Inspired by Southern California’s Pool Clubs and Backyard Parties in the Hollywood Hills
Creating an Immersive Bar Experience with Playful and Chill Social Vibes
Redefining the Design Language and Lifestyle of the City’s Skyline

The highly anticipated Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong has officially opened its doors. As the first Kimpton hotel in Hong Kong and the largest of its kind globally, it redefines the hospitality experience with a bold lifestyle vision that celebrates individuality. The skyline pool bar Swim Club, designed by Steve Leung Hospitality (SLH), a sub-brand of Steve Leung Design Group (SLD), has officially debuted on the 50th floor of Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong.  Inspired by Southern California’s pool clubs and backyard parties in the Hollywood Hills, Swim Club offers an immersive leisure and F&B experience with 270-degree Victoria Harbour views. It brings a stylish and playful social energy to the urban skyline, becoming one of the hotel’s most signature design features.

Led by Heidi Chan, Design Director of SLH, and her team, Swim Club breaks from conventional hotel design to create a new urban retreat — a landmark destination that blends vibrant social energy with a chill, relaxed leisure.  Heidi shared, “We are dedicated to creating an immersive, playful, and leisurely experience. Inspired by the Southern California’s pool clubs and backyard parties in the Hollywood Hills theme, we aim to transport guests from Hong Kong’s urban hustle to the cozy and relaxing vibes of Southern California. The space is designed with inherent versatility, allowing it to be seamlessly transformed to host a wide range of events. We hope guests will have a distinct and surprising experience here — both indoors and outdoors, from daytime to evening — while surrounded by the beautiful views of Victoria Harbour from the 50th floor.”  Upon its debut, Swim Club immediately became a social media sensation and a popular gathering place for international tourists, local elites, and cultural trendsetters.

Furthermore, Swim Club also stands as a signature project under SLD’s new 2025 development strategy of “Rejuvenation, Diversification, and Globalization.” Nicholas Leung, Chief Operation Officer of SLD, stated: “This project is more than just a rooftop bar — Leveraging on the brand’s legacy of exceptional aesthetics, we have integrated a new generational design language. This has diversified our design style while precisely responding to the lifestyle aspirations of a new generation, successfully creating a unique, stylish and vibrant social destination in the sky.”  SLD redefines luxury through human-centric creative designs and everyday life, enabling international guests to fully enjoy the leisure and create more beautiful and lasting memories.

A Playful Dive into American Pool: Where Patterns Meet Visual Harmony

The design of Swim Club boldly incorporates American swimming pool elements and symmetrical patterns throughout its design. The space employs a unified visual language, using colour, materials, and lighting to reinterpret classic pool features— such as pool rings, railings lights at bar — to celebrate connection, visual storytelling, and an immersive atmosphere. The design is adorned with grids, stripes, and symmetrical motifs, with a consistent geometric and “bubbles” visual language running from walls and flooring to furniture and lighting. A cohesive colour palette extends across the entire Swim Club, welcoming guests into a lively, chill & cozy environment that invites them to unwind and immerse themselves in the playful spirit of an escape.

The guest experience begins the moment the elevator doors open. The ceiling of the arrival foyer features an elliptical frame with rippled glass, allowing sunlight to filter through and create the illusion of stepping into a pool. Pale green tiled entrance door frames, terracotta flooring, and signature blue mosaic walls evoke the vibrant palette of vintage aquatic clubs. Bubble-like 3D frames and soft, glowing round lights mimic the effervescence of rising pool bubbles. The interplay of pool-blue and warm wood tones set the tone for a space that feels sporty, relaxed and delightfully nostalgic, reminiscent of a weekend retreat floating above the city.

A Dynamic Social Stage: Where Light Flows and California Unwinds

The interior design is centred around a circular bar, crowned by an overhead structure that resembles a massive vintage parasol. The bespoke handrail-style lighting fixtures at the bar draw inspiration from poolside railings.  Bartenders appear to serve signature cocktails as if they are serving directly “from the pool”, adding a layer of whimsical charm to the experience.

The main dining area showcases a wave-like ceiling composed of curved ceramic tiles that cleverly conceal air-conditioning units.  Above, a sequence of spherical pendant resembles floating buoys on a shimmering pool, evoking the feeling of swimming lanes and creating a playful, stylish ambiance through meticulous details. The lighting and colour scheme can be flexibly adjusted for different events, seamlessly transitioning the space from elegant daytime gatherings to vibrant nighttime parties.

The bar stools, table lamps, and floor lamps custom-designed by SLH for Swim Club are accentuated with three-dimensional circular elements, echoing the overall theme in subtle yet deliberate ways. Rattan materials and touches of greenery come together to build a relaxed and warm atmosphere. Woven rattan chairs, artisanal pendant lights, and wall-mounted rattan decorations harmonize with one another, sketching a scene reminiscent of Southern California leisure. Underfoot, the intricately patterned terracotta flooring further solidifies the social vibe and lively spirit of an American club.

Breathtaking Victoria Harbour Views: A New Leisure Escape

Stepping outside, the Victoria Harbour skyline and the azure pool, reserved exclusively for hotel guests, emerge as another visual anchor of Swim Club. Glass folding doors create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor areas, allowing the space to transform into versatile settings adaptable for various occasions and social needs. Extending the interior design vocabulary, the outdoor area is paved with terracotta and beige-white floor tiles, maintaining a consistent American pool club aesthetic. The cabanas and communal seating by the poolside offer an ideal setting for creating joyful moments with friends and family.

A custom-crafted drink ledge extends along the transparent glass curtain wall, cleverly integrating table lamps into its metal stud framework for a perfect blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal. Here, guests can settle in to overlook the Victoria Harbour skyline while enjoying the laid-back ambiance.

Furthermore, the designers have infused a club-like atmosphere through rich details: custom towel racks, a signature lifeguard chair, red-and-white beach umbrellas, and playful oversized outdoor showers. Specially imported red Igloo coolers from the United States serve not only as practical chilling units but also double as mini-bars beside each sun lounger, recreating a Southern California’s poolside scene and adding a distinctive touch to the leisure experience.

An Exclusive Hidden Surprise for VIP

Secluded within Swim Club, the hidden bar High Dive features an entrance meticulously concealed behind a vending machine. The display items inside the machine can be changed according to different event themes, a design that not only enhances interactive surprise but also gives the space endless creative possibilities for thematic transformation. Guests simply need to press the “Out of Service” button to enter the exclusive VIP space.

Different from the vibrant energy of the main dining area, High Dive’s interior is defined by a deep green colour palette, complemented by wooden shelving, personal collectibles, a vinyl record player, and a dedicated mini cocktail station — all coming together to shape an intimate, refined and highly personalized private venue. The diving-themed wallpaper playfully interacts with the bustling Victoria Harbour view outside, creating a humorous visual tension and enriching the narrative depth of the space. The ceiling’s mirror design produces an illusion of infinite extension, breaking through physical boundaries and inviting guests to experience the space’s profound and multi-dimensional layers.

Swim Club is more than a rooftop bar. It reimagines the concept of a hotel social space by moving beyond traditional formality and embracing the spirit of Southern California’s pool clubs. This immersive environment invites guests to relax, connect, and celebrate. From the moment of arrival to the poolside retreat, from hidden lounges to the smallest design accents, Swim Club presents a cohesive story of redefined leisure, nostalgic charm, and elevated urban escape.