Kew Green Hotel Wanchai Hong Kong

Playful design and an infusion of contemporary art makes this hotel stand out, starting with an entryway floor mural that gives the false impression of a white staircase descending into a tropical grotto. Optical tricks abound, from the lobby's waved ceiling to the elevators styled to create the illusion of an infinite hallway. The reception desks are designed like Old-World luggage trunks, and blue lighting gives the scene a night-club/lively-boutique vibe -- in fact, the exuberant interiors may not be appealing to guests with more traditional tastes. Le Chef, the on-site restaurant, and The Parlor, the hotel's bar, have similarly Wonderland-esque and futuristic interiors, but otherwise there are few other places for guests -- who include many business travelers and couples -- to gather.

The Metropark Hotel Wanchai Hong Kong is located on Hennessy Road, surrounded by commercial buildings with shops, restaurants, and bars intermixed. The hotel is an 11-minute walk to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, and an 18-minute walk to the Wan Chai Ferry Pier. The popular Times Square Shopping Mall, on the edge of the more polished Causeway Bay neighborhood, is about a 20-minute walk from the hotel, or five minutes by taxi. The MTR Wan Chai station is a three-minute walk down Hennessy Road, while the drive to Hong Kong International Airport takes about 40 minutes. The Airport Express, including a transfer from the Island Line, takes about an hour.

The rooms here are more conservative than the vibrantly styled common areas of the hotel, though they are still contemporary and fresh. The 173 rooms range from Comfort Rooms with blond-wood furnishings and striped carpets to Executive Rooms draped in bold fabrics and sleek black furniture. Walls across the board are painted in neutral grays and white hues and some rooms have attractive horizontal photo murals while others utilize vibrant patterns and pops of color to create visually striking spaces. Minibars, laptop safes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi come standard in all rooms. Rooms on the women's-only floor are individually decorated with a brighter color scheme, and come with boutique toiletries, while the Executive level rooms and suites add free minibars (restocked daily) and a free buffet breakfast at Le Chef restaurant. The plainly tiled bathrooms have shower-tub combos, with higher-priced rooms including separate walk-in rainfall showers. 

Le Chef is the main restaurant on the mezzanine floor, serving fusion cuisine in a colorful dining room with mirrored ceilings. Room service is available 24 hours a day, but breakfast is not included in room rates except for Executive level guests. The Parlor picks up the lobby's club vibe, with green and red furniture set amid monochrome decor and colored mood lighting. The bar serves tapas and has a daily happy hour. There's also a modern fitness center with an array of cardio- and weight-training equipment, and an attached shower room, but there is no pool or spa. The hotel has an Internet corner with a pair of Macs. Guests are also given free 3G smartphones, which act as mobile hot spots with free national and international calling (to select countries), a great perk for international guests. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Airport transportation and babysitting services are both available for additional fees.