This was published 5 years ago
Mojo Nomad Central, Hong Kong review: Some shared rooms, but this is no hostel
By Craig Platt
Mojo Nomad Central is close to the heart of Hong Kong.
The place
Mojo Nomad Central, Hong Kong
The hotel targets 'digital nomads' with its co-working space.
The location
Close to the heart of the city on Hong Kong island, Mojo Nomad Central is on the western side of Central, close to the hip happening Sheung Wan district. It's a short walk to the waterfront, while just behind the property is PMQ, the converted police residence now filled with boutique designers, arts and crafts.
The space
I'm staying an an 'extra large' room but the hotel also features shared accommodation.
The 24-storey building is a funky, modern space with a variety of room types. While it features a handful of dorm-style rooms, it's no backpacker hostel. Instead, it aims to cater for young "digital nomads" and, as such, instead of a lounge or bar, there's a co-working space on the second floor.
There's also a 24-hour gym. On the first floor is the hotel's Mexican-themed restaurant, Te Quiero Mucho. The decor is modern and cool, with some very un-Hong Kong touches such as artworks featuring Prince, Guns 'n' Roses' guitarist Slash and punk rockers The Ramones.
The room
One of the shared rooms.
I'm staying in one of the "extra large" rooms and it is a large space for this location and price in Hong Kong. The room features a queen-sized bed, large television, a separate bench/storage space, armchair and fold-down "smart desk". Floor-to-ceiling windows look out on to neighbouring skyscrapers.
The only thing that's not extra large is the bathroom, which is a tight space though practical enough (the bathrooms are all the same size regardless of the type of room). The minibar is empty except for complimentary bottles of water. The TV features Apple TV, allowing you to log into your own account if you want to watch Netflix or other services.
The food
Te Quiero Mucho isn't the place for authentic Chinese food – its Mexican through and through, led by Mexican national chef Jose Alfonso Rodriguez Portillo. But this isn't just traditional Tex-Mex fare.
While the usual dishes are here, they come with a twist – tacos feature beef tongue or calamari, and tostadas of wagu beef, porcini mushrooms or octopus. The food is delicious and is unsurprisingly attracting diners from outside the hotel.
Stepping out
If looking for more traditional Hong Kong dining, it's a short walk to the Sheung Wan Cooked Food Centre. The old-school food court is on the second floor of the Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, directly above a traditional market selling fresh foods.
There's a wide variety of cuisines to choose from, and while many of the food stalls have English menus, most don't have English-signage, so choosing a place to dine can be a bit of pot luck.
In the morning, try Shui Kee Coffee where you'll surprisingly find the specialty is French toast, along with other Western-style breakfast foods such as bacon and egg rolls.
The verdict
Mojo Nomad Central is a cool spot for younger travellers (or the young at heart) looking to stay with like-minded folk for a reasonable price, without giving up any of the comforts one would expect from a high-end hotel.
Essentials
Rooms at Mojo Nomad Centra start from $HK440 for a shared room or $HK1155 for a private room. See mojonomad.com
Highlight
The youthful, friendly vibe makes this a fun place to stay.
Lowlight
The '80s soundtrack in the lifts could do with a little more variety (I heard Working for the Weekend at least four times during my stay) and the volume could come down a bit too – I could hear the music in my room when the lift doors opened outside.
The writer stayed as a guest of Mojo Nomad Central.
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