Hotel Review: Silks Club Kaohsiung (晶英酒店)

Silks Club Kaohsiung opened in August 2017 as the first hotel of Yui-mom Group, a Kaohsiung-based building contractor. The property also comes under the wing of Regent Hotels with this being their first Silks Club branded hotel. Compared to the chain’s other brands, Silks Club is more exclusive with a luxury boutique and design-oriented proposition. During a recent trip to Kaohsiung, I managed to check out the Silks Club for a night.

Kaohsiung is experiencing a bit of renaissance as of late, diversifying its image to incorporate more art and culture into what is traditionally known as a heavily industrial city. I witnessed this transformation myself after coming back to the Southern Taiwanese city after more than a decade. So much has changed.

Silks Club is located right in the heart of Kaohsiung’s commercial district, with the city’s iconic 85 Sky Tower, Xingzhong Night Market and several department stores being just a short walk away.

Entering the hotel for the first time, I was immediately greeted by a zen-like ambiance that I could only find in Japan. The property is notable for being the only hotel in the world to have a “Dancing Particles” 4D kinetic installation which can be programmed to create motion art sculptures. A similar one can be found in Singapore’s Changi Airport Terminal 1. Silks Club’s installation has a show that occurs on the hour every hour. Benches are placed right by the lobby for guests to enjoy the spectacle.

Room

The rooms carry a relatively simple but no less luxurious design. For this particular property, what impressed me is not the over-the-top furnishings but actually the details and the timeless nature of the interiors. Silks Club has 147 rooms and due to the layout of the building, even the rooms within the same category don’t look alike. For this particular stay, I was billeted at one of the Premier King rooms – the entry level room. At 60 square meters, it was a spacious affair with its own living space replete with sofa and coffee table.

I really liked the light wooden colors of North American Oak which creates a timeless and minimalist atmosphere. Think of it as something like a Muji apartment but with an artistic flair. When I checked in, the hotel staff was quick to point out that each room comes with an artwork done by local Taiwanese artists and indeed, my room came with a sketch of Kaohsiung’s harbor and skyline.

A Sony Bravia TV and Bose Sound System (including a portable Bose Soundlink speakers) round up the entertainment hardware while fluffy Falomo mattresses are used for the bed. The hotel’s airconditioning system is a first for Taiwan’s hospitality industry. It comes with ozone generators. I don’t know exactly what that does but it sounds fancy.

There is a distinct Japanese vibe to the room, not least due to its minimalist nature but also with in room amenities such as the authentic tea set that look similar to those found in Park Hyatt Tokyo or in hotels in Kyoto.  Of note is the complimentary minibar which includes a plethora of beverages, the star being a small bottle of Dassai 23 sake. A 720ml bottle of this easily costs over $100 in Singapore.

The bathroom is equally luxurious. With its alluring marble walls, it’s the type of place you would actually want to spend some time in. It’s also highly spacious as it spans the whole length of the room, with a his and hers sink and a standalone tub from Kohler right at the end. It kind of reminded me of the Studio Suite at W Bangkok.

Toiletries are from Damana, my first time to encounter this brand. A quick search shows that it comes from France. The hotel has a focus on sustainability and the packaging for the dental kits, razors and combs are actually made from biodegradable sources. There’s as little plastic as possible as they prefer the use of paper instead.

Facilities

As a highly exclusive hotel, I never found the facilities crowded during my stay. Silks Club has a wellness floor housing the swimming pool and jacuzzi. During the two times I used these facilities, I did not have to share space with anyone else.

Most of the public areas are “instagrammable” affairs – with plenty of opportunities to look like an influencer, whether it be at the corridors or at the pool.

Club Lounge

All guests at Silks Club get to use the club lounge which is located at one of the upper floors. Service includes evening cocktails and breakfast. I dropped by during the evening to see what they had on offer. Food was mainly canape style. The small cakes were delicious. There is also a charcuterie where a large slab of Iberico ham waits to be devoured. While it’s not enough for a light dinner, the meticulous preparation was apparent and the wonderful ambiance around the lounge served to heighten the cocktail experience.

Staff members were  on the ball and took the initiative to ask for drink orders. Guests can basically order anything from the drinks menu during the duration of cocktail hours.

What also surprised me during my time at Silks Club was how knowledgeable staff members were. Those I bumped into randomly took the time and effort to explain the art works found in their surrounding areas (and there were plenty). Not many new hotels are able to equip their staff with specialized knowledge so kudos to Silks Club for prepping their employees well.

Verdict

Silks Club is perhaps the most exciting hotel to have opened in the southern portion of Taiwan as of late. While there is certainly no shortage of hotels in this part of the island, few come with such a well thought out proposition. There are plenty of elements that sets it apart from the competition and the design, service and facilities all attest to this. The exceptional air of sophistication surrounding the property is a first in Kaohsiung. Put this hotel in a leading tourist mecca such as Taipei, Tokyo or even Hong Kong and it won’t look out of place there.

Silks Club Kaohsiung
199 Zhongshan 2nd Road
Kaoshiung, Taiwan

+886 7 973 0189