Talking Fork

I’ve been a bit of fan of Hotel Jen for a while now, so when it was time to get over to Hong Kong for a short stay, I thought it would probably be a pretty cool spot on the Island to camp out at. There’s a few ways to get there with the most popular being by train which takes around 20 minutes and lands you at the HKU Station which is basically right out front of the hotel – if you take the B2 Exit. Nice!

Check in takes place at the first-floor reception lobby which is accessed by escalator or by lift. It’s not necessarily the most glamorous or anything but it does the job and check-in is efficient, even more so if you’ve got the app. This meant that after a quick swipe of an ID and getting your room key it’s off you go. The check in staff are young, helpful and pretty cool but I have to say that the Jen staff in Singapore’s Tanglin are the coolest!

Anyway, also on the lobby level there’s a small bar and coffee shop, along with a collection of free newspapers, magazines and water along with a mobile charging station for your tech – which could come in super handy if you’ve gone flat prior to arrival.

For those that may not be familiar with Jen, it’s the 4 star creative cousin of the Shangri-la group. Catering to a new generation of independent travelers, this mid market offering is all about affordable quality, comfort and value with a playful twist and friendly service.

This property has 283 rooms, which are spread over floors 3 to 27 and include a couple of different categories to suit your budget and needs. There’s the Superior, Deluxe and the Club Rooms each with a choice of mountain or harbour views. Effectively the main difference between these option are that the Superior rooms are carpeted and many have showers with a bath tub while Deluxe rooms have a shower only.

Club Rooms

The Club Rooms occupy floors 23-27 and are similarly divided across the side of the property to offer harbor or mountain view - which is the view I had from mine. So one thing to keep in mind is that this is Hong Kong which has some of the most expensive real estate in the world so please do not expect large rooms and with lots of dead space for the sake of it. Even the the higher category rooms are essentially small by many standards relatively small. Still, they are well appointed with the tech that you need to recharge and of course these days eveyone is craving WIFI - so you’ll be pleased to know that at Jen in your room its free and fast. That will save you the hassle of having to chill down in the lobby while you vacuum up bandwidth.

The overall styling is quite minimalist with some warm wood tonality running throughout. The beds are nice and comfy as you would expect from Shangri-la, with the pillows always being a treat! As for the bathrooms, The Club Rooms have a fairy small bathroom, it’s the Club Suites that have the amazing ensuite. In all it’s just about right for a 4 Star Hotel, that truth be told with so much to do outside - you probably wont be spending a whole lot of time in the room anyway.

Club Lounge

One place you will want to check out is the Club Lounge which offers not only some great snacks and beverages throughout the day but also hosts a daily Happy Hour with magnificent view of the harbour.

This is a great spot to unwind in the early evening as you plan your night time festivities looking out towards Kowloon.

Club Lounges are always entertaining places. You meet lots of different and interesting people which is reason enough to make sure your room selection entitles you to entry. In saying that, the lounge is also super convenient, allowing you to a pit stop while you handle all sorts of tasks. Should you need any assistance the staff are always extremely helpful with recommendations about the hotel, the area and your stay. You can even check in and out from here.

Dining

The dining scene at this hotel is pretty limited but it is quality. Café Malacca is their signature food play and is located on the second floor and handles the buffet breakfast, after which it switches it up for lunch and dinner and becomes an Asian Street Food venue offering classic Malaysian and Singaporean street-style food. A few years back it was actually awarded Bib Gourmand status in the Hong Kong and Macau Michelin Guide.

You already know what I got….. yep a nice little bowl of fire. The laksa here is pretty good, perhaps not the greatest of time but still more than competent. With Hong Kong being such a foodie destination, I recommend you give Malacca a try but then get out there an explore because there’s seriously so much to see an do. Just down stairs there’s the pier - known as Instagram Pier where everyone goes to snap some shots. Aside from this there a whole heap of little places from dumplings to contemporary coffee shops to check out just a few steps out side of the hotel. There’s also the Shek Tong Market close by.

There are currently 10 Jen properties (most of which were Traders Hotels) across the Asia Pacific region, with each one offering a unique and creative neighborhood vibe. This property fits the bill for anyone that’s seeking something slightly different that strikes just the right balance between being affordable and well designed and appointed.

Bottom Line:

The location is a good one and there’s plenty go and do and explore both near by and of couse further a field. If you manage to stay in the Club Room, you’ll find it offers excellent value for money given the ongoing refreshments and general attention to detail and facilitates that serves to greatly enhance the stay.