pentahotel Hong Kong, Kowloon

Just outside the city center, in the industrial district of Diamond Hill in Kowloon East, the upscale modern Pentahotel Hong Kong, Kowloon hotel stands next to surrounding factories and older buildings. Yet the hotel still manages to integrate many elements of Old Hong Kong with a unique ambiance that often attracts young and upbeat travelers.

North of the city's former airport, the hotel is in an area with popular local restaurants and happening nightlife. Within thirty-minutes travelers can access Kowloon attractions such as Tsim Sha Tsui, an ocean terminal known for many fashionable boutiques, and the Mongkok bird garden. However, Wong Tai Sin Temple, The Diamond Hill MTR Station, and Mikiki shopping mall are a shorter distance by foot and car.

Most of the hotel's stand-out features are integrated into the Pentalounge, a flowing space that houses a front desk, lounge, and a restaurant modeled like a food court. Two game rooms feature a Wii, a billiards table, a foosball table, board games with couches, numerous vending machines, and an Internet corner and music station. The food-court-style restaurant, Eatstreet, serves a variety of Chinese and Hong Kong specialties, plus a pizza bar. A nice pool sits amid a sundeck with loungers and umbrellas, and the fitness center offers plenty of equipment. There are also five modern meeting rooms and free shuttle service to nearby shopping areas.

The Pentahotel's 695 rooms are small but stylish. Standard rooms feature roomy desks, open-style clothing racks, and box shelves with ample storage. All rooms come with free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, mini-fridges, tea and coffeemakers, and robes. The suites add large sitting areas with an additional TV, separated from the bedroom by curtained glass walls. The sleek, black-tiled bathrooms feature walk-in rainfall showers.