BACKGROUND MGallery is Accor's boutique hotel brand, with more than 100 properties globally. Opened last July, this is the second of the brand's design-conscious hotels in Hong Kong following the opening of the Silveri in Tung Chung in June 2022.
WHERE IS IT? Located away from the main Wan Chai bustle on a quiet corner of Jaffe Road, the hotel is a ten-minute walk from the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), five minutes from Wan Chai MTR station and a three-minute stroll from the new Exhibition Centre MTR station. It's well placed to explore the many bars and restaurants along Lockhart Road and the sleek malls of Causeway Bay.
WHAT'S IT LIKE? Housed in an impressive glass structure, AKI Hong Kong channels a Japanese minimalist aesthetic with light natural wood tones throughout. Tall ceilings and an abundance of natural light deliver a welcoming sense of space. The black-and-grey entrance feels wonderfully discreet, and from there guests whizz up to the reception area on the third floor. A Zen garden will also be added to the entrance by the end of the year, decorated with lanterns, stones and sand drawings. The reception features a lobby lounge and small co-working space, with two tables and a bar area offering remote working options. Billed as a sustainable hotel, AKI's smart living function automatically shuts off the air conditioning to conserve energy when guests leave their rooms.
Set over 25 floors, the 173 rooms come in five categories: Classic, Superior, Superior City View, Deluxe Studio and, in a first for Hong Kong and rarely seen outside Japan, 20 Deluxe Tatami rooms, which feature king-size beds atop mats. The most spacious sliding doors, the bathroom features a unit with two separate sinks and mirrors, along with Malin+Goetz toiletries and glasses from local ceramics brand Loveramics to place your toothbrush in. To the left is a cubicle featuring a rainforest shower and standalone bathtub, while another cubicle houses a Toto toilet. In a further nod to sustainability, there is a recycling bin inside the cubicle for paper and plastic, though every time I went to put something in it, the toilet detected my presence, the lid lifted up, and set off the self-cleaning routine. All rooms feature a tablet control panel to adjust the blinds, curtains and temperature to your preference.
