The Upper House Hong Kong: Full Luxury Hotel Review
A Review by Ryan Walker
Introduction
About The Upper House
Hotel Concept
- Ultra-luxury hotel in Hong Kong
- Centered around wellness, design, and service
- Unlike anything reviewer has seen before
Accolades
- Recently named #5 hotel in the world by World's 50 Best
- Regularly wins Best in Class by Tatler
Review Format
Scoring System: Out of 50 Points in Five Categories
- Ambiance (10 points)
- Room (10 points)
- Dining (10 points)
- Service (10 points)
- It Factor (10 points)
Disclosure
- Not paid by the hotel
- First-time guest
- Room was ready early for review
Hotel Layout and Structure
Main Lobby
First Impressions
- Small seating area
- Circular check-in desk (never seen before)
- Feels like a boutique hotel despite having decent number of rooms
The "Upward Journey"
Unique Escalator Concept
- Replaces standard lobby elevator found in luxury hotels
- Called "the upward journey"
- Takes you into the Upper House
- You literally can't access any hotel spaces without going on the upward journey
Floor-by-Floor Breakdown
Ground Level:
- Valet entrance
- Lobby with circular check-in desk
- Only option: Go up the escalator
Second Level (Top of Escalator):
- The café
- Lounge area
- Outdoor garden
- Elevator access to guest rooms
Upper Floors:
- Guest rooms
- Gym (in what used to be a guest suite)
- Penthouse
Top Floor:
- Yoga room
- Two restaurants: Salisterra and The Green Room
Across the Street:
- Pacific Place apartments (relevant for wellness activities)
- The Continental restaurant (owned and operated by Upper House)
- Several wellness partner locations
Public Spaces and Amenities
Primary Lounge
Features
- Limited seating
- Small café
- Garden outside
The Gym
Controversial Setup
- Located in former guest suite
- Very cramped, small room
- BUT: Some of the most expensive high-end equipment seen at any hotel
The Question "Why not take some of that money and build an actual gym and then put in standard equipment so there's more space, as opposed to a very high-end gym in a cramped small room?"
Usage
- Has been empty the entire stay
- Reviewer enjoyed branded Upper House high-end, barely used yoga mats and items
Outdoor Garden
Description
- Very small public outdoor space
- Only outdoor space on entire property
- Nice seating, very well designed
- Has turf instead of grass
- Very nice at sunset
Cleanliness Standards
Swire Properties Reputation
- Incredible reputation for impeccably clean and well-maintained hotels
- Clean the glass on outside of building every single day
Small Misses
- Water feature is "pretty filthy"
- A couple things missed
- "Unless you're looking for details and small specifics like I am, you won't notice a thing"
The Wellness Program: 10 Wellness Partners
The Concept
What's Missing Traditionally:
- ❌ No pool
- ❌ No spa
- ❌ Pretty small gym
The Solution: 10 wellness partners that Upper House has partnered with in Hong Kong
- Third-party companies offering wellness and various activations
- Some at Upper House, some across the street
- Upper House structure and amenities blended into these wellness experiences
- Will contribute to the "It Factor" score later
The Location Challenge Swire Properties owns much of the area, so they put wellness partners in apartment complexes across the street
- "Not the most convenient access"
- "A little bit strange, but let's just go with it"
Wellness Partner Reviews
1. Up Health (Chiropractic)
The Experience
- "One of the most incredible experiences"
- Never had a chiropractic treatment like it before
- Back cracks were gentle but still really impactful
- Practitioner worked up a sweat
Best Part They offer complimentary chiropractic work to Upper House staff
Reaction "If the rest of the wellness partners are like that, this is going to be extremely interesting"
2. Good Yoga (Resident In-House Program #1)
Services Offered
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Sound baths
Sound Bath Experience
The Setting: "You enter into a quiet, luxurious space. It is deeply reflective. You are in the most unimposing experience, and the very essence of yoga is a medicine of connection, an opportunity for us to deepen our relationship to ourselves."
The Practice:
- Started with offering sound
- Sound turned into singing bowl
- Then tinctia bell
- Over time brought in more and more instruments
- "Each instrument represents another voice"
- Becomes a "sound journey that connects us to all that was, all that is, and all that will be"
3. Family Form (Intense Workout Program)
The Philosophy "As a guest here, you realize their gym is quite small. There is no actual spa, there's no pool. And so for them as the best hotel in my opinion, it was something they needed to focus on in terms of curating more wellness."
The Workout
- Very hard workout
- Meant to make you feel stronger and more flexible
- Different styles of exercise
- Not all as intense or demanding
- "I don't mind if only like one out of 20 people who try it actually stick to it, because that's really who it's for"
The Experience:
- "Extremely good workout"
- Nonstop continuous movement throughout
- Weighted legs the entire time
- "Everyone in the class is an absolute beast"
- Trying to keep up the whole time
- "If you did this three to five times a week, you don't need anything else"
Sponsor Break: Averon
Why Reviewer Loves It
- Big gamer who loves video games
- Can level up your character
- Get achievements on profile
- Makes working out more fun
The Stats You are 2.5 times more likely to finish an exercise if there's a game tied to it or performance tracking metric
Products
- High-tech game psychology-based rowing machines
- Treadmills
- Bikes
Special Offer: Code RYAN WALKER for $50 off any purchase
4. 10x Longevity (Advanced Wellness Tech)
Location: Same apartment building as other wellness partners
Facilities:
Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber
- Breathe in 97% pure oxygen
- In pressurized chamber environment
- Cardiovascular system sends more oxygen and nutrients to blood cells
- Sleep quality improved
- Increases stem cell production
- "Very cool. I can't even explain it. It's something you just have to do for yourself"
Contrast Therapy
- Cold plunge pool (reviewer loves these)
- Dry sauna
- Circuit: 10 minutes in sauna, then 1-2 minutes in cold plunge
Red Light Therapy (First time trying)
- Very, very bright
- Increases melatonin hormone production (sleep hormone)
- Increases collagen production
- Makes you a little tired
- Rejuvenates skin
5. Functional Nutrition Partner
Service Will literally customize and create an entire meal plan for you while staying at the hotel
The Question "How many hotels do you know offer something like that?"
6. Stone and Star
Offerings
- Tarot and fortune readings
- Handmade jewelry
- Rare stones
- All for sale right at Upper House
Additional Wellness Partners (7-10)
Laser Skin Therapy
- Booked at Upper House
- Takes place across street at apartment complex
Professional Makeup Artist
- Booked at Upper House
- Also at apartment complex
Overall Philosophy "All of these wellness partners really are a comprehensive look at your physical, aesthetic, and internal health"
Location Reality Check
The Walk Back and Forth
The Reality
- You'll be doing this walk quite a lot
- Really in a concrete jungle
- Unlike New York or other major cities
- "Feels a little bit cold and heartless in the area"
What's Nice vs. What's Not
- ✅ Grounds are well manicured
- ✅ Gardening is very beautiful
- ❌ But that's not Upper House - that's just the corporate center Upper House happens to be in
- ❌ Far from favorite location of hotels reviewed
- ❌ Walk is not the most pleasant
Ambiance Score: 7.5/10
The Dilemma
Missing Traditional Luxury Elements:
- No pool
- No spa
- No larger gym
- Fewer restaurants
- Not available at this price point
Strategic Wellness Program:
- ✅ Brought in interesting partners
- ✅ Many treatments were cool, fun, memorable
- ❌ But a lot are in apartment building across street
- ❌ Doesn't feel like it's really part of the hotel
The Question "Does it seem fair to even include that in the ambiance?"
Final Decision: 7.5/10
The Rooms
Room Inventory
Total Breakdown:
- 117 rooms total
- 21 suites
- 2 penthouse suites
Pricing (at time of recording):
- Base room: ~$575 USD per night
- Top penthouse: ~$3,900 USD per night
- "Honestly one of the most reasonably priced penthouses we've seen on this channel"
Reviewer's Stay: Andre Fu Penthouse Suite (will also review base level room)
Base Level Room Review
Design Details in the Hallway
Room Numbers
- Not engraved, etched, or on the wall
- Behind the wall
- Seamless, clean wood paneling with lit-up room numbers behind
- "So well done"
Room Card Access
- Goes right up against wood
- Little area indicating where to put the card
- Opens your door
Philosophy "It's those little elements of luxury and detail that really make this room special, and it's consistent through the room as well"
The View
The Window: "This window and this view, I'm telling you, the camera does not even do it justice"
What You See:
- Mountain in background
- Lush, forest tropical greenery
- Tennis courts interspersed
- Basketball courts
- Little roads weaving through green trees
- "Verdant, so beautiful"
- "One of the most spectacular views ever of any hotel room, base or otherwise"
Sustainability Features
3D Printed Bins
- Recycling bin and trash bin both 3D printed
- "Often don't see recycling in luxury hotels"
- Love that they're considering sustainability
- 3D printing makes it sustainable in itself
- "Doesn't detract from the design of the room at all"
Fun Fact This is the largest base level room in all of Hong Kong
Room Amenities
Coffee Station
- Illy coffee machine
- Hot water kettle
- Nothing too special
The Toaster (Unique Feature)
- Found it very funny and interesting
- On the bottom shelf
- In every single room (base to suite)
- Reason: Want you to feel like it's a home
- Get bread from dinner, come back, refresh it in your room
- "Never seen this before"
- "I think it's a little silly, but it's more symbolic than anything"
The "Maxi Bar" Concept
Replacing the Mini Bar
What's Complimentary:
- All soft drinks
- Waters
- Everything except wine and liquor
- Refreshed every single day
Premium Items Included:
- Large bottles of Evian sparkling water (complimentary)
- Sodas (complimentary)
- Tea (complimentary)
Why "Maxi Bar"? Because it's so much larger than a mini bar
Local Snacks Disappointment
The Critique Been disappointed consistently across Hong Kong with lack of Hong Kong local snacks
Example from Costa Rica:
- Incorporated local snack makers
- Local chocolate makers
- Gave taste of the place
Upper House:
- Only has Blue Diamond almonds
- Trying to be inclusive of international audience
- BUT: "It's like someone from China going to United States and having all Chinese snacks in minibar"
- "Takes away from the fun of being in that place and trying something new"
The Bed (Base Room)
First Impressions
- Large
- Looks comfortable
- Looks inviting
Closer Inspection:
- ❌ Sheets are pretty stiff, pretty starchy
- ❌ Pillows are very firm
- ❌ Doesn't feel like they have a lot of give
Note: Will sleep in Andre Fu Suite bed (same mattress, same sheets, just colored blue - only blue bed in entire hotel)
The Bathroom
Overall Design "This bathroom is so beautifully designed"
- Minimalistic
- Elegant
- Incredible mood lighting
- "You feel calm just being in it"
Features:
- Two mirrors
- Two sinks
- Everything pristine
- Small seating area with rotating mirror
- Lot of closet space
- All wellness amenities needed (yoga mat, cards to order more)
- "Really very thoughtful in how they created and designed the space"
- Almost same size as rest of room (massive for base level)
The Bathtub Area
Favorite Part of Room
Features:
- Major bathtub with a view
- Incredible glass window
- Art with lighting underneath
- Towel rack
- Very spacious
The Assessment "How couldn't it be my favorite part?"
The Shower Test (Three Criteria)
Criteria: Size, Ease of Use, Pressure
1. SIZE: ✅ PASS
- Very spacious
- Seating area
- Small minimalistic shelf
- Plenty of room for rain shower and handheld
2. EASE OF USE: ❌ NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
- Two dials on wall not clearly indicated
- Would be easy to put icons explaining which is handheld vs. rain shower
- Reviewer kept forgetting which is which
- Dial below has heat protector (can't get too hot)
- Doesn't tell you what direction is hot or cold
- "Might just get a shock of being way too cold when you turn on the shower"
3. PRESSURE: ✅ GOOD
- Pretty steady water flow
- Decent pressure
- Good for rain shower
- Not too strong or hard
- Not too soft
- Some spouts in center a little clogged (could use cleaning)
- Overall pressure is great
VERDICT: PASSES SHOWER TEST "Even with that slight confusion with the handles, this does pass the shower test"
Andre Fu Penthouse Suite
The Blue Bed
Unique Features
- Only blue bed in whole hotel
- Only blue bed reviewer has ever slept in on this channel
- Andre Fu's signature color
- They also sell some of his decor in the lobby
Size "Literally humongous" (didn't do full walkthrough due to size)
Room Service Breakfast Order (Service Test Setup)
The Call Ordered for 7:00 AM:
- Eggs Benedict
- Black coffee
Purpose Will check in service segment if:
- Food arrived on time
- Was hot and fresh
- Got the order right
- "I always order the same thing"
Morning After: Bed Review
Sleep Quality Assessment
The Reality "As I thought, this bed actually is not that comfortable"
Specific Issues:
- ❌ Pretty firm
- ❌ Pillows kind of hard
- ❌ Couldn't get them to fit head right
- ❌ Light coming through window despite maybe having blackout curtain
- ❌ "Doesn't feel like it" - still a lot of light comes in
Biggest Issue: Temperature
- Does not go below 70°F in this room
- Reviewer has been setting every hotel to 66°F since Equinox review
- This one doesn't even go down to 66°F
Impact on Score "I think this is going to impact the room score, but it's such an incredible room, the base room and the suite, that it might overpower it"
Room Score: 9/10
What Was Praised
Design Excellence
- Every room category uses same furniture, design, decor
- "Really spectacular"
- Truly incorporates both Hong Kong and Westernized design styles
- Andre Fu did wonderful job
- Excellent feng shui
- Nice Zen to it
- Very peaceful and calm
- Modern integrations don't feel like they're getting in the way or aided like other hotels
What Detracted
Sleep Quality Issues:
- Far from best night of sleep
- Didn't love the sheets
- Bed was firm
- Pillows were pretty firm
- No blackout curtain for light-sensitive sleepers
- Got quite bright early in morning
The Balance "However, those are small considerations compared to the extraordinary views and everything else already mentioned"
Final Score: 9/10
Dining Options
Four Establishments Total
Two Restaurants:
- Salisterra - Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- The Continental - Primarily dinner
Two Cafés:
- Little café in the lobby
- The Green Room - Attached to Salisterra
Overall Assessment "Pretty limited menu across the four of them"
The Tea Room Café
Concept
Menu
- Limited drinks and pastries
- Bring in third-party partners to change regularly
- Customize menu to that partner
- Add fun drinks, different lattes, espressos, matcha
Purpose Perfect spot to grab and go for the day
The Continental (Dinner #1)
Location and Concept
Setting
- In business district surrounding Upper House
- Slightly off-site
- Still managed and owned by Upper House
- European grill menu
The Meal
French Onion Soup (Recommended by staff as most popular)
Presentation:
- Soft egg in middle
- Deconstructed onion soup components underneath
- Comes with small sandwich with truffle paté inside
Review:
- "Smells so good"
- "That is excellent"
- A little biased (loves French onion soup)
- "They have done a beautiful job with this one"
- Not too rich, not too heavy
- "A score right out of the gate for the Continental"
Overall Impression "We may be in Hong Kong, but they have really mastered some European dishes" "I wish you were here to try this"
Risotto
Review:
- Not the flavor expected
- Actually a little bit sour
- Crisps on top are a bit soggy (interesting choice)
The Competition "Salisterra is Mediterranean. It has a little bit of competition here at the Continental"
Salisterra (Dinner #2)
Menu Options
Choices:
- Multi-course menu
- A la carte menu
Style Eclectic mix of Mediterranean dishes
The Meal
Octopus (Signature Dish)
Presentation:
- Comes with olives
- Pomegranate seeds
Review:
- ❌ "Not the biggest fan of this dish"
- Octopus has a "gooiness to it"
- Flavor of octopus itself isn't connecting
- ✅ Really liked pomegranate and olive in center
- ✅ Loved the crisp crunch and sweetness
- "Far from my favorite octopus I've ever had"
Sea Bass (Salt Crust Preparation)
Preparation Process:
- Leave uncooked sea bass in salt crust for half a day
- Soaks up herbs and salt
- Break it tableside
- Bring back to kitchen to cook and plate
- Can see everything in front of you
Review:
- ❌ A little bit dry
- ❌ Partially overcooked
- ✅ Give you different sauces to put on top
- Sauces help with seasoning and dryness
- "Missing something to bring the flavors out and make you remember it"
Dessert (Standout Course)
Description:
- Combination of apple pie with monkey bread
- Fragrant, looks and smells amazing
- Three different sides:
- Cardamom caramel
- Pistachio crumble
- Breadcrumbs
Review:
- "Whoa, that is an incredible combination of flavor"
- "Extraordinarily good"
- "This is a dangerous, dangerous dessert"
- "An exceptionally strong finish here at Salisterra"
- "That dessert brings the entire dining score up a notch, just that dessert"
Dining Score: 7.5/10
The Assessment
Diversity Question "There's a good amount of diversity here with the dining at the Upper House, or so you would think"
The Reality:
- Most meals all feel the same
- Mediterranean, European
- ❌ No Cantonese
- ❌ Nothing that feels like you're in Hong Kong
- ❌ No references to local ingredients (at least that reviewer saw)
Food Quality:
- Unfortunately a little bit subpar overall
- Salt encrusted fish was pretty flavorless
- Most of Continental was okay, nothing too memorable
- A few standouts like the onion soup
Final Assessment "All in all, the dining experience here was good, but nothing memorable"
Final Score: 7.5/10
Service Testing
Breakfast Service Test
Time: 6:58 AM (arrived on time at 7:00 AM)
What Was Ordered:
- Eggs Benedict
- Coffee
The Inspection
Visual Check: "Tell me that doesn't look super fresh"
- Clean plating
- "We've seen a mixture of different ways Eggs Benedict has been made at all these different hotels around the world"
Coffee:
- Comes in heated, almost soup container
- Very small coffee container compared to others
- "Really comes down to how fresh and hot it is"
The Test: Egg Consistency
Fun Fact: "That's why I picked Eggs Benedict for all of my breakfast tests. Because if that egg is hard, that means it's been sitting for a while or it's overcooked"
Result:
- ✅ Egg is perfect
- ✅ "That is a classic Eggs Benedict"
- ✅ "As Eggs Benedict as you can get"
Assessment:
- Food is fresh
- Coffee is hot (albeit a little small)
- "Definitely going to need more than this today"
Next Step "Won't know the official service score until we do something a little more creative in the service test"
The Official Service Test: Private Tea Ceremony
The Concept
Background:
- In Hong Kong, tea is very big part of culture
- Tea served in almost every restaurant (inside and outside Upper House)
The Request: Private tea ceremony in the room tonight (very last minute request)
The Phone Call
The Request: "I have kind of an odd request for you that's a little bit last minute. I was wondering if we could do a tea ceremony, a private tea ceremony in the Andre Fu Suite."
Response:
- Staff will check with team
- Asked how many people
- Just for one person
- "Yes, we can do it for tonight"
- Will set up in Andre Fu Suite
Reviewer's Reaction: "Oh, wonderful. You can do it for tonight."
The Experience
Setup: "Whoa. Wow, he looks so Zen right here" "This is so wonderful. Thank you for doing this so last minute"
The Tea Master (May):
- Explained tea is about "one encounter"
- Tea cake called "Righteousness"
- Tea farmer Mr. Leong spent whole life dedicated to developing most beautiful Choppers from Yunnan
Verdict:
- ✅ "That definitely passed the service test"
- "May is incredible"
- "I just feel grounded, connected"
- "The Upper House really is a special place"
Service Philosophy: Hong Kong Hospitality Standards
The Legacy
Hong Kong's Role
- Set tone and bar for global hospitality for many years
- Many name brand chains started in Hong Kong:
- Rosewood
- Shangri-La
Upper House Ethos
Core Philosophy "At the Upper House, service is so important to the ethos. They want you to feel like you are truly home"
What Was Excellent:
- Very hands-on
- Very thoughtful
- Small team but feel ever present
Service Issues and Concerns
The Circular Check-In Desk
The Critique "Not everything was perfect. That circular desk for check-in just isn't my favorite"
The Reasoning:
- Luxury hotels have used standard check-in desk and concierge for decades (if not centuries)
- "Why would you change something that isn't broken?"
- Circular table made reviewer feel like "intruding on a business meeting first thing checking in"
The "Jack of All Trades" Problem
The Training: All staff have been trained to handle every single thing for a guest:
- Concierge needs
- Room service
- General check-in questions
- Getting things like new room cards
The Challenge: "You don't have segmented service that are specialized in their individual verticals"
- Every staff does everything
- "Jack of all trades is a master of none"
BUT: "However, the service truly still is excellent and the staff is impeccably trained and taken care of at the Upper House"
Staff Stress and Work-Life Balance Concerns
The Dedication "One of the staff said to me during this review that if a guest needed them to transfer blood for them, they would do it. I mean, it is truly that level of care for the people who come into the Upper House"
The Concern: "Service is about so much more than just what they do for you. It's also about how they make you feel"
What Reviewer Observed:
- Got sense of stress from staff
- Trying so hard to please all guests at all times that they themselves feel very stressed
- Many writing reviewer at all hours of day and night
Reviewer's Perspective: "I run a company as well, and it's something that I look for is making sure your staff have time to take breaks, that they have good work-life balance, that they're able to take care of themselves"
- "May be the case here, but I just didn't notice it during my stay"
Additional Service Improvements
Welcome and Check-In Process
- "A little bit clunky"
- "Maybe should be reconsidered"
Welcome Drink
- ❌ No welcome drink
- ✅ But made up for it with lots of welcome amenities in room
Service Score: 8.5/10
Summary:
- Staff are truly some of most kind, hands-on, thoughtful people at any hotel
- ✅ Passed service test (tea ceremony)
- ✅ Passed breakfast test
- ❌ Not a 10 due to staff stress concerns
- ❌ Welcome/check-in process needs work
- ❌ No welcome drink
Final Score: 8.5/10
The It Factor
Definition
What It Measures:
- The special thing that makes you want to keep coming back
- The indescribables
- The feeling you get
- What makes you want to tell friends and family about it
Location Assessment
House Cars
- ✅ Brand new BMWs
- ✅ Will take you anywhere you want to go
Surrounding Area:
- ❌ Not that walkable or interesting
- ❌ Corporate complex with a lot of concrete
- ❌ Really not much to do in the area
- ❌ You probably will have to drive to be somewhere of interest
Value Consideration
At This Price Point: ❌ Not the best value for the money
Comparison:
- Other hotels in area like The Hari: $160 USD per night
- Similar amenities (no pool, no spa, wellness facilities mostly off-site)
- Location already discussed
History and Background
What Makes It Unique:
- Very unique and interesting hotel
- New concept
- Many people come specifically for wellness component
- The minimalism of the hotel
All Considered
Final Score: 7/10
Final Verdict
Overall Score: 39.5/50
Score Breakdown:
- Ambiance: 7.5/10
- Room: 9/10
- Dining: 7.5/10
- Service: 8.5/10
- It Factor: 7/10
Total: 39.5/50
Final Recommendation
Who Should Stay: "I definitely recommend this stay next time you're here in Hong Kong, especially if you're looking for a unique wellness-focused hotel where you leave feeling better than you checked in"
The Experience: A hotel that prioritizes wellness, design, and service over traditional luxury amenities, with innovative wellness partnerships that create memorable experiences even if the traditional hotel elements (pool, spa, multiple restaurants) are absent.