Without a doubt, we can now safely say this—next stop: Hong Kong. We can almost feel the buzzing energy that only comes from being in Hong Kong, and taste iced milk tea and curry fish balls on our lips. After a year-long wrestle with the travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong, VTLs are at last, a green light between the two cities. With the newly-minted agreement, residents of either city will be able to travel for leisure to the other without quarantining or being put on stay-at-home notice—as long as they are vaccinated and have tested negative for COVID-19 pre-departure and post-arrival. As more cities and countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) join the list of VTLs, we’re confident 2022 is the year for travel to officially resume.
No doubt this is music to the ears of hoteliers in both countries. And for us travellers, could we be sitting in a bathtub overlooking the scintillating Hong Kong skyline by Christmas? Or enjoying a three-Michelin star dim sum lunch? Hong Kong is flush with luxury hotels ideal for the likes of any would-be globetrotter rapidly tiring of airline meal home delivery and “cruises to nowhere.” Flagship locales of global brands and exclusive boutique properties alike—here, we’ve collected just a few of the names we’re most excited to revisit.
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The Upper House
The limestone bathtub at The Upper House is one you will speak about for days. Each bath has been carefully installed before a view that overlooks the city, thanks to the hotel’s height, perched as it is above luxury shopping mall Pacific Place. Known for its generously-sized rooms and dedicated butler service (where your main man can run errands all over town for you), the hotel remains a favourite of celebrities and distinguished guests alike. Before or after taking a soak and watching the sun set, guests can wander down to the hotel’s latest signature pop-up, C’est Cheese—The House Cheeserie, a wine-and-cheese pairing experience. Celebrate The Upper House’s 11th anniversary with its new Escape Package, where guests paying for three nights can get a fourth for free.
The Upper House, Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Contact: +852 2918 1838 / [email protected]
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Rosewood Hong Kong
It may have been on your radar but you have yet to visit—Rosewood Hong Kong opened last year to spectacular views of the harbour. The beautiful property, designed by American-Taiwanese Tony Chi, has 413 rooms—most of which offer panoramic views of the skyline, and 10 dining concepts. Journey through the hotel to find DarkSide, Rosewood’s sultry and timeless jazz bar serving up old-world spirits, or XX, the ladies-only speakeasy and sanctuary that has a palpable, casual elegance. Asaya, its renowned spa, allows investment in loving selfcare through curated wellness programs, and is accompanied by fine wellness dining at Asaya Kitchen. The Kitchen features seasonal ingredients locally and sustainably sourced, and meals modelled after Mediterranean and Japanese diets.
Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Contact: +852 3891 8888 / [email protected]
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The St. Regis Hong Kong
Opened in April last year, The St. Regis’s Hong Kong location is situated in the trendy Wan Chai district. With a distinctive “East meets West” vibe cultivated by architect André Fu (also of The Upper House), the hotel imbues both a Hong Kong mansion silhouette and the timeless elegance of the St. Regis legacy—the same one that’s been burgeoning since John Jacob Astor IV opened the first hotel in 1904. This combination perfectly accommodates The St. Regis Hong Kong’s signature personalised butler service, wherein a discreet and warm butler will greet you at the door of the hotel’s Porte-Cochere, and whisk you upstairs for a private check-in into one of the hotel’s 129 rooms and suites. Enjoy a meal at one of the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred restaurants—French haute cuisine at L’Envol or traditional Cantonese fare at Rùn. Running from now till year-end, The St. Regis Hong Kong’s “Stay & Dine” package and “Magical Festive Staycation” will afford guests breakfasts, festive teas, and exquisite dinners at even more delicious prices.
The St. Regis Hong Kong, One Harbour Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Contact: +852 2138 6888 / [email protected]
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The Murray
The Murray’s off-white exterior and delightful arches were once part of a prominent government building in the 1960s, but all that changed when Foster + Partners transformed the space into a 25-storey hotel. Pegged as a business hotel, The Murray offers superb WiFi and ample spaces to work—while injecting the warmth of a luxury hotel with its lavish breakfast spreads and chic rooftop bar. At your disposal is even an in-room wellness guide and an option for outdoor boot camps, superfood menus, and tai chi sessions. Bonus points for the use of Grown Alchemist products in every bathroom.
The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong
Contact: +852 3141 8888
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The Peninsula Hong Kong
Featuring palatial vibes courtesy of its soaring ceilings and the heritage it wears proudly on its sleeve, The Peninsula Hotel is famed for its high tea, regal fleet of Rolls-Royces and sublime suites. Located in Tsim Sha Tsui with views overlooking Hong Kong Island, there’s no better way to spend a balmy evening than dining in the hotel before taking a walk outside the hotel along the waterfront. Hong Kong’s Peninsula is currently offering a variety of different staycation experiences for guests. These include the “Reach for a Star” staycation, showcasing sublime dining experience the hotel has to offer, and the “Journey the World” package, which offers guests a choice of artisanal, historical, and culinary experiences around Hong Kong, as well as an 18-minute helicopter tour around the city for the ultimate indulgence.
The Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Contact: +852 2920 2888 / [email protected]
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The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Outfitted with a telescope in each room, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong’s claim to fame is that of being the tallest hotel in the world. Occupying floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre in Kowloon, the hotel certainly knows how to fill those storeys with culture and hospitality. Of its six dining venues, it is the rooftop bar, Ozone, that takes the cake. Sitting 490 metres above sea level (pretty much in the clouds), Ozone recently debuted its Five Elements Cocktail Menu, which promises guests a gustatory journey: a “savoury start” with Water or a “refreshing kick-off” with Metal, followed by the fierce cocktails Wood and Fire, and wrapped up with the flavourful Earth.
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, Austin Road West, Hong Kong
Contact: +852 2263 2263 / [email protected]
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Four Seasons Hong Kong
Foodies, this one is for you. Four Seasons Hong Kong has the most Michelin stars under one roof in all of Hong Kong—or anywhere else on the planet. Six dining options have collated an incredible eight stars by the harbour. This includes the classic French establishment Caprice, headed by Chef Guillaume Galliot, which holds three, and Cantonese restaurant Lung King Heen, another three-star house, guided by Chef Chan Yan Tak, who came out of early retirement in 2002 to run the kitchen. Four Seasons’ other two Michelin stars belong to Sushi Saito, a tranquil 45th-floor installation and counterpart of the celebrated Tokyo original. If you still have space, check out the recently launched Masters of Craft series, which will allow guests a behind-the-scenes look at the work of the hotel’s chefs, sommeliers, beverage ambassadors, and wellness masters.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong
Contact: +852 3196 8888 / Contact Form
