A stay at Rosewood Hong Kong

Celebrating its fifth anniversary as the city’s preeminent vertical estate, Rosewood Hong Kong prides itself on doing things a little differently. Tama Miyake Lung checks in to sample some of the latest offerings 

It’s often said you can judge a man by the quality of his shoes. What’s less often said – but, I’m here to argue, equally valid – is that you can judge a hotel by the quality of its slippers. It’s been a few months since my stay at Rosewood Hong Kong but I’m still thinking about – and more often than not wearing – its grey herringbone-patterned slides with their unique stitched welt, subtle embroidered house seal and plush- but-not-too-spongy insoles. These are not your typical bland white hotel slippers and Rosewood Hong Kong is most definitely not your typical sophisticated-yet- staid luxury hotel. 

Occupying 43 floors of the 65-storey Rosewood Tower, this self-described vertical estate has been shaking up the local lodging, dining, wellness and even art scenes since its opening in March 2019. Five years on, it’s as buzzing and exciting as ever with new menus, events and experiences being devoured as quickly as the hotel can announce them. Case in point: my staycation coincided with the highly anticipated opening of the Rossano Ferretti HairSpa inside the much-loved Asaya lifestyle space. 

But first, the hotel. I pull up to the front entrance in the mid-afternoon and am immediately greeted by crowds of people milling around the lobby’s imposing Lynn Chadwick sculpture or making their way to and from the wide bank of elevators at the back. At first I mistake a group of stylishly dressed hotel staff for guests, in the first of many signs that Rosewood does things a little differently, but they quickly direct me to the check- in desks and before I know it I’m on the way to my room. 

The hotel packs in an impressive 413 guestrooms – including 91 suites with personalised butler service, 18 of which are the larger-size Signature Suites – but manages to feel open and spacious thanks to the salon seating areas on each floor. Comfortable chairs and stately bookcases filled with photos and curated objets from Hong Kong’s past are a welcome change from the usual stuffy, narrow hotel corridor, and the perfect transition into my richly appointed room. 

Rosewood Hong Kong was designed by Taiwanese-born, New York-based interior designer Tony Chi as a majestic “estate on the harbour”, paying homage to the Cheng family that built and operates it while envisioning a new age of elevated residential hotel living. The unique blend of mid-century sophistication and haute Chinoiserie touches comes through in a riot of colour and texture, from the plush blue velvet sofa and navy chequered Loro Piana wool wall coverings to the elegant white lacquer decorative panels and black-and-white marble-lined bathroom with hammered copper sinks. 

And then, of course, there’s the view. Framed by a wall of windows, the sight of Hong Kong Island’s skyscrapers glimmering over Victoria Harbour is so mesmerising that I spend half the time in my room sitting on the sofa and watching as day gives way to the nightly light show and finally the neon-punctuated darkness. In the morning, I make my way to the 40th-floor Manor Club for a quiet breakfast of local and Western favourites before venturing out to the adjoining K11 Musea shopping centre or for other city excursions. 

The Manor Club, which also provides meeting spaces, a games room and a range of bespoke services, is a convenient alternative to the 10 bars and restaurants on site that can get quite busy at peak times. Having enjoyed excellent meals at The Legacy House, Asaya Kitchen and Bayfare Social on previous visits, this time I opt for dinner at Italian-styled food hall BluHouse. 

Named after the Chinese translation of the former Holt’s Wharf (“Blue Funnel Wharf”) where the Rosewood is located, BluHouse is a casual and lively destination for authentic Italian cuisine. The bright Mediterranean-style decor and large wooden tables make it a perfect spot for a leisurely lunch or family dinner, which my dining companions and I can attest to after lingering over a huge – and delicious – spread that included the signature octopus salad, fettuccine with whole Canadian lobster and a selection of Roman-style pizzas by the slice. From the ambience to the menu, BluHouse really feels like a piece of Italy that has been transplanted to Hong Kong. 

BluHouse is also unique in its commitment to “business with purpose”, supporting underserved and overlooked communities as well as building a sustainable footprint through its waste management and recycling programmes. Its latest initiative BluUp, in collaboration with LoveXpress, was designed to empower local autistic youth by providing five months of training and work experience to prepare them for a career in the hospitality industry. 

BluUp is one of several programmes, collaborations and celebrations created to mark the hotel’s fifth anniversary. The year-long Rosewood Front Row kicked off in March with an immersive art display by visionary Dutch artist Frederik Molenschot as well as a series of culinary masterclasses and partnerships with visiting world-renowned chefs and bartenders. But as a longtime fan of Asaya and its innovative beauty and wellness programming, I’m most excited about the debut of the first Rossano Ferretti HairSpa in Greater China. 

An Italian celebrity hairstylist with more than 20 eponymous hair spas around the world, Ferretti is famous for his signature Metodo, or “invisible”, haircut that focuses on each strand’s natural movement to enhance the hair’s overall flow and harmony. Each Rossano Ferretti stylist, including Hong Kong salon director Luca Venica, undergoes at least six months of intensive training in the Metodo technique, including mentorship from Ferretti himself. 

While Rossano Ferretti HairSpa at Asaya offers a full range of hair services including balayage, perms and hydrating treatments, I’m here to discover just how transformative a haircut can be. Tucked in a corner next to a lotus pond and garden wall, the salon is a sanctuary unto itself within the Asaya wellness complex. Venica immediately puts me at ease, introducing all things Ferretti before settling me in the chair to talk about my hair needs and dreams. 

What happens next is exactly as Venica describes it: a dance – with scissors – as he flits around my head snipping away at seemingly random layers, stopping only briefly to check his work before he’s moving again. It’s a bit nerve-wracking seeing so much hair fall to the floor but in the end I’m left feeling lighter and bouncier without the choppy look that comes with so many layered haircuts. I would say you have to see it to believe it but, this being an invisible haircut, maybe you have to feel it instead. After a blow-dry and styling, I certainly feel as
if I’ve just had the best haircut of my life. 

While my visit to the Rossano Ferretti HairSpa is perhaps the most memorable aspect of my stay, it’s just one of many distinctive elements that make this hotel unlike any other in its category. It’s safe to say Rosewood Hong Kong has achieved its creators’ mission to set bold new benchmarks for design, guest experience, cuisine and culture. And, let’s not forget, slippers. 

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