The Royal Garden Kowloon East

We spent 9 days and 8 nights at this newly rebranded hotel, formerly Crowne Plaza Kowloon East, and have stayed long-term before. Under IHG, we valued the warm, professional service enough to return despite the dated rooms. Before this visit, we asked for extra water and a Nespresso machine, as had been provided to us during our previous long stays at Crowne Plaza. The request was curtly refused, with no courtesy or hospitality, and the condescending tone felt unacceptable for a birthday staycation, especially from a hotel presented as an upgrade. We considered whether to keep the reservation. The branding and prices seem elevated, but service has noticeably declined, so former guests should adjust expectations. You pay more and get less. During the stay, the location was excellent, next to Tseung Kwan O MTR with direct access to Popcorn Mall. The walkable neighbourhood was pleasant. Our Sunset View room was clean, quiet, spacious and comfortable. Housekeeping staff were friendly and flexible with timing, and the hotel provided firm pillows and a coffee maker when requested. The room got quite warm in the afternoon, and the air-conditioning was weak and noisy, waking us several times at night. Housekeeping didn’t reliably check the amenities, so we often had to ask for refills. We changed rooms, but the shower pressure was still weak. The gym was quiet and sufficient, and there was a fantastic pastry shop, but no in-house restaurant during our visit. Staff communication and hospitality need more training so guests feel welcome. I sincerely hope the hotel improves and reaches the standard of a true 5-star hotel.

The location is amazing, and the renovation is much better than it was under the Crowne Plaza name. Check-in service was superb, and the concierge were excellent every time we called with questions about laundry or the shuttle service. It’s just my husband and me on this trip, but next time we’re bringing our kids. I’m sure they’ll love the kids’ room with the bunk and slide. We tried room service: the halibut portion definitely won’t suit a big appetite, the baked pork chop was good, and the tiramisu was okay.

We’ll book again next time. We loved the welcoming staff, especially the people greeting guests and handling luggage. Even when my hands were full of shopping, they came along and helped press the lift button. Very caring. The hotel is just a minute’s walk from the MTR and has two huge shopping malls downstairs with kids’ shops, clothes, food and pretty much everything we needed. The pool looked amazing, though it was a bit cool for swimming in spring. Room service pizza was delicious. Our room had no carpet, so it smelled fresher than most Hong Kong hotels. They even have a room with a slide. A wonderful find in Hong Kong!

January 2026 It officially changed its name to East Kowloon Royal Garden Hotel on January 1, 2026. It’s a sister hotel to the Tsim Sha Tsui Royal Garden Hotel. The former Chinese restaurant, Zi Yue Xuan, closed on December 31, 2025.