Call it a staycation, a holistay or a city break – sometimes, a few days off the grid in a leisurely cocoon is all you need to recoup, re-energise and tackle the week ahead at full force.
But rather than jetting off to traveller-clustered destinations like Bali or Hanoi, why not take advantage of the myriad vacation spots right here in the city? Think award-winning spa treatments, sipping champagne by the pool or fine dining with a view, all without the hassle of passports and flight delays. Pack an overnight bag and you’re ready to be pampered – count us in.
Located a stone’s throw from Kowloon’s dynamic cultural meccas K11 Musea and Victoria Dockside, the Rosewood Hong Kong has been the city’s most buzzed-about new hotel since its opening earlier this year. Setting a new touchstone for ultra-luxury, the bold, sinuous 65-storey building, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, is a visual marvel all on its own, complete with lavish, aristocratic manor-inspired interiors across 413 rooms by Tony Chi of his eponymous New York studio.
Begin your staycation on a sweet note with glittering confections at the Butterfly Patisserie, modelled after a high-end jewellery atelier, before dining at Chinese restaurant The Legacy House or Holt’s Café. Top it all off with a nightcap at jazz bar DarkSide or the newly unveiled (yet hush-hush) women-only speakeasy, nestled in a secluded spot in the hotel for a memorable girls’ night out.
Wellness buffs and those seeking head-to-toe rejuvenation (and who isn’t nowadays?) will love the first urban outpost of the brand’s integrative wellness concept, Asaya, which offers personalised programmes, alternative therapies and scrumptious green menus across two dedicated floors – if you can tear yourself away from the stunning garden-festooned outdoor infinity pool, that is. If not, the Rosewood Residences that opened this July are perfect for extended stays.
A revitalising massage at one of the city’s best spas? A-list guests including David Beckham and Bill Clinton? One of the best views of the city? Check, check and check. Perched right on the fringe of Wan Chai, overlooking the glittering Hong Kong Island on one side and the Kowloon peninsula on the other, the illustrious Grand Hyatt, which first opened its doors 30 years ago, is built with all the makings of a special romantic getaway or a fun-filled weekend with the entire family.
Whether it’s sunbathing by the 50-metre rooftop outdoor heated pool that’s equipped with its own bar, breaking a sweat at the state-of-the-art gym, or indulging in some authentic Italian fare and the best breadsticks in town at the newly revamped restaurant Grissini, weekenders have plenty of moments to disconnect in style.
A must on your agenda? The world-renowned Plateau Spa, a self-contained resort on the hotel’s top floor that offers a host of massages, reflexology treatments and high-performance facials conducted in wood-adorned en-suite rooms. Seasonal packages such as the Chinese Tea Ceremony Suite Package and Top of the Suite Package serve up a taste of the best the hotel has to offer.
Before checking into this new curvilinear-shaped boutique hotel nestled on a quiet block of Austin Road, you’ll first be greeted by a wave of sultry, alluring coffee notes that float out from the ground-floor artisanal cafe Page Common, which doubles as the check-in lobby. Indeed, merely eight months since its opening, the first location of Butterfly Hospitality Group’s Page Hotels brand has amassed a huge following among local coffee-lovers as well as travellers wishing to explore Hong Kong off the beaten path.
Within the 197 rooms, all of which are framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, founder Philip Chan and interior design firm KplusK Associates have melded a monochromatic design ethos with tactile materials such as copper, stone, wood and black-stained matte aluminium. Touches including Marshall speakers and Appelles body care products also ensure a restful respite after a day of exploring the vibrant neighbourhood. The hotel brand’s first outpost raised its curtains last month on London’s St Martin’s Lane.
For those wishing to venture away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, yet be close enough to stay connected, the Tuve hotel, tucked five minutes away from Causeway Bay in Tin Hau – a small neighbourhood brimming with hole-in-the-wall eateries, markets, old buildings and local flair – is for you.
This 66-room hidden gem, designed by homegrown studio Design Systems, reminds you of Hong Kong’s industrial past, the austere, tactile quality of which is beautifully captured in interiors swathed in glass-reinforced concrete, mild steel, black monolith, marble, brass and wired glass. Minimally furnished decor and a sophisticated use of lighting allow for the organic beauty of these materials to stand out, creating an edgy, characterful cocoon unlike any other.
See more: Natural Storyteller: Dylan Farrell And His Evocative Designs
