Checking In at The Pottinger Hong Kong

In the middle of Hong Kong’s Central Business District is a long street of granite stone steps that date back to the 1850s. It’s one of the most historic streets in the city, known to locals as Stone Slabs Street and otherwise as Pottinger Street, named after the city’s first British governor. It’s here that Hong Kong’s renowned Sino Group (the property developers in charge of star properties throughout Asia including the Conrad Hong Kong and the Fullerton and Fullerton Bay hotels in Singapore) opened the Pottinger last June as one of the most luxurious new hotels in the city, weaving Hong Kong’s heritage into its design, cuisine, and art collection.

Pottinger-Entrance

Carriage lamps and glass doors give the hotel a classic entrance.

The Look: Hong Kong–based designer Suzy Annetta consulted on the hotel’s interior design, which is a fanciful mix of colonial and Chinese aesthetics. Pastel colors, floral emblems, wainscoted ceilings, and European furniture are continual themes. Also displayed throughout the hotel are the dreamy black-and-white photographs of scenes of Hong Kong street life by world-famous Chinese photographer Fan Ho, whose collection installed at the Pottinger marks his first-ever collaboration with a hotel.

Pottinger-Reception

The grand lobby area, where concierge service is available 24 hours.

The Rooms: Guestrooms celebrate the rich heritage of Hong Kong with traditional tapestry art and more works by Fan Ho, paired with luxuries like 300-thread-count sheets, Nespresso machines, and marble bathrooms restocked daily with products from Italian brand Acca Kappa. All the expected technological amenities are here as well—Wi-Fi, 42-inch LED TVs with interactive sound systems, and Blu-ray DVD Players. Book well in advance though, as the hotel’s 68 rooms have—for good reason—continually been in demand since their opening.

Pottinger-Classic

The Pottinger Classic Room is the hotel’s base-level room, measuring 23 square meters.

The Appeal: The Pottinger’s three dining venues draw a smart set of locals in addition to guests. With decor designed to match the cuisine, there’s the teal-and-white Gradini Ristorante E Bar Italiano with servers in white dinner jackets bringing out plates of roasted rack of lamb with chianti mustard and glasses of tiramisu; the sophisticated black-and-white Ta Vie where chef Hideaki Sato serves Asian-inspired menus that change seasonally; and the Envoy, the British-style tea lounge and bar harkening back to Hong Kong’s days as a major trading port for European traders with its dark woods and dim lighting. We recommend asking for a seat on the outdoor terrace and sipping a Whisky Sour Brulee.

Pottinger-Gardini

The bar at the hotel’s Italian restaurant Gradini, adjacent to the dining room.

The Surrounds: Given the Pottinger’s Central setting, guests don’t have to go far to find whatever kind of entertainment they’re looking for. Within a 10-minute walk is the Police Married Quarters filled with local designer boutiques and artist studios, the Gagosian and Perrotin galleries, some of the city’s best antiques shops, and dining options ranging from food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants. Additionally, the Central MTR station is a mere five-minute walk away, easy connecting to just about everywhere else in the city.

Pottinger-Tiramisu

A classic tiramisu at Gradini Ristorante.

For Those in the Know: Renowned Italian chocolatier Venchi runs a small outlet at the Pottinger as well, serving fine estate chocolates, candies, and gelato.

74 Queen’s Road Central, Central; 257 852/2308-3188; The Pottinger Hong Kong; doubles from US$ 257

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