Inner City Retreat - Hotel Stage Hong Kong
On our latest trip to Hong Kong we wanted to explore a little more of Kowloon by actually staying there as opposed to being on the island and catching the MRT or Uber back and fourth across or under the water whichever the case may be.
After looking at a few nice options, there was one that stood out - Hotel Stage which is a few minutes walk from the Jordan MTR and a stones throw away from all the action in Temple Street.
There’s a few things that I really get down with, art and design, laksa, street food, Mexican and quirky hotels - so it turned out that Hotel Stage fit the bill perfectly.
The property sits quietly like a breath of fresh air in the heart of Yau Ma Tei and is not your average boutique hotel. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that the surrounding locale is necessarily unsavory, although it is a neighbourhood with ample energy by day and night. (After dark it’s the haunt of hawkers, street performers and prostitutes). It’s just that this hotel sits pristinely on the corner of Chi Wo Street in stark contrast to the colorful goings on across Waterloo.
Waterloo, now named Yau Ma Tei is blue-collar through and through. Examples abound at every corner from fruit and veg markets that close down streets to the many workshops that blend into one another spilling out into the sidewalks, it’s all around you and with out even trying you can find yourself locking eyes with a mistress as you navigate the alleyways and streets near the Jade and Temple markets.
This makes Hotel Stage an ideal and wholesome launch pad to explore all this knowing that when you return to your retreat, a sense of calm awaits.
This compact and clean hotel offers 97 rooms, including 11 suites, and aims to convey the history and culture of the area in a creative and different way. As you enter the lobby you’ll encounter a nicely painted mural of a tree along with some hanging light fixtures that represent bird cages. Rotating art fills various walls throughout the property and there’s a clear sense of pride that emanates from them as they offer a window into the arts and crafts of the area.
The overall design style is minimalist in nature and actually reminiscent of another design hotel we recently stayed in back in Dubai - the Form.
Once in the room, at first blush the space saving measures seem counter intuitive - where is everything you’ll probably think to yourself. However you’ll quickly come to find that just about everything is tucked away and slides out when needed. For instance the expandable countertop that hides away the bathroom sink, or the large sliding doors that separate the bathroom and the wardrobe from the main part of the room. The beds and pillows are plush enough to enjoy a good nights sleep which is further aided by double glazed windows that don’t allow a peep of noise in from outside.
The basic rooms are nice and bright and combine a soft palette of whites, light greys and soft wood to offer a warm and welcoming feeling that doesn’t come across as overly cramped. Only the slightly larger suites have baths and Nespresso machines along with a fitness ball and free supplies in the mini-bar, but all of them have some pretty good room tech with charging ports a plenty.
You’ll also get access to a free smart phone and each of the bathrooms (which are reasonable in size) have a great little toiletry kit with everything you’ll need in it.
For those that are staying in the Club Rooms, you’ll be able to spend some time in Club Stage, the third-floor library and chill spot. This a quiet place filled with curated and hard to find books featuring art, architecture and photography.
Club Stage is not the only lounge area at the hotel, as there’s another hidden spot called Muse which is located beneath the lobby and serves as an extension of the hotel’s concept, offering a platform for community and culture and infuses a book store with a wine gallery. The Muse Wine Bar highlights the culture of wine with some seriously curated wines and beverages from around the world and offers a wine tasting and food pairing experience.
This is complimented by another creative initiative Spotlight at the Muse - a micro gallery space that features a rotation of contemporary artists and some wonderful work.
If you’re like me, breakfast is a big deal on any trip and at Kitchen Savvy there’s a lot on offer. This venue serves at the hotel’s all day dining concept and is light and airy and is centered around European flavors. Its contemporary décor and whimsical accents of wall art along with solid teak wood tables in various shapes and sizes reflect the understated elegance and modern aesthetics of the property. This is a spot where you’ll be able to enjoy a great afternoon tea or move into the evening with a wholesome dinner and still feel at home.
In all, with it’s urban chic and minimalistic interiors and smart living designs, Hotel Stage sits neatly between the basic and the more opulent style of hotel and yet still offers a high level of comfort and peace of mind for those wanting to explore the area and try a different kind of hotel experience.
This inner city retreat has a lot going for it and seems to be on the cutting edge of a new era of smart hotel design philosophy, seamlessly blending, community, culture and hospitality into a cohesive offer that’s worth a visit.
