InterContinental Kaohsiung: An oceanic-inspired hotel designed after the city's harbour

The Rooms

Credit: InterContinental Kaohsiung

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Already impressed with the public spaces of the hotel, I was more than excited to enter my room for some much-needed relaxation. The InterContinental has 253 rooms, all designed in classic Art Deco style with the hints of oceanic blue I spotted in the lobby. All guest rooms are also equipped with smart services such as an AI voice system in English, Chinese and Japanese that guests can utilise.

I had the luxury of staying in a 2 Twin Premium High Floor room which overlooked the city. The room was really spacious with plenty of space for two people, luggage included. The are many brand-name amenities in the room (if that matters to you) such as a Smeg kettle, Dyson hairdryer and Byredo toiletries, but one thing I liked was the Chinese tea set alongside a selection of traditional Chinese teas. It added a nice cultural touch.

Credit: InterContinental Kaohsiung

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The bathroom was the main selling point of this room, taking up about half of the room. At first glance, it looks like an all-marble bathroom, but upon a closer look seemed to be printed vinyl. The hotel is new, so I didn’t mind it so much, but it would be interesting to see how it holds up after several years of guests coming in and out. Nonetheless, it’s still a beautiful bathroom that looked great in pictures and didn’t take the experience away IRL.

The bathroom comes with a shower, a bath and a separate area for the toilet (which I was pleased to find out, was a TOTO toilet). The bath also sits next to a full-length window, so you can gaze at the view (which was only ok in my opinion, but it’s much prettier at night when you can see the lights of the ferris wheel) as you take a relaxing soak.

There are five restaurants and a patisserie within the hotel, giving guests a myriad of options to choose from. Interestingly, one of them is a new establishment called Hawker Singaporean Restaurant which serves Singaporean and Southeast Asian street food. This wasn’t open when I stayed at the hotel, though I am curious to know if the food tastes authentic.

Breakfast was served at Seeds, the all-day dining restaurant. Seeds promote green initiatives, and all of the produce is sustainably sourced from local farmers and companies. This was where I had the buffet breakfast every morning from a spread of both Western and Asian cuisine. Of course, being in Taiwan meant I had to indulge in their local cuisine and I helped myself to several servings of porridge, noodles and savoury beancurd every morning.

Credit: InterContinental Kaohsiung

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One of the standouts of the hotel is Wa-ra a Japanese restaurant that specialises in Warayaki, a unique straw-fired grill cooking technique inspired by fishermen’s cooking techniques. The fishermen inspiration can also be seen in the decor of the restaurant, with giant woven baskets acting as private pods and stalks of wheat acting as the bar centrepiece. The restaurant’s visual space is also supposed to metaphorically represent the colours of underwater lava, creating a Japanese-style nightlife atmosphere with scattered sprinkles.

For dinner, I was treated to seasonal fish such as seared tuna and tenderloin, with both arriving at the table encased in a bell jar filled with smoke. I really enjoyed how the smoky aroma really added an extra dimension to the food. Other standouts were the deepfriend fish and red miso eggplant.

Credit: InterContinental Kaohsiung

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One of the selling points of Wa-ra is a four-minute-long immersive light projection show that goes on at 8pm and 10pm on selected days. This is projected on a 30m ceiling theatre space over the bar. While it did add an interesting visual aspect to my dining experience, I did feel that the light show is slightly gimmicky, and depending on where you’re seated in the restaurant, it could be quite a strain to peer at it, but overall the restaurant is still beautifully designed and worth a visit for the ambience alone.

The Extras

Credit: InterContinental Kaohsiung

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In terms of indoor facilities, the hotel has a 24/7 gym, steam and sauna room, as well as a temperature-regulated indoor pool. The concierge was telling me that the pool was a huge hit on Instagam and I could see why. The pool felt like a hidden enclave that was perfect to while the afternoon away. As my visit was at the peak of summer, I appreciated the cool and shaded area of the indoor pool — you definitely won’t be needing sunglasses here! There are also two jacuzzis of different heated temperatures for you to soak your weary body after a long day of sightseeing.

Pro-tip though: It is compulsory to wear a swim cap in Taiwan, even if you just plan to stand in the pool and not get your hair wet. You’ll need to purchase one as the hotel does not provide any for rental.

The Neighbourhood

Credit: Cheryl Chan

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The hotel is located in the heart of the Asia New Bay area, adjacent to numerous Kaohsiung hot spots such as the Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre, Pier 2 Art Centre, Kaohsiung Music Centre and the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal. All these locations were relatively affordable to get to by Uber if you find the summer heat unbearable. My travel companion ended up taking a bus and walking around the area though, and was pleasantly surprised to find a strong cafe culture in the neighbourhood!

While it’s best to either go early or later in the day, Pier 2 Art Centre is a definite must-visit for those who are keen on checking out the city’s vibrant art scene. There you’ll find artworks, sculptures and markets where you can buy fun little souvenirs for your trip.