Where to eat

‘Sun Hing Restaurant (Sai Wan, Smithfield, 8號, Markfield Building, 地下): A dim sum restaurant that begins service at 3am – for the party goers or the early birds – and is always my go-to place after being away. The lau sa bau (molten egg custard bun) is the absolute best. Genuine Lamma Hilton Fishing Village Restaurant (Lamma Island) is super friendly. It has tables along a now-defunct pier where you can enjoy a beer and the freshest seafood to the sound of breaking waves.’
Emily Hyde, Associate Gallery & Project Manager

‘If you’re craving Japanese food, head to Yakiniku Great (255 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan): They have the best Japanese barbecue in town, with A5 wagyu beef.’
Anaïs Chu, VIP Relations Manager Asia

‘At Hansik Goo (1/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan), Chef Mingoo Kang makes magic with his contemporary fine-dining interpretation of Korean culinary traditions. I also love the paintings by Chung Chang-sup and Lee Bae and the fabric installation by Jeong Hyunji, which create a beautiful, meditative atmosphere.’
Patricia Li, Regional Head of Marketing & Communications Asia

Where to drink

‘The Diplomat (Shop 1, LG/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central) is a cute speakeasy with delightful cocktails and a secret party room. For a dry martini, I stop by ARGO (Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central).’
Anaïs Chu

‘Bar Leone (11–15 Bridges Street, Central) serves the best classic cocktails in town: This Italian-style neighborhood bar took the top spot in a poll of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2024. The Green Door (G/F, 97 Wellington Street, Central) is a speakeasy-style bar hidden in Central. I love its interior of underground arches and pillars and it serves great cocktails and classic American bar snacks making it a regular haunt. Bad Coffee & Liquor Club (Shop 19, G/F, Alhambra Building, 385 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei) is a cafe by day and bar by night. Try their creative concoctions made with iconic Hong Kong ingredients not often found in cocktails!’
Patricia Li

Where to dance

‘My favorite nightlife hotspots are Dragon i (The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central), Quality Goods Club (On Lok House, 39–43 Hollywood Road, Central), and 宀 Club (pronounced ‘mihn’) (4F, 279–81 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan): You can do all three in one night to experience the different vibes Hong Kong has to offer.’
Anaïs Chu

‘I also love 宀Club : They have local and international underground DJs who often light up the dance floor with electronic music, house, or techno. They occasionally host exhibitions for emerging local artists, too.’ 
Patricia Li

Where to shop

‘The Lion Rock Press (10th Floor, Unit 1005, Arion Commercial Centre, 2–12 Queen’s Road W, Sheung Wan) carries its own line of products and cards, with a healthy line in dad jokes. In local craft markets, you’ll find work by the city’s artists celebrating weird and wonderful aspects of Hong Kong.’ 
Emily Hyde

‘MIDWAY shop (132B Ki Lung Street, Sham Shui Po) is a haven of distinct minimalist Japanese aesthetics, full of objects that the founders Pan and Rita have discovered on their travels. As for Jiksap (9/F, Block A, On Lok Factory Building, 90 Kowloon City Road, To Kwa Wan), it is a true treasure trove for any lover of vintage furniture and objects. The owner has amassed one of the best collections in the city and can tell you the story behind every single piece.’
Patricia Li

Where to hike

‘I love a hike that takes in relics from Hong Kong’s past. An easy one is to Pinewood Battery just off Victoria Peak, or to the very poignant Wartime Stoves on Mount Parker. For something more adventurous off Hong Kong island, consider Devil’s Peak where the British built two gun batteries and a redoubt. They are overgrown now but are still explorable, and totally fascinating.’
Emily Hyde

‘Climb to the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir: You’ll see many small islands seemingly floating in the water, which were once hills before the Tai Lam Chung Valley was flooded. An easy and popular trail.’
Patricia Li

Your favorite cha chaan teng

Cheung Hing Coffee Shop (9 Yik Yam Street, Happy Valley)

‘They have the best pineapple buns in town (bo lo bau). There is no pineapple in them despite the name, just sugar crackling on top.’
Emily Hyde

‘I would go to this diner or cha chaan teng with my parents every week for Sunday breakfast. Open since 1951, it still boasts wooden booths, retro-patterned floor tiles, and a timber window frame shopfront. My favorite things to order would be a pineapple bun (with a slab of butter for the uninitiated), or a sandwich of pan-fried luncheon meat with scrambled eggs, with Hong Kong-style milk tea (unsweetened).’
Patricia Li

Best place to catch the sunset

‘On Lamma Island, you can sit quietly, surrounded by nature, or sip a cocktail at one of the many restaurants and bars. You can even catch great views of the sunset from the ferry if you time it right!’
Sonya Yeung, Regional Head of Gallery Relations Asia

‘Repulse Bay Beach is a dreamy spot. It still exudes the romance and nostalgia portrayed in the Chinese novella Love in a Fallen City (1943) by Eileen Chang. I love the Tai O Promenade where you’ll see the sun disappearing behind the stilt houses and fishing boats, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.’
Patricia Li

Hidden gems

‘Sai Kung, For nature, hiking, and seafood, a weekend trip to the country park is a great way to see a very different side of Hong Kong. There is a UNESCO Global Geopark where you can kayak around towering basalt column formations, similar to those on our HKD 500 bill!’
Emily Hyde

‘Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung is an off-the-beaten-track, long, wide beach with great waves to play and even surf in. It’s quite a journey to get there and can include a boat trip and/or a hike but it’s well worth it!’
Sonya Yeung

‘The Foo Tak Building (365–67 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai) is a Chinese tenement building that was originally a residential block, but now most of the 14 floors are taken up by artists, designers, and a gallery space. The building is managed by Art and Culture Outreach which also runs a bookshop on the top floor. The Ping Shan Heritage Trail winds through a few Hakka villages in the northern part of Hong Kong, where you can glimpse the life of 13th-century clan settlers and see a lesser-known side of Hong Kong’s history.’
Patricia Li

Top tip for first-time visitors

‘Ride the double-decker tram from one end of Hong Kong Island to the other, and take in the streets throughout different neighborhoods to get a good grasp of what Hong Kong looks like. Last but not least, bring local currency! Taxis and smaller restaurants are still cash-only.’
Patricia Li