Guidebook for Hong Kong

Amy
Guidebook for Hong Kong

Food Scene

Sits at the foot of the building right when you walk out, to the left. Small coffee shop with a neighborhood feel, has brews from all sorts of exciting, exotic locations and also serves quiet breakfast.
Happiness Single Coffee
1-6 Ying Wa Terrace
Sits at the foot of the building right when you walk out, to the left. Small coffee shop with a neighborhood feel, has brews from all sorts of exciting, exotic locations and also serves quiet breakfast.
Great little Italian restaurant and also well priced (hard to find in Hong Kong!) Good pizzas, calamari, pastas etc. 2 min walk from the apartment. Casual.
6 locals recommend
Pizzeria Italia
46 High St
6 locals recommend
Great little Italian restaurant and also well priced (hard to find in Hong Kong!) Good pizzas, calamari, pastas etc. 2 min walk from the apartment. Casual.
Very good Thai restaurant, very close by. Thai and Southeast Asian food in HK is generally good, I think this is standout and also right next to the apartment. If you like Coconut, you HAVE to try the Coconut ice cream desert they have there. It's out of this world.
Krua Walaiphan
64 High St
Very good Thai restaurant, very close by. Thai and Southeast Asian food in HK is generally good, I think this is standout and also right next to the apartment. If you like Coconut, you HAVE to try the Coconut ice cream desert they have there. It's out of this world.
In my opinion the best, most accessible, reliable and easy to visit Vietnamese restaurant in HK on the island. Also budget friendly. Try the Pho Tai, the suckling pig, fish salad rolls.
Bep in the Alley
Tsung Wing Lane
In my opinion the best, most accessible, reliable and easy to visit Vietnamese restaurant in HK on the island. Also budget friendly. Try the Pho Tai, the suckling pig, fish salad rolls.
If you can get a reservation at this upscale Dining Club, this is always my favorite place to take visitors for a classy night of Chinese. A bit touristy and full of bankers but you'll see why when you see the building, the dining rooms, the ambiance. Great rooftop bar.
China Club
Bank Street
If you can get a reservation at this upscale Dining Club, this is always my favorite place to take visitors for a classy night of Chinese. A bit touristy and full of bankers but you'll see why when you see the building, the dining rooms, the ambiance. Great rooftop bar.
Trendy place for Indonesian/ SEAsian fusion in the neighborhood. The food is decent but really come here for the vibe, and the Music Room in the back. If you really want to check that out make sure to call ahead and ensure it's open as it's not open every night.. but very cool scene if you can get there.
48 locals recommend
Potato Head Hong Kong
100 Third St
48 locals recommend
Trendy place for Indonesian/ SEAsian fusion in the neighborhood. The food is decent but really come here for the vibe, and the Music Room in the back. If you really want to check that out make sure to call ahead and ensure it's open as it's not open every night.. but very cool scene if you can get there.
Casual underground Mexican place just down the street. Can get kind of rowdy on the weekend ie fun. Dancing on tables, Shot chairs, etc. Pretty casual place too, decent food.
6 locals recommend
El Loco Gringo
49 Bonham Rd
6 locals recommend
Casual underground Mexican place just down the street. Can get kind of rowdy on the weekend ie fun. Dancing on tables, Shot chairs, etc. Pretty casual place too, decent food.
Mexican/ Japanese fusion restaurant that is more Mexican than Japanese. Great food, one of my favorite spots for an actual meal in HK. Ambiance is very relaxed though so don't come here if you're looking for a scene. Small restaurant, doesn't take reservations. Good for a date or small group.
17 locals recommend
CHINO
1B New Praya
17 locals recommend
Mexican/ Japanese fusion restaurant that is more Mexican than Japanese. Great food, one of my favorite spots for an actual meal in HK. Ambiance is very relaxed though so don't come here if you're looking for a scene. Small restaurant, doesn't take reservations. Good for a date or small group.
Bar and restaurant. Is pretty much always fun, you can come here anytime and have a good time and eat some good food. Fairly casual but I use this place often for drinks before dinner or just after dinner before heading "out out". Is also fun later in the night. Can eat dinner here too, tacos and the like. Good food. Try the Diablo cocktail.
24 locals recommend
Brickhouse
20A D'Aguilar St
24 locals recommend
Bar and restaurant. Is pretty much always fun, you can come here anytime and have a good time and eat some good food. Fairly casual but I use this place often for drinks before dinner or just after dinner before heading "out out". Is also fun later in the night. Can eat dinner here too, tacos and the like. Good food. Try the Diablo cocktail.
Decently solid Italian restaurant that stays also casual. I come often for dinner during the week, or casual dinner on weekends. Also good for weekend lunch.
18 locals recommend
Posto Pubblico
28 Elgin St
18 locals recommend
Decently solid Italian restaurant that stays also casual. I come often for dinner during the week, or casual dinner on weekends. Also good for weekend lunch.
Solid, slightly upscale Indian restaurant. Has been a HK staple for as long as I've lived here.
6 locals recommend
Bombay Dreams
46 Wyndham St
6 locals recommend
Solid, slightly upscale Indian restaurant. Has been a HK staple for as long as I've lived here.
HK staple for Japanese and sushi. Fun atmosphere. Can be casual or dressed up. Get the toro tartar.
Tokio Joe
16 Lan Kwai Fong
HK staple for Japanese and sushi. Fun atmosphere. Can be casual or dressed up. Get the toro tartar.
Fun, cool yakitori place. I always call ahead and have them hold Chicken Oysters for me bc they always run out by 7PM. Also recommend the Katsu sandwich and the chicken meatballs. Does not take reservations so be prepared for a couple drinks while you wait if you arrive after 7/7:30PM ish.
77 locals recommend
Yardbird
77 locals recommend
Fun, cool yakitori place. I always call ahead and have them hold Chicken Oysters for me bc they always run out by 7PM. Also recommend the Katsu sandwich and the chicken meatballs. Does not take reservations so be prepared for a couple drinks while you wait if you arrive after 7/7:30PM ish.
Awesome Japanese BBQ meat place. Not fancy but smart casual inside.
298 Nikuya Room
60 Stanley St
Awesome Japanese BBQ meat place. Not fancy but smart casual inside.
$$$ NY-style Italian place. Pricey, but very trendy and always packed with a cool scene.
Carbone Hong Kong
33 Wyndham St
$$$ NY-style Italian place. Pricey, but very trendy and always packed with a cool scene.
My favorite burger in HK. Hole in the wall location but it is awesome. Always get the double patty. Also has tots.
Burger Joys SYP
27-29 First St
My favorite burger in HK. Hole in the wall location but it is awesome. Always get the double patty. Also has tots.
Cool spot in Repulse Bay, Thai fusion for when you want to get away from Central. Trendy, usually pretty full so would call ahead for a table.
6 locals recommend
Limewood
28 Beach Rd
6 locals recommend
Cool spot in Repulse Bay, Thai fusion for when you want to get away from Central. Trendy, usually pretty full so would call ahead for a table.
Trendy, stylish Chinese-inspired restaurant. Beautiful interiors, only OK Chinese food, but people who don't know Chinese well may not mind. I have friends that go there just for the interiors. Is in the Tai Kwun complex so easy to go to Dragonfly for drinks first, then here for dinner. Still a good option for Chinese if you want something class and central and still trendy.
Madame Fu-Grand Cafe Chinois
blk 3 No.10 Hollywood Rd
Trendy, stylish Chinese-inspired restaurant. Beautiful interiors, only OK Chinese food, but people who don't know Chinese well may not mind. I have friends that go there just for the interiors. Is in the Tai Kwun complex so easy to go to Dragonfly for drinks first, then here for dinner. Still a good option for Chinese if you want something class and central and still trendy.
Trendy, hip but still tasty Indian restaurant. First opens into the bar Hugger Mugger, a great place to stop and have a drink first. Good option for an Indian restaurant to start off a fun Friday or Saturday night out.
Chaiwala
43-55號 Wyndham St
Trendy, hip but still tasty Indian restaurant. First opens into the bar Hugger Mugger, a great place to stop and have a drink first. Good option for an Indian restaurant to start off a fun Friday or Saturday night out.
Trendy Brazilian street food restaurant with a small bar. Always packed and playing light samba or bossa nova. Actually stocks passionfruit and you can get some decent caipirinhas.
6 locals recommend
Uma Nota
38 Peel St
6 locals recommend
Trendy Brazilian street food restaurant with a small bar. Always packed and playing light samba or bossa nova. Actually stocks passionfruit and you can get some decent caipirinhas.

Drinks & Nightlife

Great underground bar especially for gin lovers, but come here for any cocktails. Set in a large warehouse room which use to house ping pong practices, kind of hosts an artsier crowd than what you find in the rest of Central. Might be hard to find but it's not really that hard. I think the sign is in Chinese but go by the building number.
72 locals recommend
Ping Pong Gintonería
72 locals recommend
Great underground bar especially for gin lovers, but come here for any cocktails. Set in a large warehouse room which use to house ping pong practices, kind of hosts an artsier crowd than what you find in the rest of Central. Might be hard to find but it's not really that hard. I think the sign is in Chinese but go by the building number.
Super fun bar, a bit trendy. Sometimes has live music. Fun Sunday nights (if they're still running). Fun on weekends. Artsier crowd.
28 locals recommend
The Iron Fairies Hong Kong
1 Hollywood Rd
28 locals recommend
Super fun bar, a bit trendy. Sometimes has live music. Fun Sunday nights (if they're still running). Fun on weekends. Artsier crowd.
A bit out of the way but really cool scene especially before it goes late late night (maybe 10-1am is good). Very cool Susie Wong feeling bar in Asia. You'll see what I mean when you get there.
31 locals recommend
Ophelia
200 Queen's Rd E
31 locals recommend
A bit out of the way but really cool scene especially before it goes late late night (maybe 10-1am is good). Very cool Susie Wong feeling bar in Asia. You'll see what I mean when you get there.
This is a lounge/club at night. It's the It place to go right now. Always a fun time Thursday-Saturday. Turns into a bit of a meat market after 1am on the weekends but everybody still goes anyways.
12 locals recommend
Cassio
33號 Wyndham St
12 locals recommend
This is a lounge/club at night. It's the It place to go right now. Always a fun time Thursday-Saturday. Turns into a bit of a meat market after 1am on the weekends but everybody still goes anyways.
Has live jazz/ music a few nights of the week. Fun but casual DJ scene on the weekends. Artsy crowd. I like this place 10PM-1AM ish.
16 locals recommend
Salon Number 10
10號 Arbuthnot Rd
16 locals recommend
Has live jazz/ music a few nights of the week. Fun but casual DJ scene on the weekends. Artsy crowd. I like this place 10PM-1AM ish.
IF it's a clear night, worth going here for a drink and checking out the views over the race course. You won't regret stopping by.
80 locals recommend
Wooloomooloo Steakhouse (Wan Chai)
213 Johnston Rd
80 locals recommend
IF it's a clear night, worth going here for a drink and checking out the views over the race course. You won't regret stopping by.
Small speakeasy hidden down a short alley, usually with a bouncer standing outside. Fun scene.
12 locals recommend
The Old Man
12 locals recommend
Small speakeasy hidden down a short alley, usually with a bouncer standing outside. Fun scene.
Drop-dead beautiful bar, you will see when you get there. I recommend going before dinner, when it's a bit less crowded. Ask for a table in the main bar area, not outside. I have also been after dinner though and there sometimes is an electric harpist who was pretty awesome.
Dragonfly
10 Hollywood Rd
Drop-dead beautiful bar, you will see when you get there. I recommend going before dinner, when it's a bit less crowded. Ask for a table in the main bar area, not outside. I have also been after dinner though and there sometimes is an electric harpist who was pretty awesome.
Great, stylish and classy place for cocktails. Perfect for date night or to catch up with a friend. Not so great for groups. Dark, trendy, and stylish. Connected to Iron Fairies so could go to both. Behind an unmarked door but not too hard to find.
10 locals recommend
J. Boroski Hong Kong
Ezra's Lane
10 locals recommend
Great, stylish and classy place for cocktails. Perfect for date night or to catch up with a friend. Not so great for groups. Dark, trendy, and stylish. Connected to Iron Fairies so could go to both. Behind an unmarked door but not too hard to find.

Entertainment & Activities

Wednesday night horse races in Happy Valley. Casual. Pitchers of beer, pub food, etc. Worth seeing if you're in HK on a Wednesday and haven't been before.
12 locals recommend
Happy Valley Racecourse
Wong Nai Chung Road
12 locals recommend
Wednesday night horse races in Happy Valley. Casual. Pitchers of beer, pub food, etc. Worth seeing if you're in HK on a Wednesday and haven't been before.

Parks & Nature

My favorite "city beach" in HK, about 25-30 min in a taxi. Good sand here compared to other beaches. Can head here after hiking Dragon's Back.
24 locals recommend
Shek O
24 locals recommend
My favorite "city beach" in HK, about 25-30 min in a taxi. Good sand here compared to other beaches. Can head here after hiking Dragon's Back.
Best hiking trail for visitors, not too challenging and can be done in 1-1.5 hours. Parent friendly. Go on a clear day and you have awesome views of the south side of the island. Only half an hour by taxi to the trail start. Strongly recommend if it's the one thing you do outside in HK.
64 locals recommend
Dragon's Back
Dragon's Back
64 locals recommend
Best hiking trail for visitors, not too challenging and can be done in 1-1.5 hours. Parent friendly. Go on a clear day and you have awesome views of the south side of the island. Only half an hour by taxi to the trail start. Strongly recommend if it's the one thing you do outside in HK.
Hike for amazing views of HK but ONLY on a very clear day. You can see over Kowloon and across the harbor to Island. Not difficult but a few stairs, takes 1-1.5 hours. But also takes another hour to get to the trail itself.
13 locals recommend
Lion Rock
15 Chuk Yuen Rd
13 locals recommend
Hike for amazing views of HK but ONLY on a very clear day. You can see over Kowloon and across the harbor to Island. Not difficult but a few stairs, takes 1-1.5 hours. But also takes another hour to get to the trail itself.
For any surf/ waves when it's a little stormy. Small beach, can get crowded though. Right next to Shek O.
27 locals recommend
Big Wave Bay Beach
27 locals recommend
For any surf/ waves when it's a little stormy. Small beach, can get crowded though. Right next to Shek O.

Sightseeing

Take the Aqualuna night boat around the harbor - they sell tickets for every 45 min. You get to see both skylines and also chill with a drink on a nice boat. Nicer thing to do before dinner or something vs taking the ferry with the transit crowds back and forth.
Aqualuna Central Pier 9
Take the Aqualuna night boat around the harbor - they sell tickets for every 45 min. You get to see both skylines and also chill with a drink on a nice boat. Nicer thing to do before dinner or something vs taking the ferry with the transit crowds back and forth.
Great loop for a run with incredible views. My favorite time to go is at night, it's like a movie set.
Peak Road
Peak Road
Great loop for a run with incredible views. My favorite time to go is at night, it's like a movie set.

Arts & Culture

38 locals recommend
Tai Kwun - Centre for Heritage and Arts
10 Hollywood Rd
38 locals recommend

Shopping

I go to the produce section of this market for vegetables and fruit. There are several larger sections, feel free to wander around the meats and fish areas too (though I've never bought there).
Centre Street Market
44 Centre St
I go to the produce section of this market for vegetables and fruit. There are several larger sections, feel free to wander around the meats and fish areas too (though I've never bought there).