First, let me ask a question: which hotel brands do you think are top-tier?
I’ll go first. In my mind, the top-tier brands are Ritz (not The Ritz-Carlton, but the Ritz Paris and Ritz London), Aman, Bulgari, Cheval Blanc by LVMH, Mandarin Oriental (MO), Peninsula, Hoshinoya, Six Senses, Capella, and Rosewood.
Haha, that’s just my personal opinion, and I welcome different viewpoints.
Last week, I spent six nights in Hong Kong, and for two of those nights, I chose Rosewood.
Looking across the entire Hong Kong territory, there is no new hotel with such an impressive view as Rosewood! It boasts the best views of the Victoria Harbour from the highest vantage point.
Actually, Rosewood opened in 2019, so it’s not a particularly new hotel. However, due to the pandemic over the past three years, I never had the chance to visit Hong Kong, so to me, the Hong Kong Rosewood feels like a new hotel.
To truly convey how incredible the view is from Rosewood, let me just show you some pictures.
In the morning, from my room, I could gaze across the harbor to Central, with Central Pier, the Ferris wheel, and the towering Jardine House all in full sight.
In the evening, I watched the Victoria Harbour sunset from the Manor Club on the 40th floor of Rosewood.
At night, Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Hong Kong Space Museum, and the Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui were all right below me. I could also enjoy a unique viewpoint of the Victoria Harbour nightscape from high above.
The reason for such a prime location is because Rosewood Hong Kong owns this piece of land.
Originally, the New World Centre complex stood here, which also housed the Regent Hong Kong Hotel. Both were owned by the Cheng family of Hong Kong’s four major families (who also own Rosewood Hotels, K11, and Chow Tai Fook).
Now, the New World Centre has been transformed into K11 MUSEA, the Regent is under renovation and is expected to reopen in the first half of this year, and an additional Rosewood and K11 ARTUS residence have been added. It’s now a hub for luxury hotels.
My first impression of this Rosewood was “private residence.” I’m not exaggerating—the elegance surpasses that of any other city hotel I’ve stayed in before.
At Rosewood Hong Kong, the signature ROSE WOOD symbols are visible everywhere.
The hotel is also filled with a plethora of artworks; almost every space where people might pause, from public areas to room interiors, features art pieces.
Since it’s dubbed a “private residence,” it must have some notable collections. Indeed, Rosewood and K11 are well-known for their art collections.
Every step reveals some wine, every corner a book.
At Rosewood Hong Kong, almost every public space and every restaurant has a bar, with alcohol prominently displayed. It’s clear that the owner has quite an affinity for drinking.
Rosewood Hong Kong also serves as a “large library,” with books from various fields placed in almost every public area.
The interior design of Rosewood Hong Kong was tailor-made by Tony Chi.
Indeed, this design is very much in Tony Chi’s style.
One of his major features is the asymmetrical design at the head of the bed. On the left side is a table lamp paired with a bedside table; on the right side, there’s a slender reading light along with a book. Asymmetry can also be a form of beauty.
Tony Chi uses cabinetry to create functional zones within the space, serving as partitions and adding decorative effects. For large spaces, this method creates some private areas without causing visual congestion.
Tony Chi also likes to use mirrored surfaces to create a crystal-clear effect, making spaces appear more expansive. Take this bathroom, for instance. The clever use of mirrors makes it feel like a jewelry box.
Additionally, the owner has added some “personal touches.”
The horse in the photo below is named “Gold Thriving,” owned by the Cheng family, who owns the Rosewood. It is a champion horse in Hong Kong races.
Of course, it is equally elegant.
Each Rosewood property features a spiral staircase, which is so beautifully streamlined that it looks good from any angle.
The hallmark of Rosewood, after all, is its allure and comfort.
Rosewood Hong Kong has put in considerable effort in its design; even the elevator lobbies have entirely different designs, which deserves high praise for this hotel.
Next, let’s talk about the rooms.
In most hotels, rooms are immediately accessible from the elevator lobby. However, at Rosewood Hong Kong, stepping out of the elevator leads you to a public area furnished with sofas, books, and newspapers, resembling a simplified executive lounge (except without food and drinks).
This is great, as the concept allows you to entertain guests in the public area without needing to go into your room.
Among the many hotels in Hong Kong, Rosewood’s rooms are relatively large, with entry-level rooms starting at 53 square meters.
During this visit, despite not feeling particularly lucky, I was upgraded to a harbor view room. It’s relatively easy to get a harbor view upgrade at Rosewood Hong Kong since 80% of the rooms offer harbor views.
Later, I felt that the standard rooms couldn’t fully showcase the beauty of Rosewood Hong Kong, so I arranged to visit a 105-square-meter Deluxe Harbor Suite.
This suite left me stunned—it was fantastic, truly felt like a “private residence.”
Especially with the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view over Victoria Harbour, it adds so much value. Even the under-renovation InterContinental and Hong Kong landmark K11 MUSEA are just below.
The Bling Bling restroom is also a major feature of Rosewood Hong Kong, giving off a vibe akin to a celebrity dressing room.
The most impressive aspect is that even the basic room types at Rosewood Hong Kong have double showers, designed for two people.
Inside the room, there are plenty of books and a vast selection of alcohol. They even provide some cocktail-making equipment along with books that teach you how to mix drinks.
I believe that anyone who loves drinking will definitely fall in love with Rosewood Hong Kong.
Every corner of the guest room showcases attention to detail. Coat hangers, table lamps, and remote controls all come wrapped in exclusive leather, instantly elevating the sense of luxury.
The suites include executive privileges, granting access to the executive lounge, Manor Club, on the 40th floor.
The Manor Club is well-equipped, with ample seating, stunning sea views, as well as bar and billiard areas.
The meals during dining hours are also commendable, living up to Rosewood’s standards.
Let’s continue talking about the restaurants at Rosewood Hong Kong.
If I counted correctly, Rosewood Hong Kong has ten restaurants. It’s impossible to try them all, and I might not have the ability to introduce them all in detail, so let’s highlight a few key ones.
On the 5th floor, there’s an Indian restaurant called Chaat, which has been awarded one Michelin star. As soon as you enter, you’re greeted by a strong aroma of curry.
I went there for lunch, which was a great deal. The lunch set menu costs only a little over 400 HKD, offering three courses. The restaurant is quite popular and reservations are hard to get, so you need some luck.
The Chinese restaurant The Legacy House specializes in Shunde cuisine and its design pays tribute to Dr. Cheng Yu-tung, the patriarch of the Cheng family.
This restaurant also boasts fantastic sea views.
Then there’s The Butterfly Room, a perfect spot for afternoon tea at Rosewood Hong Kong, which is always extremely popular on weekday afternoons.
For the other restaurants at Rosewood Hong Kong, I’ve posted some pictures. Adrian Cheng has done an amazing job – each restaurant is different and each has stunning aesthetics. Almost every restaurant features an outdoor terrace area, offering either sea views or city views, which is fantastic.
Let’s not forget about the amenities provided by Rosewood Hong Kong.
Rosewood is directly connected to K11 MUSEA, the new landmark in Hong Kong, an ultra-trendy and enormous complex. It has many stores and a strong artistic vibe.
At K11 MUSEA, I read a copy of “Slam Dunk.”
If you have kids, there’s a LEGO play area in K11 MUSEA that I bet the little ones will love.