Monocle 100 / City 13 14 The Fleming 1898 The Post Hong Kong Ghent Hotels in Hong Kong’s Wan “When you open a new hotel, Chai district generally come you can’t just do the same thing in two shapes and sizes: big a bit better or a bit cheaper – international chains take care you have to bring a diferent of business travellers while local story.” These may sound like love hotels host other business the words of a man talking – by the hour. In the middle, from experience but Arnaud there’s The Fleming. Zannier, the founder of Zannier Reopened in 2017, the hotel Hotels, only appeared on the has moved its lobby upstairs hospitality scene in 2011. First to make room for a new came venues in the French Alps centrepiece: Italian restaurant and Cambodia and then this, Osteria Marzia. Deep-blue in the Belgian city of Ghent. tiles and fresh seafood displays Yo u ’ l l fi n d 1898 The Post ofer a taste of the Amalfi Coast on the upper floors of a former on Victoria Harbour and an post ofce. The building had introduction to the maritime stood empty from 2001 to theme that runs throughout 2014, at which point developers the hotel. Further nautical nods bought it. After adding shops come from the use of brass and restaurants on the ground and the curved teak door frames floor, they then turned their that give the feeling of being attention to creating a hotel and below deck. called upon a French hotelier Tropical hardwoods and who, having married a Belgian, rattan furniture speak to the had lived in the country for hotel’s Asian location but it’s the more than a decade. visual cues of Hong Kong that “I like to create products or firmly place the hotel in this city. places that will last, not ones Among them is the ubiquitous that are trendy,” says Zannier, bamboo scafolding referenced who also owns a shoe brand. in the exterior lighting and the The result is a moody venue narrow entrance that evokes with characterful duplex rooms, the alleyways between Hong interiors decorated with antique Kong’s walk-up housing. furniture picked out at flea 41 Fleming Road markets, a cocktail bar called ϩ852 3607 2288 The Cobbler (try the Silky thefleming.com Smooth) and a kitchen serving breakfast and afternoon tea. 16 Graslei In numbers ϩ32 9 391 5379 66 bedrooms 1898thepost.com 16-month refit 750 metres from Wan Chai pier In numbers 2017 opened 38 bedrooms 1 beehive 036 037.