HONG KONG GUIDE
Hong Kong is a city built on contrast - shaped by its British past and Chinese present, moving fluidly between order and tradition. That same tension plays out in the landscape, where a dense, vertical skyline rises sharply from lush, mountainous terrain. Read through this guide to experience the city through a lens of modern luxury: a curated edit of design-led five-star hotels, considered tables and storied members’ clubs that define Hong Kong at its most refined.
Imagery in this article was captured exclusively through the lens of Splendid, shot on IPhone & Leica.
Where to stay
Lanson Place, CAuseway bay
In the heart of Causeway Bay, Lanson Place offers a rare sense of calm. Recently reimagined by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the hotel balances French-inflected elegance with a distinctly residential sensibility. Interiors are light, soft and composed, designed to soothe rather than impress.
Rooms and suites are generous and quietly refined, framed by city views that feel considered rather than overwhelming. At the centre of the experience is Salon Lanson - a refined, living-room-style space for morning coffee, afternoon pauses and evening aperitifs. It’s a hotel defined by restraint, where luxury is expressed through comfort, clarity and the freedom to slow down.
The Hari, wan chai
The Hari approaches hospitality through a distinctly modern lens - one grounded in materiality, proportion and mood rather than overt statement. Interiors are layered and tactile, combining rich timbers, tailored upholstery and confident colour choices to create spaces that feel both intimate and urban. There is a residential sensibility throughout, but sharpened by a contemporary edge.
Public areas are designed for movement and pause in equal measure: a lobby that functions as a social living room, spaces that encourage conversation without demanding attention. Guest rooms continue the narrative with clean lines, warm textures and framed city views, offering a sense of retreat without retreating from the city itself.
Discover more or book your stay on The Hari website
The Peninsula | kowloon
The Peninsula occupies a rare position in Hong Kong - not just as a hotel, but as an institution. Its interiors favour permanence over novelty: polished marble, grand proportions, and details that have been preserved rather than reinterpreted. Everything feels deliberate, from the symmetry of the public spaces to the quiet precision of service.
Time moves differently here. Afternoon tea unfolds as ritual, corridors hum softly with history, and formality is worn with ease rather than stiffness. Luxury at The Peninsula is defined by continuity - an assurance that style, standards and grace remain unchanged, even as the city evolves around it.
Discover more or book your stay on The Peninsula website.
W Hotel | kowloon
The W offers a more energetic perspective. At W Hong Kong, perched above Victoria Harbour’s edge in West Kowloon, W translates Hong Kong’s kinetic spirit into interiors that feel modern, immediate and unapologetically bold. Sleek surfaces, striking lighting and panoramic views frame every space, creating moments that feel as visceral as they are visual.
Public areas double as social stages - lounges where light glints off polished stone, corners that shift from day into night like a carefully choreographed movement. Guest rooms extend the narrative: clean lines, thoughtful details and vistas that draw the harbour inward.
Discover more or book your stay on the Marriot website.
Tables & Member Clubs
Carbone | central
Carbone channels the spirit of classic Italian-American dining through a lens that feels both polished and theatrical. The interior - rich red tones, gleaming brass accents, crisp white linens - is unmistakable in its confidence, a room built for conviviality rather than quiet meals. Here, design does more than dress the space: it sets the tone, like a well-timed jazz chord that cues the evening’s rhythm.
Salisterra | The Upper House
Perched on the 49th floor of The Upper House, this Mediterranean restaurant and bar marries seasonal coastal flavours with panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the skyline beyond. Guided by culinary advisor Chef Ricardo Chaneton, the menu draws on sun-lit traditions from Italy, Spain and France - from oysters and trofie al pesto to slow-roasted fish and fresh shellfish.
Peridot | Bar
Perched on the 38th floor of The Henderson in Central, Peridot is Hong Kong’s newest design-forward bar - a sky-high sanctuary where mixology, architecture and mood converge. Designed by Studio Paolo Ferrari, the interior unfolds like a sculptural environment: soft green plaster, curves that echo the building’s form, frosted acrylic cylinders and more than 20,000 handcrafted lights create an organic, otherworldly space that feels both intimate and cinematic
Cipriani | members club
Cipriani’s appeal lies in its consistency - elegant rooms, timeless dishes, and a sense of international familiarity that feels reassuring rather than formulaic. Polished and purposeful, the interiors pair warm wood with crisp white linens and soft lighting, creating a setting that feels instantly recognisable to those who know the house elsewhere in the world.
China Club |members club
Tucked behind discreet doors in Central, China Club operates on its own rhythm - one shaped by heritage, privacy and tradition. Interiors lean into a distinctly old-world sensibility: dark timber panelling, vintage photographs, leather banquettes and softly lit dining rooms that feel deliberately removed from the present moment. There is no attempt to modernise for effect; instead, the space holds its authority through preservation.
AP HOUSE | K11 MUSEA
On the fifth floor of K11 MUSEA, Audemars Piguet’s AP House reframes the act of discovery. More than a boutique, it is a modern clubhouse for watch lovers - a space where craftsmanship, calm and conversation converge. Born from the Maison’s founders’ spirit of shared passion and designed with collectors in mind, this house blends heritage with contemporary poise, inviting visitors to linger over horological mastery rather than simply browse.
Art Basel Hong Kong
If your visit coincides with Art Basel Hong Kong, it becomes more than a trip - it becomes a cultural moment. Each spring, the city quietly transforms into one vast, curated exhibition: galleries from around the world converge in the sprawling halls of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, while satellite shows, salon presentations and private viewings ripple through the city’s design districts.
Staying Connected
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Wherever your stay takes you, we wish you a wonderful journey through Hong Kong. Take the time to move between its hotels, dining rooms and private spaces at an unhurried pace - noticing the details, the contrasts and the quiet moments in between. It’s in these considered encounters that the city reveals its most enduring impressions.