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HONG KONG
Opening its doors late last year, The Hari Hong Kong came at a time which was arguably less expected. Covid times brought a wave of temporary closures across the city, meaning facilities were put on hold for months. Yet despite these ongoing restrictions, the hotel saw a light—a new opening to warm the hearts of local residents and bring optimism to the city. As probably the most popular year in history for local staycations, Hong Kong is always on the lookout for the next inception. And here it is, The Hari Hong Kong. It was just in time for the reopening of facilities which came early this year, so we checked into the hotel to see what the hype was all about.
As the hotel group's second opening following its successful London flagship, The Hari Hong Kong continues its legacy in the heart of Wan Chai, where culture and history come together. Although the hotel is quite small, its boutique charm is what makes this spot a quiet gem for locals and tourists alike. One of our most notable takeaways, however, were the restaurants onsite—more on that later. Guests enter through an initial reception followed by a lift to take you to the check-in area. Here, a sophisticated lounge filled with bookshelves comprising Harilela Group CEO Dr. Aron Harilela's favourite reads awaits. We checked into the hotel and stayed in the Premier Corner Room with harbour views. The room was well-equipped and featured a King Sized bed, a marble bathroom with a walk-in shower and a sofa that overlooked the panoramic sea view.
There are two restaurants to choose from at The Hari Hong Kong—Lucciola Restaurant & Bar and Zoku Restaurant & Terrace.
The latter was undoubtedly my favourite, a modern Japanese restaurant serving cult classics including sushi and temaki, while the talented barmen were happy to recommend sake pairings during the meal. Guests can also grab a cocktail and munch on snacks in The Lounge too.
There are little distinct touches in the accommodation which make the experience a step above a typical staycation. Guests can take home a hotel candle to bring the scent back to their own space.
Another memorable part of our experience was the in-room hotel happy hour. We returned to our room to a tray full of everything you need to make a classic Negroni, using two ready-blended bottled cocktails and the sliced orange peels. Although the gym was not yet ready to open to the public yet during our visit, we hope to see more focus on facilities as restrictions ease up. New opportunities to look forward to, according to our source, will include nearby spa treatments with the hotels' partners and wellness offerings on the terrace of the gym.