Checking Into the Arca: Where Elegant Design Meets Playful Soul
The Arca’s rooftop infinity pool is a crowd-pleaser
The Arca is the hip hotel of Hong Kong in 2021. Since it started welcoming guests in May, all my friends have been flocking to it for staycations, so needless to say it’s been on our radar quite a bit.
A straightforward walk from the Wong Chuk Hang station, the Arca is a contemporary building that rises above the Aberdeen Harbour with 187 guestrooms. It’s also the Yulan Group’s newest boutique property, making it a sister hotel of the Figo which we had visited earlier this year.
Just like the Figo, the Arca offers dog-friendly packages and long-stay packages to cater to a variety of visitors.
The teal feature wall behind the bed offers a recess for storage and pets
The curved silhouette of the bar table echoes the mirror and shelving
The Arca’s guest rooms focus on neutral earth tones, subtly contrasted with materials like cement and copper detailing. Yet unlike the Figo that boasted warm terracotta tones, the Arca has a distinctively more diverse colour palette ranging from teals to maroons.
The bar area features a granite countertop and lush green cushions
Hanging racks run along the doorway
We opted for the City Deluxe Room that overlooks the mountainside of Wong Chuk Hang. Being located on a standard street meant that city rooms faced commercial buildings across, but with most of the commercial lots empty (especially on weekends), privacy wasn’t an issue.
Natural light was abundant as rooms were cleverly divided into two areas – the sleeping and living areas span the massive window, while the bathroom and closet run parallel and can be completely closed off for more privacy.
The bathroom opens up into the walk-in closet
The entire bathroom is covered in terrazzo
While we loved every bit of the interiors, the bathroom blew us away. Fashioned almost entirely of terrazzo (one of our favourite materials), the space features a double sink and a dual rain shower, so oversized by Hong Kong standards it would put single beds to shame.
Arca Society features plush seating areas
A selection of contemporary design and books across the reception
Located on the 3rd floor where the hotel reception is, Arca Society is an inviting modern space complete with a restaurant, a lounge area and a sunny outdoor terrace. Donned with full-length glass windows, the entire area retains a light, airy feel, making it suitable for private events of up to 250 guests.
The restaurant offers a blend of Asian and Western culinary flavours popular with hotel guests and the local office crowd. Signature dishes include the Yulan Chicken and the Arca Cheeky Signature Burger.
The outdoor grill serving up the Sunday barbecue
We had a go at their Sunday semi-buffet BBQ brunch, which features an outdoor grill serving up your choice of barbecued meats and seafood, plus a modest but hearty selection of sides and free flow on house wine. Portions for the grill run on the small side but our beef chuck had the perfectly seasoned crust and I loved their crème brûleé – so who am I to complain?
During the day, light spills from the terrace into the interiors
The terrace offers ample seating set within lush greens
The outdoor terrace makes for a pleasant alfresco dining experience during cooler months, where you can unwind on the swings or daybeds amid the lush vegetation.
The peach-tones of the mural and lush greenery adds some tropical vibes
A rare moment of peace before the kids came flocking in
We were blessed with fine autumn weather, which offered a fantastic panoramic view of the Aberdeen Harbour and the (now-closed) Jumbo Seafood Restaurant. This is pretty much the stellar view that sea view rooms offer, so even if you’re not staying in one, check it out!
Arca Sky offers stunning views of the Aberdeen Harbour
Even the slippers come in cute branded colours
The best spot in the house that everyone will be fighting for when the sun goes down
A peach-toned mural and lush fern wall behind the sunchairs impart a warm, tropical atmosphere. If you’re early enough, you can kick back and relax under the sun with little distractions. During our stay at the Arca, the pool was only open during the weekend, and one-hour slots had to be booked in advance. By 5 PM, it was getting crowded with girls posing for photos.
Arca Sky offers a small cocktail bar area
(Not) enjoying a beer in the sun because turns out that self-brought drinks are not permitted
The cocktail bar stands in a fenced-off area, where guests can enjoy beers and cocktails while watching the sun slowly disappear below the horizon. Although self-brought drinks are not permitted by the poolside, the vantage point of Arca Sky makes it an intimate venue for private events.
Thoughts
Having stayed at the Figo earlier this year, we can confidently say that the Arca is a significant upgrade in its guestrooms and overall ambience. Being hidden among budding commercial buildings also conferred a sense of novelty and ensured a tranquil getaway.
We loved the modern interiors with a hint of cosiness borrowed from Nordic details. The team mastered the playful aesthetics while maintaining an unpretentious demeanour that emphasised comfort first and foremost.
And of course – the rooftop pool was difficult to fault with its stunning views. The Arca is by far one of the best boutique hotels we’ve seen in Hong Kong and we’ll be back when it’s warm again!
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