Boasting cosy themed suites, the newly renovated hotel is the perfect home base for discovering the city like a local
Photos: Weekender
It’s not hard to fall in love with Hong Kong.
The seamless blend of old and new are all weaved into a tapestry of colours, making it ever so alluring to travellers who find themselves arriving on the city’s shiny neon sign-lit streets.
But if you’re looking for the one thing that sets it apart from other Asian cities, it’s got to be the vibrant energy that pulsates through the city — round-the-clock, no less.
Coyote is a tex-mex drinking hole serving more than 75 margaritas, crafted from 35 tequilas.
City that never sleeps
We discovered it for ourselves on a night out on Lockhart Street, eschewing the more popular nightlife hot spot that is Lan Kwai Fong, to seek out Wanchai’s flashy bar scene.
Made famous by the 1960 British-American romantic drama film “World of Suzy Wong”, Wanchai is home to the Lockhart Road bar strip, which brims with inhibition and an undercurrent of sleaze.
Venture beyond its dirty-fun exterior and you’ll chance upon bars like Coyote’s — a tex-mex drinking hole serving more than 75 margaritas, crafted from 35 tequilas.
The attractive drink prices will have you easily downing more cocktails than you originally intended to.
After bar hopping for a couple of stops, the whiff of supper beckoned us from stalls that hawk everything from curry fish balls to egglet waffles.
If appetite and time permits, make a beeline for the many late-night eateries that help cement Hong Kong’s place as the city that never sleeps.
The newest suite of all is the Jockey Suite, an equestrian-inspired wonderland of creature comforts.
Creature comforts
Later that night, we retired at Dorsett Wanchai, a newly-renovated hotel situated eight minutes from Causeway Bay subway station. Boasting new and cozy themed suites, the hotel makes the perfect home base for discovering the city like a local.
Dressed in calming shades of baby blue, the hotel is as whimsical as it is sophisticated — featuring carnival-esque elements of carousel horses and ferris wheels.
From lobby to room, there’s a wonderful consistency when it comes to the colour palette for all 454 of their playfully designed rooms and suites. To take your experience up a notch, stay in one of their signature rooms.
If themed suites are your idea of holiday fun, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Those who fancy a good view will enjoy the Grand Deluxe Course View Room, which offers a breath-taking sight of the Happy Valley racecourse in front of the hotel — it’s even more stunning when night falls.
To surprise the little ones, book the Ocean Park Family Suite. Furbished in colourful hues, the suite comes with a special discount for Ocean Park admission tickets, alongside complimentary kid’s amenities such as teddy bear, snack box, kid’s bathroom amenities, dental kit, child-size slippers and bathrobes.
On the other hand, audiophiles can make a beeline for the Sony 4K 3D Experience Suite, which offers state-of-the-art Sony audio-visual entertainment for a cuddly movie night in.
If you’ve got knots to ease, the OSIM Massage Suite, as its name suggests, has an array of OSIM branded massage equipment to rejuvenate any tired traveller.
Finally, the newest suite of all is the Jockey Suite, an equestrian-inspired wonderland of creature comforts.
Whichever suite piques your fancy, you can expect to be pampered by the impeccable service.
We stopped for tea break at Kam Fung Cafe and found ourselves utterly charmed by what the locals claim to be the most authentic cha chaan teng experience.
Food for thought
Even when it comes to exploring the city, you can count on Dorsett for authentically local recommendations.
We suggest grabbing a copy of their complimentary “Traveling Like A Local” guidebook before conquering the streets of Wanchai.
Foodies will be floored by the sheer variety of dining options, which range from Michelin-starred eats like Kam’s Roast Goose and Pang’s Kitchen to local favourites like Under Bridge Spicy Crab and Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant.
We stopped for tea break at Kam Fung Cafe and found ourselves utterly charmed by what the locals claim to be the most authentic cha chaan teng experience.
The old-style cafe located just 10 minutes from the hotel, with its cosy booth seats, brims with tête-à-tête at every corner. As for us, we munched on their freshly baked chicken pies and pineapple butter buns in silence, overjoyed by the fresh and crisp textures.
The three-level establishment is, in a nutshell, an air-conditioned wet market.
Culture vulture
To truly experience local culture, step into the nondescript building that is Wan Chai Market, situated eight minutes from Dorsett.
The three-level establishment is, in a nutshell, an air-conditioned wet market. Unusual as that sounds, the market will draw you in with its convivial vibes and variety of produce — think colourful fruits juxtaposed with fresh seafood on ice and stalls purveying pungent herbs.
If you’re looking to soak in the kaleidoscope of local culture that Hong Kong has to offer, Dorsett Wanchai makes a great choice when it comes to convenience and luxury.
Plus, you’ll find that the best way to discover the hidden gems of a city — is to get recommendations straight from the horse’s mouth.
Dorsett Wanchai, 387-397 Queen’s Road E, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Weekender would like to thank Tigerair and Dorsett Wanchai for making this trip possible.
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