Far-flung Hong Kong
GENERAL INFO
- Cabs are cheap and affordable in HK and kind of worth it (personally) if you're going from HK to Kowloon, however, it's probably better the take the MTR (subway) or the Star Ferry (from Central). Both are very affordable and the MTR is easily one of the cleanest and most efficient in the world. Don't tip! They don't expect it and you shouldn't do it.
- Reservations are good. My mom and brother always give be loads of crap because I never want to make reservations but I reckon its mostly because I'm not one for planning.
- HK is really safe and I've never felt uncomfortable or in danger in my life. All the same, don't be stupid and wander off with some sketchy guy. Dirty old white guys are the real icky in HK as are the US marines, if they're in town. They're mean and drunk and assume everyone in HK is a prostitute for them. Blech.
- 99 percent of restaurants in HK make add a 10% service charge to the check, so tipping is a little different. Typically, it's HKD50-100 for lunch (depending, obviously) and HKD100-150 for dinner (again, that's for a mid-range price)
- IFC in Central is right above the Airport express that takes you from the airport to hk in 23 minutes and is a huge mall with great restaurants. Definitely worth a bit of a wander.
- Everyone understands English just fine. But, for good measure: MMM-goy = thanks/"um, excuse me?"/please, i.e. "Central ferry terminal, mm-goy." Or "mm-goy, how much is this?" or, in response to someone opening a door for you, "mm goy!"
EATING
So, you really can't go wrong with most places in Hong Kong. I'd generally stay away from all things Mexican and/or American places in SoHo. But tapas, Italian, international, etc is all pretty OK.
On the topic of SoHo, there's loads of places around there that are cute with good food and great drinks. There are a billion places I'm missing out on, I'm sure. And I haven't included too many high end places, but I feel like HK high-end is like high-end dining anywhere in the world, so focus on good local food like dim sum, seafood and other local specialties.
DimSum - only served for brunch (about 9am-2pm, busiest on weekends)
- City Hall (Central) has a great restaurant that's very famous but you have to get there early before the crowds arrive (probably 1030 to be safe).
- Zen (Pacific Place Mall, Admiralty) is more high end, probably just as noisy, but more English speaking people and still very good. Will cost slightly more because it's a bit more posh.
Chinese
- Yung Kee (Lan Kwai Fong, Central) this is a bit of a HK institution and they are very famous for their roast goose, duck and noodles. Can get crazy busy, but it totally worth it.
- Hutong (Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon) – I know I said Kowloon sucks, but this place is really beautiful and you have fantastic sweeping views of HK harbor because it's on the top floor of a tall building. The food for me is just ok, but there's one dish that's crab or shrimp or something stir-fried with hot peppers. It's SO SPICY but its really good. It's pricey here, but worth a trip for the view.
- Rainbow Seafood Restaurant (Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma) I used to go here with huge groups of people and we'd pick out our seafood and eat and drink beer for hours and never end up paying much. It's a ferry ride to an outlying island and another one back, and you can pick up the ferry from Central. It's a little ghetto but fun and a little different. You don't have to go to this place, they're all pretty much the same.
Other good food:
- Korean - Sorabol (Lee Gardens Plaza, Causeway Bay) this is where all the local Koreans go for Korean BBQ. My brother swears its better in K-town in NYC, but I thought I'd throw it in there.
- Thai - Chilli n Spice (Causeway Bay) there are actually many locations I think, but this one is underneath my mom's house, so I always go here. I get the same thing here every time I come, so I don't really know how the rest of the food is, but the Curried Crab is ^&*( unbelievable. It's messy and you'll probably get cut and covered in sauce, but it's epically good.
- Japanese - Nadaman (Island Shangri-la Hotel) I've never been, but my mom says it's really good. It's damn expensive apparently.
Afternoon Tea
I take afternoon tea very seriously, but I've thrown some different afternoon tea options in here.
- The Pennisula Hotel (Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon) is very famous for their afternoon tea, but I haven't been in years because.. well, it's it Kowloon
- The Mandarin Oriental (Central – the main one, not the Landmark one) this is my favorite place in the world for afternoon tea because they have luscious scones and rose petal jam which is divine.
- Marriott Hotel (Admiralty) has an awesome afternoon tea buffet with everything from sushi to dimsum to salad to quiche to desserts
- Grand Hyatt Hotel (Wan Chai) is a really beautiful hotel and they have a very famous dessert buffet. I've never been but I imagine it's excellent.
NIGHTLIFE
Several hot areas for nightlife in Hong Kong and I've listed these places by neighborhood as best I can, but Lan Kwai Fong (LKF), SoHo, Hollywood Rd are all very close to each other in Central so I've kind of just lumped them together.
CENTRAL
- Lan Kwai Fong in general is a street devoted to bars and clubs, so feel free to just wander. You're expected to spull out into the streets with your drinks and be loud. Wander and be free.
- Meanwhile, SoHo and the areas above/surrounding the LKF area are FILLED with tucked away bars and clubs (some are very exclusive and hip but I would need to actually take you there for you to find it), either way, wander around that area (or if you had dinner in SoHo, walk down the escalators to Hollywood Rd and just follow the crowds) and you'll be fine.
- Dragon-i (upper LKF) there's a vip list, it's pretentious and on Wednesday night it's "model night" seriously. But, it's always a pretty popular place and whenever celebs are in HK they go there (Rolling Stones, David Beckham, Shaq) so it's worth a trip. If you go earlier in the day, they do dim sum. I've never been but I have poser friends that say its good. Who knows?
WAN CHAI
- If you hop in a cab and say Joe Bananas, you'll be taken to the part of Wan Chai with the bars. Joe Bananas is famous because there are so many US sailors that come in and pick up hookers there (and all around Wan Chai). Wan Chai isn't as glam or posh as LKF/SoHo and is generally filled with boisterious Brits and drunken old fat white guys with little Filippino women. THAT BEING SAID, I like Wan Chai a bit more because I like dive-y pubs/bars.
HAPPY VALLEY
- There's the horse races are on at the Happy Valley racecourse every Wednesday night and kind of fun to check out. They stop for the summer because it's too hot for the horses, but I don't know if they stop in May or June.
TSIM SHA TSUI
- The waterfront/promenade is nice and chill and you can catch some amazing views of the HK skyline – there is a laser light show every night at 9pm with music, at least I think there is it might still be there. Either way it's pretty cool to walk around at night.
- Ignore the Indian guys looking to (1) tell your fortune or (2) make you a suit. Just like the crazy people in NYC, if you ignore them they'll go away.
- Also, if you don't feel like walking around and want to sit and drink and enjoy the view, the Inter-Continental hotel is on the waterfront and has AWESOME views of the skyline from the coffee shop
NIGHT MARKETS IN KOWLOON
For both places keep an eye on your money. It's crowded and with all the bumping you never know.
- Temple Street Night Market, near the Jordan MTR station in Kowloon – it's several blocks long and has stalls with everything you never needed. Bargain like a maniac and don't expect high quality stuff. Starts at 9pm? Something like that.
- Ladies' Market near Mong Kok MTR station stretches along Tung Choi Street between Argyle and Dundas streets. Filled with random crap too. Apparently not quite as touristy as the Temple Street Night Market, is open during the day, but still better at night.
SIGHTS
- The Peak has great views of HK, good day or night, try hard to go on a clear day. For fun, count the number of luxury cars you see on the way up, HK has the highest number of Rolls Royces per capita, many of the rich live on the Peak and there's only one road up. You can take the tram, but I think it's over priced and kind of stupid. There's a bit of shopping and food up there as well, so it's not a trip just for the view, although, it'd be worth it either way.
- There's a big Buddha sitting on the top of a hill somewhere in HK. I don't know the specifics because I've never been but I heard it's neat. I'm sure your hotel will be able to give you more info.
- Stanley market is another market, it's not as big and it's a little overrun with tourists but it's on the southside of HK island and you can see the quasi "suburbs" of hong kong. Don't forget to bargain! There's lots of cute bars you can sit at and have a drink while the sunsets along the beach.
SHOPPING
- High end: The Landmark (Central), IFC Mall (Central waterfront)
- Mid-range: Pacific Place (Admiralty), Times Square (Causeway Bay)
- ... Street markets are available for everything else!
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