City chic

15 Nov 2017
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5 min read
FOUR’s guide to exploring some of Asia’s thriving city destinations in the lap of luxury…

The Okura Prestige, Bangkok

Standing tall in the busy skyline of Bangkok, Okura Prestige offers a serene haven away from the hubbub of Bangkok. The hotel is located in the heart of the capital on Embassy Row with the commercial district on its doorstep, and the city’s outstanding attractions just a stone’s throw away. The outside of the Okura Prestige is a contemporary architectural feat, taking on the sky’s colours through its reflective glass windows.

Be prepared for breath-taking panoramic views of the sprawling and buzzing city from the hotel’s rooms, which are situated above the 26th floor. Although each room encompasses Okura’s principles of ‘simplicity and elegance’ with natural colours and simple textiles, comfortable furnishings and modern conveniences, the rooms and suites come in 11 different categories that move up from the (not-so-basic) Deluxe rooms to the plush Imperial Suite. Highlights in the Deluxe rooms include walk-in closets, rain showers and king beds. But it’s the Imperial Suite that you want if you fancy an utterly hedonistic stay, with a private steam room, sauna, two king beds, Bvlgari bathroom amenities and the likes of a Bose sound system.

It is not just the accommodation at Okura Prestige that makes it one of Asia’s Leading Hotels of the World. Head for new heights of luxury in the infinity pool on the 25th floor, which floats above Bangkok on a cantilever. Or indulge in the Okura Spa where you can choose from a variety of treatments involving hot stones, organic oils and balms, and personalised packages.

As if Okura’s foodie scene isn’t enough, epicures will delight in the hotel’s three fine-dining restaurants, including Yamazato restaurant, which serves fresh and centuries-old traditional Kaiseki Ryori Japanese cuisine; Elements restaurant, which offers modern international cuisine at the alfresco cantilevered deck or indoor culinary theatre; and all day restaurant and bar Up & Above.

okurabangkok.com

 

The Reverie, Saigon

A canvas for Italy’s top designers, The Reverie in Vietnam’s southern city of Saigon is a modern and sophisticated twist on classical and opulent European décor. Lavish textures, patterns and rich colours adorn high quality bespoke furniture and compliment the sumptuous experience.

Located in the central business district of Ho Chi Minh, along the beautiful banks of the Saigon River, The Reverie has only recently opened to a storm of excitement. As a wink towards the booming luxury hospitality industry in modern Vietnam, the hotel celebrates home comforts with a traditional local welcome and utterly opulent highlights.

Among The Reverie’s 62 suites and 224 rooms, choose from 12 varieties, which range from Deluxe Rooms to Reverie Romance Suites. The former have city or river views with high ceilings, king or twin beds and luxury Chopard spa amenities. If you fancy something a little more opulent, the Junior Suites include sumptuous double vanities, a separate foyer and luxury Hermès spa amenities. At the top of the indulgent options are the Reverie Romance Suites, which are 68 square meters including the lavish bedroom, alcove room and bathroom adorned with mosaic floor tiling. On top of the exceptional room facilities, enjoy the option of landing your helicopter at the private helipad, or taking a spin in one of their limited edition Rolls-Royce Phantom Dragons.

With 5 in-house restaurants and bars, The Reverie is a gastronome’s dream. Enjoy modern interpretations of Cantonese cuisine at The Royal Pavillion; R&J (short for Romeo and Juliet) serves Italian cuisine in a spectacular wall-to-wall mosaicked room; the Café Cardinal presents all-day food on the 6th floor of the building; enjoy a tipple at The Long bar along side some seasonal cuisine; or finally, indulge in some freshly baked pastries at The Deli.

With all that indulging, it is probably about time to visit The Reverie’s spa where you can enjoy the outdoor swimming pools, treatment rooms or beauty services. After all, The Reverie–meaning ‘dreams’–really is what it says on the luxurious and stylish tin.

thereveriesaigon.com

 

Palace Hotel, Tokyo

Palace Hotel is a modern celebration of urban Japanese omotenashi hospitality. Located in the centre of Tokyo, adjacent to the Imperial Palace Gardens and across from the moat, the hotel gives incomparable views onto Tokyo. Home to the headquarters of many of Japan’s most prestigious corporations, as well as a tree-lined avenue likened to London’s Bond Street, named Marunouchi Naka Dori, the surrounding neighbourhood is an ideal spot for both business and leisure visitor. The avenue is a heavyweight when it comes to high end shopping, fine dining and museums, leading to the spectacular Imperial Palace Gardens, which dates back to 1640.

Palace Hotel boasts a spectacular 290 luxury guestrooms, 10 restaurants and bars, an evian spa and meeting and events facilities. Varying from the most simple Deluxe room up to the Palace Suite, the hotel pulls all the stops out to make for a traditionally welcoming Japanese stay with modern luxury style and facilities. Calm, neutral colours contrast with rich textures and artworks, making for sleek, sumptuous and bespoke décor throughout the rooms and suites, while glass is used where possible to highlight the cityscape views. The Palace Suite, designed as a chic urban residence includes a spacious living room, dining area, a large master bedroom and marble-clad bathroom.

Rivalling some of Tokyo’s finest restaurants, Palace Hotel’s restaurants and bars offer some of the best cuisine in the city. Whether you would prefer to indulge in the French fine dining at Crown, or authentic Japanese cuisine at Wadakura, or modern Chinese gastronomy at Amber Palace, Palace Hotel’s restaurants are sure to hold a spot for every epicure’s heart. The hotel’s four bars reflect the variety of cuisines on offer, from the traditional and classic Royal Bar, chic cocktail Palace Lounge, cozy and cool Lounge Bar Privé, and the exclusive Club lounge.

As if these hedonistic highlights weren’t enough, the Palace Hotel’s evian spa reflects the Alps’ many peaks. From lounges and wet areas, indoor swimming pool and fitness centre, and treatments, the spa aims to focus on restoration and nourishment.

palacehoteltokyo.com

 

Naumi, Singapore

A boutique hotel with a modern luxury twist, Naumi lies in Singapore’s business district and minutes from a multitude of inner-city shopping centres, restaurants, galleries and museums, and entertainment centres.

With its bespoke design and state-of-the-art amenities, ‘personalised’ should be Naumi Hotel’s middle name. Striving to offer both business and leisure guests exactly the stay that they want, Naumi aims to bridge the gap between home and hotel in both design and hospitality.

Designed by the multi-disciplinary studio, White Jacket, the hotel has been awarded Best Interior Design for Suite at the inaugural Asia Hotel Design Awards 2015 for its Andy Warhol-inspired room. Each of Naumi’s 73 guestrooms is a modern take on stylish living where artistic license reigns free. Equipped to give the impression of being a glamorous penthouse apartment, each room has an Apple TV and AirPlay Mirroring, seven-layered bedding in 400 thread-count Egyptian cotton, luxurious bath amenities by Malin+Goetz, high-speed WIFI and Nespresso coffee machine. The details then ensue, depending on which room you choose. From the Habitat room’s warm earthy tones to the Patio room’s (you guessed it) private patio, the Oasis room’s modern black and white theme, the Gabrielle and Camellia room’s Coco Chanel-inspired décor, and–if you are after an outstanding treat–the Andy Warhole-inspired Eden & Nirwana room. The oversized bed takes centre stage, with a large circular bathtub hidden behind a revolving screen, its decadent yet stylish design featured funky shapes, dramatic pops of colour as well as iconic armchair, “La Mamma” by B&B Italia, paired with floor lamp, “Fork” by Diesel Foscarini.

With a motto of “hello business, meet pleasure”, Naumi Hotel’s amenities add to guests’ already bespoke dream. Several fully equipped meeting and event spaces pepper the hotel, with a modern Indian cuisine-focused restaurant called Table by Rang Mahal that serves all-day meals, and a re-designed infinity pool offering spectacular views of the Singapore skyline, called Cloud 9 (of course!).

naumihotel.com