Rosewood Hong Kong
For the ultra-luxe vibes
Hong Kong
HKG
Don’t expect to get culture–shocked by Hong Kong – the cosmopolitan hub known for its East–West personality split is easy to navigate and love. If your hometown has a Chinatown, chances are the Cantonese cuisine will be familiar comfort food (North America’s early Chinese immigrants hailed from here). When you’ve satisfied your appetite for shumai and skyscrapers, escape to the lush islands and fishing villages next door.
Where to Stay
Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island
For the downtown setting
Cordis Hong Kong
For the five-star shopping experience
Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin
For the active traveller
Tuve
For the minimalist design
The Peninsula Hong Kong
For old-school charm
Eat & Drink
Tate Dining Room and Bar
Vicky Lau serves ultra-refined French cuisine with an eight-“chapter” tasting menu at her Michelin-starred restaurant in Sheung Wan. Savour dishes like Ode to Paté en Croûte (made with fresh abalone and pork topped with Shaoxing wine jelly) and Ode to Chestnut Sago Soufflé (served with pu’er ice cream) in an intimate dining room, done up in muted pastels.
Vea Restaurant & Lounge
Score a counter seat and watch the action in chef Vicky Cheng’s open kitchen. The internationally celebrated chef – who studied classic French cooking in Toronto – combines Hong Kong flavours with French techniques to create dishes like roasted sea cucumber and female mud crab. Wash it all down with cocktails by award-winning bartender Antonio Lai.
Kau Kee
Don’t leave Hong Kong without trying a bowl of Kau Kee’s beef brisket with e-fu noodles. The lineup stretches out onto the street, but you won’t have to wait long. Expect to share a table with strangers (a common practice in old-style Chinese restaurants).
Yardbird
Show up early at no-reservations Yardbird if you want to be seated swiftly. That said, the yakitori, killer cocktails and KFC (Korean Fried Cauliflower) are well worth the wait.
Tim Ho Wan
One of the world’s most affordable Michelin-starred restaurants, Tim Ho Wan offers authentic, budget-friendly dim sum. Dig into their signature pork buns, loved for their soft yet crispy exterior and barbecued pork filling, or order the pork dumplings topped with goji berries and served with chili sauce. If you can’t make it there during your stay, grab a quick bite before your flight at their Airport Express location.
Stockton
This old-fashioned speakeasy is easy to miss. (Hint: Look for an unmarked entrance below Fish & Meat and walk down the short flight of stairs to a door lit by a single light bulb.) With 150 whisky varieties, it can be hard to make a selection, but the Hawtrey (gin, vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, Angostura bitters) is a standout.
Elephant Grounds
Elephant Grounds is one of the few coffee shops in Hong Kong that roasts its own beans. Pair your coffee with one of the café’s ice-cream sandwiches, made with cinnamon buns, waffles or oversized macarons. Check Instagram for the latest flavours.
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What to Do
The Mills
A cotton-spinning factory gets new life as a cultural complex that is part art gallery, part cultural institution and part shopping destination. Discover the roots of Hong Kong’s textile industry at the Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT); shop designer goods at B’IN Select; and let the kids run wild at the Big Things, a nature-themed indoor playground.
K11 Musea
Art meets retail in this Instagrammable shopping complex in the heart of the Victoria Dockside. Ten years in the making, the centre features international fashion houses like Chanel and Alexander McQueen, alongside public art exhibitions and cultural programming. After shopping, head to the on-site Nature Discovery Park, a biodiversity museum and education park.
Dragon’s Back
Take a break from the bustling city and hike Dragon’s Back, one of Hong Kong’s most popular walking routes. The trail is 8.5 km long and takes roughly four hours to complete. Enjoy views of Hong Kong Island, and finish your day with a picnic at Big Wave Bay.
Shanghai Tang
This upscale chain is the ultimate place to shop. Its four Hong Kong stores are full of bold coloured goods (handbags, leather-bound books, clothing) with an Asian twist. For a worth-it splurge, get something custom-made.
Tai O
Take a taxi, a ferry, or bus number 11 from Tung Chung Station to this small village on Lantau Island, best known for its stilt houses built over the water. Hop on a boat tour for a rare glimpse of pink dolphins, which start out black before turning a pinkish hue in adulthood.
Sneaker Street
Stock up on casual footwear, from sneakers and sandals to soccer cleats and golf shoes, on Sneaker Street. Visit Toronto Sport or Walker Shop for deep discounts and rare finds.
Sai Kung
Take a bus from Sha Tin or Choi Hung subway stations to this fishing village and spend a day enjoying Hong Kong’s oft-overlooked greenery. Hike a section of the MacLehose trail, rent a junk (boat) to a small outlying island, feast on an eye-popping selection of fresh seafood, then cap off the day with a treat at the original location of local mega-chain Honeymoon Dessert.
Broadway Cinematheque
One of Hong Kong’s only remaining art house theatre runs new releases and independent films from around the world, and hosts festivals throughout the year. After the show, browse the theatre’s bookstore, and have a rose latte at Kubrick Café.
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