Mira More
By Michael Karlo Lim
WE HIT Hong Kong again in a just a little over a month from Hong Kong Fashion Week, this time for the third installment of Centrestage — Asia’s Fashion Spotlight. As the event by the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council is partnered on the lifestyle level with The Mira Hong Kong, there was no better way to stay the week in style than at this design-driven and fashion-forward hotel.
The very first member property of the Design Hotels network in Hong Kong, The Mira’s sleek and dark structure, overlooks Kowloon Park — a beautiful emerald patch in the concrete heart of Tsim Sha Tsui. Nestled in the boutique-lined shopping district and integrated into the brand’s mall property, the Mira Place, the hotel is a convenient and strategic choice for the fashionable traveler.
Heavily tinted glass doors reveal an all-marble lobby with contemporary sculptures and sculptural details. Hard shine and reflective surfaces recur throughout to appeal to the fashionista’s default Narcissist. As conceptualized by lifestyle guru Colin Cowie and designed by Miami-based interior architect Charles Allem, the property’s futuristic flamboyance oozes out of every corner.
Elevator doors to the rooms open to corridors with mirrored ceilings that evoke Yayoi Kusama’s infinity series. Our Park View room window paints a juxtaposition of the hustle and bustle of Nathan Road below against the manicured greenery across the street. The term ensuite is taken to the hilt with only clear glass walls between the bathroom and the bedroom — visually increasing the size of the considerably large space. A rain shower makes a luxurious alternative to the regular handheld and a separate bathtub the more immersive option. Smart controls allow either watching cable channel shows and pre-programmed movie selections from the 40-inch LCD TV or listening to music all while going about bathroom routines. The choice of privacy is granted by automated drop down blinds. A concealed, mirrored sliding door further closes of the area along with the lavatory and storage from the sleeping space.
The room also features the modernist but timeless accents like Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair, ours in a vibrant red, along with original artwork. Apart from personalized color schemes, it also includes high-tech touches like multiple ambient lighting modes, a smart ‘My Mira’ concierge service button and, on top of complimentary in-room WiFi, a portable “WiFi Buddy” for unlimited on-the-go connectivity around the city. At the end of the day, an ultra-plush King bed invites one to sink into it with even more comfort options from the hotel’s signature Pillow Menu.
We’d lounge all day in our room in The Mira’s extra-fluffy terrycloth bathrobes, but the hotel offers many other enticements at their social spaces. The fad-dieting fashionista may consider a cheat meal or even throw in the towel entirely to the scrumptious offerings at any one of their five dining options. There’s the ingredient-focused contemporary Western cuisine of Whisk and the upscale, modern Cantonese and Chinese delicacies at Michelin-recommended Cuisine Cuisine. An all-day international buffet and an à la carte menu are served at Yamm and original bar bites and signature cocktails at Room One Sports Bar. More bar bites and nightly-themed items are available at the fifth-floor, outdoor courtyard terrace, Vibes, while sweet treats are best enjoyed at the house’s chic café-patisserie, Coco.
The basement ballroom of its predecessor, The Miramar Hotel, has been moved up to the penthouse to literally level up parties and offer stunning park views to guests from its floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Also designed by celebrity party planner Colin Cowie, this upgrade included custom wall-to-wall pile carpeting, LED lighting customizable to twenty-five thousand color combinations, both Wi-Fi and wired internet and state-of-the-art audio-visual rigging including a gargantuan LED wall. Eighteen handcrafted Czech crystal chandeliers hang above the 15,000-square foot, L-shaped, pillarless ballroom. Accommodating up to eight hundred guests in full open form, it may also be customized via mirrored panels for smaller affairs. Business travelers would be equally at home at The Mira with two dedicated and uniquely designed floors.
These rooms feature personalized check-in and check-out, business support, concierge services, exclusive meeting rooms and use of The MiraClub where they can enjoy all-day dining and cocktails.
We somehow were still able to peel ourselves from all that and proceed with our intentions at Centrestage. Time does fly by so fast when you’re having so much fun and especially so when retiring by days end into the proverbial lap of luxury. Working the scene, a highly-charged fashion one at that does take its toll, and we made good of our last night to unwind at the basement MiraSpa.
The award-winning spa concept arrests with the sight of its indoor infinity-edge pool reflecting the starlight fiber-optic ceiling lights. The spa features a separate men’s and women’s heat zones with sauna, steam, whirlpool, showers, waterbed floatation lounges, and spa treatment rooms. A Nail Bar offers mani-pedis as one enjoys a signature selection of fresh juices, smoothies, and health food at the adjacent Spa Lounge Bar. From tips and toes, renowned Hong Kong hair stylists take care of coifs at The Mira Private-i Salon. There’s the state-of-the-art gymnasium, but we couldn’t be bothered for more exertion and took to stewing ourselves in the heated Jacuzzi.
The Mira Hong Kong is a very individualistic hotel providing an aesthetic and service-driven experience for style-savvy, modern travelers. Although all its “touchable technological wizardry” may not clue anyone in on its heritage, traditional Asian hospitality is palpably present and most importantly so.
