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• The Salisbury – YMCA
With its million dollars location at the tip of Tsim sha Tsui, next to the legendary Peninsula, and its excellent variety of facilities and amenities, The Salisbury possibly provides the best value-for-money accommodation you can find in Hong Kong.
All the Guestrooms are tastefully designed, reasonably spacious and properly equipped with most of the necessities. Harbor view rooms provide a stunning view of the harbor and the Hong Kong skyline and are warmly recommended, although they cost slightly more than the standard rooms.
Facilities include a great indoors swimming pool, Children’s pool, Jacuzzi and Sauna, Well equipped gym, Squash courts, sport facilities, Business center, Hair salon and more…
The rate for a standard double room starts at around HK$ 800 per room per night.
• Bishop Lei International House
This beautiful hotel is a great value for money. Owned and operated by the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, it is located in the high-class residential area of Mid-levels, a short walking distance from Lan Kwai Fong, SoHo, the escalator and other city-centre attractions.
All rooms are nicely appointed and equipped, and although they are relatively small, they are still comfortable… not to mention that some of them offer unmatched views that really compensate for the size.
The hotel facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, Gym, open terrace café and restaurant.
Standard room with ensuite bath starts at around HK$ 650 – 670 per room per night (depends on season).
• Ramada Hong Kong Hotel
The Ramada Hong Kong Hotel is located at the Western District of Hong Kong Island, overlooking Victoria Harbor.
It is not within walking distance to any of the city’s shopping and entertainment districts, (neither is it close to a MTR station) but the tramway is just outside and the hotel provides free shuttle service, so getting to Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay or Tsim Sha Tsui should not be a problem…
All the guest rooms are designed beautifully in soft beige and brown colors, and furnished with a marble-fitted bathroom. Many of them offer beautiful harbor-views and they are all well-equipped with the whole array of amenities…
Facilities include the Spa on the 3rd floor, Gym, Business center, free shuttles to Central and more… There is no swimming pool.
The rate for a standard double room with ensuite bath can start from as low as HK$ 500 per room per night.
• Stanford Hillview Hotel
The Stanford Hillview is an excellent value hotel, with a perfect location, helpful staff, lovely rooms and well maintained property.
Located right next to Knutsford Terrace, Tsim sha Tsui’s popular dining and entertainment stretch, it is a short walk from almost everywhere…
Although the hotel’s 177 rooms are certainly not big, they are comfortable and nicely decked out, and they feature most of the facilities you would expect to find.
The rate for a standard double room with ensuite bath can start from as low as HK$ 800 per room per night (depends on season).
• Hotel Jen
This relatively new hotel offers fantastic accommodation at very reasonable prices.
Located on the western side of Sheung Wan, surrounded by old style streets with traditional shops and restaurants, the hotel is not within short walking distance to Central, Wanchai or Causeway Bay, but there is plenty of public transport nearby, so getting around is a breeze.
The rooms are just beautiful, with a chic and contemporary design that features hues of white and cream, and light wood parquet… In terms of facilities, they are all properly equipped with LCD TV, ensuite bath and shower, Coffee & tea making set, wired and wireless internet connection, personal safe and more…
Their “Jen rooms” also enjoy beautiful harbor and mountain views.
Hotel facilities include a lovely rooftop swimming pool with beautiful views, as well as a 24 hours gym and some business facilities.
The rate for a standard double room with ensuite bath can start from as low as HK$ 800 per room per night.
• Butterfly on Prat
This newly opened boutique-style hotel seems to be one of the hottest things on Hong Kong’s hotel scene, and that is no surprise really, as it gives a very good “bang for the buck”.
Located on Prat Avenue, right in the heart of Tsim sha Tsui’s shopping and dinning district, and within a short walking distance to many attractions, the hotel boasts very modern rooms that are properly equipped with LCD TV, DVD player, Coffee & Tea set, microwave, small fridge, safe and some nice bathroom amenities…
The rate for a superior double room with ensuite bathroom can start from as low as HK$ 550 per room per night, which is really a bargain!
For more information about Hong Kong, including hotel details, some great day trip ideas, a comprehensive Restaurant & Nightlife Guide, shopping tips and suggested city-walks: visit Metropolasia – Hong Kong’s online travel guide where all the information you need is compiled in one easy-to-use website.
Roni Shwartz is a certified travel consultant and an expert on Hong Kong and Macau. He writes for Metropolasia
The cuisines of China (particularly the Cantonese) are dominating Hong Kong’s culinary scene, and that is no surprise, as most Hong Kongers are of Cantonese origin. Alongside the Chinese cuisines, you will find many restaurants specializing in other Far East cuisines, such as Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian and others… European and British influence can also be found, as Hong Kong was a British colony for more than 150 years.
Moreover, it can be said that during the years Hong Kong developed its own unique cuisine that combines Cantonese cooking with other elements…
Yum cha (“drinking tea”) is an integral part of Hong Kong’s culinary culture.
This Cantonese term refers to the custom of eating small servings of different foods, mainly dim sum, while sipping Chinese tea.
Dim sum is probably Hong Kong’s most popular dish. It literally translates to “touch the heart”, which means “take what your heart picks” (that is because of the great variety you can choose from…)
Dim sum is typically served as a light meal or brunch that consists of various types of steamed buns, dumplings and rice-rolls, containing a range of fillings, including beef, chicken, pork, prawns and vegetarian options…
It is normally eaten some time from morning to early afternoon and usually served with Chinese tea.
Visiting a traditional Hong Kong style teahouse for Yum Cha is strongly recommended.
Another true “Hong Kong institution” is the Cha Chaan Teng: A casual restaurant which can be described as a hybrid between a Chinese teahouse and a café… Those places are normally open from morning till evening and serve a variety of local favorites… from Hong Kong style toasts and milk tea to rice and noodle specialties.
The Cantonese cuisine comes from the area around the city of Guangzhou (Canton), in Guangdong Province, just a short drive from Hong Kong.
Of the different Chinese cuisines, Cantonese is the most popular outside China, probably thanks to the fact that it is not as spicy as some of its “counterparts”…
Great diversity of ingredients is, perhaps, what characterizes the Cantonese cuisine more than anything else… The Cantonese cuisine makes use of almost every ingredient under the sun and as the famous Chinese saying goes “The Cantonese will eat everything that swims except the boat, everything that flies except the airplane, and everything that runs except the car”…
The Cantonese cuisine is also characterized by the use of very mild and simple spices in combination. Ginger, spring onion, sugar, salt, soy sauce, rice wine, corn starch and oil are sufficient for most Cantonese cooking, although garlic is also used abundantly.
Steaming, stir frying and deep frying seem to be the most popular cooking methods in Cantonese restaurants due to the short cooking time, and the philosophy of bringing out the flavor of the freshest ingredients.
Other than the ultimate Dim sum, recommended Cantonese dishes include Sweet and sour fish, Fried Garoupa fish, Deep-fried crispy chicken, Crispy pig belly, Roast Suckling Pig And, of course… the costly Braised Shark’s fin and Abalone
The Chiu Chow (Teochew) cuisine comes from Chiuchow (now called ‘Chaozhou’), a city in China’s Guangdong Province, not far from Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Expectedly, this cooking style is very similar to Cantonese cuisine, although Chiuchow cuisine does maintain a certain degree of culinary independence…
Poached cold crab, Baby oyster with omelets, Chiu Chow style roast duck and Chiu Chow soya goose are some of the recommended dishes.
The Sichuan (Szechwan) cuisine originates from Sichuan Province in southwestern China and has an international reputation for being hot and spicy.
The most common ingredient is the Sichuan peppercorn, or Fagara: An indigenous plant whose peppercorns produce a fragrant, numbing, almost citrusy spice. Other common spices include Chilli, Ginger, Star anise, Fennel seed, Coriander, Chili bean paste, Garlic and Spicy herbs.
Common cooking methods include smoking, stir frying, braising and simmering, which allow peppers and aromatic seasonings time to infuse food with unforgettable tastes and aromas
Famous Sichuan dishes include Sichuan style dan-dan noodle, Pork slices in a garlic sauce with a hint of chili, Braised beef in Szechwan pepper sauce, Kung Pao chicken, Ma Por tofu and Twice Cooked Pork.
Peking/Beijing (Mandarin) cuisine originates from China’s capital city.
It developed over the centuries by thousands of skilled cooks from China’s different regions, who flocked to the “big city” to work for royal families and wealthy government officials.
Peking duck is, by far, the most popular Pekingese dish, and it is mostly prized for its thin and crispy skin. Other famous dishes of the Peking cuisine include Hot and sour soup, as well as Sautéed sliced beef with scallion and Drunken pigeon.
The Shanghainese cuisine originates from coastal provinces around the city of Shanghai and is characterized by the use of alcohol. Fish, eel, crab and chicken are “drunken” with spirits and usually served raw.
Salted meats and preserved vegetables are also commonly used to spice up the dish. Another “secret ingredient” of the Shanghainese cuisine is sugar…
Sweet and sour spare ribs, Beggar’s Chicken, Shanghai hairy crab, “eight treasure” duck, “drunken” chicken, braised eel and yellow fish are the most popular dishes…
Contemporary fusion cuisine has made it big in Hong Kong over the last few years… The city’s chefs keep on coming up with innovative culinary creations that combine China’s different cooking styles with those of other regions, and the results are surprisingly delicious.
Japanese, Indian, Korean and Southeast Asian restaurants are very popular in Hong Kong and are well worth considering, especially if you are tired of Chinese food but still want to try something “authentic”.
For more information about Hong Kong, including hotel details, some great day trip ideas, a comprehensive Restaurant & Nightlife Guide, shopping tips and suggested city-walks: visit Metropolasia – Hong Kong’s online travel guide, where all the information you need is compiled in one easy-to-use website.
Roni Shwartz is a certified travel consultant and an expert on Hong Kong and Macau. He writes for Metropolasia
Hong Kong’s numerous eating places are catering for every taste and budget: From über-swanky gourmet restaurants, where the world’s rich and famous have their luxurious dinners of Fois gras and truffles, to authentic “Dai pai dong” stalls and simple “Cha Chaan Teng” eateries where delicious Cantonese fare can be enjoyedâ¦
1) The VIP room – Yung Kee
This seventy years old “culinary institution” has made an international name for itself thanks to its legendary Roast goose, which some say is the best in Hong Kong, if not in the whole world… However, the restaurant itself is not what I want to tell you about, and I would have probably not included it in the Hong Kong top 10 restaurants list, if it was not for its VIP room.
Those of you who really want to enjoy a sensational dining experience, should book in advance for the 4th floor VIP room or the Yung’s club on the 8th floor. It’s somewhat more expensive but the food and the ambience justify the price⦠Superb Cantonese cuisine at its best.
Yung Kee is located on 32-40 Wellington Street, Central (Phone: 2522 1624)
2) Da Ping Huo
This small and intimate private kitchen restaurant serves fabulous Szechwan cuisine in a very nice atmosphere. It’s owned by a couple of artists: The husband is responsible for the interior décor and the paintings, while the wife is in charge of the lovely food and the after-dinner performance.
Food is hands down delicious and, as expected, is quite spicy and flavorful… The chef brings most spices and herbs directly from Sichuan and the results are fantastic. You need to book well in advance.
49 Hollywood Road, SoHo (Phone: 2559 1317)
3) Yellow door kitchen
Alongside, Da Ping Huo, Yellow Door Kitchen is one of Hong Kong’s best private-kitchen restaurants, serving fantastic Sichuan and Shanghainese food in pleasant surroundings.
This small and highly praised restaurant is known for the top quality ingredients it uses, as well as for its chef’s dedication, both of which result in some excellent food… Recommended dishes include: Deep-fried eel with sweet & sour sauce, Shanghai style “Eight Treasures Duck”, Sautéed fish fillet with pepper & leek, Sichuan style Tofu, Sichuan style dan-dan noodle and  Meat dumplings with spicy Sichuan sauce.
Prices are not too bad: Especially if you order their set-dinner, which gives you the opportunity to try different things.
6/F, Cheung Hing Commercial Building, 37 Cochrane Street, SoHo (Phone: 2858 6555)
4) Tim’s Kitchen
This small private-kitchen restaurant has made an international name for itself (including a Michelin award), mainly because of the superior ingredients it uses and the chef insistence on cooking the classical Cantonese dishes, even if that means a lot of preparations…
The focus is given to seafood but there are also some outstandingly good chicken specialties and, as in many private-kitchen establishments, you should book a few days in advance and discuss your order with the chef-owner.
93 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan (Phone: 2543 5919)
5) Caprice, Four Seasons Hotel
Caprice is one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious and sought after restaurants.
Located within the sumptuous Four Seasons hotel, the restaurant offers an unbeatable combination of beautiful décor, gorgeous harbor views, lovely atmosphere and, above all, Superb French cuisine, with a lighter touch…
This unsurpassed dinning experience is complemented by an impressive wine list (predominantly French wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy)
Level 6, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Central
6) Restaurant Petrus
Restaurant Petrus is one of Hong Kong’s best hotel restaurants and an internationally-known French gourmet institution…
The extremely elegant restaurant is located on Shangri-la’s 56th floor and offers breathtaking harbor views that can be competed only by those of Victoria Peak.
Very classic and luxurious design with perfect table settings, heavy curtains and glittering chandeliers… Tranquil, elegant and romantic atmosphere and, above all, superb French cuisine, complemented by one of Asia’s most impressive wine collections.
Level 56, The Island Shangri-la hotel (Phone: 2820 8590)
7) Lung King Heen
This lavish restaurant specializes in traditional Cantonese cuisine with a contemporary touch, and serves some of the best Dim sum in Hong Kong, alongside a wide variety of creative Shark’s fin and Bird’s nest specialties.
The beautiful décor is classic-contemporary, with plenty of dark wood and Chinese antiques, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows that offer some stunning harbor views.
Four seasons Hotel Hong Kong, IFC complex, Central
 Fook Lam Moon
This Hong Kong culinary legend was established more than 50 years ago by a creative Cantonese cook who worked for some of the city’s wealthiest families, before starting his own business.
Using top quality ingredients is what this restaurant is best known for and, indeed, their “unique dishes” are considered among the best in Hong Kong… Especially the Shark’s fin and the Abalone which are possibly the finest you can find in the city.
There are also some less exorbitant dishes on the menu that are still outstandingly delicious… like the Roast chicken, Roast Duck and, of course… the fabulous Dim-sum.
Prices are slightly on the high side, when compared to other Chinese restaurants, but the food is fantastic…
35-45 Johnston Road, Wanchai (Phone: 2866 0663)
53-59 Kimberley Road, Tsim sha Tsui (Phone: 2366 0286)
9) Yan Toh heen
Strategically located at the swanky InterContinental, Yan Toh Heen serves some of the best Cantonese cuisine in Hong Kong, in an elegant and refined setting that matches in with the fabulous food.
Other than its elegant décor and famous handcrafted jade table-settings, the restaurant boasts large windows through which you can enjoy lovely views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong’s skyline, while indulging on some of the most scrumptious dim sum you have ever tasted…
Prices are on the high side, but the dining experience is simply superb
InterContinental Hong Kong, Salisbury Road, Tsim sha Tsui (Phone: 2313 2323)
10) Spring Deer
Established almost forty years ago, Spring Deer is one of Hong Kong’s best and most popular Chinese restaurants.
The restaurant serves classic north Chinese cuisine at its best… Peking duck,  Spiced chicken,  Smoked tea duck,  Beggar’s chicken,  Shark’s fin soup,  Peking style deep fried mutton and plenty of other delicacies…
There’s nothing much in the way of stylish décor or romantic ambience here, but the place is nice, the service is good and the dinning experience is superb (You must book well in advance).
1/F, 42 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (Phone: 2366 4012)
For more information about Hong Kong, including a comprehensive Restaurant & Nightlife Guide, some great day trip ideas, details of recommended hotels, shopping tips and suggested city-walks: visit Metropolasia – Hong Kong’s online travel guide, where all the information you need is compiled in one easy-to-use website.
Roni Shwartz is a certified travel consultant and an expert on Hong Kong and Macau. He writes for Metropolasia
Although millions of people pass through Hong Kong every year, on their way from here to there, many of them don’t really know what are the best ways to spend a day in this exciting metropolis.
This article will show you how to cover Hong Kong’s most popular attractions in a one day stopover.
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After clearing customs and immigration, proceed to the luggage storage counter at the ‘Meeters and Greeters Hall’, where you can store your trolley or bag till you come back… Buy an Octopus Card from the Airport Express Counter at the Arrivals Hall and hop on the Airport Express Train, with which you travel all the way to Hong Kong Station.
Victoria Peak (or simply “The Peak”) is one of Hong Kong’s most popular tourist attractions and probably the best starting point. Having your breakfast or morning coffee while enjoying some spectacular views is definitely a nice way to start your Hong Kong day-tour.
The Peak Tram is the most popular (and scenic) way of getting to The Peak. It operates daily, 7 am – 12 midnight and climbs the full distance in approximately 7 minutes.
A short walk from Hong Kong Station (exit C) will bring you to the Lower Terminus, on Garden Road, where you can buy the ticket and board the tram (you can also pay with your “Octopus Card”)
Pacific Coffee, near the “upper terminus”, is open daily from as early as 7:30 am, and is the best place to enjoy your “coffee with a view” at such an early hour.
Down from “The Peak” walk back towards Hong Kong Station and through “the elevated walkway” to the pier from which the Star Ferry departs to Tsim sha Tsui. This historic ferry route is very popular with tourists and has long become one of Hong Kong’s most prominent icons.
From the ferry building, turn right and walk along the waterfront to the Avenue of Stars: Hong Kong’s answer to Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, where floor plaques of Hong Kong film industry’s who’s who can be seen. This is also the best place to take photos of Hong Kong’s spectacular skyline.
From here, you can take a short walk to the Hong Kong Museum of History, where “the story of Hong Kong” is told… From the geological changes that took place hundreds of millions of years ago, through prehistoric eras, notable historical events and until present day. The museum is fairly rich and boasts plenty of interesting exhibits.
Continue to Nathan Road, Kowloon’s main thoroughfare, and proceed through Jordan Road to Canton Road, which is popularly known as Jade Street.
Jade and its products are the specialty of most of the shops along this section of Canton Road, as well of those in the neighboring <b>Jade Market</b>, and there is certainly a lot to see (and to buy…). From Jade Street. you can turn right to <i>Ning Po Street</i> where many traditional Chinese shops and businesses can be found.
The Old Tin Hau Temple, just a few minutes walk from the Jade Market, was built in the 1880s and is one of Kowloon’s oldest temples. It is dedicated to Tin Hau (Matsu), Goddess of the sea, protector of seafarers and one of Hong Kong’s most beloved deities.
From the temple, you can either walk or take the MTR to Mong Kok area, where some of Hong Kong’s best open-air markets can be found:
As its name denotes, Ladies’ Market specializes in women’s clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and the like, although you can find here more than a few stalls that sell men’s and children’s products, including toys, clothes, bags, jeans and watches, just to name a few…
Sai Yeung Choi Street South boasts shops of consumer electronic products at street level and upstairs bookstores above.
Fa Yuen Street concentrates many retailers of sports equipment and clothing, while Fa Yuen Street Market, in the north part of Fa Yuen Street, is full of shops selling bargain-priced trendy fashion and casual wear for men, women and children.
While in Mong Kok, you should also make a point to visit the Goldfish Market, the Flower Market and the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden (or just “Bird Garden”), where dozens of bird shops are located and hundreds of colorful songbirds in exquisitely crafted cages can be seen…
Mong Kok is also packed with many authentic eateries and restaurants where you can enjoy some delicious local food at reasonable prices:
Curry A La King, on 88 Soy Street, is a paradise for curry lovers, serving a wide selection of scrumptious curries from different Asian cuisines.
Satay King, on ladies market, specializes in Southeast Asian satays.
MongKok Fung Shing Restaurant, on 749 Nathan Road, is known for its superb dim-sum and delicious crispy chicken.
Lucky Corner Restaurant, on 146 Sai Yeung Choi Street South, is a rather humble eatery which has been serving some of the best Wonton Noodles in Hong Kong for God knows how many years.
Little Sheep (4th floor, 16 Argyle Street)is one of Hong Kong’s most favorite hotpot restaurants.
Fu Kei Restaurant, in King Wah Centre, is serving fabulous food from different Chinese cuisines.
That’s it… You can now take the MTR to Central, from which you link to Hong Kong Station (there is a pedestrian passage) and continue with the Airport Express, back to Hong Kong Airport.
For more travel information on Hong Kong, including recommended hotels, suggested city-walks and sightseeing, a Restaurant & Nightlife Guide, great shopping tips, and much more: visit Metropolasia – Hong Kong Travel Guide where all the information you may want or need, is compiled in one easy-to-use website.
Roni Shwartz is a travel consultant and writes for Metropolasia
After clearing customs and immigration, proceed to the luggage storage counter at the ‘Meeters and Greeters Hall’, where you can store your trolley or bag till you come back…
Buy an Octopus Card from the Airport Express Counter at the Arrivals Hall: This electronic stored-value card is accepted on most public transport and will make your life easier when traveling around Hong Kong as you won’t have to bother about small change…
Now you can hop on the Airport Express Train, with which you travel all the way to Hong Kong Station, or you can take a bus (A11/N11 travels to Causeway bay, Wanchai and Central – on Hong Kong Island, while A21/N21 travels to Mong Kok and Tsim sha Tsui – in Kowloon)
In Kowloon
The “Symphony of Lights” is a nightly orchestrated light, sound and laser show featured on 37 key buildings on both sides of the Victoria Harbour. Awarded the world’s “Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” by Guinness World Records, this spectacle is staged nightly at 8:00 pm and is best viewed from Tsim sha Tsui’s Waterfront Promenade (you can also enjoy it from Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, on Hong Kong Island).
Not too far from there, in the area of Jordan, Temple Street’s Night Market is a good place to fetch a few bargains and feel a bit of a true Hong Kong market ambienceâ¦Â The brightly lit stalls are selling everything you can think of⦠and there are also more than a few food-stalls and eateries around, where you can indulge on simple, delicious Chinese food.
The market is open daily from 4 pm to 11 pm (although it gets busy only from 7 pm and onwards).
The area of Mong Kok, north of Tsim sha Tsui and Jordan, is famous for its open-air markets and late open shops. It is also chock-a-block with many authentic eateries and restaurants where you can enjoy some delicious local food at reasonable prices.
Ladies’ Market, along Tung Choi Street, and parallel Sai Yeung Choi Street South are Mong Kok’s best late-open shopping streets.
The area of Tsim sha Tsui (between the waterfront and Jordan’s Night Market) is Kowloon’s most busy and vibrant district⦠especially in the evening, when the streets are packed with diners and party goers. As a matter of fact, Tsim sha Tsui itself comprises a few different wine & dine precincts:
Knutsford Terrace: a small terrace street, lined with bars, pubs and restaurants, is Tsim sha Tsui’s smaller version of Lan Kwai Fong (although the ambience here is far more relaxed…).
Hillwood Road, north of Kimberley Road and Knutsford Terrace, has been nicknamed “Hillwood SoHo” and it boasts a few good Chinese and Asian restaurants, alongside some nice cafés…
Ashley Road somewhat resembles Wanchai’s Lockhart Road, with a good mix between restaurants, resto-bars and nightspots (forget about the girls though…).
Classy restaurants, as well as some nice cafés, can be found in Tsim sha Tsui’s leading hotels, as well as in the large shopping malls…
On Hong Kong Island
Victoria Peak (or simply “The Peak”) is one of Hong Kong’s most popular tourist attractions. The world-class views of the city and the harbour are simply spectacular… especially at night, when the countless skyscrapers are flashing in millions of dazzling lights…
The Peak Tram is the most popular (and scenic) way of getting to The Peak. It operates daily until midnight and climbs the full distance in approximately seven minutes. You can board it at the Lower Terminus, on Garden Road, Just a 10-15 minutes walk from Hong Kong Station (Airport Express) or MTR-Central.
Up at the top, there is a variety of restaurants, cafés and shops.
Causeway Bay is Hong Kong’s trendiest shopping district. The relatively compact area around Causeway Bay MTR Station houses some of the city’s best department stores, shopping malls and prestigious shops. Hong Kong yuppies consider Causeway Bay as the city’s “fashion barometer” - The place to go to when you want to know what’s new and “in”…
Other than countless fashion boutiques and glitzy shopping malls, Causeway Bay has more than a few good restaurants, cafés and nightspots.
Hong Kong’s modern business district – Central, is conquered by sparkling skyscrapers that accommodate the Asia-Pacific head office of international corporations, alongside bank managements, foreign consulates and stylish shopping malls.
Thanks to its “international ambience” and well-heeled shoppers, Central concentrates some of Hong Kong’s most glamorous restaurants, like Caprice at the Four Seasons Hotel, Toscana, Grissini and Le Parisien, among othersâ¦
Just a stonethrow from Central, Lan Kwai Fong (often abbreviated as LKF) is possibly Hong Kong’s most popular and most famous nightlife arena: The small quadrangle of streets, formed by the L-shaped Lan Kwai Fong Street and neighboring D’Aguilar Street, is packed with bars, pubs, clubs and some excellent restaurants that make it a popular choice for locals, expatriates and tourists alike.
Still around Central (and LKF), the SoHo is another extremely popular wine and dine district. Unlike Lan Kwai Fong, Wan Chai and some of Hong Kong’s other nightlife areas, SoHo is more about quiet bistro-style restaurants and cafés, where you can enjoy a romantic evening, or have your coffee alfresco, while watching life on the street go by…
Lockhart Road in Wanchai (Wan Chai), together with some of the streets around it, form one of Hong Kong’s most popular nightlife areas, where discos and nightclubs can be found next to girly bars, posh restaurants and casual cafés⦠No matter what you look for, you’ll probably find it in Wanchai.
That is Hong Kong nightlife in a nutshell⦠(After all, it’s only an article, not a book). Hope you’ll enjoy your night stop in Asia’s world city.
For more information on Hong Kong and its nightlife, including a comprehensive Restaurant & Nightlife Guide, great shopping tips and suggested city-walks: visit Metropolasia – Hong Kong Travel Guide where all the information you need is compiled in one easy-to-use website.
Roni Shwartz is a certified travel consultant and writes for Metropolasia
1) The Peninsula
An article about Hong Kong’s luxury hotels has to start with the Peninsula â one of the city’s best-known landmarks.
Alongside the Raffles in Singapore, the Waldorf Astoria in New York and the Savoy in London, the Peninsula is considered as one of the world’s most classic hotels and has long become one of Hong Kong’s most prominent icons.
Founded by members of the Jewish Kadoorie family, this famous hotel opened in 1928, with the idea that it would become “the finest hotel east of the Suez canal”⦠and indeed, from the moment the Peninsula opened its doors to the first guest, its name has been synonymous with welcoming the rich and the famous to a place of unmatched luxury and serviceâ¦
The guestrooms are among the most spacious in Hong Kong and are all beautifully decked out, combining classical European elegance with fine Oriental motifs… Guests have a choice of rooms and suites in either the grand, Original Building or at the more contemporary Peninsula Tower, with commanding views of the harbor and the city.
The restaurants at the Peninsula are among the best in Hong Kong: Gaddi’s is regarded as one of Hong Kong’s finest and most elegant French restaurants, Felix bar-restaurant, on the 28th floor, offers an unforgettable dining experience, accompanied by some stunning harbor views, and the classic Lobby Lounge is serving traditional English-style high tea, reminiscent of Hong Kong’s colonial era.
The hotel is also famous for its fleet of Rolls-Royce cars, which are painted in a distinctive shade of green, known as the “Peninsula green”.
2) Mandarin Oriental
Although the 1950s style cube-shaped building of the Mandarin Oriental might look slightly uninspiring compared to the glitzy and modern skyscrapers around it, this internationally known hotel is a Hong Kong legend.
Located right at the heart of Hong Kong’s business district, the hotel’s interior décor combines European elements with Chinese touches, resulting in a stylish elegance that revives old-days charmâ¦
As expected, the Mandarin Oriental’s amenities are simply superb and include a stat-of-the-art fitness centre, a world class spa and a heated indoor pool at the hotel’s top floor, just to name a fewâ¦
The hotel was renovated at 2006 and the guestrooms are relatively spacious and very tastefully decked out, blending Western and Chinese motifs… Almost needless to mention, they are fitted with every comfort you would expect to find in a luxury hotel⦠From b beautiful marble-fitted bathroom, to a CD library and Salvatore Ferragamo’s toiletriesâ¦
3) Island Shangri-la
Soaring 56 floors above the prestigious shopping and entertainment centres of Wanchai, the Island Shangri-la features both a great location and superb opulenceâ¦
The guestrooms are quite spacious and beautifully decked out in a combination of European and Chinese styles⦠They offer unbeatable views towards the Harbour or the Peak, and are all properly equipped with a whole shebang of facilitiesâ¦
Amenities include a luxurious health-club, with a well equipped gym, Jacuzzi and sauna, as well as a beautiful outdoor pool, surrounded by the city’s glittering skyscrapers.
The hotel also prides itself for housing some world class restaurants, including the internationally famed Restaurant Petrus at the top floor.
4) Langham Palace Hotel
Located in a glitzy, modern tower above the bustling shopping district of Mongkok, just a short walking distance from Hong Kong’s lively markets and the MTR station, this fabulous hotel prides itself for being one of the best spa-hotels in the Asia-Pacific region.
The guestrooms are all spacious and beautifully decked out in a somewhat “high tech style”, including floor-to-ceiling windows through which you can enjoy cityscape views.
The hotel’s “jewel in the crown” is, doubtlessly, the superb Chuan Spa on the 40th floor, where more than sixty beauty and health treatments are offered, all based on traditional Chinese medicine.
A well-equipped gym is located on the 41st floor, right above the Spa, and the excellent swimming pool is on the roof, above the Gym. There is a Jacuzzi too and a lovely sundeck from which you can enjoy the gorgeous views.
5) InterContinental Hong Kong
Well known for its fantastic location on Tsim Sha Tsui’s waterfront, with unbeatable views towards Victoria Harbor and the Hong Kong skyline, the fabulous Intercontinental is one of Hong Kong’s most sought-after hotels.
The excellent and luxurious I-Spa, presumably Hong Kong’s only ‘Feng Shui Friendly’ Spa, offers the full range of treatments, alongside Jacuzzi, sauna, steam shower and massage facilities. There is a very large outdoor heated swimming pool, adjacent to three temperature spa pools and surrounded by a sundeck and a terrace, where you can have your drink while admiring the stunning harbor views⦠and there is also a well equipped fitness center, which is open 24 hours a day.
Dining options at the Intercontinental are also sensational: The internationally acclaimed Spoon restaurant is inspired by the world’s most awarded chef, Alain Ducasse. The Lobby Lounge, with its glass wall facing the harbor, is one of the best places to see and to be seen, and Yan Toh Heen is among Hong Kong’s best Cantonese restaurants.
For more information about Hong Kong, including some great day-trip ideas, a comprehensive Restaurant & Nightlife Guide, shopping tips and suggested city-walks: visit Metropolasia – Hong Kong’s online travel guide where all the information you need is compiled in one easy-to-use website.
Roni Shwartz is a certified travel consultant and writes for Metropolasia
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