There are hundreds of hotels in Hong Kong to choose from in all areas of the city. However if you specifically want to stay in the Mid-Levels section of Hong Kong Island the choices are narrowed down very quickly. Probably the best of those options is Bishop Lei International House.
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The other choices are Garden View Hong Kong and Two MacDonnell Road, a serviced apartment building which is priced significantly higher than its neighbors and has apartments as large as 650 square feet.
All three of these properties are easily visible from each other and all three offer magnificent views from at least half of their rooms.
Bishop Lei International House Location
Mid-Levels is near Central on the Island Side of Hong Kong which is of course, the beating heart and most central and downtown part of the city. But Mid-Levels is situated on the lower part of a very steep mountain. Indeed, it’s adjacent to The Peak which is Hong Kong’s highest point and a major tourist attraction.
The advantage Bishop Lei International House has over its neighbors is that it’s situated significantly closer to the Central-Mid-Levels Escalators, another famous attraction which is indispensable in getting around on foot in this area.
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Bishop Lei International House is not an ordinary hotel in that it is owned an operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Hong Kong. It’s next door to a cathedral and the hotel contains a chapel, an exclusive religious TV channel, and some other indications of its religious purpose. Many of the guests are nuns, clergy or otherwise very much involved with church life. However it functions as a normal hotel and is open to the general public.
Bishop Lei International House Property
Like most buildings in the area this hotel is a high rise and all the guest rooms feature floor to ceiling windows. It’s impossible to overstate how wonderful the view is if you are in a north facing room. The cathedral, Peak, botanical/zoological gardens and several landmark buildings are all clearly visible.
Part of the reason I wanted to stay at Bishop Lei International House was for the pool, which is fairly large with loungers around and the same fantastic view as from the rooms. Given the religious nature of the place it’s not exactly an Mtv Beach House vibe poolside, which is a good thing.
Other features include a concierge desk, restaurant (not as good as what you’ll find nearby), taxi bay, bus stop, small business center and a reading room, which is ostensibly for Bible Study but could be used for secular remote work. There’s a shuttle running to a few of the MTR stations and the convention center.
Bishop Lei International House Guest Rooms
This place dates to 1996 and it looks like it is straight out of the 1980’s. You get the overwhelming impression you’re hanging out in George Jefferson’s apartment or something. However with the location, views, amenities and price, being a little old fashioned is completely forgivable. I wouldn’t want this place to get renovated, lest it become more expensive.
My main beef is that my suite had two chairs that are more suited to a dining room table than to relaxing and watching TV. All of the suites in promo photos are pictured with couches so maybe I was just a bit unlucky. I also requested a queen bed. It’s possible that if I’d accepted a two-twin arrangement that room would have included a couch.
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The suite is on the smaller side but plenty of room for one or two people. The living area honestly feels much more like an office than a living room, with a highly functional desk and, for some reason, bookshelves. I loved the mini fridge which has an adjustable top rack and can fit about half a dozen wine bottles. Bed was comfortable and bathroom functional.
About Mid-Levels
This neighborhood is probably one of the richest neighborhoods anywhere in the world. There are a lot of people here with more money than I can even fathom and you can tell as soon as you walk out of the hotel. Needless to say it’s clean, safe, and has all the amenities you could want.
Bishop Lei International House is just two short blocks from the escalators, which run downhill from 8-10 am and uphill from 10 am until midnight. You’ll feel like a Greek God floating down from Mount Olympus on your way to get your morning coffee and egg tart. If you time it right and go at 9:30 you can glide right back up the hill on your way back. It’s easy to walk down the steps alongside the escalators when they’re running uphill.
This area is home to a large number of expats, international businesspeople and English speaking teachers. European style bars, cafes and restaurants are predominant and the international character of the city is really on display. You’ve got easy access to the Lan Kwai Fong nightlife area, Central’s attractions like Pottinger Street and Tai Kwun, and the Gardens. It’s basically equivalent to staying on Central Park West. You could spend your whole trip here without even getting on the subway and have a wonderful time.
Bottom Line
Rooms in Bishop Lei International House start at about $60 USD per night. My suite was $90 per night. You can rent monthly from $2600 a month, which is incredibly low for such a wealthy neighborhood.
Despite the slight weirdness of this place having dated decor and being part of the church it’s a fantastic hotel and a real hidden gem. I will absolutely stay here again and would put it among my favorite of any place I’ve stayed. You should absolutely book with confidence and see this view for yourself.
