The JIA Hong Kong Hotel

Jia is Hong Kong’s first boutique hotel, and, surprisingly, the first hotel in Asia for celebrity designer Philippe Starck — whose contributions to the Asian skyline include Felix, the bar at the top of the Peninsula. And though it’s a boutique, it’s anything but fluff; when the competition consists of prim old colonial hotels and big chains flagships, an upstart, however flashy, must offer something of substance.

In fact to measure this hotel against other boutiques would be apples and oranges; - these are more than just hotel rooms as they feature fully equipped kitchens, complete with sexy (though unfortunately named) Smeg appliances, and the thoughtful convenience of dining-room tables. Of course the prevailing tone is white, but teak floors and golden yellow overtones make the decor more livable, long-term, than the average theatrical Starck hotel room.

Laundry service is available, but if you want to really feel like it’s your apartment, you can do it yourself, in what must be one of the world’s only outdoor terrace laundromats. You can also do-it-yourself with cooking in your kitchen, or you can order in-room dining. JIA has one restaurant: OPIA - popular with the city’s hip and fashionista crowd for a provocative dining and lounge experience – the menu here features award winning Melbourne Chef Teage Ezard’s Australian free style cuisine with influences from Asia.

Alternatively, the local area is filled with restaurants and cafes, and once out the door, dining won’t be an issue. The location is a bit of a departure for Hong Kong hotels; Causeway Bay is the shopping and entertainment district on Hong Kong Island, and though filled with shoppers and revelers, it’s got an authentic edge as well. Sure, the Bentley and Ferrari dealers are around the corner, but the neighborhood is densely populated, and you’re as likely to see locals hanging up laundry as tourists clutching shopping bags. There’s no in-house gym, but you’ll have a complimentary pass to the California Fitness Club a few blocks away, or you can get your exercise by shopping vigorously—and relax with a chilled drink on the sundeck when you return.