Hong Kong

Hong Kong by Gautam Khattak

Last updated: September 18, 2014

Disclaimer: These are notes I’ve written or gathered from various sources. I have not experienced all things in this document nor is it intended to be a definitive guide.

General Tips

Currency: The currency in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD). This is not the same as the RMB used in China!

Conversion Tool: http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=1&From=USD&To=HKD

(Update for current rates)

100 USD = 778 HKD

1 USD = 7.78 HKD

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=100&From=HKD&To=USD

100 HKD = 12.85 USD

Tipping:

Taxis don’t expect a tip…In fact sometimes they’ll even round down the change! You’re welcome to round up to the nearest dollar. You aren’t required to tip in a restaurant but it isn’t forbidden by any means. You can either round up to the nearest 5 or 10 HKD or give 10%. You can check whether the bill already has a 10% service charge included. Note, the waiters/waitresses don’t get any of that 10%.

If you want to get a local SIM for your mobile it is around $48HKD for a PCCW SIM (voice + Data) at just about any 7-11 or Circle K. Then you buy a $50HKD or $100HKD card to top up the credit on the SIM. Some ideas on pricing (from one source):

Voice is $0.06HKD for Off-Peak (9:00pm -11:59am) and $0.12HKD for Peak hours (12:00pm – 8:59pm). Data is $3HKD/MB. Local SMS is $0.10HKD/each and international is $0.50HKD/each

Transportation

How to use the MTR (Subway System)

The MTR works point to point unless you have a day pass. Basically walk up to the machine to get a ticket (if you don’t have coins make sure the words Notes Accepted is lit in red). Just press your destination and drop in the money. It gives you a card..when you put your card in the machine it will pop it out on top so you can collect it. You need to keep it so when you get to your destination you swipe it again and then it keeps it. IF (and this very rarely happens) you change your destination midway, you’ll need to pay the difference by just going to the customer service desk once you get to your stop. Here’s a Map of the MTR.

Airport Express – Getting To/From the airport is VERY easy when you use the Airport Express. Immediately after you leave after customs, there is a booth to buy tickets for the Airport Express. You can also buy tickets from the customer service desk (takes credit card) or the machine (takes cash only) outside the Arrivals area. The airport express runs every ~8-15 minutes from ~6am to midnight. One way is 100HKD and if you buy a round trip ticket (180HKD) it is valid for 1 month. It takes ~27 minutes to get to downtown Hong Kong from the airport and only makes a stop at Tsing Yi and Kowloon Station. From either station just take a taxi to your hotel or there may be a free shuttle (included in the price of the Airport Express ticket) to your hotel. Getting to the Airport is even better using Airport Express because from both Kowloon Station & Hong Kong station you can check your bags and get your boarding pass for your flight at the stations, so when you get to the airport you just have to go through immigration. There is typically NO lines, unlike at the airport. You check your bags in the morning if you have an evening flight and not have to worry about them (except your carry-on). Some airlines (mostly Asian) allow you to check your bags in 24 hours before your departure. Check their website for more details.

Taxi’s

Taxi’s are plentiful and trustworthy in Hong Kong for the most part. HK also has Uber (there is no Grab Taxi in HK) as well where you can request a Taxi from as well or get a private vehicle. Taxi’s have a red circular sign on their dashboard that says “For Hire” when they’re available the other way to know if they’re open for passengers is if the Taxi sign on the top of the taxi is lit up:

All 3 images above indicate a taxi that is ready to pick up passengers.

If the For Hire sign is covered with an “Out of Service” sign BUT the roof sign is lit, the taxi is looking for fairs that wants to go across the Harbour (they want someone to pay the tunnel fare for them to go back home and end their shift). If the roof sign is not lit, they’re either already committed or off shift.

Some pro-tips to know about taxi’s are the following:

Shift change is at 4-5pm – so it’s hard to get a taxi at this time.
Technically Taxi’s cannot refuse a fair, but they do all the time, especially if you’re asking them to go across the harbour
There are special taxi stands for going Cross-Harbour (they’re labeled as such), IF you pick up a taxi from other than a cross-harbour taxi stand the taxi may refuse to take you across the harbour OR they’ll charge you double for the tunnel toll. So instead of $25 each way it will be $50.
When it rains it’s hard to find a taxi
Taxi’s will charge an extra $6 for each piece of luggage in the trunk/boot. So if you have a small carryon just put it in the backseat with you. They also charge per pet. If you hail a taxi with Uber, you don’t have to pay extra for luggage even if it’s in the trunk/boot.
Taxi’s do not take credit card and are only starting to take Octopus so make sure you have cash. Drivers rarely have change for $500 HKD note, so if that’s the smallest bill you have, ask if they can break it before you head off on your destination. IF you’re going through a tunnel, they can usually make the change at the toll booth.
Red taxi’s go on the Kowloon and Island side but cannot drive to Lantau destinations OTHER than to the airport.
HK Taxi’s will always turn on the meter EXCEPT if you’re in Central/Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) Whyndham street after 11pm. That’s when the Taxi drivers turn into greedy a-holes and refuse to turn on the meter. They’ll ask for $100-$300 HKD to take you on a $30-$60 HKD fair. This is completely illegal but not enforced by the police.

Tourist Destinations

Since most people come to Hong Kong for just a few days, I’ve put a C next to the ‘must-do’ items. Unfortunately they are weather dependant and that is something you can’t predict in Hong Kong.

There’s a lot to see in Hong Kong but the major things you’d want to cover in a weekend in HK is the Avenue of the Stars (be there by 8pm), The Peak (day and/or night), Temple Street and/or Ladies Market, The Big Buddha and Stanley Market. Unfortunately all these things are outdoors so if the weather is bad, it’s really hard to see anything at the Buddha, Peak or Stanley.

Kowloon

Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) is good to go at night so you can get the view of HK…There are nice restaurants that have great views but require you to book reservations with them in advance.

👍Avenue of the Stars – Right across from the Sheraton, it’s just a great place to view the HK Skyline. At 8pm every night the building so a laser and music show called the Symphony of Lights that can be seen from the Avenue of Stars. There is a viewing platform for this near the Star Ferry Pier. Go to the Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) MTR station, follow directions to East TST and take Exit J4. IMPORTANT – Give yourself 15 minutes to get from the train to the exit, it’s a long walk underground! – ⚠ CLOSED for construction until 2018

Sham Shui Po – Best known for its street market for electronic devices. It is situated in the northwestern part of the Kowloon Peninsula. Market for gadgets, radios, remote controls and old audio. Also an odd selection of vacuum tube amplifiers for audio which seem to actually be new, and some of them are not too expensive. The collection of remotes and knock off headphones is impressive. Not as gadgety as SEG area in Shenzhen. Check out on Apliu Street.

Mong Kok Computer Center – A bunch of Computer/Electronic stores crammed into one place. That being said there is something similar if not bigger and cheaper in Shenzhen.

10,0000 Buddha Monastery – Located about 10 minutes walk from the Sha Tin train station. It is not an actual monastery as there are no resident monks and is managed by laypersons. It’s a decent climb up to the monastery but there are hundreds of Monk statues the entire way. Up at the monastery there is a pagoda, a hall, two pavilions and a tower in the architectural structure at the lower level. There are four halls in another structure at the higher level. The five halls in the monastery are used to house the statues of Buddhas.

Take MTR East rail to Sha Tin Station. From station, take exit B, then take ramp on left side along the bus terminus down to street level and past Pai Tau village on the left. Continue walking forward a short distance to the junction with Pai Tau street on the left (the distinctive Grand Central Plaza mall which is the location of Homesquare and the IKEA store is directly opposite). Follow Pai Tau street and take the first street on right Sheung Wo Che road and follow the street alongside Sha Tin govt offices and a multi story car park. At the end of Sheung Wo Che road, there is a yellow direction sign for the monastery and path and staircase to the monastery.

Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden – Located in the middle of the Kowloon Chaos is a really beautiful and well kept park that is worth spending a few hours at if you need a place to relax. There are exhibitions of Chinese Timber Architecture, Rocks and potted plants, as well as tea house and vegetarian restaurant (located behind a waterfall). It is right next to Diamond Hill (in Cantonese: Jyun Sehk Saan) MTR Station (Exit C2).

Hong Kong Island

👍The Peak – You can take a taxi, bus or tram up to the top of Victoria Peak. The Tram is the touristy thing to do, but there is often a line. And there is a viewing platform ($20 HKD) with restaurants and then just an outdoor viewing area. You can also hike around the peak too, it’s a very easy hike but you will get sweaty. You can do the hike up the peak or just do it down.

Wan Chai Computer Center – Just Another computer center…

Mid-Level Escalators – The longest outdoor escalator system in the world! Over 800 meters long. Both sides of the escalators are surrounded by restaurant/bars (an area called Soho). Worth checking out around lunch-time or dinner time (but on the weekends it’s hard to get a seat without reservations). You can even take a hike to the Peak from the top of the escalators but it’s about an hour hike uphill so bring your sneakers and water.

👍Stanley Market – On the backside of HK Island so about an hour from Kowloon, it’s another famous market. But instead of all knock-offs they have brand name clothing cheap. Most likely they are older generations of fashion or may have not passed inspection on the factory line. This is also a good place for oil paintings, souvenirs and luggage too. More importantly, you get a very nice view of the bay on the back side of the island. It’s a great place to go for lunch on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when the weather is nice. It’s not really worth going to if the weather is bad. There is a nice boardwalk lined with restaurants and pubs. You can also rent boats for waterskiing or wakeboarding or just for lounging around.

Ocean Park – On the backside of HK Island is the amusement park – Ocean Park. This is an amusement park, aquarium, water park & zoo! You get to the different parts of Ocean Park via Cable car.

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens – HKZBG is located on the north slope of Victoria Peak in the Mid-Levels and is one of the oldest Zoological and botanical gardens in the world. Admission is Free

Happy Valley Racecourse – Nothing beats the excitement of mid-week racing under the lights at Happy Valley. Surrounded by skyscrapers and looped by Hong Kong Island’s famous tramline, Happy Valley racing is so popular that thousands of race goers will come to enjoy the party atmosphere. Whether in the Public Enclosure or a private box, the views are excellent; the atmosphere is electric and the racing is first-class. Races are on Wednesdays from 7pm and run until 11pm. The tourist ticket costs $10HKD and gives you standing room only access at the track level. For $20HKD you can get seating in the public area but your view may not be as good. The Causeway Bay MTR (Exit A) is the closest MTR stop.

Sha Tin Racecourse – Sha Tin Racecourse is a racecourse of superlatives – the home of the world’s richest day of turf racing, the world’s first retractable roof over a parade ring, and the world’s longest Diamond Vision Television screen. Major racing events include the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races, the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, Champions Mile and the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby, etc. Join us at Sha Tin Racecourse for world-class racing at its finest! The Sha Tin Station is the closest to the Racecourse.

Lantau Island

👍Tian Tan Buddha or Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Take the MTR’s (Subway) Orange line to Tung Chung (Exit B), Lantau Island. From Central this is a 30 minute journey. Exit the station and follow signs for the Ngong Ping cable car to the Big Buddha. You’ll want to get the Crystal Cabin, the glass bottom cable car, because there is no line for this on the way back. Otherwise it could be up to an hour wait on the way back. It’s worth the extra $. After ~27 minute cable car ride you walk through a small tourist-trap town and then walk up the stairs to the large bronze Buddha. It’s pretty cool and has great views. I suggest buying your tickets online at least 1 day before to avoid 30 minute queue in Tung Chung. If you plan on going to the Tai O Stilt villiage you only need a 1 way ticket.

Tai O Stilt Village: There’s a cool fishing village where all the houses are on stilts. From here you can also take a boat to see the Pink Dolphins (sometimes). Right when you get to the city you’ll have people selling boat tours to you. They’ll take you around the fishing village and to see the Pink Dolphins (hopefully). You can bargain the price down from $25 to $20 sometimes. Walk for around five minutes to the Rope-drawn Ferry Bridge and then take a stroll along the waterfront. There are some nice cafes along the water to eat or drink at. Check the times for the bus so you know when to be back there to catch one as they only run 1 or 2 buses every hour. You can also take a blue taxi but they are not frequently available.

MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B. Take bus 11 to Tai O bus terminus (~50 minutes)
From the Buddha (Ngong Ping Village) (approx 25 minutes). Take bus 21 to Tai O terminus (approx 20 minutes). When you’re on your way to the Buddha, about half way into the touristy Ngong Ping Village look on the right for the bus terminal. Check the times for the bus so you know when to be back there to catch the bus as they only run 1 or 2 buses every hour.

Disneyland Resort is on Lantau Island. The MTR’s Orange Line goes there (get off at the Disneyland Resort Station). I have not been here, but there aren’t as many rides as the US Disney locations and it’s more geared to meeting the characters, so it’s probably better for very young children. For older kids, check out the info on Ocean Park.

Macau

Macau is only 1-hour ferry ride from either Hong Kong Island (Sheung Wan) or Kowloon (TST). From HK they run every 15 minutes and from Kowloon ever 30. Macau is the Las Vegas of Asia. I won’t go into much detail here but you have big name hotels like the Wynn, MGM, Grand Lisboa, Venetian and Galaxy. You can catch shows here such as the very highly acclaimed House of Dancing Water. Macau also has a European feel since it was a colony of Portugal so it’s nice to just walk around the city. Check out the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral and along the way try the Jerky (very good!) and the Famous Portuguese Egg Tarts (even better!). IF, you’re not gambling you can walk around most of Macau and see the major casino’s in about 5-7 hours. Macau is known for their great restaurants (most of them in the Casinos)

Museums

Below are a few museums you may be interested in. Most of these are on Kowloon in or around TST. Admission is free on Wednesdays and museums are closed on Thursdays for many of these. You can find more information on museums here: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/attractions/museum.html

Hong Kong Heritage Museum –The Hong Kong Heritage Museum presents a unique mix of history, art and culture. Designed both to entertain and to enlighten, the exhibits are lively and informative. The museum houses six permanent galleries – the Orientation Theatre, the New Territories Heritage Hall, the Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall, the T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art, the Chao Shao-an Gallery and the Children’s Discovery Gallery – as well as six thematic galleries that regularly host exhibitions showcasing the diverse treasures of our heritage.
Hong Kong Museum of Art –See the different style of Eastern art. The Calligraphy and Chinese Landscape paintings are very interesting. Located in TST next to the Avenue of the Stars. – ⚠ CLOSED for construction until 2018
Hong Kong Space Museum –Since Hong Kong doesn’t have a space program, this is the global history of human’s getting to Space. Located in TST next to the Avenue of the Stars.
Hong Kong Museum of History – A museum which preserves Hong Kong’s historical and cultural heritage. It is located next to the Hong Kong Science Museum.
Hong Kong Science Museum – The Science Museum showcases over 500 interesting exhibits, 70 percent of which are hands-on and offer an insight into a wide range of science-related subjects. The exhibition covers many areas of science and technology, including robotics, transportation, virtual reality and more. The focus of the museum is the 22-metre-high twin-tower Energy Machine which, when activated, triggers a series of displays to produce spectacular audiovisual effects demonstrating various forms of energy.
Dialogue in the Dark – An exhibition in complete darkness, that has already spanned 26 countries, and over 150 cities – with over 6 million visitors and counting. You will have a chance to experience Hong Kong’s unseen attractions while being led by one of our visually impaired guides. Rely on your non-visual senses and discover 5 everyday environments common to Hong Kong. Challenge your senses, have a Dialogue in the Dark. Pre-booking of tour times are essential – please call 2310 0833 for advance booking.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum – Relive the epoch-making achievements of revolutionary pioneer Dr Sun Yat-sen who is renowned for transforming China from a monarchy to a republic. The revolutionary ideologies of Dr Sun Yat-sen were shaped while he was receiving his early education in Hong Kong and the city served as his base for 18 years prior to the founding of the Chinese Republic in 1912.
Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum
Secret Tours of Hong Kong – Tailorable tours of things off the beaten path like Artwalk and Photowalk or Cultural Walk

Outdoor Excursions

There are a lot of hikes & beaches all over. Hong Kong is made up of 235 islands so there are ferries that go to many of them and you can have lunch on a beach or do a hike. If you are here for an extended period of time you could get 20-30 people and rent a boat (called a Junk) and spend the day going from Victoria Harbor to one of the beaches. Don’t worry the boat comes with a crew to do the sailing for you.

Lamma Isand is a nice quaint island with a very easy hike. Basically you take the ferry from Central Piers to one side of the island, hike an hour and a half to the otherside of the island, have lunch at the fishing village and take the ferry back.

Mui Wo – A small fishing village/beach on one side of Lantau Island. You can take the ferry from Central or Discovery Bay to here or you can hike to it from Discovery Bay. There is also a bus that takes you here from the Big Buddha.

Here are some links to some Hiking & Beach websites:

Beaches

One of my favorite beaches is Long Ke Wan and Ham Tin Beach (Tai Long Wan). You can hike in (1 hour) or you can take a boat. Go to Sai Kung piers (Taxi or Green minibus 101). At the Pier/Water there will be a number of booths on the right taking people via small boats to Ham Tin Beach for $150 per person (or a general tour of the waters around HK). You can try and negotiate a discount for a round trip pick up or you can do it when you get to beach (at the restaurant) but it is best to book a return trip fairly early (last boat leaves at 6pm and they fill up). The boat drops you off on Ham Tin beach and there is a restaurant there where you can order food, beers, rent beach umbrellas, tents, sleeping bags, etc…so you can eat/camp without bringing very much with you. Very convenient. From Ham Tin you can take an easy walk (10 minutes) to Tai Wan Beach (just less crowded). To do the easy hike go from behind the restaurant. This site gives some good details.
http://gohongkong.about.com/od/whattoseeinhk/tp/hongkongbeach.htm
http://www.hkoutdoors.com/hong-kong/hong-kong-beaches.html
http://www.12hk.com/sgt_bech.html

Shopping

Even if you aren’t into knock offs its fun (and sort of a must see) to go to one of the markets.

👍Ladies Market (Kowloon) – Knock off market (need a watch or purse?) Open in the morning (I think at 11am). To go to the Market go to either Mong Kok head east a few blocks to Tung Choi Street. There will be posted signs directing you. The market heads South toward from Yau Ma Tei (so you can start from that end). If you want to do both Temple Street and Ladies Market start at Jordan and head north or start at Mong Kok and head south.

👍Temple Street Night Market (Kowloon) – More cheap goods from China…not knock offs but good souvenirs and cheap useful things (flash lights, small electronics, socks, cufflinks, lighters). To go to the Market go to Jordan MTR Station and head west a few blocks. There will be signs posted directing you. The market heads north from Jordan. If you want to do both Temple Street and Ladies Market start at Jordan and head north or start at Mong Kok and head South.

If you have interest in something particular there are several types of other markets such as the Fish market, Flower Market…

There are also a lot of high-end malls if you need to do some expensive shopping such as

Pacific Place, across from Admiralty station
IFC Mall – above Hong Kong Station
Elements Mall above Kowloon Station
Times Square Causeway Bay

Lodging

There are obviously hundreds of hotels in Hong Kong, here are just a few that I’ve heard of or come across.

Kowloon

Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel, Harbour City – Much better than the Gateway and right next door to the Harbour City mall and China Ferry Terminal.
Marco Polo Gateway Hotel, Harbour City – Cheap and not very great but it’s close to the China Ferry terminals if you need to go to China or Macau.
Marco Polo Prince Hotel, Harbour City – Across the mall from Marco Polo Gateway and nicer
Sheraton Hong Kong– Nice hotel, great view of the skyline from the penthouse lounge/bar. The even numbered rooms on the 14th floor (and probably above) have the nice view. (Exit D from TST MTR Station)
Langham Place Hotel, Mong Kok – Very nice hotel but you’re in Mong Kok which is close to the Markets but very congested.
Royal Plaza, Mong Kok – Not nearly as nice as the Langham but cheap
W Hotel, New hotel in Kowloon, near the ICC building.
Ritz Carlton – Located on the top of ICC, it is the highest hotel in the world.
Hotel ICON – Upscale hotel with amazing views of the HK harbor.

Hong Kong Island

Hotel LKF by Rhombus – It doesn’t get more in the heart of the night life than this hotel. The top floor is a club named Azure which has an outdoor balcony with a view over Lan Kwai Fong and HK in general.
The Conrad – Hilton’s Conrad Hotel is located in Central, above the Pacific Place Mall
The JW Marriott – located in Central, above the Pacific Place Mall
The Upper House – Small but luxurious hotel located in Central, above the Pacific Place Mall. Café Gray is located here.
Butterfly on Wellington – A Boutique Hotel that is very centrally located.
Lan Kwai Fong Hotel – Just outside Soho, this is a nice boutique hotel just a few blocks west of the Mid-level escalators.
Renaissance Marriott Hotel, Hong Kong – Located in Wanchai
The T Hotel – Training Concept Hotel committed to providing vocational Training in field of hospitality and tourism. So the rates are pretty cheap since the staff are mostly students
The Pottinger – The Pottinger was voted best boutique hotel in 2014, is usually affordable and is very central located (because it’s in the middle of Central). It’s a 5 minute walk to the Central MTR, 5 minute walk to Soho, and 1 minute to Lan Kwai Fong. The Envoy cocktail bar and restaurant (mentioned below) is also located here on the 3rd floor.

Dining & Nightlife

WARNING: There are so many restaurants in Hong Kong so I’m only going to put down a few for now. Your best bet is to just ask me when you get here because the choices change so often and there are hundreds in my list of places both well known and secret.

Most if not all Restaurants can be found in Open Rice. You can search by genre, location, etc…

A Dining Concepts HK is the owner of several well-known restaurants in Hong Kong

Kowloon Side – The majority of the places below are listed because of their view or proximity to each other so you can wander around and hit up a lot of these at the same time. (meaning if you head to 100 – 132 Nathan Road you will be fed and thirsts will be quenched).

👍Aqua – Located on the 29^th floor of 1 Peking Road, in TST (Kowloon). You cannot beat this view!! Seriously it’s amazing. The minimum here is 380HKD per person (~$50) but that’s very easy to hit if you eat here. The food is very good. I has sushi and a skewers sampler which was very tasty. It is expensive but worth it for the view. Make reservations several days in advance so you can get a table (ask for one against the glass) around 7:30. Then you can see the skyline light show (Symphony of Lights)

Hullet House – Located in TST, this transformed colonial building that was once the Marine Police Headquarters on Canton Road is now home to 5 restaurants and bars serving foods from all over the world. Each restaurant has its unique style. Tapas, British/European, Hong Kong Cuisine.

BLT Steak on Kowloon side near the Ocean Terminal / Harbour City Mall. Great view and great steak. They also have BLT Burger in the same mall if you’re not craving the steak but still want great food. BLT Burger also has a location in Times Square, Causeway Bay.

👍Wooloomooloo Prime – Located on the 21^st floor of The One (100 Nathan Road) in TST. The food is good but the reason I give this steakhouse the thumbs up is because the view at this location is amazing. Definitely worth going here for drinks or a nice dinner. Make reservations, the view draws in quite a lot of people.

Cocky Bar – Located on the 18^th floor of The One (100 Nathan Road) in TST. This bar has an amazing view but the staff are a bunch of @-holes (I guess they’re living up to the name of the place). The view is worth it but I recommend going up 3 more floors to Wooloomooloo Prime. If you do go and want to sit outside make sure you call to make reservations in advance.

Ozone – One of the highest bars in the world, Ozone is situated on the 118/F (roof) of the ICC building and the Ritz Carlton. It’s a pretty nice and Ritzy (ha!) establishment but in my opinion you’re too high above Hong Kong to appreciate the view.

Knutsford Terrace – This is a collection of bars/restaurants that fit most everyone’s needs. Go here for happy hour or for a bite to eat. There are even more restaurants in the adjacent mall

The Great Kebab Factory – Great Indian Food here. Located in the Miramar Shopping Center (behind Knutsford Terrace) (also one in LKF).

👍Din Tai Fung Dumpling House – This Taiwanese dumpling restaurant has now become a chain all over Asia and now on the west cost of the US. They are famous for their xiaolongbao (???) ‘soup dumplings’ and both the TST and Causeway Location have been awarded one Michelin star.

Hong Kong Island

👍City Hall Maxim’s Palace – Let’s start off with Dim Sum shall we? It’s not the best of the best but Maxim’s is a great place to go for the amateurs and the food is still very good. Plus they have the Dim Sum carts so you can see what you want even if you don’t know the name of it. The head waiters speak English well enough for you to get by. Get there early because this place gets very busy after 12:15. Use the Dim Sum Guide below to help you out. There are also Dim Sum Apps available on the iPhone – I recommend the Dim Sum Bible.

Crystal Jade – When Din Tai Fung is packed, Crystal Jade is a good alternative. It has many of the same delicious dumpling choices that keeps it at the top of my go to list. Plus it has a lot of locations so it’s easy enough to find.

Lin Heung Teahouse – 160-164 Wellington (Shueng Wan) – If you want a more authentic Dim Sum feel go to this famous traditional teahouse. But don’t plan on using English here, you’ll have to point to things and fight for scraps of food but you can get by if you’re daring enough. To be honest, it’s an experience to go here but it can be more of a pain than it’s worth.

👍Si Jie Sichuan Dishes – One of my favorite Sichuan restaurants. Si Jie was a small private kitchen now turned into a larger private kitchen. The good news is the quality is still top notch and it is much easier to get a reservation now.

Yellow Door Kitchen – This is a private kitchen that has fantastic Sichuan & Shanghainese (spicy) food. It is a set menu for ~$300. If you have dietary restrictions tell them in advance but otherwise let the chef do the work and tell you what you want to eat. You will be happy.

Qi House of Sichuan – Sticking with the Sichuan theme, Qi is a little more upscale and trendy than the private kitchen but has that same great taste. Like any Sichuan places I’ve mentioned, make sure you order the boiled fish (I think it’s called Shui Zhu Yu) just say fish boiled in chili oil and they’ll know what you mean.

Restoration – Contemporary Cajun Restaurant with some amazing and unique flavors. Make reservations because this place is always booked up. My favorites are Jack’s Fried Chicken, the Shrimp & Grits, the New Zealand Lamb. Good to go in a crowd so you can feast on many different things.

Bistecca Italian Steakhouse in LKF, probably one of the best steaks in town but it can be pricey especially if you go for the Wagyu.

Stone Nullah Tavern – Sometimes its good to escape the grind of Central, it can be over done. Head over to Wan Chai for some great vibes, excellent hip-hop and new flavors at this New American Comfort Food spot. The food is great, the staff is spectacular and the place is chill. You can just come for drinks or dine here. I’m a big fan of the Chicken Fried Steak, the Mac & Cheese oh and don’t get me started on the weekend brunch – Wow. Buffalo Wing Hollandaise Eggs Benedict and Jalapeno cheddar biscuits and gravy? Yes please! You can accompany it with free flow champagne. On Sunday they have a dynamite band playing great sets from 12-4pm.

Frites – Several locations but I recommend going to the one in Central or Wan Chai. This Belgium restaurant has really great food, a chill atmosphere and 80+ Belgium beers. I highly recommend the Good Wife Sausage, the Schnitzel, and the Provencal Mussels.

Cicada – This Pan-Asian Tapas restaurant has great food and is located on the Escalators so it’s in the vicinity of a lot of other places to have drinks at before/afterwards.

Sahara – This Moroccan restaurant in Soho has excellent food at good prices. They also have hookah’s available for ~100HKD which is way cheaper than other places (in LKF it can go for 250HKD!). They also have a sister restaurant on Staunton street (Escalators) called Le Souk.

Irori – This tiny Japanese restaurant behind Times Square in Causeway Bay is very simple and the best sushi I’ve ever had. Things to order…Must haves – Tomato in Sesame Sauce (the sauce is just awesome), thinly sliced Japanese Flounder (wow!). Then head to the 27^th floor to Executive B.A.R. – a Members only Japanese Whisky place. Just act like you belong and they’ll let you in.

Paisano’s – Okay this isn’t a restaurant, it’s a Pizza/Sub joint. But it is the best Pizza Sub Joint in Hong Kong (probably Asia!) The slices are huge and if they just added a little salt to their dough, they would have a pizza that rivals the US East Coast. The meatball sub is phenomenal or maybe I’m just home sick! They have a few locations (Central, Wan Chai, Sai Kung and Discovery Bay)

Ebeneezer’s Kebabs & Pizza – This is Hong Kong’s Taco Bell! I’m only giving a mention because if you’re at a bar and its 3am, you’re going to be looking for some grub. I will say that the Chicken Tikka Kebab is pretty damn good (I’ve even eaten it sober!)

Posh Drinks (& Eats)

MO Bar – Located at the Mandarin Oriental. This bar/lounge is very trendy and cool.
Sevva – Located on the roof of the Prince Building. This restaurant/bar has a great view and very dressed to impress clientele.
Café Gray – Located at the Upper House Hotel (above Pacific Place mall). This place is very trendy (not cheap) restaurant and bar.
Aqua – Mentioned above

The Nightlife!

Lai Kwai Fong (LKF) – Party Central!! Bars from all over the world all in one small area, gets pretty wild here on the weekends.
Soho – Is a more casual dining/nightlife area. Lots of nice restaurants and bars along the Mid-Level escalators. You can stand outside a bar in a group. Very lively and people can handle their liquor better than in LKF.
Lockhart Road, Wan Chai – A lot of ex-pats like to hang out around Lockhart Road in Wan Chai. There are some good bars there with great live music, but be forewarned there are some very seedy establishments as well. So if you don’t like to be approached by women of the night, you may not like this area.

Knutsford Terrace – This is a collection of bars/restaurants if you’re hanging out in Kowloon.

If you know me, you know I like to have you pick an ingredient and then I pick a place…well here are my favorites based on your choice of Whisky, Wine, Gin, or anything under the sun:

Angel’s Share – My favorite Whiskey Bar in Hong Kong. It has A LOT of choices and a great atmosphere. You’ll find just about any whiskey you can think of. Angel’s also has a full bar and a dinner menu with small plates and full entrees.
Quinary – Hong Kong’s hottest mixology bar on Hollywood, Soho. The cocktails are very unique and each one is an experience crafted by renowed mixologist Antonio Lai. I like the Black Pearl and the Earl Grey Martini. Get there early because this place gets busy.
Tastings – Snuggled into LKF is a small but cozy Wine Bar. Do tastings or full pours from their Enomatic Wine Machines. Tastings also features a small plates menu with a lot of options.
oriGin – Looking for some extraordinary Gin drinks? Then check out Hong Kong’s newest Gin bar on Wyndham Street. Crafted by the genius’s behind Quinary, this place is a great place to experience some new twists on some Old Fashioned (pun intended) drinks.
The Envoy – From the same masterminds that brought you Quinary and oriGin, check out The Envoy. This cocktail bar is located in the Pottinger Hotel on Stanley & Pottinger Street (near Lan Kwai Fong) and specializes in tea infused cocktails. Try the Bird on a wire, or the Dinosaur. The Envoy also features a large outdoor patio and a full menu with small plates and entrees.

Helpful Links

Food to try in Hong Kong (I don’t advocate trying all of them!)
Halal Restaurants
HK Recreation Guide
Top 10 Things to do in Hong Kong
Time’s 24 hours in Hong Kong
HK Architecture
The Best Dim Sum in Hong Kong (Wall Street Journal)
Dim Sum Guide – There are also Dim Sum Apps available on the iPhone.
Want a more local feel? Try these 9 Best Things to Do in Kowloon out-
Go off the tourist path with 45 Hong Kong sightseeing tips your guidebook won’t include .

Sample Itinerary

Seeing the Hong Kong sites properly unfortunatly depends on good weather so good luck. But here is my opinion of a good few days in Hong Kong as a tourist. If it’s raining check out the History Musuem (~2 hours) and the Art Musuem (~1.5 hours). The suggestions below can be mixed and matched, I’m just providing some details on what you can fit in.

Day 1:

Sleep in, check out the Nanlian Gardens or go to Soho to check out the Mid-level escalators
Early afternoon – Jump in a taxi (from the Island) to go to Stanley Market for lunch on the boardwalk and explore the market (budget 2-3 hours)
5:00pm – Take a taxi to the Peak, the goal here is to see the Peak right before dusk. Then you can see it in the day time and wait up top as the sun sets and the city begins lighting up for night
7:00pm – Head to Dinner (maybe in Soho) or the Ladies/Night Markets on the Kowloon side

Day 2:

11:30am Dim sum at Maxim’s City hall (it will be about 30-45 minute queue, longer after noon)
2:00pm Head to Tung Chung on the MTR (give yourself 1 hour) to see the Buddha (try to buy your tickets online at least 1 day before to avoid 30 minute queue. If you plan on going to the Stilt villiage you only need a 1 way ticket.
~4:00pm Take the bus from the Buddha to Tai O Fishing Village
~6:00pm back to Tung Chung to get back to the MTR station to head to Tsim Sha Tsui
7:45pm: Avenue of the Stars (light show at 8pm)
8:15pm: Dinner (or head to the Ladies/Night Market if you have the energy, or LKF if you want to party)

Day 3: Check out Lamma or Cheung Chau Island for a great Chinese seafood lunch.

Lamma Island has a very easy hike (stroll)
Cheung Chau has a beach and again, seafood lunch!
You could also go for a hike pretty much anywhere. Discovery Bay to Mui Wo is a good one as is Dragon’s Back.