8 Best Hotels in Hong Kong: Rooftop Pools, Next-Level Service, and Views You Wouldn’t Believe

Towering over Admiralty in the center of Hong Kong Island, the Upper House is the epitome of privacy, space and modernity. Glide through an unassuming door in Pacific Place and zoom up the elevator to cavernous contemporary rooms; all razor sharp lines, top tech amenities, plush fabrics and sliding doors leading to Zen-like bathrooms with Japanese soaking tubs. A favorite with visiting artists – Ed Sheeran, Tilda Swinton, Christian Louboutin to name a few –the hotel has a distinctly fashionable air and Café Gray Deluxe is the place to strut your stuff.

This slick hotel in action-packed Mongkok is all about the art. More than 1,500 works of contemporary Chinese art works are scattered across the property. Spot them as you wander from Michelin-starred restaurant Ming Court to the high-tech gym and the decadent Chuan Spa. Rooms are bright breezy affairs, done up in calming shades of silver, grey and blue, and come with deep beds, white marble bathrooms and smartphones to help you find your way around town. Bonus: guests can also sign up for complimentary tai chi lessons by the rooftop pool and free walking tours of local markets.

This cute little boutique is easy to spot—just look for the giant murals of Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe. The movie star glamour carries through to the 38 candy-colored suites, complete with separate living rooms, large bathrooms and kitchenettes. There’s no bar or restaurant but you’ll find free soft drinks, beers and snacks in the lobby lounge and a wealth of drinking and dining options just outside the lobby doors.

RELATED: 72 Hours in Hong Kong

They seem to have thought of everything at Hotel Icon. The eye-catching interiors are cool and contemporary, from the vertical garden that dramatically cuts up through the atrium lobby to the stylish rooms (handcrafted curvaceous wood furnishings, smoky hues, tactile fabrics, and standout views). Above and Beyond is one of the city’s best restaurants, and a favorite among locals for its Cantonese culinary delights such as the birds’ nest soup. Other highlights include the harbor-facing pool, Tesla airport transfers and a 24-hour lounge with Laz-y-boy recliners, saunas and showers for guests arriving and departing outside regular hours.

Opened in 1928, the Peninsula is Hong Kong’s grande dame and one of the most elegant hotels in Asia. Walk through its revolving doors and into the regal lobby, and you'll feel like you're stepping back in time. The interiors are decorated with plush carpeting and touches of Hong Kong’s colonial past and well-heeled guests nibble afternoon tea from bone china plates. Modern accents are everywhere, however, like the striking Fu dog sculptures by American Pop artists Jim Dime, the Philippe Starck–designed Felix Bar and the NASA-worthy in-room technology.

RELATED: Asia Special: 5 Cities, 23 Fabulous Hotels

The Ovolo Southside is a top pick for hipsters. First, there’s its up and coming location in Wong Chuk Hang, an area with a new MTR subway line that links to the city center in just eight minutes. The local attractions include authentic restaurants and avant-garde galleries tucked away in old warehouses (Instagram gold) while the hotel itself is chic and comfortable. Expect a buzzy rooftop bar with views over green Aberdeen and stylishly spare rooms stocked with complimentary mini-bars and Malin and Goetz amenities.

If you’re looking for a super-luxe property that does it all, and does it well, the Four Seasons is it. Family-friendly activities, gourmet meals, spa treatments galore, business amenities—you name it, they’ve got it covered. The service is next-level and the facilities are fantastic: we're talking Michelin-starred restaurants, an expansive gym, two huge outdoor pools, ice chambers, and a sensational spa offering sublime treatments from Chinese acupressure massages to gravity-defying facials.

It may have lost its crown as the world’s highest hotel (it’s number three now) but the 118-floor Ritz-Carlton will still make your head spin. The main attraction here is, of course, the astonishing view of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers and famous harbor, which looks more like a stream from that vantage point. Inside, you’ll also find surprisingly modern interiors, a clutch of excellent bars and restaurants – including Ozone, which has retained its title as the world’s highest rooftop bar – and sophisticated rooms done up in soothing neutral hues.

Located in the thumping heart of Wan Chai, the Mira Moon’s flamboyant interiors channel Hong Kong’s playful side. Inspired by a fairytale of a lovelorn princess who transforms into a rabbit, the hotel interiors have white bunnies bouncing across the ceiling, star-spangled carpets and shiny spherical chandeliers. What the ruby-hued rooms lack in size, they make up for in character, with glossy lacquer walls, carved wood panels and loads of extras (complimentary soft drinks, in-room iPads, free mobile phones).