Napping is a serious matter for some in Hong Kong, but finding a tranquil space is hard in the expensive and cramped city. Some enterprising companies are now taking steps to make a quick snooze their business.
Time to take a nap. An ergonomically designed recliner, calming music, soft lighting, and a soothing scent. This is a tranquil home away from home in the bustling city.
Taking a nap here is a fantastic experience. Its just like having a rest in an airport VIP room. Now I feel refreshed and ready to go back to work.
The Nap Lounge is a new lunchtime haven for hangover sufferers. Bleary-eyed professionals can come to take a rest in the middle of a hectic day.
They can reserve a cabin for a 15-minute power nap at about HKD40, or book for a more refreshing one-hour recharge which costs around HKD 100 .
There are slippers, eye-masks, magazines and free Wi-Fi in the room. Coffee and snacks are also available for when customers wake up.
"We locate three shops in very busy commercial districts. So for the business people or the travelling business people or executives nearby, they can come to enjoy like an hour relaxing time.We are setting up a trend, and letting people know the benefit of taking a nap in the afternoon time. People can improve productivity when they get back to work," David Lau, general manager with Nap Lounge said.
A recent survey showed that people in Hong Kong work the most overtime in Asia.
Nineteen per cent of workers put in an extra six to eight hours a week, while 20 per cent work an extra four to six.
Many people in Hong Kong don't make a habit of napping, but for some it's rather important. After all, a 30-minute rest can make all the difference to how the rest of the day goes.
If you want to take a break in a more casual way, you can do that too, with hammocks in place of beds...meaning you can literally hang out and rest
Chillazy, another fashionable place to chillax, is growing in popularity among young people.
It costs HKD 60 for the first hour on work days, and additional half hours are charged at HKD15. If you pay the rate for a 3-hour session, you can stay as long as you like.
It's an oasis in one of the city's busiest industrial areas.
"Hammocks are good for your back, the swinging motion can make you easier to fall asleep. Just like mom hold a baby, you swing the baby. So we find it's really interesting and special... So young generation can accept this new thinking. We got some social workers, some nurses, insurance salesmen. They have flexible working hours," Chillazy co-founder Kevin Lee said.
Paying to take a nap is a new concept in Hong Kong, but more and more people are embracing the idea. While it's enjoying a boom in popularity now, it remains to be seen whether paying to nap will become big business in the eternally busy metropolis.
