It might not be much to look at right now, but the Kai Tak area in East Kowloon is set to become a whole lot hipper with the arrival of the Pentahotel Hong Kong Kowloon next summer.
Located in the site of Hong Kong's old international airport, the new 720-room, 32-storey hotel targets independent-minded travellers and "digital nomads" for a reason -- its location near Kowloon's Diamond Hill MTR station is far from the usual tourist hangouts of Hong Kong and definitely more suitable for those seeking a local experience.
Living the Hong Kong local life doesn't mean roughing it though. Pentahotels (who have 13 properties in Europe in addition to Shanghai and Beijing) are known for their upbeat, design-driven "pentalounges" where guests and locals alike can share a meal, browse their iPads or meet for happy hour with friends over beer and a game of pool.
The guest rooms are just as sleek and will be designed after New York-styled lofts. Public areas in the Pentahotel Hong Kong Kowloon will also feature rustic, homey decor like natural wood and stone finishes.
Over the next few years, the East Kowloon district is proposed to undergo a complete transformation into a core business district with two cruise terminals, a hospital, waterfront promenade, metro park and subway line extension.
With the arrival of the Pentahotel Hong Kong Kowloon next summer, we'll have yet another reason to make our way over to the dark side.
pentahotel Hong Kong Kowloon, 15-19 Luk Hop Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.pentahotels.com
