PUBLISHED April 1st, 2025 11:42 pm
Situated along Lockhart Road in the culturally rich Wan Chai district, where old Hong Kong tenements meet gleaming towers and traditional shops sit alongside sleek galleries, The Hari Hong Kong doesn’t just offer a place to stay, it presents a lifestyle. Conveniently located about a 9-minute walk from the Wan Chai MTR station, the hotel offers both accessibility and allure. In a city where cookie-cutter luxury hotels often dominate the skyline, The Hari is a refreshing blend of understated elegance, cultural consciousness, and modern comfort. Five years since its opening, the property continues to strike a fine balance between business-travel utility and boutique charm.
Rooms & Interior: Home, With a Side of Heritage
Designed by Tara Bernerd, The Hari leans heavily into texture and tactility. Think layered velvets, brushed wood, Italian marble, and curated artworks that make the space feel more like a well-lived-in residence than a hotel. Even the entrance avoids the usual grandiose lobby, opting instead for a homely reception lounge that whispers hospitality instead of shouting it.
The 210 rooms span four categories, crowned by three signature suites: The Library, The Chesham, and The Hari Suite. The Premium Corner Room, with its sweeping views and six-point bathroom layout, is a favourite for good reason. Art changes seasonally, with works by shortlisted artists from The Hari Art Prize adorning the walls. This initiative, open to emerging talent in Hong Kong, shows that the hotel is serious about being part of the city’s creative narrative.
Guests may not notice at first glance, but sustainability is quietly embedded into the DNA here. There are no plastic water bottles or single-use toiletries. In-room amenities, including their house-branded bath products, are designed with both style and eco-consciousness in mind. Food waste is treated with an in-house composting machine, and water used for the hotel’s greenery is thoughtfully timed. It’s an admirable approach that more properties in Wan Chai and across Hong Kong should take note of.
Dining: Modern Japanese Cool Meets Italian Flair
The Hari plays host to not one, but two compelling culinary experiences. Zoku, the hotel’s contemporary Japanese restaurant, is more than a stylish spot for Instagrammable cocktails. It’s where East-meets-West sensibilities are served with nuance and flair. Our dinner featured the six-course “Discovering Zoku” menu, which offered a vibrant introduction to their culinary philosophy. The wagyu selections — from otoshi to sushi to the A4 wagyu steak with arima sancho sauce and beetroot — were melt-in-the-mouth memorable. We recommend pairing the menu with their curated sake flight, which offers a layered, thoughtful complement to each dish.
Adjacent to Zoku, the alfresco Terrace area is the ideal after-hours drinking spot. During our midweek visit, it was buzzing with non-hotel guests seeking out cocktails and conversation above the city.
Meanwhile, Lucciola (an Italian slang for prostitute, a wink to Wan Chai’s historic red-light district) brings a slice of Piedmont to Hong Kong. Located on the reception level, this warm Italian eatery also doubles up as the hotel’s breakfast venue. By day, it’s abuzz with guests sipping cappuccinos and digging into freshly baked pastries; by night, it transforms into a charming date spot serving up modern trattoria fare.
The Lounge, adjacent to the check-in area, deserves a shoutout of its own. More than just a transitional space, it’s an elegantly appointed co-working haven. We found ourselves sinking into velvet armchairs over coffee meetings and quick lunches, enveloped in a cozy, luxe atmosphere that encouraged both focus and downtime. It’s the kind of inviting, well-designed space that modern travellers and locals in Wan Chai look for when they want a comfortable setting to catch up on work, meet clients, or simply relax with a drink.
All dining venues are helmed by chefs who clearly understand balance: between tradition and invention, indulgence and lightness, local ingredients and international technique.
Amenities & Facilities: Not Just for Show
The Hari Hong Kong understands that its guests are often here for more than just leisure. Business travellers will appreciate the co-working-friendly Lounge and the seamless WiFi. But it’s in the cultural programming that the hotel truly sets itself apart.
The Hari Art Prize, a collaboration with London-based art advisory A Space for Art, isn’t just about displaying pretty pictures. It’s about investing in the region’s creative future. The winning artists receive cash prizes, exhibition opportunities, and media exposure; and guests get to be surrounded by art that feels alive and immediate.
Equally noteworthy is their commitment to creating a sense of community through “The Hari Chronicles”, a series of fireside chats, panels, and cultural talks hosted onsite. From legendary designers like Henry Steiner to grassroots Hong Kong creatives, these gatherings are shaping the hotel into a kind of urban salon.
And then, of course, there’s the little things: the plush bedroom slippers that feel like clouds, the hidden balconies with skyline views, and the neighbourhood guide that encourages guests to explore Wan Chai beyond the guidebooks. Hotel guests can download the Storius app on their mobiles, request a code from the reception, and gain access to The Hari’s specially curated neighbourhood guides; an insider’s introduction to Wan Chai’s vibrant mix of heritage and modernity.
Final Word
The Hari Hong Kong might market itself as a luxury hotel for the modern business traveller, but it’s much more than that. It’s a love letter to Hong Kong’s layered identity. Sleek and gritty, global and local, old and new. Whether you’re here for a convention, cocktails, or creative inspiration, The Hari stands as a bold, stylish anchor in the ever-evolving narrative of Wan Chai.
Book Direct and Enjoy Guests who book directly with The Hari can enjoy a complimentary first drink, 15% off dining across all F&B venues, and the flexibility of early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability). More details at The Hari’s official website.