OZONE | The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong — Restaurant in Kowloon

Usually, I write reviews either to warn people of places where the service/product quality is poor or to recommend a place because exceptional service/product quality.

On this occasion, it is the latter but at the same time I would like to use this review to say a huge thank you to the staff at the Ozone, who made my visit there an absolute delight. So if you are not interested in knowing how brilliant the service is and how accommodating the staff and just want my tips, skip to the end.

From the moment I arrived at the Ritz Carlton to the moment I left I was made to feel more than just welcome; I was greeted with a beaming smile, and I just knew I was going to have a good night. Although I was on my own I was never forgotten - quite a common occurrence when you are flying solo in a busy bar. The staff were very attentive but at the same time not overbearing.

However, it was the conversations with the staff that made it special. Everything was explained clearly from the beginning to the end. For example, when I went to pay I had no idea I would get a discount as a Marriott Bonvoy member and the points I was awarded was an added bonus. I would like to thank the server again for letting me know about this.

I would also like to say a huge thank you to the server who gave me the message from my friend in London and the complimentary drink - what a lovely touch.

Now for my tips:

First tip - if you haven’t booked, you should. This is a record breaking bar (apparently the highest in the world) which offers spectacular views of the Hong Kong skyline. If you haven’t booked, it could be still worth try, you might be lucky.

Second tip - you have a choice to sit outside if you meet the $500 minimum spend. Worth meeting the spend and if you are going to have something to eat, you should be able meet this amount.

Third tip - try the food. I was expecting it to be considerably more expensive being a hotel and even more expensive being the Ritz Carlton. However, I was pleasantly surprised. $200 HKD for a delicious, fresh tuna poke. Well worth it - it’s only a little more than what I paid for one in London the week before. I will admit the one at Ozone was quite a bit simpler and was with fewer ingredients but it was still delicious.

Fourth tip - try to go just before dusk. That way you get a great view of the skyline in the day and at night.

Fifth tip - try out the Ritz Carlton’s own brand of beer - Three Turtles - very nice!

Finally, sixth tip - if you are not a member of Marriott Bonvoy, it might be worth registering before you go. It will save you money.

Thank you again for everyone at the Ozone. I had a...

OZone at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: A Skyline View You Can Only Dream Of (While Being Treated Like a Criminal)

Let me be unequivocally clear: steer well clear of OZone, the supposed rooftop jewel atop the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. What was intended to be a sophisticated evening with breathtaking city vistas turned into a farcical exercise in frustration, punctuated by abysmal service and a view that simply does not exist. If you want an outside table, lured by the promise of the iconic Hong Kong skyline. The catch? A hefty minimum spend of 500 HK$ per person. One would expect, at this premium price point, to be granted prime viewing access. Instead, we were relegated to a corner where the much-vaunted skyline was completely and utterly non-existent. It felt like being deliberately hidden away, a second-class citizen for daring to have a spending limit. The customer service, or rather the distinct lack thereof, was truly appalling. From the moment we approached the hostess, the air was thick with suspicion. Her demeanor suggested she believed every guest was poised to make a run for it without settling the bill. Patience was clearly not in her vocabulary, and any inquiry was met with a curtness that bordered on offensive. Perhaps the management is aware of the phantom skyline, because the staff seemed determined to ensure we couldn't even capture a photographic memory of the non-view. Attempting to take a picture was like navigating an obstacle course of zig-zagging waiters, each one strategically positioned to block any access. It was less about efficient service and more about a bizarre performance of obstruction. The meager offering of complimentary almonds and olives felt like a pathetic consolation prize for the disappointment. A few dry nuts and briny olives hardly compensate for a fraudulent view and disdainful treatment. Cost of cocktails and selection is very poor.

Frankly, venturing to OZone was a complete waste of time and effort. The promise of a stunning rooftop experience is a blatant lie. You'll be subjected to discriminatory service based on your spending commitment, denied any semblance of the advertised view, and treated with an air of suspicion. Save your money and your evening. There are hardly any other establishments in Hong Kong that offer skyline views. This will explain why many patrons leave around 20 minutes having only arrived a short while ago, once scoping and evaluating the deceit of what there is actually on offer to enjoy as...

I have been there 2 times in the last 6 months.

1st time it took over an hour for our starters, the drinks package was slow, and one of them sold out before everyone got a chance to try it.

It was a large group, and I was told to pre-pay all food costs for the table. When we arrived, it felt like they weren't expecting us, and we were split into 2 tables. At the end of the evening, I had to pay for drinks and a service charge (no problem), but after checking my bank statement the following day, I realised that the cost was over $1000 extra. It turns out that since the point of paying for food, the night brunch price changed, and no one thought to warn us. (Ozone admitted their mistake and has refunded)

It was a birthday party and we bought a homemade cake. We were told the cake-cutting fee was $500 per pound (of weight). We did not cut the cake.

On the second visit, I only went to go for drinks and to show a client the view/light show.

When I called to book outdoors was told it was not possible. We arrived at 7:45. When we arrived, I requested to go outdoors. There were lots of places cornered off. I mentioned to the staff we were only there for the 8 pm show and wanted to sit next to the window, but I was told that half the deck was empty and not for public use, and the other areas were tables with a $6000 cover charge.

It took 10 mins to get a menu and a further 10 mins to get someone's attention to order drinks and snacks (fries and nachos). Drinks arrived 30 mins later (way after the light show had finished) I had to leave an hour after ordering but the food had still not arrived.

Both these experiences have been in the last 6 months. Whatever experience used to be common here is no longer the case. Ozone’s only selling point is that it’s the highest bar in the world, but Hk is filled with lots of other bars that cost less and provide a far better service while still maintaining a fantastic view (clouds don’t often cover that)

I would recommend trying out: Salisterra the upper house), eyeBar or Zuma or places that care for their patrons.

As a Brit, the Ritz brand denotes the best one can get. There is nothing that can surpass. Hong Kong’s Rits Carlton is a demonstration that this expectation is limited only to the original hotel in London. Where leadership can actually monitor what...