Rosedale Hotel Hong Kong

The 31-floor Rosedale fits right in among other high-rises in busy Causeway Bay. Guests enter through glass doors into a spacious lobby highlighted by modern light fixtures. Contemporary red chairs pop against the black tile flooring and provide seating areas for guests. Colorful modern art -- including Keith Haring replicas and silhouetted, abstract trees -- give the heavily marbled space a lively look. Escalators lead down to the lower level, where there are more red chairs for seating. The hotel draws mostly couples and businesspeople, but families, groups, and individuals also find their way here. Note that while this is a high-rise hotel, the elevators can be a bit of a problem and guests can expect long waits on occasion.

The hotel is in the busy Causeway Bay area, across the street from Victoria Park where there are jogging trails and green space. The large Hong Kong Central Library is just around the corner and shoppers will be happy as well -- this is Hong Kong's main retail district and most of the shopping is a five to 10-minute walk from the hotel. Tai Hang, a well-known area with many famous restaurants, can be reached in 15 minutes on foot. Public transport is close at hand as well, with many bus stops nearby and the Causeway Bay metro station within an eight-minute walk. The tram line also stops just outside the hotel. The hotel provides shuttle service to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center during international trade shows, and the AsiaWorld Expo is about 45 minutes away by car. Hong Kong International Airport can be reached in less than an hour by taxi, bus, shuttle, or train. 

Rooms are compact and nothing fancy, but they are clean, modern, and well-maintained. Furniture is medium-toned wood with clean lines, and the color scheme throughout rooms is neutral beige and brown. Large-scale abstract art on the walls adds a bit of visual interest, and smaller pieces provide welcome pops of color. Standard conveniences include flat-screen TVs, minibars, and electric kettles for coffee or tea. Window seats with pillows provide a place to sit rather than chairs, and while some rooms have nice city views, others offer less desirable views of the back of nearby buildings. TVs sit on the desks, so there's not really any work space, and aside from that fact, desks only come with a stool rather than a desk chair. Suites and executive rooms add more space. Bathrooms are a blend of dated and modern, with shower/tub combos looking a bit drab alongside contemporary raised sinks set in travertine countertops. 

Despite being a massive high-rise hotel, there's not too much on offer here in the way of features -- there's no spa or pool, for instance. Sonata Western Restaurant serves international fare for all meals in a fresh, modern space. Both buffet and a la carte choices are offered, and breakfast -- which skews heavily toward Asian fare -- isn't included with all rates. A flat-screen TV on the wall keeps guests up-to-date on the news and sports. A small fitness center offers a limited but modern selection of machines including a treadmill, stationary bike, and universal, plus free weights. A business desk tucked away in a corner of the lobby provides a single computer and printer for guests to use, though Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The hotel can arrange airport shuttles for a fee.