Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Shows a Different Side of Hong Kong

Hong Kong tourism often conjures images of Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, SoHo, and other busy neighborhoods packed with shopping streets, foodie spots, and a bustling nightlife. But for those who’ve already ticked off the usual list of Disneyland, Nathan Road, and the like, you can veer towards Hong Kong’s less-crowded districts, which are just as rich in culture and experiences.

I recently stayed at Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour in North Point, a mixed-use district in the northeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It has a more local vibe, thanks to its traditional wet markets and heritage sites.

This pet-friendly, five-star luxury hotel first opened in 2018 as Hotel VIC on the Harbour, then rebranded and reopened in 2019 as Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong. It’s a 30-minute taxi ride from the international airport or one hour via MTR.

The hotel is divided into two towers—East and West—which you can easily cross via the second floor’s connecting hallway, which serves as a lobby extension, waiting area, and, for some, a coworking space.

The lobby tends to be crowded during check-in/check-out hours, but if you pass by during off-peak hours, you’ll appreciate the rotating Art Centric exhibition series that features HK’s local artists. Ask the lobby personnel for a free postcard where the hotel towers’ key features are illustrated and mapped out, while the back part of the card has all the QR codes you’ll need for your stay.

The 665 rooms and suites (ranging from P11,000 to P23,000+ per room, depending on the season) offer stunning panoramic views of Victoria Harbour. I booked a king bed on the seventh floor. The couch/day bed sits right by the window with electric blinds that reveal the million-dollar view of the harbour. The room comes with standard five-star amenities, including a coffee machine and a portable water filter. As a writer, I loved the room’s personalized newspaper print that bore my name in the headline. It came with the welcome pastries.

Hyatt hotels are known for their lavish breakfast buffets, and this one’s no exception. It’s served at One Duck Lane, which features a continental spread mixed with Asian fare. In the bread bar, mouthwatering croissants and pastries are baked fresh in front of your eyes every morning. If you’re lucky, they’ll seat you by the restaurant’s window, where you’ll see Hong Kong Island’s elevated networks and the North Point Promenade, a scenic, newly developed waterfront boardwalk filled with locals cycling or going for a jog or stroll.

After breakfast, One Duck Lane turns back into a contemporary Chinese restaurant that serves HK classics. Our dinner set included their signature roasted Peking duck, one of the best that I’ve had.

To see more of the breathtaking view of the harbour, head to the business lounge and the rooftop resto-bar, both in the West Tower, or hit the 24/7 gym and 25-meter rooftop infinity pool (which closes at 10 p.m.) in the East Tower. Come peek at the pool area after dinner; the skyline view is even more majestic at night.

As a pet-friendly hotel, they allow human guests to bring up to two dogs weighing up to 66 lbs each. The first dog is free under the Centric Dogcation package, a one-night accommodation that includes dog amenities and access to the hotel’s Upper Farm doggy playground, the neighboring North Point Promenade Dog Park, Harbour North Mall’s dog-friendly booths and events, and the outdoor playground. The rate for the second dog is HK$299 (approx. P2,400) per night, plus 10 percent tax.

I checked in alone sans a dog, but I did see a lot of guests with their four-pawed companions as they dined in the pet-friendly spots of the hotel, such as Farmhouse Deli beside One Duck Lane and the outdoor garden terrace of Sichuan Verandah. There’s a special elevator for the dogs and their humans, which I opted to take instead of the humans-only elevator, in hopes of running into these pampered pooches living their best lives. As a dog lover, I was ecstatic to see so many dog owners walking their four-legged friends around the neighborhood.

Ask for your free Explorer Kit before checking into your room. It’s a map and booklet with an illustrated guide to the key attractions of North Point, including the 1930s Ngo Wong Temple, a 15-minute walk away; Oil Street Art Space, an 11-minute walk away; and the Instagram-famous Yick Cheong Building, known as the monster building, which is a 15-minute MTR ride away.

The booklet comes with free vouchers to redeem popular food and drink items from the area’s oldest and most famous shops, such as the egg tart from Erica Cake Shop, tofu pudding from Tak Hing Loong Bean Curd Shop, and an egg waffle from Lee Keung Kee. 

Next door to the hotel is the pet-friendly Harbour North Phase Mall, complete with shops, salons, grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, and pet photo booths. Nearby, wet markets and mom-and-pop shops abound. There’s even a Jollibee (with a retro design!) within walking distance.

The North Point MTR station is just a three-minute walk from Hyatt Centric, making it easy for you to just tap your Octopus card (I suggest you get the limited-edition keychains) to get anywhere in Hong Kong Island or even up to the Kowloon Peninsula and New Territories. The commuter-friendly boarding pier of North Point Ferry is just a five-minute walk from the hotel. For a sunset or evening cruise of Victoria Harbour, book a ticket to the Aqua Luna, the red-sailed Chinese junk boat at the Central Ferry Pier, a seven-minute taxi ride from North Point.

Though North Point isn’t as commercial as more popular districts in Hong Kong, its small businesses, heritage and cultural spots, and urban landmarks give it a distinct charm. Hyatt Centric sits in the middle of it all.

Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong is located at 1 North Point Estate Lane, North Point, Hong Kong SAR.

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