I enjoy the comforts of home – when travelling for extended periods, I prefer to stay in apartments instead of a hotel, where possible. On a recent trip, I opted for a serviced apartment in Hong Kong. If you’re researching where to stay in HK, Sun Hung Kai Property Group’s TOWNPLACE offers flexible apartment rental of one month upwards. Here’s why I thoroughly enjoyed staying at its Soho location, right in the heart of Hong Kong island.
About this serviced apartment in Hong Kong
There are two locations, Kennedy Town and Soho. The latter is in the heart of Hong Kong’s dining and art scene while the former offers waterside living in the north-western tip of the island.
The configurations of this Hong Kong apartment rental range from smart studios to four bedrooms, with options of unfurnished, furnished or serviced. Furnished apartments are fitted by three popular Hong Kong home design brands in different styles.
Each building has co-working and social spaces for work and play. Called Duo Social Space, residents can utilise meeting and function rooms, phone booths, social spaces, a swimming pool, a 24-hour equipped gym, a studio for yoga, stretching and TRX workouts, a a rooftop sundeck and wellness terrace, barbecue facilities, two kitchens and a laundromat. Coffee, tea and water are readily available in these common spaces.
Residents of both properties have access to all facilities of the Duo Social Spaces in both locations.
My 5 favourite things about TOWNPLACE SOHO
#1 Central location – where to stay in Hong Kong
This serviced apartment is conveniently located in the Central district of Hong Kong island. It’s a three-minute walk from Soho, a two-minute walk to Central-Mid Level Escalators and from there, 15 minutes to the IFC mall. Across the street is a route down to the Landmark commercial complex in 10 minutes.
This great location made it easy for me to nip out to IFC for lunch, even during a hectic work day. It was also extremely convenient to return from an evening of drinks at one of the bars in Soho.
#2 Flexible lease apartment options in Hong Kong
With its minimum lease period of one month, the property caters to both short and long term stays from a month up to a year or more. The leases are flexible, which means you aren’t locked into a lease for longer than you want to.
This makes a great option for visitors who are going to be in Hong Kong for a few weeks as well as expats who are settling in for a longer term.
#3 Hi-tech comforts
My serviced apartment had spaces for work, dining and lounging. There was an equipped kitchen space with a large refrigerator and 18-bottle wine chiller, a washer-dryer, storage spaces in every room (including one under the bed that could fit my 75-cm luggage bag), twice-weekly housekeeping, a concierge service and more.
What stood out for me was the smart home feature on the TOWNPLACE app, which is exclusive to ‘TOWNERS’, which refers to residents of both locations. Through it, I could remotely access the air-conditioning and lights of my entire Hong Kong apartment rental. I didn’t have to wait to return to the apartment to turn on the air-con – using the app, I could remotely turn on selected units. Entering an already cooled apartment after an entire day out was very welcome for me. You can also schedule the air-con and lights on to come in at particular times.
Another technological perk was the Bluetooth speaker in the bathroom – my Spotify playlist filled the air as I showered! As I was alone in the apartment, I opened the door so music could be heard in the study and living spaces.
#4 Work-life enjoyment in my serviced apartment Hong Kong
My apartment truly felt like a home away from home.
I worked in the study, which could be transformed into a guest room if needed. A full-size refrigerator and induction stove enabled me to cook simple meals. There was also a microwave and convection oven. A friend came over one evening for wine, which was chilled in the wine chiller. A washer-dryer ensured I had freshly laundered clothes in three hours.
During my free time, I swam in the pool and used both the steam and sauna rooms, too.
#5 Community perks for residents
A favourite part of staying in this serviced apartment in Hong Kong for many will be the sense of community. When you’re new to a neighbourhood in a country, it’s always helpful to know people in the same building or area.
Regular activities are organised by the Community Team for residents. These include fitness and yoga lessons, monthly drink mixers, experiential workshops such as cocktail pairing and make-your-own crystal perfume, and talks by industry experts. The team creates these networking opportunities for TOWNERS to connect and collaborate within the TOWNPLACE community.
During my stay, I went for a mixer at Club Rangoon. This restaurant in the vicinity is owned by an ex-resident of the Soho location. There were regular faces from both locations and they warmly welcomed me. I struck up a friendship with an expat who has been at Soho for two years. We would later go for a junk trip together and we have plans to catch up when she comes to Singapore later this year!
The Community Team of this residential leasing brand for working professionals in Hong Kong creates a friendly atmosphere for residents. Because of this, it was easy to strike up a conversation with other residents when I crossed them in the common spaces or while waiting for the lift.
Residents also enjoy curated privileges and services including exclusive merchant offers from luxury brands, local restaurants and shops in the neighbourhood, among other benefits. During my stay, I enjoyed freshly made, nutritious meals by Nutrition Kitchen delivered daily. I also indulged in my favourite acai smoothie bowl, with a Towner discount at nearby café Blend & Grind.
Final word
This accommodation made my time in the city enjoyable and memorable. While I left wishing the trip was longer, I now know where to stay in Hong Kong next time!
Find out more at townplace.com.hk.
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