had the privilege of trying all outlets, with my favourite being The Loft. Bo Yau, the resident mixologist makes amazing cocktails and you can also order his cocktails at Taikoo Lounge.
Afternoon tea at Taikoo Lounge
Cocktails The Loft — this is Sir William
Homemade beancurd in abalone sauce at Jiang
Kung Fu Soup at Jiang
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental
Signature spa treatment
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou offers holistic treatments for relaxation and rejuvenation, complemented by an extensive menu of wellness, massage and beauty options. rif and I were pampered with the City Gardens Journey that began with a bubble bath infused with refreshing kumquat and chrysanthemum poultice and then a full body massage.
Award winning spa concept
25m outdoor swimming pool
Other facilities at Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou include a 25 metre outdoor pool (love this feature!) and a fitness centre with all the health and wellness facilities. The hotel also comes with a fully integrated meeting space and function facilities, and an expansive 750 square metre ballroom for events and weddings.
Fitness Centre
Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou is directly linked to TaiKoo Hui via The Mandarin Cake Shop, where guests can enjoy world-class shopping (they have almost all the designer brands imaginable). It is centrally located so getting to attractions such as Sacred Heart Cathedral, Tianzi Pier, Beijing Road Walking Street and Canton Tower is fairly easy via taxi or metro.
Most of the staff speak English and they are ready to help whenever needed – very helpful for travellers who speak little or no Mandarin. We were well taken care of by a Ms Jacqueline Li from the Club Lounge who went out of her way to plan our trip, right down to her attention to detail like giving me peppermint tea because (she sensed) I wasn’t feeling too well.
For more information about Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou, visit the official website here. Follow the Mandarin Oriental Group on Facebook here, for regular updates about their properties across the globe.
Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou
389 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District
Guangzhou 510620, China
Tel: +86 20 3808 8888
Website
Email: [email protected]