Checking into Mira Moon, a new boutique hotel in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay, was far from ordinary. Clad in Grace Choi-designed dresses, the front desk staff directed me to an iPad Mini so that I could enter all of my essential details (pens are like so 2010). We stood beneath three ruby chandeliers — shaped like rabbits, except with long, Pegasus-like wings — and were surrounded by carved wooden walls and a pair of Dutch tulip-shaped armchairs. A distant scent of peony flowers, one the hotel’s signature design themes, lingered in the air as a down tempo tune by DJ Helen Ting faded into the background.
Design elements such as gigantic Bisazza tile mosaics and sexy black lacquer chairs with legs that taper into oblivion are the brainchild of Philippe Starck’s design company Yoo and Marcel Wanders, the “Lady Gaga of the Design World.” The team drew inspiration from China’s Moon Festival fairy tale, and the result is a triumph of cut crystal, antique Chinese prints and whimsical custom furnishings in red, gold and black.
“We are in an ongoing pursuit of ‘wow’ for every guest,” said general manager Jorgen Christensen.
Acute attention to detail is the property’s specialty, and nowhere is this more evident than in its 90 guestrooms and Penthouse suite. For instance, guests will find seven electrical sockets in rooms, giving them the flexibility to charge multiple gadgets at once. Guestrooms also come with a few fun gadgets of their own. I practically squealed when I spotted a Samsung Galaxy Note intended for complimentary use during my stay. The staff encouraged me to take it around town and use it to make free local and international calls. Sure, I had to deal with a few pesky ads, but the smartphone’s preloaded travel apps, including a handy currency converter, made getting around much easier.
At my bedside, to my delight, was an iPad Mini ready for browsing. Each guestroom also features an HD IPTV with an AirPlay music system, Bluetooth connectivity and a number of unique capabilities, from placing room service orders to securing a spot on the Kee Club’s coveted guest list. Even the bathroom catered to my inner digital addict, offering a bathtub caddy with a built-in iPad holder.
Fittingly, Mira Moon offers free in-room Wi-Fi access, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a minibar re-stocked daily with complimentary soft drinks and a Nespresso machine at my disposal.
When the sun went down, I headed to Supergiant, the property’s tapas restaurant and cocktail bar, which offers a daily happy “hour” from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. My favorite find on the menu was A Geisha’s Kiss, a fruity sake cocktail served in a carafe of crushed ice. While I happened to dine during the restaurant’s Lobster Week Extravaganza, Supergiant is best known for its tapas dishes that allow Spanish Serrano and Iberico ham to be the stars. From moon-shaped ham croquetas to Hong Kong-style egg waffles topped with ribbons of savory Serrano ham, the menu, like the hotel itself, is everything but conventional.
The Details
Mira Moonwww.miramoonhotel.com