Rosewood Hong Kong

We’ve been here for almost three weeks. The room is amazing and the service is great, especially the concierge. It’s an odd setup without a lobby or sitting area, though, and all the restaurants close by midnight, so we couldn’t meet friends afterward. I was also surprised that most of the food contains pork, which isn’t friendly for people who don’t eat it.

The public spaces stay beautifully kept and never feel chaotic, and the design is elegant without being flashy. Rosewood Hong Kong feels calm and polished, with a lovely harbor setting. Service is courteous and professional, although it can drag a little during busy periods. I also found breakfast underwhelming. It wasn’t bad, just below what I’d expect at this level. It’s a comfortable, refined stay, with some room to improve service speed and breakfast.

Breakfast was a highlight for me. It’s a semi-buffet, but the quality and choice were satisfying enough that I skipped the à la carte main course all three mornings of my stay. The extra bed was a different story: it cost quite a lot and didn’t come with breakfast, which had to be paid for separately. The room was impressively spacious for Hong Kong, and the bathroom was especially large, comfortable, and beautifully designed. In-room amenities fit the upscale feel, and the hotel overall is luxurious and refined. I did find many areas too dim, and wished there were more natural light or morning sunshine indoors. I stayed at Rosewood Hong Kong for three nights and got the luxury experience I’d hoped for, apart from those drawbacks.

I was away from 9 AM to 3 PM, and when I got back my room hadn’t been serviced at all. No cleaning or refresh. When I complained, I was told they were “understaffed.” Staffing is management’s responsibility, and guests paying premium luxury rates shouldn’t have to bear the effects of that. For a hotel promoted as world class, basic housekeeping should be dependable. I also stayed at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong on this trip, and the difference in service was night and day. Four Seasons delivered real luxury hospitality, while Rosewood Hong Kong felt like it was leaning on its name and cutting corners. The experience didn’t justify the price or reputation, and was extremely disappointing.