Hong Kong is widely known as a busy, vibrant and upbeat hub of Asia. Usually when I visit, I would pick a hotel right in the centre of the hustle and bustle of the city near “the escalator”. However, this time I decided to break the habit and went for a very new and unique hotel in a less central area: TUVE Hong Kong.
Located in Causeway Bay, TUVE is said to be Hong Kong’s newest, stylish and “hippest” 4* boutique hotel. The raw cutting edge design not only features bare concrete and metal bars painted in black (as one would guess) but also oxidised iron here and there.
I couldn’t decide if the entrance door and hallway reminds me of a prison (not that I have been in any) or some sort of walkway under a damp bridge, but I have to admit that it’s pretty damn cool. With the help of lighting on the floor next to the wall, big pieces of black and white marble stands out from the cold, grey walls beautifully. Apparently TUVE is inspired by photos of a Swedish Lake (Lake Tuve) in the winter.
After having gone one floor up the lift, I arrived at the reception area. Knowing the hotel boasts its minimalistic concept, I was not surprised to see 2 thin, super sleek metal benches in the “lobby” as opposed to the usual oversized, soft sofas seen in most hotels.
Though it was day time, the small squared holes in the wall behind the reception desk and smart lighting gave a night time atmosphere to this rather dim room. The classic scent of lavender and sandalwood oil automatically made me feel calm and quite at home, as it actually is the scent I use at home!
Here is another photo of a different corner of the lobby by Matteo Carcelli. It looks much cooler than my pics!
After getting information from the staff about (plenty of) places to dine in the area, it was time to settle in. I was pleased to have received an upgrade from a Comfort room to Deluxe King Room on 20th floor. I learned later that each floor has 3 rooms only!
The 21 sq.m. Deluxe King Rooms actually have options of a king-sized bed as well as twin beds–both come with fine linen and bedding. As raw as it can get, the concrete wall, flooring and the subtle warm lighting all together actually create a nice, softer and a little cozy atmosphere to the room.
**Their Comfort rooms have floor-to-ceiling natural wood wall panelling–a good alternative for guests who dislike bare concrete decor.
To add a touch of Swedish-ness to this this cool, (intentionally) cold, industrial room concept, a few wooden items have been added to the room. Not far from this very stylish Swedish-looking wooden stool (IKEA would probably name it “Haärd” or “Rigïdj”), a wooden cube was placed in the corner of the room.
And it could open up into a mini working desk and tea & coffee shelf. Isn’t this cool?
What I really loved about this hotel is that, despite its super sleek and simple design and concept, TUVE is not so simple when it comes to fine details and small things. TUVE features LE LABO bath amenities, fresh body lotion, gourmet snacks and beverages from various brands including ALTHAUS. A smart phone with complimentary unlimited internet and local calls credit is also available in all rooms for TUVE guests.
Nicely styled with big black and white marble tiles, the bathroom is rather compact, but features all the essentials. It had a very sterile atmosphere, so you would love being in it if you are a fan of hospitals.
I’d like to add that the bathrobes provided in front of the bathroom is the softest bathrobes I have ever worn–not exaggerating! They also saved us from hypothermia in the Swedish lake-level air con.
To sum things up, if you are not fussed about being right in the centre of Hong Kong and love staying in unique boutique hotels, TUVE is a good choice. It has all the basic essentials, and it is situated within walking distance to restaurants, bars, shops, pharmacies as well as Tin Hau underground station.
There is also an in-house restaurant/bar “SILVER ROOM” on the ground floor, hidden behind the big raw, rusty oxidised metal doors. It is open during specific times of the day, and reservations is highly recommended.
With no gym facilities, only 3 rooms on each floor and not much space to “hang out” in the lobby, TUVE offers high privacy. TUVE is probably not the best option for families with children, but I would definitely recommend it for solo travellers and couples.
For more info, visit http://www.tuve.hk/. You might want to check their Promotions section as they sometimes have rather sweet exclusive offers when booking directly with them. Examples are a complimentary bottle of red wine (for Premier room), complimentary drink for two and/or lunch set for 2 at SILVER ROOM (for Deluxe room) during your stay.
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Could you share the information about the scent of lavender and sandalwood? What brand is it? Thank you so much~~