JIA Hong Kong boutique hotel- Asia’s first Starck-designed hotel

Hong Kong is widely recognized as an art deco city with increasing numbers of travellers’ with a passion for art, architecture, and social history. It is understood that some of the rooms in the globally award-winning JIA Hong Kong are perhaps the most luxurious for a boutique hotel in China. The world's most well-known architects are flocking to Hong Kong, where they are building the world's biggest skyscrapers and up-market hotels, including boutique hotels, such as the JIA Hong Kong, which has been in operation since 2004.

With Causeway Bay MTR and Victoria Park, just a few minutes’ walk away as well as having a myriad of street markets and shopping malls just a stone throws away, you could not have a better location for a luxury boutique hotel than this. The only challenge may be in trying to spot where the hotel is as there are no visible signs on the exterior of the building except a number and the name of the road that signify that it’s definitely the JIA Hong Kong. With 25 floors offering exceptionally spacious 54 guestrooms and suites (including two penthouses) averaging 400 sq. ft, the accommodation is designed as quietly theatrical, warm, and appealing spaces for the modern, design-conscious traveller. There are officially three types of accommodation available: studio 1 and studio 2 (both 380 square feet, where studio 1 is of a square configuration and studio 2 is of a rectangular configuration), suite (780 square feet) and the penthouse (upper & lower floors at 1570 square feet total).

If you have been to JIA Shanghai, which is exceedingly luxurious beyond the set standards because it’s just perfect and hideously impressive, then you would expect even higher standards from the JIA Hong Kong. This is not because it’s known as the flagship of the two boutique hotels that have created by the Singaporean founder and owner of the JIA brand, Ms. Yenn Wong, but because the JIA Hong Kong is the first Philippe Starck-designed boutique hotel in Asia. One always ends up having a high above average expectation from a design guru like Starck.

The first two words that would probably strike your mind when you enter the hotel’s premises are ‘fashion’ and ‘art’. Like the Colonial residence of a stylish tea tycoon, it has high ceilings, smooth marble floors, and cute touches such as those minute Chinese lampshades. There are large painting and mirrors that extend from the floor to the ceiling, as well as multi-coloured and multi-shaped furniture in the lobby. Richly purple coloured fabrics adorn the walls and door openings. From the moment you enter your room, you will feel the grandeur envelope you closely and draw you into a world of space, luxury, and comfort. JIA Hong Kong likes to pamper their guests and nothing exudes luxury more than the first class facilities that this gem of a boutique hotel offers.

You may enjoy complimentary continental breakfast in the luxury of your room or at the pantry table in the lobby. Furthermore, there are a myriad of traditional cafeterias around the hotel that may serve up your favourites- eastern or western cuisines are available. Along with this, it would be nice to know that all-day beverages are available at the reception. There's also complimentary evening wine served in the lobby along with a lovely cheese selection.

A lovely touch to any stay is the provision of complimentary unlimited laundry for all the guests. Located on the second floor next to the open-air veranda and sundeck are two washing machines and two tumble dryers that come complete with washing up liquid and conditioner. All the rooms have a small kitchenette that is no less impressive, adorned with luxury Arabescato cor marble and with state-of-the-art tools it is a superb showcase of uncompromising quality.  

All the cutlery is ‘royal porcelain’ by the Kingdom of Thailand while exclusive furniture and design of the chairs and tables is a must try for any newcomer to the JIA Hong Kong. You have to love the boutique JIA lotus & white tea branded toiletries that can (almost) get people confused if they don’t read the label carefully: ‘Soap Star’ (hand soap), ‘Freshen Up’ (shower gel), ‘Head Start’ (shampoo), ‘Head Smoothie’ (head conditioner), and ‘Smooth Operator’ (body lotion). 

The gem of the JIA Hong Kong has to be the two penthouses spread over the top two floors. Both the penthouses come with their own washing machine cum tumble dryers, a fully planned self-catering purpose built kitchen with state-of-the-art facilities, and a dining area for four persons complete with Thai porcelain cutlery. Further more there are power showers, a large living room with all the creature comforts that you may want to have, and designer furniture that you just will not find anywhere else. Its so good that you may as well call it your home away from home. Above all else, if you are looking for a bit of calm within the craziness of Hong Kong’s bustling life and if you prefer to stay at a place that is not exactly a normal hotel and not exactly a residence, then the JIA Hong Kong may just be the place for you.

Oh, and before you leave your room, don’t forget to put up your very own cheesy room sign: ‘seriously messed up’ or ‘seriously need sleep’. Give it a go, you’ll love it.

Studio room starts from HK$2,800
A one-bedroom suite starts from HK$ 3,600
Duplex Penthouse HK$6,000