In a city famed for its grand houses of slumber, Lanson Place Causeway Bay is a hidden hotel that captures the essence of urban luxury to perfection.

You could very easily walk past Lanson Place Causeway Bay and not even know it’s a hotel. In fact, that’s exactly what I did; I walked past the property many times in the past, half-mindedly assuming it was an understated luxury residential building – which in a way, it is, as the hotel has the vibe of a boutique apartment complex for coveted members club, despite having 188 guest rooms. However, as the hotel begins a new chapter, it deserves a little more attention.

A New Beginning

Lanson Place Causeway Bay recently unveiled a bold new look, the creation of acclaimed designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, who is best known for his stunning work on everything from the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat to The Peninsula Shanghai, one of my favourite hotels in China. There pretty much isn’t a name bigger in contemporary hospitality design, so signing the designer on to re-envision the Causeway Bay hotel has been a coup for the brand.

A stylish, relaxing retreat designed to contrast with the energy and excitement of Hong Kong’s most popular shopping precinct, the new-look property now offers a luxuriously elegant and thoroughly French feel across its public spaces and guest rooms – which include six penthouses – and if anything, leans further into that residential persona, making it my new favourite hotel in the city.

Sublime Guest Rooms

My Prestige Suite, one of 25, is a real surprise. I’m so used to Hong Kong hotel rooms being cramped and rather cold, but Rochon has instead added Parisian flare to a space that’s as functional as it is easy on the eye. Dressed in soothing cream with accents in soft yellow, the room is both welcoming and functional, with an understated elegance that makes the design timeless.

There’s a 55-inch television, a plump Sealy mattress dressed in 530-thread-count linens, a coffee machine and mini bar with complimentary snacks secreted in a chic credenza, a filtered water tap (why don’t more HK hotels have these?), a brass-framed dining table, a Ruark Audio Bluetooth speaker, Codage amenities in the marble-lined bathroom, as impressive a pillow menu as you’ll find anywhere and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views to die for.

However, it’s the little touch points – from the fresh pineapple buns under glass as a welcome gift, to the little branded wraps that bound freshly coiled computer cables, and the essential pillow oils left by housekeeping – that remind you you’re not in just any hotel.

Functional Amenities

It’s no secret that Lanson Place Causeway Bay is after the long-stay business traveller market as much as weekenders, so the self-service laundry and the modern gym, located on the fifth floor, are nice touches. In addition, the hotel has a series of luxurious meeting spaces, including an elegant boardroom, while the Salon Lanson (more on that in a minute) can host intimate events and the hotel’s new penthouses are ideal for corporate entertaining.

Home Away From Home

The hotel’s public spaces are also noteworthy. L’Orangerie is a private lounge located off the lobby and inspired by the conservatories of regal French mansions (an effect accentuated by an expansive bronze-framed mirror in the ceiling and the use of terracotta bricks). It features curated furniture, vintage chandeliers, lush citrus trees and a great selection of art and design books for moments of respite. This beautiful retreat serves freshly baked egg tarts from a local artisanal bakery in the morning, citrus water during the day and champagne as the sun sets in delightful little rituals that bring guests together, making it the perfect antidote for the hectic city beyond.

On the first floor, you’ll find Salon Lanson, a sophisticated and intimate French-inspired space of cream furnishings, large picture windows and lively art where leisurely semi-buffet breakfasts are served. By night, the cocktail bar comes to life, serving a daily-rotating trio of delectable cocktails inspired by neighbourhoods of Hong Kong as well as an extensive wine list, and a menu of luxurious bar bites (there’s also a main dining menu of modern French inspirations) presented on postcards you’ll quietly want to slip into your purse – visit on the right nights and you’ll be serenaded by live jazz.

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