Hotel Diaries: The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen

Patrons of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong will recognise the same light colour scheme at the entryway of its Shenzhen counterpart. But the cool stone exterior of the hotel belies the warmth of the lobby inside, which is done up in red wood and cream stone accents. As you enter, you can immediately discern the classic nostalgic charm of this hotel, with its distinctive vintage decor and colour schemes giving a sense of heritage and character as compared to newer hotels. 

As expected from a five-star hotel, there is a full range of amenities to keep all guests entertained during their stay. The hotel offers six dining facilities from Chinese fine dining and modern Western to afternoon tea in the lobby, as well as a members-only lounge that also serves food throughout the day.

The brightest and most modern part of the hotel is probably their sixth floor gym, done up with light wood panels, floor-to-ceiling windows along one entire wall, and top-of-the-range equipment. The Ritz-Carlton also offers an in-house Pilates instructor who is available to book for sessions. The gym shares its floor with a hair and beauty salon as well, in case you need a cut and styling before an event or a night out.

Notably, the fifth floor of the Ritz-Carlton features a 1,300sq ft spa as well as an outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi. The pool area boasts a fantastic view of the Ping’an International Finance Centre, which is the second tallest building in China and the fifth tallest in the world. The spa itself consists of six private treatment rooms and four outdoor cabanas and offers membership where guests can enjoy discounted rates on treatments and products as well as receive a range of vouchers. 

The members-only Club Lounge is open 24 hours a day and comprises a spacious lounge area, a library, a TV room, work stations, and meeting rooms. We found that this space also boasts the best view of Shenzhen’s CBD area from the entire hotel, with mountains off in the distance and skyscrappers in the foreground. Guests can only access the Club Lounge floor with a dedicated key card, and are treated to a range of special facilities such as complimentary culinary services, chauffeured limousine drop-off, and more. Paying approximately an extra HK$860 per room per night will elevate guests to Ritz-Carlton Club status, or these privileges can be redeemed with Marriott Bonvoy points.

Of the 280 rooms in The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen, 41 are suites — nine of which are premier suites featuring balconies. We stayed in a junior suite which, at over 660sq ft, is well over the average size of a Hong Kong apartment. The seating area is partially sectioned off from the bed, with flat-screen TVs catering to each side of the room. A large desk is tucked away in a corner and comes with inbuilt USB charging ports readily available for use. The hotel also provides a set of charging cables with heads for Apple, Android, and other electronic devices, which is a thoughtful touch.

The crowning jewel of the room, however, has got to be the bed. It is a behemoth, equivalent to at least two double beds put together, and measuring around 300cm by 200cm. To visualise it better, a king-sized bed fits two pillows laid side by side with some space left on either side – the bed in the Ritz-Carlton suite easily fits a row of three pillows. The staff told us that they tested it out upon installation, and found that it accommodated six people altogether. This is a bed that would be perfect for families with young children, or even a cuddly group of friends on vacation together.

Any good hotel worth its salt will have a pillow menu, and the Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen is no exception, offering guests seed, foam, and space pillows, among others. To complement the luxurious bedtime experience, we chose a lavender pillow and a wheat cereal pillow, and although we didn’t end up sleeping on either one, the lavender option provided a subtle calming scent when placed nearby, and the texture of the wheat cereal made for a great hugging cushion.

Lights and curtains in the room are controlled via a panel protruding from the bedside table, and while such consoles are a rather outdated rarity in today’s age of touchscreen controls, there’s nothing like having a large range of physical silver buttons to make you feel like you’re in command of a Starfleet vessel. Another thing to note about the Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen is that they are very child-friendly and are able on request to set up teepees in the rooms for kids who want to experience a night safari-themed stay. 

When stepping into the bathroom, one’s eyes are immediately drawn to the huge window which offers a great view of Shenzhen’s Futian district. The rainforest shower and toilet are both sectioned off in their own little glass boxes, though sadly the latter doesn’t come with a Japanese-style bidet and automatic flushing system. However, soaking in the free-standing bathtub right next to the window made up for it. There is a TV at the foot of the bath, but we opted to entertain ourselves with the night view of the city instead. There are, of course, blinds that can be drawn for privacy, but at nighttime, with the next building a fair distance away, we felt comfortable enough to simply relax in the tub with the view unmarred.

Food and beverage options can also make or break a hospitality destination and, thankfully, the restaurants here do not disappoint.

For breakfast, head to the funkily named Flavorz, the hotel’s all-day dining location. Spanning almost every usable flat surface, the breakfast buffet is a dizzying array of Asian and international dishes prepared instantly by chefs. Alternatively, Ritz-Carlton Club members can choose to dine away from the crowds and break their fast in the Club Lounge instead, which also offers a smaller, but no less satisfying, buffet spread. 

Paletto on the second floor is their Western restaurant, offering contemporary Italian dishes made with authentic European ingredients under chef Lorenzo Prandi. During our visit in the beginning of November, they had yet to change to an autumn/winter menu, so we were treated to the light, fresh flavours in their summer degustation (HK$955), including a regularly rotating selection of amuse-bouche. However, the star of Paletto lay in their signature dessert: a modern, alcohol-free tiramisu that arrived encased in a chocolate tube, topped with a dollop of foamy cream, and a stick of caramelised sugar balanced on the side.

We arrived at the Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen just in time to catch the tail end of their ocean-themed afternoon tea set (from HK$636) in collaboration with Monaco skincare brand Nihplod, served in the Onyx Lobby Lounge. Especially for someone who loves the beach and sea, this tea is aesthetically stunning, arriving in a teal blue, four-tiered revolving tower that bears a range of sweet and savoury treats. 

We also booked a 60-minute relaxation massage at the spa. The masseuse – trained in Thai therapeutic techniques – was firm-handed enough to release the tension and knots in our muscles. They were also able to tell immediately which areas needed some lymphatic drainage, and were careful about avoiding a new tattoo we had.

For dinner, we dined at Xingli, their Chiu Chow fine dining restaurant that also serves Cantonese and Sichuan specialties. Standout dishes from their eight-course set menu include a double-boiled conch soup with pu’er tea, and the pan-seared M9 Wagyu beef. Despite knowing of its collagen-laden properties, we were unfortunately not Chinese enough to fully appreciate the whole braised sea cucumber with black truffle on a bed of millet – though our companion happily devoured the entire creature. We walked out of Xingli feeling nourished in the way that wholesome Chinese food can make you feel.

At night, the doors to Curv Bar open, offering relaxed libations with live jazz music. A walk-in humidor is connected to the bar lounge, serving fine cigars and a place where guests can store their preferred cigars and liquor in a private box as well. Their interesting cocktail menu draws inspiration from Asian dishes such coconut chicken and Japanese mushroom soup. Our favourite amongst these drinks was the refreshing Tom Yum Punch (HK$116), a Thai twist on the piña colada.

With 15 years of history, The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen could undoubtedly benefit from some updates to modernise its offerings. However, it is essential to note that with age comes experience, and the exceptional service this hotel provides more than compensates for a need for renovations. If you’re into the ultra-sleek or modern Scandi minimalist aesthetics, then this hotel may not be for you. However, if you want an inviting stay with good food and great service that is conveniently located, then look no further than The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen. The hotel is right around the corner from the Convention & Exhibition Centre subway station, and also within close distance to Coco Park Station, which explains why it is a top choice for business travellers – the huge Shenzhen Convention Center is literally right across the road. Hong Kong travellers will also be glad to know that the Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen is practically a hop and a skip away. After a 20-minute ride on the high-speed rail from West Kowloon to Futian, the hotel is a mere 10-minute walk from the train station, or an even shorter cab ride away.

Rates for the junior suite at The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen start at HK$2,152 per night, or HK$3,765 including Club Lounge access for two. Click here to book your stay.

Note that prices mentioned are approximate and may change due to fluctuating currency exchange rates.