HOTEL NEWS
A double opening for Rosewood; The Reverie Saigon’s new yacht; Karma Kandara revamps its menu.
Two of Asia’s most-visited cities now possess an ultra-luxe Rosewood hotel, both housed in skyscrapers by American architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox. Taking up 43 floors of a glassy 65-story tower on the Kowloon waterfront, Rosewood Hong Kong ( 852/3891-8888; rosewoodhotels.com; doubles from $548) offers views of the Hong Kong Island skyline from the majority of its 413 rooms and suites. The plush interiors and outdoor spaces are courtesy of New York–based designer Tony Chi, who created “salons” on each guest-room floor adorned with objets reflecting the local history. Downstairs, no less than eight restaurants and lounges dish up everything from elevated Hong Kong– style comfort food to Western fare and regional Cantonese cuisine from Shunde. What’s more, the first urban outpost of Asaya, Rosewood’s holistic wellness offering, will open here this autumn.
Meanwhile in the Thai capital, the brand-new Rosewood Bangkok ( 66-2/080-0088; doubles from US$298) cuts a striking figure in the Phloen Chit neighborhood. The shape of the 30-story standalone hotel was inspired by the clasped hands of the wai, or customary Thai greeting. Pieces by notable Thai artists dot the property, while indigenous textiles and rattaninspired weaves lend a local touch to the 159 rooms. For the ultimate splurge, guests can take a private elevator to the 291-square-meter Bannakarn suite, which boasts an outdoor terrace and plunge pool. Spa-goers will enjoy Thai beauty rituals paired with innovations from skincare lines such as Maison Caulières, while vinyl aficionados should head to Lennon’s, a speakeasy bar on the highest floor with an impressive collection of 6,000 records.