Gloucester Hotel

Opened in 2014, Gloucester Hotel is situated on busy Gloucester Road, one of Hong Kong's main thoroughfares. The hotel has a quiet, tucked-away feel, contrasting with the noise and energy of the bustling Causeway Bay area. While the hotel is small and there aren't many facilities, it's a chic and modern place to spend the night after touring the areas sights by day. The first impression is sleek, with black marble walls and floors leading to an M.C. Escher-esque wall treatment behind the front desk. The compact lobby features bright blue and red pod chairs, a red sofa, striped wood-paneled floors, a big flat-screen TV, and large arched windows that overlook trees and the street below. Due to its style and convenient location, the hotel draws both tourists and business travelers alike.

Gloucester Hotel is located on the north end of Hong Kong Island in the Causeway Bay area on Gloucester Road, one of Hong Kong's main thoroughfares. Causeway Bay is known for its shopping, and many malls are within walking distance of the hotel. Hysan Place and Lee Gardens are a 10-minute walk away and Times Square mall is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. There are numerous restaurants in the neighborhood, and nightlife on Lockhart Road is about a five-minute walk from the hotel. There are plenty of bus stops in any direction, and Causeway Bay MTR station is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The western edge of Victoria Park is also a 10-minute walk, and it's 15 minutes on foot (or three minutes in a taxi) to get to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Wan Chai Ferry Pier will take five minutes to reach by car, or 15 minutes walking; from here guests can take a 10-minute ferry ride to Tsim Sha Tsui, a neighborhood that's home to the Avenue of Stars, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Kowloon Park, and the Hong Kong Science Museum. Hong Kong International Airport is a 35-minute drive away, or about an hour and twenty minutes by metro.

Spread out across three floors, the 55 non-smoking rooms at the Gloucester Hotel have a stylish, minimalist look with largely bare tan walls. Furniture is done in dark wood and chocolate-brown leather, and gold decorative throws lay across the beds. Dark wood laminate floors are sharp, and dusty brown accents in the soft furnishings complete the look. Rooms are quiet, clean, and well maintained, with good natural light streaming in through floor-to-ceiling windows. These also showcase views of Victoria Harbour in some rooms (meaning that certain rooms have views of the Symphony of Lights laser show on the harbor). Features are a step above many hotels in this category. All come with desks, in-room safes, Nespresso coffeemakers, mini-fridges, iPod docks, and big flat-screen TVs, though channel selection is limited. Suites add sitting areas. Some bathrooms are a little cramped, with limited space around the sink, but all have stylish fixtures and fittings, premium bath products, and rainfall showers. 

There are few facilities at this small hotel, and in general it's best used a home base from which to explore the city or attend to business. The hotel serves a simple breakfast with eggs, sausages, toast and fruit. Unfortunately, it's not included in room rates. Japanese cuisine is served at the on-site restaurant, with with fresh fish, meat, and vegetables flown in daily from Japan. Room service is not available. Other features include a 24-hour front desk, concierge service, and limo service (for a fee). Public paid parking is available nearby. The lobby also has a vending machine, a computer for guests' use, and a Nespresso machine with free coffee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.