Hip in Hong Kong

A day in Hong Kong with LUXE City Guides

Heading to Hong Kong? Then get set for a round-the-clock sensory adventure. One of Asia’s financial powerhouses, this is a city that works hard and plays hard, and where shopping and dining are national sports. Big city lights, skyscrapers and thronging crowds juxtapose with miles of beaches, parkland, mountains and a harbour that takes centre stage. Whether in search of Michelin-starred fine diners or hawker stalls, the latest designer fashion or bargain-priced samples, art and culture or the great outdoors, you’ll find it at this metropolis that mixes old and new, East and West.

Breakfast among the wet markets

Start your day at one of the city’s open-air wet markets, along Gage St and Graham St in Central. Glistening piles of fruit and vegetables sit alongside live fish, prawns and other seafood, while animal carcasses hang from butchers’ hooks next to the colourful blooms of flower sellers. For a truly local breakfast, pull up a stool at old-timer Wai Kee Congee Shop (82 Stanley St, Central, Tel: 852 2551 5564) for a warming bowl of rice porridge or steamed rice noodles and fried dough sticks.

Get a tailor-made outfit

Hong Kong is famed for its cheap 24-hour tailors, but the quality can be questionable. Head instead to The Armoury, a sartorial destination for the city’s most dapper gents. It specialises in the bespoke and handmade, including Gaziano & Girling shoes from the UK and suits from venerable Hong Kong tailor W.W. Chan & Sons. Ladies in search of a traditional cheongsam should seek out Linva tailors (38 Cochrane St, Central, Tel: 852 2544 2456), where Mr Leung is the sifu, or master, of cheongsam makers.

Check out the burgeoning art scene

Thanks to the Hong Kong International Art Fair, the city has established itself as Asia’s premier contemporary art hub. There’s no need to wait until the next fair in May 2012 however, to get a taste of it. The Pedder Building (12 Pedder St, Central), where The Armoury is located, also houses blue chip international galleries Gagosian and Ben Brown Fine Arts, as well as Hanart T Z, but to get a handle on the local art scene, take a stroll along Hollywood Rd and its side streets, lined with galleries and antique stores. Keep an eye out for galleries such as Exit, Osage Soho, Schoeni and Grotto, the latter exclusively representing Hong Kong artists.

Lunch at the world’s first 3-Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant

Lung King Heen, the world’s first Chinese restaurant to receive 3 Michelin stars, is also known for its excellent dim sum. As you would expect from such a lofty establishment, the service is impeccable, the crockery refined, the bite-sized morsels delicious and the expansive harbour view a bonus. Be sure to order the abalone puff, crispy scallop and pear, and chef’s barbecue selection.

Get a traditional foot massage

Negotiating Hong Kong’s hilly terrain and uneven footpaths can take its toll on your feet, so be sure to make time for a reflexology treatment. One of the best places to get this traditional Chinese foot massage is at the simply named Foot, with its low-lit interiors and abundance of large and comfortable chairs. Remember: No pain, no gain – so sit back and let the skilled masseurs and masseuses work their magic on the pressure points of your soles.

Sail the harbour on a traditional Chinese junk

One of the great joys of visiting Hong Kong is sailing its harbour, especially on an iconic, traditional Chinese wooden junk, complete with red sails. Aqua Luna has 45-minute cruises that depart from Central or Tsim Sha Tsui and take you around the harbour. Each cruise includes a drink in the ticket price, and gives you an unrivalled perspective of the city’s skyline.

Sip cocktails alfresco, surrounded by the city’s skyscrapers

Hong Kong has experienced a boom in alfresco bars in recent years. Two of the hottest and most stylish new lounges to put on your must-try list are The Lawn at The Upper House, boasting a manicured stretch of lawn, a real rarity in this town, and huge timber-decked Armani/Prive, a collaboration between the prestigious fashion brand and local restaurant empire Aqua.

Enjoy a gourmet dinner at a counter

Some of the city’s most exciting dining experiences are to be found in small, hidden establishments, such as Liberty Private Works, located on the top floor of a high-rise with twinkly city views. Just 26 diners a night are seated around an island counter for chef Vicky Cheng’s 10-course gastronomic journey. Hong Kong-born Cheng worked at Chicago’s 3-Michelin-starred Alinea, and most recently at 3-Michelin-starred Daniel in New York, before returning to Hong Kong. The contemporary French-American menu changes seasonally, but may include decadent treats such as egg yolk raviolo with parmesan, truffle and caviar, or chocolate and caramel pudding with sea salt.

Sleep in a designer hospitality school hotel

The opening of Hotel Icon has caused a stir in Hong Kong’s hotel scene because of its high design ambitions, as well as its role as an on-the-job hospitality school. A number of Hong Kong’s foremost design talents were engaged, including architect Rocco Yim, as well as one of the world’s most influential design luminaries Sir Terence Conran. The result is a sleek and contemporary hotel in muted greens and earth tones, with many of the rooms boasting harbour views. While the location isn’t great, there are regular shuttles into Tsim Sha Tsui’s major retail and entertainment areas, and the young staff are eager to please.

So now you’re tuned-in to what’s hot in Hong Kong, hurry up and hop on over.

Coming up next month: What’s fab and happening in America’s arty-party beach destination, Miami.

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