Southside By Ovolo, Hong Kong

Ovolo Southside

"How did it strike you on arrival?Industrial and a bit gritty, the Wong Chuk Hang district feels a world away from the luxury fashion and glass highrises of downtown. But with a new MTR station, the artsy enclave is easier than ever to access. Ovolo Southside, the city’s first warehouse-turned-boutique hotel, embraces the district’s industrial essence. The ground floor entrance that was once a truck turntable is now a pop-up event space. To the tune of and 80’s pop bops and disco, young staff will get your check-in sorted in seconds, followed by a tour of the concrete-floor lounge and its communal tables (perfect for remote workers), coffee bar, and pool table. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Handpainted murals and wild elevator designs confirm the hotel's hip and artistic personality. You’ll see lots of creative remote workers and long-stay business travelers, as well as Mac-toting startup types and stylish millennials Snapchatting the stellar views. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.We had been warned ahead of time that the “Mini” rooms were compact. So we upgraded to a Corner room, which was a good size (about 300 square feet). The mirrors that we saw in the lobby and fresh white linens looked striking against the brushed concrete backdrop. But the best thing about this room was the view—we watched sunset over Repulse Bay and woke to rolling green hills in the morning. In a corner of the building, we really felt like we could step right out onto the mountains. It was a soothing, nature-filled way to start and end each day. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?The bed was really comfy. We were told that’s because it's a seven-layer Simmons Maxipedic open-coil mattress, topped with a feather mattress pad and then a feather duvet. Bed jargon aside, we would very much look forward to tucking in here again. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?Ovolo Southside knows what its demographic wants: Apple TV, industrial-looking lighting and electric blinds. The hotel is all about freebies: free Wi-Fi, mini bar, breakfast, happy hour, self-service laundry... the list goes on. And you’re encouraged to steal the “Loot Bag” full of treats. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.The bathrooms are small but smartly designed—expect white-tiled walls with modern fixtures and a compact rain shower. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?The Wi-Fi is amazing. Not only does Ovolo Southside provide complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the premises, but it has partnered with major Hong Kong cell networks to provide hot spots throughout the city. Room service: Worth it?You can order a full meal from Komune restaurant, where the South American-inspired menu includes artisanal highlights like Pablo & Rusty coffee from Sydney and Pukka tea from the UK. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?We felt like we had a fantastic introduction to the property during check-in. The staff detailed every last freebie, what time to go to happy hour, showed us the 24-hour gym (which even had a cool punching bag) and also recommended we take a look at the neighborhood guide in our room—custom created for Ovolo guests. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.While you won’t find a spa or a pool at Ovolo, you will find all-inclusive services, including breakfast, happy hour, and daily minibar refills, as well as spectacular views from several points. You might also discover a fantastic work community of creative professionals from all over the world. Now that the Wong Chuk Hang district is connected to Central in just 10 minutes, we expect to see this neighborhood boom. What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?The artsy lobby area, dubbed the Komune Lounge, is the kind of place where you actually want to hang out and engage with other travelers. We appreciated the spacious workstations, fast Wi-Fi, free all-day snacks and coffee—it was like we had a co-working space within the hotel, with the added benefit of free happy hour cocktails from the bar (converted from a shipping container). Bottom line: worth it, and why?At the doorstep of one of Hong Kong’s edgy industrial districts, Ovolo Southside is a feel-good hotel that ensures a high level of service that aims to meet the needs of each individual guest." - Kate Springer