Long after Pride Month’s rainbow banners are put away each year, SLH keeps the celebration of the queer community alive. Discover just some of its many inclusive luxury sanctuaries dotted throughout Asia, where travellers can discover best of the local scene right from the doorstep
A proud supporter of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, SLH opens its doors to all, no matter who they are, who they love or how they identify. Whichever hotel they choose from SLH’s curated portfolio, queer travellers can embrace safe, respectful – and always independent – destinations around the world, with inclusivity seamlessly woven into every stay. Though each destination is utterly unique, all are united in a shared vision to honour the richness of diversity.
Planning a trip to Asia or Australia? Choose from our hand-picked list of distinctive boutique hotels, each thoughtfully chosen to welcome all travellers with charm, character and a true sense of belonging.
Lanson Place Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Elevating Hong Kong’s electric verve with Parisian poise, Lanson Place Causeway Bay is a boutique retreat that slows things down in a city that is always ‘on’. Styled by legendary designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, interiors balance East and West with gloriously unpretentious sophistication. Don’t miss the delights of Salon Lanson, an all-day bistro-turned-chic-nightspot that shapeshifts from café au lait to cocktail hour with finesse.
The magic doesn’t end at the marble threshold. Step out and Hong Kong unfurls — from the Noonday Gun ritual to the ancient calm of Tin Hau Temple. Stroll through Victoria Park for a meditative reprieve or dive headlong into Causeway Bay’s kinetic markets. As one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan and culturally diverse metropolises, Hong Kong is home to a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, from rainbow-friendly bars in Sheung Wan to underground art collectives and queer-owned businesses.
Beyond the scene, Hong Kong is a playground for the independently minded. Spend mornings soaking up serenity on outlying islands, afternoons gallery-hopping in Wong Chuk Hang and evenings sipping craft cocktails high above Victoria Harbour.
Cuvée J2 Hôtel Osaka by Onko Chishin, Japan
While Osaka is famed for its neon buzz and boisterous energy, tucked away in the stylish Shinsaibashi district is a hotel that fizzes with quiet sophistication. Cuvée J2 Hôtel Osaka by Onko Chishin is a Champagne-themed hideaway, where each sleek, minimalist suite is dedicated to a legendary Champagne house. A single suite per floor allows space and privacy to reign supreme, set off by panoramic city views. This is the sort of accommodation where you find yourself sipping a rare vintage in a plush robe at 11am, just because. Downstairs, an omakase-style sushi experience awaits, juxtaposing French decadence with Japanese precision.
Cuvée J2 is perfectly placed for curious travellers looking to dive into Osaka’s vibrant cultural cocktail, with Osaka Castle, Dotonbori’s iconic lights and countless izakaya, boutiques and temples all within easy reach. A place of wit, warmth and down-to-earth openness, in Osaka, queerness doesn’t need to be wrapped in spectacle to be celebrated. You’ll find it in the knowing smile of a bartender in a hidden gay kissaten (tea-drinking shop), or in the riot of colours at Doyama — Osaka’s compact but characterful queer district, where karaoke echoes late into the night. It’s also in the fearless food scene, where takoyaki (octopus-stuffed batter balls) are eaten piping hot on the sidewalk and strangers become friends over steaming bowls of ramen.
Oriental Residence Bangkok, Thailand
Oriental Residence Bangkok is easily one of the Thai capital’s best-kept secrets. A haven of calm just moments from Bangkok’s high-octane buzz, this polished pied-à-terre fuses refined European elegance with Thai graciousness. Suites are sun-drenched sanctuaries with endless city views, while the cabana-fringed rooftop pool is made for languid laps and posing. Café Claire serves up French comfort classics with panache, while chic, clubby Oriental Bar adds just the right amount of sparkle to your evenings.
The hotel is a stone’s throw from Lumphini Park and Bangkok’s standout retail enclaves, inviting you to play flâneur by day and connoisseur by night. Shop ’til you drop at Siam Paragon, before hopping on the Skytrain for a culinary pilgrimage through Bangkok’s famed street food stalls.
Bangkok doesn’t just welcome LGBTQIA2S+ travellers — it dances with them ‘til sunrise. Self-expression is celebrated with sequins, sass and a splash of SangSom whisky. Whether you’re bar-hopping in rainbow-soaked Silom (Sois 2 and 4 are where it’s at) or catching the long-honed act of Thai drag queen cabaret, Bangkok delivers with charm — and just the right amount of chaos.
Marasca Samui, Thailand
Marasca Samui serves up barefoot bliss with a splash of style. Set along Chaweng’s shimmering shoreline — Koh Samui’s most energetic stretch of coast — this polished yet playful resort invites you to kick off your shoes and let the soundtrack of swaying palms lull you to island time. Every inch of Marasca is conjured to balance indulgence with informality, from supersized beds scented with essential oils to ocean-view suites with private plunge pools and standalone tubs. World-class wellness encompasses Thai massages, beachfront yoga and treatments at the tranquil spa. Fancy a post-swim spritz or snack? The Cabanas Koh Samui Beach Club answers with fabulous food, live performances and a social scene as vibrant as a Thai sunset.
What’s more, Chaweng’s kaleidoscopic nightlife is a short stroll away — a nightly celebration of flamboyance that will make all your White Lotus fantasies come true. Queer watering holes like Pride Bar (pridebarsamui.com) come alive with cabaret, cocktails and much more besides.
This lush Thai island may be small in size, but it’s big on heart, with a culture of welcome inspired by the quintessential Thai attitude of ‘mai pen rai’, meaning acceptance, respect and celebrating differences.
Islington Hotel, Tasmania, Australia
In the leafy enclave of South Hobart, Islington Hotel blends Regency elegance with contemporary Tasmanian flair. This intimate address whispers of another era, its interiors layered with rare antiques and objets d’art curated not for ostentation, but for conversation. The 11 rooms complement period details with bespoke beds, rich textiles and marble-clad bathrooms. Meanwhile, the glass-walled Conservatory Restaurant offers a front-row seat to Mount Wellington’s ever-changing moods, paired with seasonal plates sourced from Tasmania’s rich larder. Stroll through heritage hotel gardens scented with eucalyptus onto sun-drenched terraces that give way to adventure — be it wild east-coast beaches or the mountain trails beyond.
With some of the most progressive LGBTQIA2S+ rights in the country, Tasmania is a compelling destination for queer travellers. For the culturally curious, Hobart offers a rich layering of story and soul. For example, the Museum of Old and New Art (mona.net.au) has become a pilgrimage site for the avant-garde, exploring sexuality, identity and rebellion through art.
Beyond the subversive, there’s a slower, quieter Tasmania to discover, where freedom is found in the painterly light, wind-whipped coastlines and conversations with ever-welcoming islanders.
Latest stories
Savouring the joy of Greek summers on the island of Crete
An immersive Greek getaway uncovers the enduring allure of Crete, an ancient, sun-dappled island in the southern Aegean, where mythic vistas, homegrown gastronomy and traditional crafts still shape everyday life. The feeling that the sea has been waiting for me grows stronger as I round the final bend on the
A look at the most inclusive boutique hotels for Pride Month
Long after Pride Month’s rainbow banners are put away each year, SLH keeps the celebration of the queer community alive. Discover just some of its many inclusive luxury sanctuaries dotted throughout Asia, where travellers can discover best of the local scene right from the doorstep A proud supporter of the
Independent Minds: Amelie and Dominik Posch, eriro
On the slopes of the remote Ehrwalder Alm, some 1,550 metres into the clouds, eriro has just nine rooms for those seeking a quiet refuge from the noise and pace of city life. Encouraging guests to do less rather than more, the hotel offers an opportunity to reconnect with themselves
Our top boutique stays for June
From a baroque waterfront retreat on Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor to a design-led hideaway in Goa and an alpine sanctuary overlooking Lake Tegernsee, these are the hotels we’d like to check into this June
