Resting on the north shore of Hong Kong Island where the Star Ferry cruises in from Kowloon, Wan Chai is one of Hong Kong’s glitziest corners. Its well-heeled residents enjoy daring nightlife, designer boutiques and cool restaurants – and visitors can enjoy a stay at one of these eight brilliant Wan Chai hotels.
If you’re looking for five-star luxury in Wan Chai, the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong should be your first port of call. Book a stay in one of the 542 suites perched high above Victoria Harbour, then treat yourself to the Plateau Spa, the 24-hour fitness club, the Grand Club lounge or one of the nine top-notch dining options. The Olympic-size heated outdoor pool on the 11th floor looks out over the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Star Ferry Pier and the Central skyline.
This 860-room hotel is absolutely enormous, but scale hasn’t compromised luxury – the marble bathrooms, spacious suites and landscaped pool overlooking Victoria Harbour all attest to that. A sophisticated Marriott property adjacent to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Renaissance also features an award-winning Cantonese restaurant, Dynasty, open for lunch and dinner.
This 66-room boutique hotel is the chicest place to stay in Wan Chai. Design firm A Work of Substance has created an Art Deco space that evokes Hong Kong in the 1960s and ’70s; the vintage furniture, rounded doors and green-and-brass colour scheme take their inspiration from the city’s iconic Star Ferry, whose pier is about one kilometre away. The Fleming’s luxurious lounge, bespoke Luxe City Guide and custom-built in-room amenities are other highlights.
Located across the road from Central Plaza in the heart of Wan Chai’s business district, the Gloucester Luk Kwok is one of the neighbourhood’s best business hotels. This stylish four-star property contains 196 modern guest rooms with access to everything a business traveller needs — a business centre with secretarial services and internet facilities, a tour desk to organise travel arrangements, two restaurants, plus a laundry and dry cleaning service.
Locations don’t get much better than the Burlington Hotel, just a two-minute walk to the Wan Chai MTR station and not much further to Central Plaza and the Hong Kong Arts Centre. The 163 rooms are kitted out with modern amenities including an eco-friendly air-conditioning system. This 3.5-star hotel is also one of the best-value places to stay in Wan Chai.
Sitting less than one kilometre from the legendary Happy Valley racecourse, Hotel Indigo is a popular place to stay for horse racing fans travelling to Hong Kong. The property is upscale, but doesn’t cost a fortune. The 138 rooms are beautifully appointed, the external solar panels and glamorous infinity pool are clever design touches and the on-site Cafe Post restaurant is a nod to the historic Old Post Office across the street.
Hotel Ease delivers what its name promises: an easy stay in Wan Chai’s main business district. This sleek three-star property contains 50 comfortable rooms with plush bedding and glossy bathrooms, and also boasts an enviable location, surrounded by Wan Chai’s vibrant shopping and dining scene.
Eight is famously a lucky number in China, so this hotel must be doubly lucky. Wanchai 88 is another good-value choice in the middle of the district, offering accommodation fringed by commercial skyscrapers, high-end retail and exciting bars and restaurants. The 79 tasteful rooms feature artwork produced by local creatives, state-of-the-art facilities such as rain showers and spectacular views of Victoria Peak.
