Photo by HC
Photo by HC

HONG KONG

Without exaggeration Hong Kong is one of the most colourful cities we know. Be it with busy streets full of people, multicolored old houses, artistically lit skyscrapers or mouthwatering food compositions, your eyes are bombarded with impressions. Since 1992 we had been regularly visiting Hong Kong – except for the last six years! Our trip this year (2018) showed us new facets of the city and how fast things change. Anyway, you just have to dive in!

Stay:

  • The Regent (former Intercontinental Hong Kong). A luxurious 5* hotel right at the harbour at Tsim Sha Tsui. Here you get one of the best views over Hong Kong Harbour from your room, the Lobby Lounge or the restaurants.
  • Hotel ICON. 5* Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui with harbour view. Get an extended stay with a wellness treatment.
  • Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. 5* grand hotel on Hong Kong Island. You can book your stay here.
  • The Murray. Renovated by architect Sir Norman Foster this 5* hotel, in a 1969 landmark building, is said to be a new icon in Hong Kong. You can book it here.
  • The Royal Garden. 5* hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui East with cosy rooms and rooftop pool. You can book it here.

Eat:

  • Lai Ching Heen (former Yan Toh Heen). Rated with 2 Michelin Stars this tastefully designed restaurant in the Regent Hotel offers fantastic Cantonese food plus harbour view.
  • Duddell‘s. Trendy restaurant also by the JIA group with garden terrace located right in Central (on the 3rd and 4th floor) serving fine Chinese food. 
  • For Michelin-star-rated Dim Sum check out Tim Ho Wan or Din Tai Fung and have your heart and stomach touched.
  • Nobu. High-class Japanese dining at the Intercontinental Hotel by famous Matsuhisa Nobu.
  • The Peninsula Lobby. Enjoy traditional English Afternoon Tea at this institution from 1928 – a classic!
  • Tin Lung Heen. Experience Cantonese Dim Sum above the clouds on floor 102 of the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
  • Taiwan Beef Noodle. 122 Canton Road. Slurp a bowl of soup with tender beef and try out various appetizers, e.g. cold eggplant with sweet soy sauce.
  • Tsuta. Try out this Japanese Michelin-starred place and taste their signature truffle-oil ramen.
  • Mak´s Noodle. For more noodles you can visit one of these branches with their recognizable green interior.

Drink:

  • N1 Coffee & Co is a really popular place for locals and tourists, where you get bagel breakfasts and coffee by award winning baristas.
  • Just next door you can find OWL‘s Choux & Gelato, a cute little space offering fresh coffee brews, self-made ice-cream and pastries.
  • Omotesando Koffee has branches worldwide and also a very nice one in Wan Chai.
  • Located on the 113th floor of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, OZONE boasts with breathtaking views and fancy interiors at its roof-top bar.
  • At hotel ICON‘s Above and Beyond you can enjoy cocktails, Hong Kong's skyline and Chinese cuisine.

Digital:

  • The best Hong Kong blog in our opinion: Sassy Hong Kong.
  • For booking grooming and beauty appointments BloomMe is a useful app where you get discounts every day.

Do & See:

  • The transport system in Hong Kong is really good. Get an Octopus Card to get around. Here you can find the MTR map. (Do avoid rush hour!) The Octopus card is very handy overall: You can pay buses, trams ("Ding Ding"), ferries and even at convenience stores, food courts and other places.
  • The best way to get a harbour view obviously is from the water. Crossing Victoria Harbour with the green star ferries costs almost nothing.
  • Tai Kwun – Center for Heritage and Arts is definitely worth a visit! Take a look at the old police station, prison and new buildings by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron.
  • Right at the harbor in Kowloon there are two interesting museums: The Hong Kong Space Museum with its dome (also cool for kids) and the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
  • Take a walk in Hong Kong Park in the midst of skyscrapers and enjoy a visit to the tea house or little waterfall.
  • Kowloon Park lies in the middle of Tsim Sha Tsui and even houses a crowd of (yes!) flamingos!
  • Take a walk around Wan Chai to discover Hong Kong‘s street life and workshops. The Wan Chai Heritage Trail is a bit outdated but still a good path around the local alleys.
  • In Hong Kong you can literally shop till you drop. Apart from the luxury malls, like Pacific Center, Harbour City, Elements, Lane Crawford and The Landmark, there are a lot of other interesting places:
  • PMQ. Former firemen‘s accommodations have been converted into shops and studios for small brands and startups, topped with coffee and tea places and happenings for art and design.
  • Right at the Wan Chai ferry pier you can find a market with food stalls dedicated to Japanese seafood: Yamataka.
  • The Shanghai Tang branch located at 1881 Heritage Police Marine Quarter is set in a nice little house.
  • Monocle has a charming tiny store in Wan Chai with pretty accessories, some unique to the Hong Kong location.
  • Shopping at a City Super is fun, they have a food court and you get a lot of Asian specialties.
  • If you fancy cosmetics (especially Asian brands) dive into one of the many many Sasa stores or stroll through Facesss with its international brands. For high-end natural international brands visit the Beyorg stores.
  • Up for some lingerie? International high-end brands can be found at Sheer, custom-made items ordered at Braologie and cute looks be discovered at 6ixty8ight or Tutuanna.
  • At Temple Street Night Market you will spend a lively evening, see some local street karaoke and get funny souvenirs. Don‘t forget to bargain.
  • Get a luxurious treat at the Peninsula Spa.
  • Have your hair cut by Japanese stylists at AUBE.
  • At Carte Blanche you can have anything done from hair, brows and lashes to nails.
  • Luxe Beauty offers down to earth manicures and pedicures.
  • Waxing professionals can be found at the Nude salons.
  • After a bus ride to Repulse Bay you can relax at the beach in the South of Hong Kong Island.
  • Stanley Peninsula is also worth a trip and you can discover Stanley market.
  • On a day trip to Macau you will see the past Portuguese features and modern casinos right next to each other.