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May 01, 2023

This Hong Kong Boutique Hotel Gives Off a Moody Minimalist Vibe

TUVE doesn’t strike you as a hotel at first. Partially tucked under an overpass

TUVE doesn't strike you as a hotel at first. Partially tucked under an overpass on a restaurant-lined side street slightly off the tourist trail in Hong Kong's Tin Hau neighborhood, TUVE's low-profile facade hides one of the most relaxing, ultra-minimalist boutique hotels in the entire glittering metropolis.

Push your way through a set of metal doors that guide you into a dimly lit, cave-like entrance outfitted in gray and white-rippled marble. From the discreet ground floor entrance, guests are whisked away by marble-floored elevators and then released into an industrial-sleek and intimate lobby. No, this isn't the hotel lobby norm where guests socialize at communal tables littered with MacBooks and oat milk lattes. TUVE's minimally furnished lobby oozes an achingly cool atmosphere. Marble, riveted steel, and galactic-speckled lighting abound, brooding industrial beats delicately echo, and a subtle sandalwood scent infuses the sensory space. It makes sense that Danish photographer Kim Høltermand's haunting portraits of Sweden's Lake Tuvesjöen shot on a foggy winter morning were the inspiration for the hotel's name and surreal, gray-toned world.

While the lobby feels like you’ve stumbled upon a severely stylish and slightly spooky shooting location featured in a John Wick film, the 66 guestrooms are less intense. They’re impeccably clean all the while maintaining TUVE's pared-back charm—concrete walls, concrete floors—but custom wooden beds, luxury white linens, sheer white drapery, ambient floor lighting, and tall, light-flooded windows overlooking Hong Kong's crazily cinematic skyline warm-up the cloud-piercing accommodations. Meanwhile, the roomy bathrooms are Zenned-out and very Instragrammable, with swirling white and gray marble interiors, oxidized brass fixtures, gigantic walk-in rain showers, and Le Labo bath amenities.

Opened in 2015 and created by Hong Kong interior team, Design Systems, the shadowy yet serene boutique's penchant for raw materials, natural textures, and all-things-bare-bones won't be a match for travelers accustomed to staying at five-star properties with lavish lobbies and 24/7 room service. Described on its website as everything from "timeless, placeless, and genderless" to "sensual and poetic" and as "a space for your identity to rest," the understated TUVE is—understatement—many things. To minimalist, design-loving travelers, it won't come across as pretentious or cold; it's a hip hideaway made of moody minimalist dreams. It's an enigmatic, urban oasis where silence is golden. Plus, TUVE's guestrooms and heavenly low-slung beds provide a cocoon of calm after a day spent exploring the endlessly electrifying metropolis. Stay-in-bed days never felt so right.

Top Takeaways

Location: Wan Chai District's Tin Hau neighborhood. It's a laidback and mostly tourist-free area that's littered with affordable restaurants, bakeries, markets, temples, laundrymats, and salons.

Rating: Four-star.

The vibe: TUVE's the definition of a hidden gem. Minimalist, tranquil, impossibly hip.

Food + Drink: The ground floor restaurant is currently under renovation, but Tin Hau is a walkable foodie paradise lined with affordable local eateries and various cuisines.

Our Favorite Part of the Hotel: TUVE's silence-is-golden vibe and mega-minimalist look make for a relaxing staycation. Plus, the beds are sublime. You’d forget that you were even in Hong Kong if it weren't for the sea of colorful skyscrapers right outside your room's windows.

What's nearby? Victoria Park, Tin Hau Temple, Lin Fa Kung Temple, Hong Kong Central Library.

Any neighborhood recs? Electric Road is just a few steps away from TUVE, and it's packed with affordable spots serving traditional Cantonese desserts. Start out at Auntie Sweet—it's right across the street from TUVE—and order tofu pudding or a shaved ice parfait. Grab a coffee at NOC Coffee or juice at Take Your Time. For hearty bowls of beef brisket noodles, head to lauded local eatery Sister Wah, but prepare for a wait. Ready for some shopping? Hit up Midwest Vintage Store. Before calling it a night, unwind with a good old foot rub at TUVE's next-door neighbor, The Foot Room.

Amenities: In keeping with the minimalist theme, amenities are few. But the excellent staff will provide recommendations and reservations for restaurants and museums as well as customized itineraries. There's also free Wi-Fi, in-room coffee and tea, and Le Labo toiletries. Looking for a late-night snack? Then look for the pale wooden box in your room—it unfolds to reveal a gourmet snack-stocked minibar. Need to get in a workout? Take a short stroll to the sprawling Victoria Park, where you’ll find tennis courts, basketball courts, jogging trails, and a swimming pool.

Rooms: 66 industrial-chic beauties.

Pricing: Rates start at $128 a night.

Closest airport: Hong Kong International Airport

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