The Royal Garden Kowloon East is a family-friendly and pet-friendly urban resort in Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O district. Located above MTR Tseung Kwan O Station, the hotel features 366 guestrooms and suites, seven private villas, rooftop dining, resort-style facilities, an outdoor swimming pool, and easy access to the shopping, dining, and entertainment attractions of East Kowloon.
In This Post
Discover Kowloon East!
Kowloon East is a loosely defined section of the Kowloon Peninsula that comprises Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, and the site of the former Kai Tak International Airport.
After the airport was replaced by Chek Lap Kok International Airport in 1998, the former airport site and surrounding districts have undergone extensive redevelopment.
New residential, commercial, retail, and leisure projects have transformed the area, culminating in the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park, now Hong Kong’s largest sports, entertainment, and mega-events venue, and the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, which was built atop the former airport’s runway.
The Back Story
The opening of The Royal Garden Kowloon East in the fourth quarter of 2026 marked the completion of a major repositioning project that has transformed the former Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East into a family-friendly, pet-friendly urban resort.
The property first opened in 2012 as Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East, operating under the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) umbrella.
At the time, Tseung Kwan O was still developing as a commercial and residential hub, and the hotel’s business-oriented positioning reflected the needs of both the district and the wider market.
Over the following decade, however, the landscape changed significantly. Tseung Kwan O matured into a major residential, retail, and commercial centre, while the wider East Kowloon district underwent extensive redevelopment.
The opening of Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in 2013 transformed the former airport runway into a gateway for international cruise passengers, while Kai Tak Sports Park, which opened in 2025, further strengthened the area’s role as a destination for sporting events, concerts, and entertainment.
According to Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, Chairman and Managing Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), the company undertook extensive research to better understand the changing needs and expectations of both local and international travelers. The result was a decision not simply to renovate the hotel but to completely reposition it for a new era.
After the management agreement with IHG expired at the end of 2025, SHKP elected not to renew the partnership and instead incorporated the property into its own Royal Garden portfolio.
More than HK$100 million was invested in a three-phase renovation project that increased the room inventory to 366 guestrooms and transformed the former business hotel into what SHKP describes as an urban resort.
The project is significant not only because of the scale of the transformation but also because it marks the first expansion of the Royal Garden brand since the opening of the original Royal Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1981.
To help bring the new vision to life, SHKP enlisted Hong Kong-based LAAB Architects to reimagine the former Crowne Plaza for a new generation of travelers.
According to project materials, the designers developed a “Quiet Elegance” philosophy for the project, reimagining the hotel as an “Urban Resort” and “an oasis of calm” within the city.
The redesign introduced nature-inspired interiors, warm timber finishes, family-oriented spaces, and pet-friendly accommodation intended to support the property’s new positioning.
Today, The Royal Garden Kowloon East caters to families, staycationers, couples, pet owners, wedding celebrations, and leisure travelers seeking a resort-style experience within one of Hong Kong’s fastest-evolving districts.
Hotel Overview — The Royal Garden Kowloon East
The Royal Garden Kowloon East is a family-friendly and pet-friendly urban resort located above MTR Tseung Kwan O Station.
The hotel features 366 guestrooms and suites, seven private villas, multiple dining venues, leisure facilities, family-oriented amenities, and event spaces.
Designed around the concept of “Quiet Elegance”, the property blends contemporary interiors with natural materials, warm colour palettes, and direct access to the shopping, dining, and entertainment offerings of Tseung Kwan O.
Accommodation — The Royal Garden Kowloon East
The Royal Garden Kowloon East has 366 guestrooms and suites together with seven private villas.
The redesign introduced a range of accommodation concepts aimed at families, couples, staycationers, and pet owners.
Accommodation begins with the Urban Oasis Room, with entry-level rooms starting from 36 square metres. Other room categories include the Sunrise Vista Corner Room, Moonlit Horizon Suite, and Horizon Family Suite.
The hotel has also introduced several family-oriented room concepts. The Junk Bay Kids’ Den features an ocean-inspired theme and dedicated play areas, while the Family Fortress Room incorporates castle-themed elements and bunk beds capable of accommodating up to four guests.
Among the most distinctive additions are the seven Horizon Retreat Villas, previously referred to as Sky Garden Villas during the development phase.
Inspired by a Balinese design aesthetic, the villas feature private gardens, warm oak finishes, and indoor-outdoor living spaces. They are also pet friendly, allowing guests to stay with their four-legged companions.
Food and Beverage — The Royal Garden Kowloon East
The Royal Garden Kowloon East features a collection of dining and social spaces that extend several of the Royal Garden group’s established concepts into Kowloon East.
Ponentino —the hotel’s signature rooftop Italian restaurant. Inspired by the long-established Sabatini Ristorante Italiano at The Royal Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui, the venue offers indoor dining as well as a garden-style outdoor terrace overlooking Tseung Kwan O and Cross Bay Link.
Fine Foods Lounge — located in the lobby, serves pastries, cakes, coffee, and selected products inspired by The Royal Garden Cake Shop.
The Garden Lounge — provides a relaxed social setting with tropical-inspired design elements, outdoor barbecue facilities, and family-oriented recreational space.
Facilities — The Royal Garden Kowloon East
The Royal Garden Kowloon East combines resort-style leisure facilities with amenities designed for families, celebrations, and events.
The hotel features a 25-metre outdoor swimming pool and a fully equipped fitness centre that operates around the clock.
Families travelling with children can enjoy Giggle Hill, a dedicated children’s play zone introduced as part of the property’s repositioning.
For weddings, banquets, and business events, the hotel offers a collection of Diamond Rooms. Diamond Room 8 opens onto a landscaped garden area, creating additional flexibility for ceremonies and receptions.
The property’s proximity to the Tseung Kwan O Marriage Registry further enhances its appeal as a wedding venue.
The hotel is directly connected to MTR Tseung Kwan O Station and enjoys convenient access to nearby shopping centres including Park Central, PopWalk, and PopCorn. Complimentary shuttle services and cross-boundary transportation options further enhance connectivity.
VIP Sound Bites — The Royal Garden Kowloon East
Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, Chairman and Managing Director, Sun Hung Kai Properties, says:
“This hotel renovation cannot simply replicate the old successful model, because the needs of guests have changed with time.”
He adds that SHKP conducted extensive research into changing guest expectations and believes the hotel can form part of a wider lifestyle ecosystem linking hotels, shopping centres, offices, and residences around Tseung Kwan O Station.
Jenny Chan, General Manager, The Royal Garden Hotel Group, says:
“The hotel is a continuation of our dedication to service excellence by combining diverse facilities with a nature-inspired design ethos. Guests are offered a serene, modern urban resort experience thoughtfully designed to delight families, business travellers and holidaymakers alike.”
Location — The Royal Garden Kowloon East
The Royal Garden Kowloon East — 3 Tong Tak Street, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong
The Royal Garden Kowloon East is located directly above MTR Tseung Kwan O Station in the heart of Tseung Kwan O. The hotel is integrated with one of Hong Kong’s largest residential and retail districts and provides convenient access to nearby shopping centres, transportation links, Kai Tak Sports Park, West Kowloon Station, and destinations throughout Hong Kong.
