WHERE TO STAY:

During our visit to Hong Kong, we stayed in an Airbnb in the Central neighborhood. Central is a great place to stay since it’s located near Lan Kwai Fong and Victoria Peak, two of the most popular spots in the city. Lan Kwai Fong is where expats and locals go to eat, drink, and party, while Victoria Peak is great for hiking and has some of the most breathtaking views of the city. When choosing where to stay during your trip to Hong Kong, I think it is best to first determine what the main points of interests and desired activities are for your trip!

 

WHAT TO SEE AND DO:

1.  Victoria’s Peak (there are some advanced hiking trails off the beaten path with views that are definitely worth the sweat- be sure to bring your comfy shoes)!

2.  Markets (Ladies Market & Temple Street Night Market)

3.  Big Buddha

4.  Temples (Man Mo Temple, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery being some of the most popular)

5.  Time Square

6.  IFC Mall

7.  Symphony of Lights Show (staged every night at 8:00 p.m. The best viewing locations  are the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the promenade at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wanchai, and from sightseeing ferries in the Victoria Harbour).

 

WHERE TO EAT:

1.  Mott 32 (awarded as one of the top restaurants in Hong Kong. Great ambiance & food).

2.  Tim Ho Wan- (popular dim sum, located in the mall. It is nothing fancy but a well known must do for first time travelers)

3.  Frantzén’s Kitchen (modern Nordic restaurant serving dishes with Asian influences).

4.  Fang Fang (an upscale and intimate restaurant and lounge serving traditional dishes and cocktails with influences from the surrounding regions).

5.  Yardbird (popular izakaya-style restaurant with great cocktails)!

6.  Goughs on Gough (modern British restaurant with great ambiance)

7.  Ronin (can be tricky to find but well worth the hunt. It is located at the end of Kau U Fong, on the ground floor of a dark grey building with a wooden door handle).

8.  Aberdeen Street Social (great for both brunch and dinner)

 

WHERE TO DRINK:

1.     Dr. Finn’s Gin Parlor

2.     Quinary

3.     Employees Only

Hong Kong also has many speakeasy’s or hidden cocktail lounges that can be a bit tricky to find. I have a few listed a few below with instructions on how to locate each.

Hidden cocktail lounges

1.  001 (97 Wellington street, black doorway with illuminated doorbell off Graham st, behind a market stall)

2.  Foxglove- (Look for a certain umbrella handle to enter)

3.  Lof10 Distillery (take the stairs next to Yardbird on Bridges Street. There’s a sign. Turn into the narrow alley and look for the only inviting door in sight)

4.  Fu Lu Sho (Call ahead for the latest door code)

5.  Stockton- need reservation (Heading east, turn down the little lane right before Wyndham Street hits Glenealy)

6.  Mizunara: The Library