Three Hong Kong hotels where art is woven into the experience

Hong Kong's art renaissance isn't confined to museum walls. Across the city, a new generation of hotels is treating art not as lobby decoration but as a core part of the guest experience – commissioning local artists, partnering with galleries, and curating collections that rival smaller museums.

Here are three Hong Kong hotels where art takes centre stage.

1. Regent Hong Kong

A refurbishment by architect Chi Wing Lo gave IHG's Regent Hong Kong an air of contemplative calm when it reopened in November 2023. Originally a furniture designer, the Hong Kong native reflected the theme of art and craftsmanship in his ethos, a theme especially visible in the lobby.

With Golden Illusion, 16 glimmering panels of transparent bricks - inspired by the ancient Chinese glass art of liu li - replace typical lobby chandeliers while offering restrained opulence with their golden glow. To the right, a long frieze gathers prints of the hotel's old artworks into a single work, offering a retrospective in a contemporary context. On the left, a panoramic screen with moving visuals provided a modern edge behind the reception - an elemental tumble of steam, lava and petals, courtesy of a Hong Kong new media artist Hung Keung.

My favourite piece was further in, past the counters. A giant repurposed urn held the artwork Drizzle. Bronze and copper lotus flowers by local metal artisans at Coxper were set adrift in what looked like water, until a closer examination revealed the surface was made of the same materials, hand-beaten to achieve the rippling effect.

The other largest collection was in the two-Michelin-starred Lai Ching Heen. The Cantonese restaurant offered embroidered silk screens with The Floating Seasons, a large porcelain sculpture titled Tilt and Flow by ceramic artist Sin Ying Ho, and a stunning scene of blossoming branches made of buttons, beads, pins, and thread.

The hotel also actively partners with local artists, and past efforts include collaborations with the Hong Kong Design Centre and Wholly Wholly for Chinese New Year packaging, as well as a live dance performance that leveraged the hotel's unique staircase designs.

2. The Hari Hong Kong

At The Hari Hong Kong, art and design have always been structural motifs that animate every space. The brainchild of Dr Aron Harilela, his debut hotel in London has a twin in Hong Kong, with a dedicated curator selecting all the pieces to be featured at each location. 

The Monumental Melt by Bulgarian Rado Kirov is a striking mirrored stainless-steel centrepiece at the entrance reception, but more awaits in the first-floor lobby above. Working with the leading contemporary art gallery White Cube, the hotel showcases a rotating lineup of artists in the lobby lounge, designed to fuel conversations and curiosity. The current collection, titled Thresholds, highlights Indonesian artists such as Galuh Anindita and Arahmaiani. The former produces organic sculptural pieces in bell jars, displayed on shelves, speaking to her ongoing interest in themes of mortality, remembrance, and resilience. Across the lounge and the hotel's Lucciola restaurant, Arahmaiani's vibrant, graphic paintings explore social and cultural phenomena even as guests sit beneath them, pondering them on their laptops.

Other pieces, like the quirky cobalt Cha Chan Tang Lunch clay jar by Apolline Cordier, stem from the annual Hari Art Prize. Dedicated to giving Hong Kong-based young artists a platform for visibility, the program often features finalist works on the property, with the grand prize of HKD$100,000 awarded to one winner. In its third year, the competition is seeing growing interest, with a record 630 entries for 2026. 

3. Rosewood Hong Kong

The illustrious hotel won top spot at The World's 50 Best Hotels 2025, and among its many strengths is its art collection. From monumental sculptures to discreet wall installations, Rosewood Hong Kong adds panache to the property with eye-catching finds.

Some are unmissable. The massive bronze Sleeping Lady by British contemporary artist Thomas Houseago commands the entrance courtyard. Upon entering, British sculptor Lynn Chadwick greets you with a stately Pair of Walking Figures - Jubilee, mirroring visitors in the lobby with their sense of movement.

If you're waiting at the lifts by the Darkside Bar, there's American artist Joe Bradley's abstract and colourful Da Free John and Tomten to bide your time. Others, like Damien Hirst's Zodiac, are almost discreet, served on the walls of the teatime venue, The Butterfly Room, with award-winning afternoon platters.

Visitors and diners can easily spot these pieces with the downloadable guide, and guests can enjoy a complimentary guided tour. The evening activity - happening every Tuesday and Thursday - ends deliciously with either a Gin and Tonic or Whisky Highball at the hotel's DarkSide bar. The hotel's curated itineraries also highlight a visit to the M+ Museum.