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Checking in: The Hari Hong Kong

Updated: 4 hours ago

HONG KONG



First Impressions


From the modest street-level entryway, an elevator ride shuttles you up a single floor distance that feels like a million mile-journey, from the hardware stores and dubious nightlife reputation of Wan Chai into the cultural oasis that is The Hari’s lobby lounge. One could easily lose an afternoon reading the spines of the vast array of coffee table books artfully arranged on surfaces throughout the lovingly curated room – and a week just flipping through the pages. Its warm but functional design makes this a space that somehow simultaneously screams culture and affluence, leisure and pleasure, creativity and productivity. Perennially top of the pile, we suspect, is a well-thumbed edition of Hari Harilela: Made in Hong Kong – chronicling the colourful rise of the father of the hotel’s founder, Dr Aron Harilela.



The Room


This eye for design detail was also evident in our 15th-floor premium corner room; we appreciated the quasi religious dedication to the brand’s signature blue, appearing on the room carpet, with accents on the pillowcases, and even attuned to the huge moody landscape photograph hanging above our bed. Functionality was not overlooked in this city hotel: all 323 square feet carefully employed, with standalone bath and shower rooms in the timber-floored bathroom plus a large grooming area ideal for longer stays and sharp-dressed deal makers – and still space for a classic chaise lounge fronting onto the window. Our only niggle? The fridge couldn’t comfortably accommodate the hotel’s own house water bottles. 




The Breakfast


Served in the quaint Lucciola Restaurant & Bar, off the lustrous lobby described above, breakfast is a quality-over-quantity affair. Guests can order one a la carte option from a long menu of mains, with seven savoury, four sweet and four “healthy” options. From the latter, the tofu scramble was a conceptual fail – served as a solid lump of tofu that hadn't been scrambled at all. However, staff were happy to go off-menu (upgrading Eggs Florentine to Eggs Royal with the addition of smoked salmon) and the classic fry-up was an elevated smash, complete with fluffy eggs, moreish crispy roast potatoes, and chunky Canadian ham that was far too good to be called bacon. 


The tiny bar-based buffet maximises on wow, with rotating daily specials (shakshouka and frittata on our stays) plus local morning favourites siu mai and char siu bao. Most remarkable? A bottle of bubbly on ice, ready for anyone requiring a cheeky mimosa to kickstart the day. Canadians will be happy to hear their national boozy breakfast drink – the clamato-based Bloody Caesar – is also available from wake-up o-clock. 



Zoku: The Signature Restaurant


The Hari is also home to the signature Japanese restaurant Zoku, a cosy, classy, second-floor spot defined by dim lights, dark furnishings and white table cloths. We enjoyed the six-course Discovering Zoku selection menu, washed down with a fun sake flight. Standouts included tiger prawn gyoza, a flavour bomb that was crispy, tangy and moist but somehow let the seafood shine through. The delicious Spanish mackerel, served on a bed of sake lees sauce, was that idealised cliché – tender on the inside, crispy on the outside – with a bed of healthy greens resting ornately on top. Because here, the camera always eats first – with impeccable presentation, each dish a culinary work of art. We wish we could make noodle soup look as pretty as their Hiyashi Somen with earthy and nutty morel mushrooms. 


Sitting in the sweet spot between doggish tradition and reckless fusion, Zoku's vibe is tasteful yet modern – a respectful global spin on Japan’s dining culture that is unlikely to offend purists but yet may serve as a gateway drug to agnostics. Moreover at this pricepoint –  HK$688 for four courses or HK$888 for the full shebang – the evening-encompassing taster menu offers a wow-worthy date destination in a competitive midrange bracket.




Final Thoughts


Riding The Hari’s elevator, guests' vision is invariably drawn to the cute, kooky animation of a distinguished gentleman spinning an umbrella. It’s an oddly fitting encapsulation of the brand’s ethos – smart and traditional yet artsy and playful; a merry old dude celebrating a moment's repose in a busy, buzzling city. We’ll be back.



Location: 330 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong | Phone: 2129 0388 | Email: hk@thehari.com | Instagram: @theharihk | Website: thehari.com/hong-kong

 
 
 

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