Since The Carlyle Hotel opened its doors in 1930, the New York legacy hotel has remained the epitome of old-time glamour and luxury. Its hallways imbue the spirit of everything the Upper East Side has to offer: classic Golden Age cabaret at Café Carlyle and regular sightings of top-billing celebrities and members of high society. And though separated by oceans, our own vertical city will now experience the same historic opulence at Carlyle & Co, a new private members club sitting on the top floor of the Rosewood Hotel, inspired by tradition and drawn with contemporary flair.
“The Carlyle Hotel is a cultural landmark,” said Rosewood Hotel’s CEO Sonia Cheng, who brought “A Sense of Place” to the hotel group’s operations when she first joined. Now the ethos is extended to the private club as Cheng cements her status as a hospitality magnate in the city with the lavish opening.
Cheng continues, “The Carlyle in New York has a vibrant vibe. It brings together people from every background, from musicians to artists like Woody Allen, who’s been performing at Café Carlyle since 1997.”
Focusing on bringing the diversity of The Carlyle New York to Hong Kong, Cheng reveals that Carlyle & Co. has been 6 years in the making. “I really liked their dynamic and while in the process of designing the Rosewood’s top floors, I thought about bringing an element of the Carlyle to Hong Kong.”
Feeling at once distinctly unique and familiar, in parts due to designer Ilse Crawford of Studioilse’s touch, Carlyle & Co. spans 25,000 sq. ft with the purposes of being a home away from home for patrons. The club’s amenities, which include the restaurant, bar, grooming, and tailoring services as well as Café Carlyle and the private suites are all carefully laid out to demonstrate the feeling of comfort and ease. A mural by Jean Philippe Delhomme and Christina Zimpel echoes the legendary Bemelman’s bar with eight private suites each named after legendary figures from the New York hotel’s history. What’s special about the floor plan is that there’s not only space to socialise but also more private corners should you want to be somewhere more intimate to read a book or enjoy your downtime.
Café Carlyle occupies a special place in Sonia’s heart and particularly its rooftop’s stunning view is what has captured the essence of the hotel for the CEO. There’s no place in Hong Kong quite like the cabaret venue to enjoy Manhattan’s brand of live music and the rooftop is an excellent place where one cannot refuse a bespoke cocktail.
Giving the original spot a modern revision, Carlyle & Co. tailors a variety of experiences and events for its members. From industry strategy sessions, wine tastings, to a wellness program made in collaboration with Asaya, the club is aimed at creating a platform where members can connect and take part in inspiring conversations.
Rosewood Hotels was always intended to be more than just a hotel destination. Sonia was determined the hotel go beyond being a luxurious stay for guests. “Each hotel celebrates a unique identity, exuding the culture and art of its location. If each hotel was the same, guests wouldn’t truly experience the place they travelled to.” Sonia said, explaining that locality isn’t simply displayed in the hotel’s artwork but also in food, beverage and design.
In the world of the new normal, everyone is adjusting to a slower-paced life and allocating priority to health. Within the new normal, Sonia says that Rosewood is committed to being a part of guest’s everyday lifestyle. “Our purpose isn’t to get you to stay longer but to share a part of daily life with guests. The pandemics incentivized many of us to reevaluate our mental and physical health.” Sonia continues, “We want to learn what guests find important to their wellbeing, but simply provide you a massage or manicure.”
A mainstay dining feature of Rosewood has to be the hotel’s afternoon tea set at Butterfly Patisserie, routinely the first choice for locals who are fans of the British tradition. Like a delicate set of jewelry, distilled in the afternoon tea place is a modicum of the hotel’s philosophy: to enhance and become a part of people’s lives.
Editor
Karma CheungCredit
Lead image: Natalie Dunn
