Hotels

The first Hari opened in London’s Belgravia in 2016 and its younger Hong Kong sister shares the same designer and cosy interiors. The 210-room hotel has become a popular neighbourhood drinking and dining spot in the busy, all-hours district of Wan Chai – a mix of business by day and entertainment by night. The decision to develop a luxury hotel brand from scratch marks a significant strategic shift for Hong Kong-based Harilela Group. For most of its history, the family-run company has focused on owning hotel properties around the world that were operated by global hospitality groups such as The Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Hyatt. Now, that business model has shifted. “As the world has become more personalised, people are looking for something different,” says CEO and chairman Aron Harilela.
thehari.com

Don’t be fooled by the name – the 91 rooms at Little Tai Hang, which opened in 2017, are generous for this city. There’s also nothing “little” about the modern tower in which they reside.

Most rooms enjoy views over the low-rise neighbourhood of Tai Hang or out over Victoria Park and the harbour. One-night stays are available but the majority of guests who check into this hotel and its serviced apartments are long-term residents looking to make use of the 24-hour gym and lounge facilities. Some rooms have a Japanese bath, a nod to owner Tommy Pao-Watari’s mixed heritage, and there are several bars (including craft beer stalwart, Second Draft) and three on-site restaurants.
98 Tung Lo Wan Road
+852 3899 8888
littletaihang.com

Fans of The Standard will feel at home at Eaton HK after its 2018 overhaul by New York design studio Avroko. The hotel’s office-like 1990s exterior and exposed lifts might look the same from the outside but the interior deserves a visit even if you don’t choose to stay here. 

A dramatic, three-storey atrium with a central food hall has injected heart and soul into this 465-room hotel, once a favourite of large tour groups. Meanwhile, fourth-floor bar Terrible Baby, located where check-in used to be, makes far better use of the leafy outdoor terrace – a great spot for a daytime drink or sundowner with views over Kowloon’s neon-lit streets. 

Eaton – whose plum location on Nathan Road has easy MTR access to Central – is a new brand from the Langham hotel group and the brainchild of third-generation family member Katherine Lo. Hong Kong is home but Lo is focused on expanding in North America.
380 Nathan Road
+852 2782 1818
eatonworkshop.com

The opening of Hotel Icon in 2011 filled the gap for a well-run Kowloon boutique hotel that’s perfect for business travellers calling in on the growing number of firms operating nearby. A selection of architects and artists from around the world contributed to the look and feel of the place, which offers panoramic views of Victoria Harbour across all floors. Architect Rocco Yim designed the hotel’s all-glass exterior, while French botanist Patrick Blanc designed the indoor vertical garden that spans the hotel lobby.

The streamlined room interiors are influenced by the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, and make for comforting sleep and work quarters. Owned by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s hospitality school, Hotel Icon’s top-notch service, breadth of restaurant offerings and harbourside location make it one of our top picks in the city.
17 Science Museum Road
+852 3400 1000 
hotel-icon.com