Why you should experience The Upper House in Hong Kong, China.
The Upper House is where luxury dissolves into stillness, where minimalist architecture becomes resonant, and where your stay feels like ascending into a sanctuary of quiet, contemplative refinement suspended high above the pulse of Hong Kong.
Perched above the Pacific Place complex in Admiralty, among the most dynamic crossroads between Central's corporate intensity and Wan Chai's cultural energy, The Upper House rises with serene, sculptural calm. Its discreet entrance, tucked into the curvature of Pacific Place, sets the tone: understated, elegant, sophisticated, and intentionally hidden from the noise of the city. Stepping inside feels like walking into a different dimension. The lobby is more art installation than check-in area, curved forms, warm wood, pale stone, soft textiles, graceful light, and atmospheric silence shaping a world entirely removed from Hong Kong's fast-moving rhythm. There's no traditional front desk. Instead, the experience feels like arriving at a private residence curated by a modern architect who understands light, space, and resonant balance with rare mastery. Designed by the late architect André Fu, The Upper House is built on the idea of “quiet luxury”, not decorative, not ostentatious, but soulful, warm, expansive, and almost meditative in its spaciousness. Elevators glide upward through vertical architecture accented by stone, metal, and soft illumination. Corridors curve subtly, leading you upward, inward, and away from anything chaotic. Rooms at The Upper House are among the largest and most beautifully composed in Hong Kong. Expect floor-to-ceiling windows framing panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, the islands beyond, or the rolling, forested greenery of Hong Kong's eastern mountains. Each room feels like a contemporary sanctuary, a poetic blend of warm woods, pale stone, smooth fabrics, sculptural lamps, and minimalist lines that calm the mind. The palette is soft and balanced, creams, sand, warm beige, pale oak, cool gray, and the textures create the feeling of living inside a refined, modern residence. The design philosophy is rooted in physical harmony. Nothing is loud. Nothing is sharp. Nothing is cluttered. The space feels open, intentional, and immensely grounding. Bathrooms are breathtaking, extraordinary in size, light, and resonant presence. Stone floors, deep sculpted soaking tubs positioned beside tall windows, rain showers that feel like warm rainfall, elegant vanities, and soft illumination that turns your nightly routine into a meditative ritual. Bathing here becomes a moment of transcendence: just you, the water, and the skyline glowing beneath you. Suites expand the experience with residential grandeur, spacious living rooms, curated art pieces, custom-made furnishings, walk-in closets, and panoramic vistas that enhance the feeling of floating above the city. Every detail, from the placement of cushions to the scent in the air, is chosen with resonant intention. Dining at The Upper House is best known for atmosphere, artistry, and one of the most breathtaking views in the city. Salisterra, located at the top of the hotel, blends Mediterranean flavors with refined culinary technique. The dining room is bathed in soft light, warm earth tones, sculptural forms, curving banquettes, and a horizon line that stretches across Hong Kong Island in sweeping, cinematic fashion.
What you should know about The Upper House.
The Upper House occupies land and architecture shaped by multiple eras of Hong Kong's urban evolution, corporate modernism, luxury reinvention, and the intersection of design innovation with cultural heritage.
Before The Upper House existed, the Pacific Place district was part of a hillside area once filled with military installations, colonial-era administrative buildings, and natural slopes stretching toward Victoria Peak. The land surrounding the site shifted dramatically throughout the 20th century. Admiralty itself originated as a British military zone, separating the commercial districts of Central and Wan Chai. A lesser-known detail: the site beneath The Upper House was part of a former British naval and supply compound before being redeveloped into what is now Pacific Place. In the 1980s, Swire Properties undertook one of the largest and most influential urban redevelopment projects in Hong Kong: transforming the old military hillside into the modern Pacific Place complex. Offices, residences, hotels, retail spaces, and landscaped walkways replaced barracks and warehouses. The building that now houses The Upper House originally opened as the former JW Marriott annex, a functional part of Pacific Place's hospitality footprint. When Swire re-envisioned its luxury portfolio, the annex was stripped to its architectural bones and reimagined as an entirely new property, one that would defy the conventions of Hong Kong high-rise hotels. André Fu, then a young rising star in interior architecture, was chosen to create what became The Upper House. His design was groundbreaking, minimalist yet warm, architectural yet resonant, spacious yet intimate. The hotel's internal staircase, now its signature artistic element, was inspired by the concept of “a journey upward”, symbolizing elevation, transformation, and a mental release from the density of Hong Kong below. During reconstruction, teams uncovered remnants of older Pacific Place infrastructure and hillside reinforcement layers from previous decades, underscoring how dramatically the area had transformed from military land to one of Hong Kong's most prestigious developments. Today, The Upper House stands at the intersection of these histories, a luxury sanctuary built atop land once used for military logistics, reshaped through modern architecture, and transformed by contemporary design into a place of resonant refuge.
How to fold The Upper House into your trip.
The Upper House becomes your sky-level sanctuary, where mornings begin in golden silence, afternoons drift into cultural immersion and green escapes, and evenings settle into intimate skyline reverie.
Start the morning with breakfast at Salisterra, where early light washes across the harbor and the hills, transforming the dining room into a soft panorama of color. Enjoy fresh pastries, fragrant dishes, and a sense of quiet that sets a calm foundation for your day. Step outside into Pacific Place and stroll through the Mall's polished corridors before walking toward Hong Kong Park, a tranquil oasis of ponds, aviaries, waterfalls, and lush greenery just minutes from the hotel. Continue toward the Peak Tram for a classic ascent, or explore the boutiques and galleries in nearby Wan Chai. Midday, return to your room for a moment of stillness, open the curtains, sit by the window, and let the skyline become your companion. Run a warm bath, steep tea, or stretch out with a book on the plush seating while the city hums softly below. In the afternoon, enjoy a wellness session or simply relax on The Lawn, surrounded by greenery and sky. When evening arrives, dress for a cocktail at Salisterra's bar, harbor reflections glittering as dusk settles, and savor a Mediterranean-inspired dinner with a view that feels cinematic. After dinner, walk the illuminated walkways of Pacific Place or take a short ride to the waterfront promenade to watch Hong Kong's skyline pulse in neon. Return to your room, dim the lights, and let the quiet, warm space hold you in complete serenity.
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