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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian


<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Why stay?</strong></h5>
<p>Stunning may be an overused word, but the global flagship of the Rosewood brand deserves the adjective for more than a few reasons. An eye-catching variety of textures and polished materials adorn the residential-style rooms and public spaces; pieces from the owners’ museum-quality art collection add even more visual interest, as do the sweeping harbor and city views. This high-rise hotel also impresses on the dining front (hence the weeks-long waiting lists for most restaurants), while the resort-style Asaya spa is an unexpected indoor-outdoor oasis amid the hubbub of Kowloon.</p>
<h5><strong>The neighborhood</strong></h5>
<p>Rosewood Hong Kong forms part of the mixed-use Victoria Dockside development on prime waterfront land in Tsim Sha Tsui. (Its predecessor, New World Centre, was the brainchild of tycoon Cheng Yu-Tung—the late grandfather of Rosewood’s CEO Sonia Cheng.) Guests can take advantage of a direct connection to the glossy, art-inspired K11 Musea mall and an underground link to East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station. The redesigned Avenue of Stars, a seaside promenade beloved of locals and tourists alike, runs right outside the property.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-132425 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-6.jpg" alt="Shunde-style dim sum at The Legacy House; Rosewood Hong Kong occupies part of the 65-story Rosewood Tower in Kowloon." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-6.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-6-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>The feel</strong></h5>
<p>No expense was spared in the opulent interiors by New York–based designer Tony Chi, who has deployed contrasting patterns and graphical elements to dramatic effect, taking a leaf from the art deco style while expressing Asian philosophies and ideas in a Western manner. Hence the auspicious octagonal motif that informs everything from wall coverings and elevator doors to copper sinks and light fixtures. Chi expanded the lift lobbies on each guest room floor into a “salon” complete with seating areas and cabinets for <em>objets</em> and reading materials. With so much thought put into every surface and space, it’s no wonder Rosewood Hong Kong is widely considered the city’s most Instagrammable hotel.</p>
<h5><strong>Guest quarters</strong></h5>
<p>The lavish accommodations span the 24th to 40th floors of the Rosewood Tower and start at a generous 53 square meters—rare for space-starved Hong Kong. Local touches include framed artworks like modern <em>gongbi</em> (fine-brush) figure paintings by Wilson Shieh, plus a specially commissioned flipbook depicting everyday scenes of the city from morning to night. Dazzling marble bathrooms with checkerboard floors feature a deep soaking tub, double vanities, and his and hers showers. (The automated Japanese toilet takes up a separate compartment at the end of the dressing room.) Those checked into any of the 91 suites are eligible for butler service and access to the Manor Club executive lounge.</p>
<h5><strong>Food and drink</strong></h5>
<p>Rosewood Hong Kong boasts nearly a dozen F&amp;B outlets. More than half are at ground level: all-day diner Holt’s Café has a Tea Conservatory with a vintage pu’er collection; The Butterfly Room is an afternoon tea parlor named for the Damien Hirst artworks on its walls; decadent cakes and pastries take pride of place at the adjacent Butterfly Patisserie; while <a href="https://destinasian.com/darkside" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="broken_link">DarkSide</a> plies patrons with locally inspired craft cocktails and dark spirits. The newest arrivals on the scene are BluHouse—a casual mosaic-floored Italian eatery with serving stations and a harbor-facing terrace—and <a href="https://destinasian.com/the-dining-room-by-bluhouse" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="broken_link">The Dining Room by BluHouse</a>, which promises a finer white-linen restaurant experience. The hotel’s quartet of fifth-floor eateries draw a steady stream of gourmands. Bayfare Social resembles a Spanish food hall more than a traditional dining room; one-Michelin-starred Chaat is all about elevated Indian street food; and American steakhouse Henry specializes in gutsy Texan-style barbecue. Down the hallway, The Legacy House pays tribute to Shunde, the ancestral home of Cheng Yu-tung, with exquisite minced fish dumplings and fried milk custard. (Cantonese staples such as the honey-glazed <em>char siu</em> and superb off-menu dry beef <em>hor fun</em> are also worth a try.) Asaya Kitchen, the closest venue to the spa and outdoor pool, dishes out sustainability-minded Mediterranean fare.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-132426 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-7.jpg" alt="The garden courtyard at Rosewood Hong Kong’s Asaya Spa." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-7.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rosewood-Hong-Kong-7-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>Wellness factor</strong></h5>
<p>Tony Chi gave the inaugural urban location for Asaya, Rosewood’s holistic wellness brand, a Zen-like aesthetic quite unlike the rest of the hotel. Changing rooms, treatment suites, a relaxation lounge, and men’s and women’s bathhouses are accessed via a tranquil garden courtyard with ornamental pools. Directly upstairs, you’ll find two Asaya Lodges, standalone spa villas available for day and overnight use. Facials designed by leading German skincare specialist Dr. Barbara Strum include a skin analysis, anti-aging massage, and non-invasive techniques to reduce inflammation; handwritten advice from the therapist provides an added personal touch.</p>
<h5><strong>Family matters</strong></h5>
<p>Parents can book babysitting services in advance as well as 45-minute play sessions at the Rosewood Explorers Club, which occupies five converted guest rooms. Each of these are designed to a different theme: Deep Blue comes stocked with lightweight foam blocks and pool noodles for stacking against a tropical reef–inspired mural, while Play Lab hosts dancing and painting classes. There is no age restriction at any of the hotel restaurants.</p>
<h5><strong>Sustainability cred</strong></h5>
<p>Rosewood Hong Kong has been recognized with an LEED Gold certification for its eco-friendly design; solar panels are integrated into the facade at the top of the tower. British vegan skincare brand Votary supplies bath amenities in the guest quarters and Asaya. Restaurants utilize seasonal local produce wherever possible, with kitchen byproducts sent to a waste-to-energy plant. Most notably, the hotel works with NGO RUN Hong Kong to obtain special work visas for refugees, who have been recruited for kitchen and customer-facing roles at outlets like BluHouse and BayFare Social.</p>
<h5><strong>What else?</strong></h5>
<p>The 40th-floor Manor Club is perhaps the handsomest executive lounge in town. It comprises a series of interconnected spaces that feature locally inspired artworks, a coffee and cocktail bar, a solid-wood pool table, and seating nooks for reading the tomes on display. Weather permitting, sundowners should be enjoyed alfresco on the west-facing outdoor terrace, and the diverse afternoon tea buffet means it’s possible to get a taste of all 11 dining outlets in one go.</p>
<p>Reviewed by<strong> James Louie</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rosewoodhotels.com/en/hong-kong</a><br />+852 3891 8888<br /><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/69Q2G1ZN7z9SwnqeA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong</a></p>

Inside a 53-square-meter Grand Harbour View room at Rosewood Hong Kong.

Rosewood Hong Kong

Hong Kong Hotels