The Peninsula Hotels’ Lobby Experience

There’s nothing like a resplendent lobby to welcome you to your holiday destination in style. Perhaps it’s The Peninsula’s understanding of this sense of arrival which has made their hotels such a benchmark of comfort and luxury worldwide. We thought we would share with you a few of our favourite Peninsula hotel welcomes…

Hiatus in Hong Kong

The perfect place to take a pause in your day, The Peninsula Hong Kong’s majestic Lobby has been an icon of glamour and luxury since the Grande Dame first opened her doors in 1928. Recognised as one of the most elegant meeting places in the city, enjoy a quintessential Hong Kong experience as you indulge in the acclaimed Peninsula Afternoon Tea beneath the Lobby’s vaulted ceilings and ornate cornicing, all the while enjoying the sound of live music. Our favourite detail? The intricate and sometimes fierce, sometimes beatific faces of the 76 original gargoyles lining the majestic and soaring columns.

Tea in Tokyo

Take your tea in Tokyo beneath the shimmering crystal chandelier of The Peninsula’s Lobby. Designed by Tino Kwan, this 1,313 crystal light bulb powered beauty was inspired by fireflies, or ‘‘hanabi’’ as they are known in Japan. For the ultimate afternoon tea experience, ask to sit at the private balcony’s table for two. Accessible via a secret entrance, this is the perfect place from which to enjoy the glittering chandelier and soak up the resonating sounds of the Lobby’s live music ensemble.

Shadows in Shanghai

Step foot in The Peninsula Shanghai and be momentarily amazed at the monumental wall murals that greet you. Created by Hong Kong artist Helen Poon, they are based on the return of the Kadoorie family, one of the most notable and philanthropic families in Asia, to Shanghai and memories of the beautiful Bund. The shapes, shadows, colours and forms of the murals change at different times of the day and as you move from left to right, unveiling the history and past of the city and The Peninsula Hotels.

A Moment in Manila

With over a thousand square meters of gleaming marbled floor and two of the most photographed staircases in the Philippines, the Lobby at The Peninsula Manila is guaranteed to make you pause for thought. At a breathtaking four storeys high, the Lobby’s focal point is the iconic 12-metre ‘Sunburst’ created by Philippine National Artist, Napoleon Abueva, which is set against Paola Dindo’s sky-coloured silver leaf-lined dome. Don’t leave without trying the Lobby’s award-winning dessert – the Halo-Halo Harana. A cooling tropical dessert made from shaved ice, tropical fruits, and topped with a vibrant scoop of purple yam ice cream, this ultimate Filipino refreshment is every bit as fun as it sounds.