Some hotels are just inherently fun. Funky. Irreverent. Add in a soundtrack of retro pop music and welcoming touches that make a visit feel like you are crashing at a close friend’s house rather than checking into a hotel, and you have the makings of a great stay.

That’s exactly how I felt recently when I checked into the Ovolo Southside, Hong Kong’s first warehouse-conversion hotel in the up-and-coming South Island cultural district. After a day of popping around the city’s Central neighborhood, I took a 15-minute MTR ride to the hotel, located a short walk from the Wong Chuk Hang metro station, then an elevator a few levels up to check in. The 1980s music videos playing on a monitor in the elevator were the first sign things were going to be a little bit different. They were accompanied by different songs piped out through the speakers, and the 1980s music fan in me wished that had been synced; a hotel representative told me I hadn’t been the only one to mention this. Elements like neon signs with song quotes and framed record sleeves drove home the musical vibe, and I learned the hotel chain, with four locations in Hong Kong and seven in Australia, even curates its own Spotify list dubbed Radio Ovolo, which I immediately followed. Obviously.

I checked into my corner room, which offered 180-degree panoramic views of the neighborhood and mountains beyond. Too often, boutique hotel chains focus on form rather than function, but this room was well-designed, with a seven-layer bed with feather duvet and feather pad; interactive, 3D, 47-inch LED television with Apple TV; full black-out and sheer electric blinds; and varied lighting options, including ceiling track lighting and dual bendable bedside reading lights. The rain shower had fabulous water pressure, as well as a handset attachment, and Biology toiletries; my only criticism was lack of counter space in the bathroom. The room held a Loot Bag, filled with snacks, and a minibar stocked with beer, soda and water; both were included with the room.

While we’re talking about free stuff, the Ovolo Southside also has free WiFi, free self-laundry, free local calls and free daily happy hour in a shared social/work lounge with a billiard table, tables and chairs. If you book your room directly from the hotel website, a continental breakfast is also included at the property’s restaurant Kömune. I appreciated the variety of sweet and savory items, like scrambled eggs, noodles, cheese and charcuterie, fresh fruit, yogurt, granola and pastries, as well as freshly squeezed juices and a high-end Nespresso machine with foamed/steamed milk attachment.

For lunch and dinner, Kömune serves tapas with an Asian influence, like braised pork belly tacos with green curry, pomegranate and feta; short ribs Sichuan style; and an Iberico and Burrata flatbread.

The hotel’s latest achievement is its new rooftop bar, Above by Kömune, the first truly elevated rooftop bar on the city’s southern coastline with views of ocean park, Repulse Bay and the South China Sea. I really couldn’t believe I was just a few MTR stops away from the most bustling parts of the city. The Ovolo Southside is fast becoming both a staycation property for Hong Kongers and a destination for visitors looking for a bit more respite, and I can easily see why. It’s a whole different world down there.

Ovolo Southside Hong Kong

64 Wong Chuk Hang Road
Hong Kong
tel 852 3460 8100