Tucked into the heart of Wan Chai, The Hari Hong Kong delivers boutique intimacy, exceptional dining, and understated luxury in one of Asia’s most dynamic cities.
A hidden gem on Hong Kong’s world-famous hotel scene, The Hari Hong Kong is a sophisticated urban oasis located in one of Hong Kong Island’s most vibrant precincts. Embodying understated luxury with a contemporary, residential-inspired style, the hotel, which opened in late 2020, blends mid-century modern influences with touches of modern art and tactile textures, creating a warm, confident retreat steps from the action of the Fragrant Harbour.
Designed by renowned British interior designer Tara Bernerd & Partners, The Hari Hong Kong has quietly developed a loyal following for its intelligent, personalised service, its innovative dining, its support of local artists through The Hari Art Prize, a collaboration between The Hari Hong Kong and the London-based art advisory, A Space For Art, that’s now in its third year, and its sustainable ethos, earning it critical acclaim as well as consistently high online ratings from guests who love its intimate feel amidst a bustling locale.
A stylish home base from which to explore Hong Kong’s contrasts, the hotel fosters a sense of belonging in one of the world’s greatest cities.
Location
The Hari Hong Kong is unassuming luxury at its best. Located in Wan Chai, a neighbourhood on Hong Kong Island that pulses with authentic character while bridging the financial hubs of Central and Admiralty and the high-energy shopping and dining of Causeway Bay. Set on bustling Lockhart Road, home to trendy cafes, independent galleries, and hidden private kitchens, a stay at The Hari offers an immersive slice of local life away from tourist-heavy zones while still offering easy access to all Hong Kong has to offer.
Key attractions like The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is an easy walk away; the Happy Valley Racecourse, Times Square Shopping Mall, sprawling Victoria Park, and Causeway Bay’s flagship stores are all a short stroll away, as is Hong Kong’s world-famous harbour. For destinations a little further afield, the Wan Chai MTR station is close at hand, as are bus routes and Hong Kong Island’s beloved trams. Its location in Wan Chai also offers guests easy access to Wan Chai’s eclectic nightlife scene, which includes traditional pubs, rooftop bars and hidden speakeasies steeped in history.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong International Airport is 30-45 minutes away by taxi (or even faster on the Airport Express high-speed train), making The Hari as popular with business travellers as it is with culture creatures.
Rooms & Suites
Despite its seemingly small stature, The Hari Hong Kong offers 210 thoughtfully curated rooms and suites across several categories, with each emphasising comfort in compact (it’s Hong Kong after all) yet elegant, apartment-esque spaces that really make you feel at home. Dark thanks to the use of velvet and wood panelling, rooms are almost spa-like in their tranquillity, offering an urban haven for those looking for reprieve after tackling the busy streets below.
Popular options include entry-level King/Twin Rooms, 30 sqm Corner Rooms and Premium Corner Rooms (with their fascinating cityscape views), as well as the spacious Family Rooms, which are a great option for couples with little ones looking to be close to the action.
However, if you’re in the mood to splurge a little during your visit to the Fragrant Harbour, you might want to indulge in one of three exclusive 77 sqm rooftop suites: The Chesham Suite, The Library Suite, and The Hari Suite, each of which boasts separate living areas, glorious bathrooms and private terraces.
My corner room was cosy but intelligently laid out; there’s a plush couch and coffee table (for when work can’t be avoided) facing a king-size bed dressed in heavenly Mühldorfer linens, muted lighting (within intuitive controls) and thick curtains to keep the busy city at bay.
The room also featured a flatscreen television mounted on one wall, a minibar with a Nespresso machine, and a spacious bathroom in Italian marble with a walk-in shower, a broad vanity, a smart toilet, luxurious La Bottega signature amenities, and even a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer (of which my wife is a huge fan).
Dining & Drinks
For a relatively tiny hotel, The Hari Hong Kong really does shine with diverse on-site dining options, with each innovative space catering to varied palates in sociable, stylish settings, with regular pop-ups and events that bring guests and the community together.
The hotel is home to four unique venues, including Zoku, which is home to innovative Japanese cuisine —think jet-fresh sushi, robatayaki grills, and seasonal kaiseki-inspired dishes—paired with sake and cocktails (it also does a sublime weekend brunch where guests are serenaded by live jazz); and elegant Lucciola Restaurant & Bar, which focuses on simple yet hearty Italian fare ranging from handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas to risottos and timeless classics like osso buco, which are expertly paired with drops from an extensive wine list. This is also the hotel’s setting for lingering a la carte breakfasts.
The Terrace, an alfresco hotspot with panoramic Wan Chai views, is as popular with local nine-to-fivers as it is with in-house guests looking for cutting-edge mixology; while The Lounge offers a sophisticated, residential-styled all-day haven where guests can linger over a barista-made coffee, browse the fascinating selection of art-centric books, or gaze down at the bustle of the street through towering picture windows.
As I mentioned, all the venues offer a calendar of fascinating events (including The Hari Chronicles, a series of insightful talks by the likes of filmmaker Bizhan Tong and photographer and designer Wing Shya), visiting talents and pop-ups that really highlight ingredients, cooking styles and international pedigree, so be sure to check out the hotel’s website when you book to snap up your table booking as these events are very popular.
Of course, here, between Central and Causeway Bay, you’re also spoiled for choice when it comes to dining outside the hotel, so be sure to chat to the concierge about the city’s best new dining hotspots as well as some of Hong Kong’s best hidden private kitchens (if you love the fiery flavours of Sichuan, a favourite of mine, Yu Chuan Club is only a short walk from the hotel).
Facilities & Services
It can be tricky for smaller Hong Kong hotels to offer much in the way of facilities, as space is such a premium. Without a conventional swimming pool or a spa, the hotel does still focus on wellness, with a modern 24-hour fitness centre on the third floor that boasts cardio machines, free weights, and space for workouts with city views. There’s also a small meeting room for busy business travellers, but most prefer the welcoming ambience of the Lounge in which to conduct business.
You can also find a little serenity in the terrace’s lush gardens, and the concierge team will be able to point you in the right direction for local gyms, great local massage salons and spas, and walking paths (I love to walk along the harbour promenade, which starts near the hotel).
While the facilities might be few, the service more than makes up for their absence. The team at The Hari Hong Kong, from the front desk to the lovely housekeepers and the restaurant wait staff, is diligent, attentive and has a wealth of local knowledge, whether it’s insights into Sheung Wan’s arts scene or hot picks at the Happy Valley Racetrack.
In addition, the check-in and check-out process is streamlined, and front office staff are only too happy to attend to any need – from airport transfers to tailored itineraries – you might have while you’re in town. There’s a real sense of familiarity that you would usually find in a boutique hotel, and that guarantees a warm welcome (they knew from previous visits that I like to drink plenty of water when I travel and ensured an additional six bottles of the hotel’s own drinking water were sent up).
Value
Hong Kong hotels are notoriously expensive. The city is regularly named the most expensive city in the world, and with its extensive financial industry, it’s also a very popular choice for business travel. Despite a large number of luxury hotels spread from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay, on Hong Kong Island, room rates stay high most of the year.
Room rates at The Hari Hong Kong typically range from HK$1,500–3,000 per night (around US$190–380), depending on season, demand, and promotions. Inclusions cover high-speed Wi-Fi, fitness centre access, and, depending on your booking, those leisurely breakfasts.
Compared to similar luxury options in the area, including The Upper House, JW Marriott or Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, The Hari offers strong value considering its boutique intimacy, exceptional dining, and prime location, earning it the number 3 spot on Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice list of the best hotels in Hong Kong & Macau last year.
Verdict
As a hotel that I’ve been lucky enough to stay at a few times, The Hari Hong Kong will impress Fragrant Harbour-bound travellers as a chic, welcoming sanctuary that captures the city’s vibrant pulse while providing a genuine respite for when the city all becomes too much. I’d suggest it for curious couples looking to be close to areas like Central and Causeway Bay, and business travellers looking for an alternative to the big (and rather impersonal) chain hotels.
For me, key pros include the attentive staff, who ensure a personalised stay every time; the great variety of dining options; that prime Wan Chai location, which blends accessibility and local charm; and those sophisticated, cosy yet modern guest rooms. Minor cons include compact room sizes (although that’s pretty standard for Hong Kong) and the absence of a pool or full spa.
However, in my mind, the pros definitely outweigh the cons, which is why The Hari is such a popular option for affluent travellers looking to immerse themselves in one of Hong Kong’s most vibrant cityscapes.
