Hotel 1936

In the busy downtown, this lovely old building has been beautifully renovated in a nostalgic style. It adds a charming touch of the past to the modern city around it.

The old building has a whole floor dedicated to photos of its history. The sepia lighting makes it feel like a glamorous old photograph, but there was nobody there and it was empty apart from chairs and tables. The owners must really revere the original architecture to devote a floor to it. My one suggestion would be to turn it into a breakfast cafe with the photos. There are some restaurants nearby, though you have to walk a bit to find a good one. I liked Le Reveur, which means “the Daydream” in French, and felt it matched the hotel’s mood. The clerks gave good recommendations too, though they weren’t quite in the same vein as 1936. The hotel is a peaceful respite in the middle of Mongkok, and I admire how seamlessly the architects and designers blended old and new. It feels like a boutique jewelry box with real soul. From the street, the hotel is inconspicuous amid the busy, somewhat chaotic surroundings. A roast duck restaurant is on the ground floor near the entrance, and the hotel name appears in small, graceful silver letters. The gated door repeats that slender silver motif. Inside feels like another world, with a hallway of golden mirrors and warm marble, plus a subtle floral scent. The lobby is simple and elegant, with wood grain wall reliefs in a lotus art deco pattern and a black and white marble mosaic floor. On the balcony, walnut birdcage chairs are a fun place to sit, have private conversations and look down to street level. I believe the wood patio doors and tile are original. The metal fireplace is revitalized and definitely original. Velvet green chairs, polished marble, bright gold accents and details like the phonograph bring the room together beautifully. You can imagine the people from before. The modern building is built on top of and incorporated into the original 1936 structure. The exterior has interesting geometric art deco lines that somehow fit with the older building. I think it lights up at night. You wonder how they made the foundation deep enough for a building that’s at least 19 floors. The rooms feel large for Hong Kong, partly because of the height. Vertical lines in the bathroom and glass enclosures make it feel spacious. There’s plenty of space in the dark wood cabinets to organize your things, plus a small fridge. Floor to ceiling windows bring in lots of light, and the nighttime view is dazzling, with the cars below and building lights shimmering. The neighboring building faces away, so there’s no worry about looking into anyone’s home.

The room was clean and a good size, and there are plenty of good places to eat within walking distance, plus a great shopping street beside the hotel. But there’s no lobby for car pickups or drop-offs, since the hotel is inside a building rather than being a building itself. My bed smelled strongly of medicated oil. Housekeeping quickly changed the bedsheet when I asked, but it didn’t help, and I couldn’t sleep that night. After my complaint and request, they could have checked whether things were okay, but they didn’t. I put up with it, but won’t return.

I checked into Room 701 on June 27, 2025 after booking through Agoda.com, and at first I was excited. Then I noticed dark brown patches on the wall behind the right side of the bed. They looked a bit like dried blood, though I figured they probably weren't. There were deep scratches under paint that didn't match the rest of the wall. I left my things and slippers facing the door. When I came back, the slippers were angled toward the bed. I put them on, then suddenly stumbled and one slipped off. I searched all over, including under the bed, but couldn't find it. I've had a ghost experience in another hotel before, so that felt like a serious warning. I was in my pajamas and tried to leave calmly without alarming whatever might be there, packing everything up. I explained what had happened to guest services on the third floor. They said they couldn't refund me because a ghost wasn't scientific. Plenty of Chinese people in Hong Kong believe in ghosts, even without a scientific explanation. I checked out around 10:45 p.m. and didn't get back the HKD$1,171.45, with them again saying a ghost in a very old renovated building wasn't a scientific reason. If you believe in ghosts, you know there can be one in buildings close to or over 100 years old. I won't be back. They offered no solution, and I had to find somewhere else to stay for the night. Good luck if you end up in one of the rooms they say is not scientifically occupied by something!