Over the past decade, Hong Kong has established itself as an international arts hub thanks to a wellspring of international galleries, local showings, arts festivals and far-sighted design concepts.
Following hot on its trail, Macau also has seen its fair share of design-focused experiences. And there are fewer more dedicated patrons of the arts than the territory’s top hotels.
Check into one of these luxe lodgings to experience some of the most ambitious art programs across the region:
This Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star stay has long been known for its impressive art collections and experimental installations. The latest in the lineup is a new, multi-year contemporary program dubbed Art in Resonance that just debuted in March.
Kicking off in Hong Kong, the Peninsula Hotels’ traveling exhibition will relocate to Paris this fall, where additional pieces by local creatives will join the immersive collection.
Curated by art world arbiters Isolde Brielmaier and Bettina Prentice, the exhibition is designed to engage all the senses. A few of the highlights include a larger-than-life Technicolor sculpture by American artist Janet Echelman that hovers above the hotel’s façade, and an arresting work by Chilean artist Iván Navarro. On the second floor of the hotel, Navarro’s HOME installation explores the concept of home through neon tubes and a clever optical illusion.
One of Hong Kong’s most prestigious design hotels, this Four-Star skyscraper exudes originality, like the Zaha Hadid-designed furniture, hand-tufted carpets in the lobby and the striking vertical garden at Green café.
Throughout the yin- and yang-inspired interiors (imagined in part by local architect William Lim), you will discover more than 100 pieces of artwork — all by area talents and Hong Kong Polytechnic University students. Then there are the gorgeous uniforms, conceived by designer Barney Cheng, and the dedicated Designer Suite, a vivid red room brought to life by homegrown fashion guru Vivienne Tam.
Given its substantial creative chops, it’s no wonder that Hotel ICON has hosted HK Design Centre’s Knowledge of Design Week, where the global design community gathers annually for forums, interactive workshops and networking.
This bold urban retreat is one of the most stylish options in Hong Kong’s popular Tsim Sha Tsui nightlife district. Imagined by Miami-based designer Charles Allem and lifestyle guru Colin Cowie, the ultra-modern interiors transport you to a world of color and flamboyance befitting the metropolis’ vibrant energy.
The lobby gives off a trendy vibe with vaulted ceilings and undulating white walls, while sculptures and floating metallic orbs fill the public spaces. The property even allows you to choose a color palette for your room (silver, red or green) based on your mood.
Sister hotel Mira Moon, in the commercial Wan Chai neighborhood, is also worth a peek for those with an eye for style. Designed by Wanders & YOO, this beautiful property takes inspiration from Chinese mythology — it’s like walking into a fairytale filled with oversized vases, intricate woodwork, rich shades of red and mirrored walls that challenge perceptions.
Tucked away in Kowloon’s industrial-cool Kwun Tong district, this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended retreat is another top choice for art and design lovers. The modern and minimalist interiors soothe with creamy tones, natural stone, wood and clean lines that recall the tranquility of Japan’s ryokans (inns).
The stylish interiors are complemented by beautiful staff uniforms from internationally renowned Hong Kong designer Dorian Ho. And then there’s the hotel’s Artist in Residence Program, showcasing avant-garde paintings, sculptures and photography from talents like sculptor Ban Zhang, paper artist Geoff Nees and American painter Christine Nguyen.
Technology makes browsing the hotel’s top-notch collection even easier: just scan the QR code found next to each piece to learn more.
Take one look at this otherworldly Macau hotel and it’s clear that this is an address unlike any other. Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, the curvaceous, almost mesh-like steel façade beckons you into the future. Inside, there’s a world of art to discover.
In public spaces, look for show-stopping pieces like French artist Charles Pétillon’s 200 Litofairhour, a wave-like cloud of balloons that seems to bob nearly 20 feet above the ground, and Australian sculptor Erwin Wurm’s roaring yellow Fat Convertible, which uses the body of a real Porsche topped with polyurethane foam and lacquer to produce a puffy version of the high-octane sports car.
In the ultra-exclusive 23rd-floor private gallery (which only hotel guests can access), there’s even more art to be discovered. It’s hard to miss Good Intentions, a two-story sculpture by pop artist KAWS that towers overhead.
When this ultra-luxe lodging opened in 2018, it brought with it an incredible art collection comprising more than 300 pieces, and you won’t have to go far to soak it all in. One of the property’s most notable installations greets you in the lobby — look up to see Spectacle, a four-story atrium that glows with 25 LED screens showcasing gorgeous natural scenes.
The Macau hotel is so dedicated to celebrating creativity and culture that it created a Road to Art experience that’s best appreciated via complimentary guided tour. Among the vast collection, you’ll find 28 Qing Dynasty-era silk carpets that once donned the floors of the Forbidden City in Beijing, contemporary sculptures like Water in Dripping-Floating from Chinese artist Zheng Lu, and large-scale interactive installations such as the collaborative Social Canvas.
