Best Room At… Rosewood Hong Kong
Spread out over 43 floors of a 65-story tower in Kowloon, the Rosewood Hong Kong is home to 12 dining concepts (including the Michelin-starred Cantonese fine-dining restaurant the Legacy House and the Michelin-starred Indian street food restaurant CHAAT), a sprawling spa, and the nightlife destination DarkSide, named in a nod to Kowloon’s now-outgrown reputation as Hong Kong Island’s less exciting neighbor, and the private Manor Club. But despite everything the five-year-old property offers on site, it isn’t the sort of place that keeps you from experiencing the city around it.
Instead, the Rosewood brings in Hong Kong, hosting a pop-up with the legendary local eatery Hop Sze, allowing guests to walk easily into the neighboring K11 Musea, and blending seamlessly with the waterfront Avenue of the Stars along Victoria Harbour. (The tower is also home to Carlyle & Co., an offshoot of the New York City hotel that functions as a private club.) The Rosewood also brings its guests out into the city, allowing them to leave behind the luxurious, art-filled property (more than 450 pieces are scattered across the floors) for a few hours to explore nearby neighborhoods with an on-staff cultural ambassador, who can plan shopping excursions, art adventures, or restaurant crawls that include both tourist-friendly destinations and under-the-radar local spots.
Here, Managing Director Hugo Montanari shares his own favorite room at the hotel, and explains how a luxury destination in Hong Kong might be different than you’d think.
What do you consider to be the best room at the property and why?
That's not an easy one but if I had to choose, it would be the Salisbury Penthouse. What I particularly really enjoy it is this residential feel when you enter the room; they have this homey feel and the type of warmth we want to create, allowing guests to feel calm even in this bustling city. There are two living room spaces—you could be entertaining, with your private chef in the kitchen—and then the three bedrooms. It’s a space of privacy and relaxation; in the evenings, with the drapes pulled, you can see all the lights on Victoria Harbor and the mountains behind them. There’s a sense of peace that comes with it. And if you’ve brought your family, they aren’t far away because this is a duplex suite.
How much does it cost per night?
$120,000HKD plus 10% per night.
How would you describe the guests and vibe at the hotel?
I don't think we can go any more by demographics. It's more related to the curiosity factor, and how, regardless of your purpose of travel, you want to feel things, you want to touch things, you want to see things. We attract a wide spectrum, and our lobby is a fashion show: I love standing there and watching the people coming in and out. You don’t need to hire a consultant to tell you what’s in style, you can just stand in our lobby—or ask someone in housekeeping when they pick up the garbage, which shopping bags they’re seeing, because that’s what everyone is buying.
Another beautiful thing is that we are located on the Kowloon side of the city, which is more of a leisure destination. Hong Kong island is all hustle and bustle, and while we're in the middle of a city, you can visit the pool or the spa and just unwind. You don’t feel like you need to be anywhere other than where you are.
What feeling about Hong Kong do you hope to impart to guests?
We love this city, and we bring in the local community—tt's essential to us and what we value. It begins with the team and their warmth… We have 22 nationalities working here at the hotel, and I think that sets the tone for Hong Kong as a very cosmopolitan city where I would like to believe everyone is accepted.
What’s a local attraction that you always recommend?
I love to go to the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, a 40-minute drive from here. It's a huge playground for nature with its own reservoir and sea views. We can arrange a picnic, guests can sit on top of one of the mountains and enjoy the views of Hong Kong and cherish a moment without a building in front of them.
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