Saturday, July 23, 2011

HONG KONG

BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM, JUICE & TEA
Pacific Coffee – 128 Peak Road, Unit G10 (Victoria Peak, in Peak Tower, Level G); 011-852-2849-6608; pacificcoffee.com/eng; chain with numerous locations.
Upper House – 88 Pacific Place (Queensway, at Upper House Hotel); 011-86-852-2918-1838; upperhouse.com; for elegant afternoon tea on roof; tremendous views.
Verandah – 109 Repulse Bay Road (Repulse Bay); 011-852-2292-2822; therepulsebay.com/en/dining; in colonial building, with tremendous ocean views; good for tea.



BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
Dragon-i – 60 Wyndham Street (Central, at the Centrium); 011-86-852-3110-1222; dragon-i.com.hk; stunning interior design, beautiful wait people; dynamic nightspot featuring eats, cocktails, DJs & Vegas showgirl-style dancers since 1967; must visit bar.
Habitat Lounge – 202 Queens Road East, 29th Floor (Wan Chai, at QRE Plaza); 011-86-852-2907-0888; venuerific.com/hk/venues/the-habitat-lounge; relaxed & stylish, with stunning harbor views; creative cocktails.
Lily & Bloom – 33 Wyndham Street; 011-86-852-2810-6166; lily-bloom.com; excellent for creative cocktails & lounge atmosphere; food not worth much.
M Bar – 5 Connaught Road Central (Central, at Mandarin Oriental); 011-86-852-2825-4002; mandarinoriental.com/hong-kong/victoria-harbour/fine-dining/bars/m-bar; spectacular atmosphere & views.
Ozone Bar – 1 Austin Road West (at International Commerce Center, 118th Floor [Ritz Carlton Hotel]); 011-86-852-2263-2270; hong-kong-hotels.ws/nightlife/ozone-bar.htm; tremendous view.
Pawn – 62 Johnston Road (Wan Chai); 011-86-852-2866-3444; thepawn.com.hk; take unmarked staircase up to renovated pawn-shop gastropub with balconies for people-watching; must visit, if only for cocktails.
Sevva – 10 Chater Road (Prince Building, 25th Floor); 011-86-852-2537-1388; sevva.hk; bar-restaurant; for views.
Tazmania Ballroom – 3 Wyndham Street (Central, at 1/F LKF Tower); 011-86-852-2801-5009; tazmaniaballroom.com/main.html; lounge & pool hall.
208 Duecento Otto – 208 Hollywood Road (Tai Ping Shan); 011-86-852-2549-0208; 208.com.hk; rustic Italian bar & restaurant.
Woods – 17 Hollywood Road (Central); 011-86-852-2522-0281; thewoods.hk/about; at long, narrow staircase bottom, where glass partition rolls back; lighting subdued; interior intimate; laser-cut wood menu reflects well-sourced, elaborate and individual cocktails.



HOTELS
Conrad Hong Kong – 88 Queensway (Hong Kong Island, Pacific Place); 011-86-852-2521-3838; conradhotels.com; 40 stories above Victoria Harbor; good, conveniently-located, business clientele hotel that’s been in Hong Kong since 1990; reliable, great views; connected to Pacific Place, high-end mall above Admiralty MTR station, one stop from Central (in cool seasons, can walk to Central on elevated walkways that connect the city); next to Hong Kong Park, which makes it ideal for early morning strolls & access to Peak Tram; renovated in 2010; pleasant heated outdoor pool with cabanas & 24-hour gym, with sauna & steam rooms; rooms are situated from floors 40-58 & views are either of harbor or Peak (1st-time visitors tend to choose harbor but Peak view is impressive) and are pleasantly comfortable, with unusually large bathrooms; Chinese restaurant Golden Leaf has 1 Michelin star & Nicholini’s is among best Italian restaurants in Hong Kong.
Fleming – 41 Fleming Road (Wan Chi); 011-86-852-3607-2288; thefleming.com/en; 66 rooms; high ceilings & indulgent bathrooms; ergonomic office chairs; avoid going when conventions in full throttle; executive suites worth upgrade; good restaurants; whereas most of Hong Kong hotels follow approach, Fleming does it refreshingly differently; drawing inspiration from Star Ferry, it goes all out with highly conceptual design referencing Hong Kong of yore; throughout hotel, brass fittings & nautical-themed furnishings.
Four Seasons – 8 Finance Street (Central); 011-86-852-3196-8888; fourseasons.com/hongkong; award-winning hotel with Michelin-starred restaurants, spectacular views & general aura of monied exclusivity; has its own entrance to International Finance Centre (IFC) mall, which links, by walkway, to Central Ferry Piers, Central Business District, Central-Mid-Levels escalator & Macau ferry terminal; also above Airport Express & Central MTR station; dazzling – huge glass lobby; light from harbor’s reflection is feature in all restaurants; constant sense of water, and not just from fountain – hotel has superb infinity pool with underwater music & great spa; as well as infinity pool, there’s lap pool, plunge pool & whirlpool; staff will organize tours (including culinary & artistic); if you really want to spoil yourself, upgrade to Executive Club for even more attention, plus free dining, in 45th floor lounge; 399 crisply decorated, bright rooms, including 54 suites; book harbor-view room; all bathrooms have deep baths & walk-in showers; 4 places to dine & 2 bars; Lung King Heen was world’s 1st Chinese restaurant to earn 3 Michelin stars (which it still has); Caprice has 2 Michelin stars & amazing décor; it’s like dining inside a particularly sumptuous jewelry box; book ahead for both.
Inter-Continental – 18 Salisbury Road (Kowloon, Victoria Harbor); 011-86-852-2721-1211; intercontinental.com; on stilts; red granite Kowloon tower; at 1st glance hotel, built in 1980, could be large office block; once inside, however, pervasive sense of water & light gives it luxurious liner feel (in infinity spa pools, you can start to think you’re actually in harbor); windows in lobby are 3 stories high: on clear evenings when city’s Symphony of Lights laser show begins at 8 pm, it’s like private performance; 5 superb restaurants: Rech, Michelin-starred seafood restaurant by Alain Ducasse; Yan Toh Heen, which serves Cantonese cuisine (2 Michelin-stars); NOBU; Steak House & Harbourside; for pre or-post-dinner cocktail, try historically themed #852TAILS in Lobby Lounge (852 is Hong Kong’s IDD code).
Island Shangri-La – Supreme Court Road (Queensway, at Pacific Place); 011-86-852-2877-3838; shangri-la.com/hongkong/islandshangrila; 10-minute walk east across Hong Kong park from Peak Tram base.
Landmark Mandarin Oriental – 15 Queen’s Road (Central); 011-86-852-2132-0188; mandarinoriental.com/hong-kong/the-landmark/luxury-hotel; boutique-sized urban sanctuary, with just 113 guest rooms; at Hong Kong’s business & shopping district epicenter; covered walkways radiate off to all corners of Central; Central MTR station is directly beneath mall; can walk from hotel to Airport Express at Hong Kong station without ever leaving air-conditioned environment; sleek entrance to hotel, all polished wood & curves, is supposed to resemble yacht; small reception area has fragrant air of boudoir & is lined with fashion tomes; feels discreet & secluded; 18-meter, heated indoor swimming pool, decent-sized gym & weekly schedule of yoga & Pilates classes; some of biggest guest rooms (& bathrooms) in city; 2-Michelin-star restaurant Amber; no open view but Hong Kong nightscape is dazzling & all rooms have 48" (55" in suites) television screens.
Langham – 8 Peking Road (Kowloon); 011-86-852-2375-1133; langhamhotels.com; open since 1865; manages to combine flavor of 2 lost empires: décor harks back to Victorian-era London & flagship restaurant, named after Tang dynasty, serves some of the world’s best Cantonese food; because of its utterly urban location, does not have memorable views, so it cannily makes most of its interiors (worth spending more to go higher-grade, i.e., above darker Superior-level rooms, which means entering world of white shutters, dazzling bathrooms, pastel carpets & cushions, Wedgewood china, Nespresso machines & even (fake) fireplaces beneath marble mantelpieces; most comfortable beds in Hong Kong.
Mandarin Oriental – 5 Connaught Road (Central); 011-86-852-2522-0111; mandarinoriental.com/hong-kong/victoria-harbour/luxury-hotel; at heart of Hong Kong, both socially & geographically, since 1963; with its faultless service, fantastic location, effervescent atmosphere, superb spa & some of most gorgeous dining rooms in Asia, channels city’s glamorous past & present like no other; flanked by some of Hong Kong’s most recognizable buildings, including Sir Norman Foster’s HSBC building, I.M. Pei’s Bank of China & colonnades & octagonal dome of colonial-era Legislative Council building; within few minutes’ walk of front door, Star Ferry, Central MTR subway station & Airport Express train (where you can also check-in your luggage up to 24 hours before your flight); guest list reads like late 20th Century Who’s Who – Beatles, Beyoncé, Andy Warhol, Venus Williams, Clintons – while wonderful restaurants, must-do art & cultural events keep firmly in eye of Hong Kong’s whirlwind social scene; soak up silken atmosphere with seat in lobby, like honeyed film set with cast of 100s swirling between walls of gleaming black & champagne marbles, golden screens & glittering chandeliers; service is impeccable (many of staff have been with hotel for decades, including concierge Danny, who has been charming guests for 45 years); at Mandarin Spa, try Imperial Jade ritual with its sesame scrub, chi-enhancing massage & jade-roller facial; indoor swimming pool, 24-hour gym, & traditional wooden junk for sojourns around Hong Kong’s mesmerizing coast; 499 rooms are done out in misty shades of grey & gold, with classy artworks of old Hong Kong & sweeps of glossy black lacquer wood; entry-level rooms are overlooked by offices but further up you’ll find views of Statue Square & Victoria Harbor; all have marble bathrooms with television screens hidden in wall, silk robes & Bottega Veneta amenities; 3 Michelin star restaurants; Man Wah serves Cantonese classics like dim sum & Peking duck, next door is Pierre’s for French fine dining, while downstairs, Grill produces celestial fish & meats amid smouldering interiors designed by Sir Terence Conran; for famous Hong Kong skyline, head to M Bar after dark.
Murray – 22 Cotton Tree Drive (Central); 011-86-852-3141-8888; niccolohotels.com/TheMurray/HongKong‎; soaring entrance arches set scene for this landmark’s dramatic transformation from 1960s-era offices into high-end hotel; great views & clever use of space; opposite St. John’s Cathedral, which was built in 1840s at historic heart of British-colonial Hong Kong, in area comprising Central Business District; views are dominated architecture, including Norman Foster’s still stunning nuts-&-bolts HSBC headquarters; Peak Tram & Hong Kong Park are both within strolling distance, connected by short underpasses (10-minute uphill walk from Central MTR (nearest public transit stop), so bring flat shoes); 1960s former government building – set between 2 major roads – into surprisingly peaceful retreat; conservation constraints, which included preserving magnificent old tree in forecourt, have worked in guests’ favor; combination of natural light, greenery & unusual spaciousness showcase imaginative use of heritage; original building design included windows set on slant to protect toiling civil servants from direct sunlight; half century later, that quirk means all rooms have at least 2 large windows, plus desk area, which hotel guests – not just bureaucrats – will appreciate; generous bathrooms; given Hong Kong’s traffic, it’s remarkably quiet & blackout screens ward off light pollution; guests looking for even more space can choose from 4 floors of suites.
Peninsula – Salisbury Road (Kowloon); 011-86-852-2920-2888; peninsula.com; European-style décor in neo-classical property; open since 1928; 300 rooms; ask for corner suite.
Ritz-Carlton – 1 Austin Road West (Kowloon, at International Commerce Center); 011-86-852-2263-2263; ritzcarlton.com; highest hotel in world, on floors 102-118 (with swimming pool on 118th floor); stupendous panorama of Hong Kong island, Kowloon & loop of harbor that separates two; gaspworthy rooms (probably one of few hotels in world where you walk over to your window, then take stunned step back).
Rosewood Hongkong – 18 Salisbury Road (Tsim Sha Tsui, Victoria Dockside); 011-86-852-3891-8888; rosewoodhotels.com/en/hong-kong; 12-minute walk from Hung Hom railway station; posh luxury hotel overlooking Kowloon Harbor; with both city & harbor views, polished rooms & suites provide Bose sound systems, Nespresso machines & minibars, plus flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi & marble bathrooms with free-standing baths; sleek restaurant & bar, as well as bakery & lounge; outdoor pool with views of harbor.
Upper House – 88 Queensway (Admiralty, at Pacific Place); 011-86-852-2918-1838; theupperhouse.grandluxuryhotels.com; understated, residential calmness: bamboo enclosures, limestone & lacquer-papered panels, natural timbers, shoji glass, & water pools; sleek, 117-room stopover adored by international road-warriors; sits on top of Pacific Place, glossy shopping complex in Admiralty (one MTR stop from Central and one cross-harbor stop from Tsim Sha Tsui); Hong Kong Park is nearby, as is Peak Tram; tiny gym (what guests come for is 21st Century understated luxury, which includes in-room check-in, combined with more old-school level of service); huge bathrooms are exhibitionist’s dream: wry notice warns that at night view through windows “may be two-way”; 1 restaurant, Café Gray Deluxe, which serves exceptional European food with slight Asian tang.
W Hong Kong – 1 Austin Road West (Kowloon); 011-86-852-3717-2992; whotelsasia.com/en/w-hong-kong.




RESTAURANTS
Aqua Rome & Aqua Tokyo – 1 Peking Road (Tsim Sha Tsui, in Shopping Arcade on 29th & 30th floors); 011-86-852-3427-2288; aqualuna.com.hk; über-chic modern dining room & towering, panoramic harbor views are stunning, but cuisine—half Japanese, half Italian—is just as bold, with structural integrity that gives vistas run for their money; standout dishes on “Roma” half of menu include several excellent risotti; as to “Tokyo” offerings, salt-grilled black cod & steamed king prawns with green chile-yuzu sauce are must-tries; upstairs bar is swanky place for after-dinner Aquatinis (made with Absolut vodka, lychee liqueur, Chambord & gold leaves) but hefty minimum charge means to discourage anyone sneaking in for quick peek.
Bo Innovation – 60 Johnston Road (Wan Chai); 011-86-852-2850-8371; boinnovation.com; 3 Michelin-stars; Alvin Leung celebrates Hong Kong’s culture, traditions & people here, from kitchen façade inspired by typhoon shelters of Aberdeen Harbour to graffiti walls that illustrate his journey; each vibrant dish comes with its own story & blends strong Chinese techniques with subtle French influences; ingredients are superb & flavors are clearly defined & memorable; one could try Chinese pork sausage ice cream.
China Tang – 15 Queen’s Road (Central, at Landmark Atrium, 4th Floor); 011-86-852-2522-2148; chinatang.hk; Sir David Tang’s Hong Kong version of his London, Dorchester outpost; classic Cantonese & Sichuan dishes like golden prawns with salted egg yolks & traditional roasted duck; sumptuous East-meets-West decor features Deco-mirrored entry, hand-embroidered wallpaper & eclectic books.
Din Tai Fung – 30 Canton Road (Tsim Sha Tsui, 3rd Floor); 011-86-852-2730-6928; dintaifungusa.com; excellent café chain that elevates street food into something elegant; try xiaolong bao (soup dumplings).
Fook Lam Moon – 35/45 Johnston Road (Wan Chai); 011-86-852-2866-0663; fooklammoon-grp.com; more elegant than usual dim sum; go-to tycoons’ canteen.
Hong Kong Yung Kee Restaurant – 32-40 Wellington Street (Central); 011-86-852-2522-1624; yungkee.com.hk; famous for its goose; most people go here minute they deplane or just prior to take goose on flight; roast goose here, made from fowl raised in restaurant’s farm & roasted in coal-fired ovens, has been talk of town since 1942, thanks to special sauce; light & aromatic, meaty gravy served with yellow beans marinated in Chinese 5 spice.
Hutong Restaurant – 1 Peking Road (Kowloon, Shopping Arcade, 28th Floor); 011-86-852-3428-8342; hutong.com.hk/experience; for harbor view from Kowloon side, truly lovely; order “Beggar’s Chicken” (breaking open hardened clay with small hammer is part of fun).
Ka Ho Restaurant – 328 Queen’s Road (Central, Sheung Wan); 011-86-852-2815-8133; facebook.com/pages/Ka-Ho-Restaurant-嘉豪酒家/621857841562365; for lunch; popular for dim sum.
Lung King Heen – 8 Finance Street (Central, at Four Seasons Hotel); 011-86-852-3196-8888; fourseasons.com/hongkong/dining/restaurants/lung_king_heen; 3 Michelin stars; considered among world’s top 50 restaurants; for many, roast Peking duck alone is reason enough to dine here; Chef Chan Yan Tak is Cantonese cuisine master & his repertoire is extensive, so consider ordering Chef’s Tasting Menu; wok-fried wagyu with morels & peppers & simmered lobster in crystal sauce are just 2 specialities; superb ingredients, flawless cooking & tantalizing flavor combinations are his hallmarks; ask for window table for harbor views.
Pawn – 62 Johnston Road (Wan Chai); 011-86-852-2866-3444; thepawn.com.hk; gastropub; 3-story building dates to 1888; British classics; dine on rooftop, if possible; Hong Kong’s best kept secret.
Ta Pantry – 1A Star Street(Wan Chai, entrance on Electric Street, walk through Maison ES entrance); 011-86-852-2521-8121; ta-pantry.com/private-dining/; this is “private restaurant” (run out of home); most “homelike” among Hong Kong’s “private restaurants”; run by former model & her wine-importer brother; unexpectedly excellent.
Pierre – 15 Queen’s Road (Central, at Landmark Mandarin Oriental); 011-86-852-2825-4001; mandarinoriental.com/hong-kong/victoria-harbour/fine-dining/restaurants/french-cuisine/pierre; chef is Pierre Gagnaire, godfather of fusion; he has created Hong Kong menu that reflects his French roots but uses bold, contemporary techniques; result is dishes such as pâté with French-bean ice cream, or beef entrecôte with sweet-and-sour fennel; 2 Michelin stars & special 25th-floor harbor view (ask for window table); this is considered among Hong Kong’s top tables.
Sevva – 10 Chater Road (Prince Building, 25th Floor); 011-86-852-2537-1388; sevva.hk; bar-restaurant; if there is place to be seen in Hong Kong, it’s this restaurant & lounge (its name pronounced “savor” - from socialite Bonnie Gokson, sister of fashion icon Joyce Ma); in 22K'-square penthouse perched atop Prince Building; 360-degree balcony confers views over Central & Admiralty, Victoria Harbor & Kowloon skyline; of 5 unique enclaves, Bank Side caters to power elite with HSBC headquarters within sight, while Terrace is de rigueur for Hong Kong’s late-night black-clad denizens; architect Calvin Tsao created 2 equally elegant dining rooms plus aromatic vertical garden wall in between; Gokson herself can be seen here regularly, dining on her favorite clay pot rice brimming with chicken & abalone; macaroni & triple cheese baked with truffles is pure indulgence, as is Marie Antoinette’s Crave, kaleidoscopic confection of rose petals & mini-macaroons on pistachio sponge cake with cotton candy.
208 Duecento Otto – 208 Hollywood Road (Tai Ping Shan); 011-86-852-2549-0208; 208.com.hk; rustic Italian bar & restaurant; best pizza & wine pairing in town; has own “mozzarella bar.”
Verandah – 109 Repulse Bay Road (Repulse Bay); 011-852-2292-2822; therepulsebay.com/en/dining; in colonial building, with tremendous ocean views; good for tea.
Tim Ho Wan (Chain) – 2-20 Kwong Wa Street (Mong Kok, at Taui Yuen Mansion, Shop 8); 011-86-852-2332-2896; timhowan.hk; world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant; dim sum.
Tim Ho Wan (Chain) – 9-11 Fuk Wing Street (Sham Shi Po); 011-86-852-2788-1226; timhowan.hk; world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant; dim sum; 2nd branch of famous dim sum chain; roomier than original, but don’t be surprised to still find expectant diner queue at entrance; over 20 different dim sum on offer, all skillfully made & reasonably priced; some items rotate every 2-3 months to keep menu fresh; don’t miss shrimp dumplings, baked buns with barbecue pork filling & steamed beef balls; 2 rooms on 1st floor offer more privacy.
Yin Yang Coastal – Ting Kau Village, House #117 (Ting Kau Beach, Tsuen Wan; 011-86-852-2866-0868; yinyang.hk; this is “private restaurant” (run out of home); “best way to describe Yin Yang experience is this: your meal will blow your mind”; 3mood is “ancient Hong Kong”; have roast chicken or pork with kumquat sauce; must have “soup without water.”



SERVICES
Corner Kitchen – 226 Hollywood Road (Sheung Wan); 011-86-852-2547-8008; corner-kitchen.com; boutique culinary school.
Ferries – regarding ferries in general, Star Ferry with its wooden seats & noisy diesel engines is more traditional; Aqua Luna is more luxurious (but leisurely) way to go to Kowloon; also, 1-hour trip to Macau well worth it (leave in morning).
Star Ferry – 11 Man Kwong Street (Central, at Star Ferry Pier); 011-86-852-2367-7065; starferry.com.hk; passenger ferry service operator & tourist attraction; principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island & Kowloon founded in 1888 as Kowloon Ferry Company; 12 ferries travel 2 routes across harbor, carrying over 70K passengers daily; main route runs between Central & Tsim Sha Tsui.



SHOPPING
Art Statements – 65 Wong Chuk Hang Road (Wong Chuk Hang, Gee Chang Hong Center, Factory D, 8/F); 011-86-852-2696-2300; artstatements.com; art & place to hang.
Berry Bros. & Fine Wine Reserve – 20-20B Queen’s Road Central (Central, at Pacific House, 2/F); 011-86-852-2511-2811; bbr.com/hk-home; spirits & wine.
Blindspot Gallery – 28 Wong Chuk Hang Road (Wong Chuk Hang, 15/F, Po Chai Industrial Building); 011-86-852-2517-6238; blindspotgallery.com; art & place to hang.
Books Attic – 2 Elgin Street (Central); 011-86-852-2259-3103; bookattic.info; owner serves free tea; Ks 2nd-hand books.
Books Attic – Lantau Island; bookattic.info; owner serves free tea; Ks 2nd-hand books.
Carnet Jewelry – 10 Chater Road (Central, 119 Prince’s Building); 011-86-852-2805-0180; carnetjewellery.com; Michelle Ong’s atelier.
Empire International – 63 Mody Road (Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Shop 6, G/F); 011-86-852-2723-2673; empiretailors.com; tailored suit costs about same as off-rack in US.
Gagosian Gallery – 12 Pedder Street (Central, 7/F Pedder Building); 011-86-852-2151-0555; gagosian.com/locations/hong-kong; art.
Hammer Gallery – 8 Tai on Terrace, Pound Lane (Sheung Wan); 011-86-852-3481-8213; hammergalleries.com/about; specializes, oddly, in contemporary fine jewelry.
Jade Market – Kansu Street at Battery Street (Kowloon, Yau Ma Tei); 011-86-852-9709-0505; hongkong.net/shopping/jade-market.html.
Joyce Gallery – 123 Hollywood Road (Sheung Wan); 011-86-852-2545-1869; joycegallery.com; art.
Kapok – 5 St. Francis Yard (Wan Chai); 011-86-852-2549-9254; ka-pok.com; clothing, housewares & jewelry.
Lane Crawford – 88 Queensway (Admiralty, Shop 126); 011-86-852-2118-2288; lanecrawford.com; sort of Neiman Marcus for Hong Kong.
Lane Crawford – 8 Finance Street (Central, IFC Mall, Podium 3); 011-86-852-2118-3388; lanecrawford.com; sort of Neiman Marcus for Hong Kong.
Pace Gallery – 80 Queen’s Road (Central, 12/F); 011-86-852-2608-5065; pacegallery.com; art.
Para/Site Art Space – 677 King’s Road (Quarry Bay, 22/F Wing Wah Industrial Building); 011-86-852-2517-4620; para-site.org.hk; art by emerging artists; compelling.
PearlLam Galleries | Contemporary Art & Design – 12 Pedder Street (Central, 601-605 Pedder Building); 011-86-852-2522-1428; pearllam.com; art.
PearlLam Galleries | Contemporary Art & Design – 80 Queen’s Road Central (Central, 9/F H Queen’s); 011-86-852-2857-1328; pearllam.com; art.
Sam’s Tailor – 90-94C Nathan Road (Tsim Sha Tsui, K&L Burlington Arcade, ground floor); 011-86-852-2367-9423; samstailor.com; tailored suit costs about same as off-rack in US.
Teakha – 18 Tai Ping Shan Street, Shop B (Sheung Wan); 011-86-852-2858-9185; teakha.com; tea-obsessed, former lawyer, Nana Chan travels world to source this shop that also offers cups outside in semi-hidden terrace in back.
Upper Station – 5 Upper Station Street (Sheung Wan); 011-86-852-3486-2474; theupperstation.com; photographic art gallery.
Yewn Heritage Jeweler – 15 Queen’s Road Central (#303, 3rd Floor, Landmark); 011-86-852-2868-3890; yewn.com; must check out.
Wendy Yue – 21F Peninsula Square, Room 2105-2106, 18 Sung On Street (Hunghom, Kowloon); 011-86-852-2142-8188; wendyyue.com; jeweler that specializes in animal designs, particularly frogs.
David Zwirner – 80 Queen’s Road (Central, 5-6/F); 011-86-852-2119-5900; davidzwirner.com/galleries; art.



SIGHTS & SITES
Art Museum of Chinese University of Hong Kong – University Avenue (Ma Liu Shui, Art Gallery Conservation Annex); 011-86-852-3943-7416; artmuseum.cuhk.edu.hk/en; 2 sections, 1st being 4-floor East Wing Galleries; house permanent collection of calligraphy, ceramics & Chinese paintings, as well as jade objets d’art & other decorative arts especially worth inspecting, including 2K year-old bronze seals & large collection jade flower carvings; 2nd being West Wing Galleries, which stage 5-6 special exhibitions each year; shuttle bus from University station travels through campus to administration building at hill top; for museum, get off at 2nd stop; bus runs every 20-30 minutes daily.
Asia Society Hong Kong Center – Justice Drive (Admiralty); 011-86-852-2103-9511; asiasociety.org/hong-kong; thoughtful exhibitions of contemporary & traditional art; Brutalist building with rooftop sculpture garden & cafe.
Tai Kwun - Centre for Heritage and Arts (formerly Central Police Station Compound) – 10 Hollywood Road (Central); 011-86-852-2966-7450 (Hong Kong Jockey Club Charitable Foundation); taikwun.hk; arts complex.
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea – 10 Cotton Tree Drive (Central); 011-86-852-2869-0690; lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Arts/en_US/web/ma/tea-ware.html.
High Junk Peak Country Trail – Clear Water Bay Road (Clear Water Bay); hongkonghikes.com/2013/02/high-junk-peak-country-trail.html; 1 of best hikes for visitors; runs down peninsula’s spine overlooking Clear Water Bay; not terribly demanding hike that takes about 2.5 hours; goes along ridge-line where, to 1 side, is new town of Tseung Kwan O, all concrete towers & city scramble, while other side is blue-green bays, fish farms & isolated villages; to start, take MTR (Mass Transit Railway) to Hang Hau station; then catch taxi for short ride along Clear Water Bay Road to starting point at Ng Fai Tin; small parking lot on road’s other side from trail’s start; pavilion & signpost mark trail (just past village of Ng Fai Tin); steps lead up to trail; head along any path marked Tai Miu Au or Tai Miu; soon can see High Junk Peak, mountain giving trail name; main path skirts around hill but can scramble on 1 of dirt tracks leading up it, to area’s highest point; there, appreciate amazing contrast that is Hong Kong; on 1 side, gaze past Ks of shoebox-size apartments, looking over Tseung Kwan O all way to Kowloon, Victoria Harbor, and Hong Kong island’s skyscrapers; after passing High Junk Peak, take left down to Clear Water Bay Road, where can pick up minibus or taxi, or continue hiking to Tai Miu; takes near Clear Water Bay Golf & Country Club’s entrance; few 100 yards down Clear Water Bay Road is Po Toi O, traditional fishing village with Cantonese seafood restaurants and interesting Taoist temple on way into village; in Po Toi O, try Seafood Islands Restaurant (No. 6, G/F., Po Toi O; 011-86-852-2719-5730); then head back to city.
Hong Kong Light Show – every night at 8 pm; lasts 13 minutes; multicolored lights run along skyscrapers; best viewing spot may be Avenue of Stars, Kowloon Boardwalk (facing Hong Kong); can also watch while dining at Aqua or Hutong restaurants.
Hong Kong Museum of Art – 10 Salisbury Road (Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui); 011-86-852-2721-0116; lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Arts/en_US/web/ma/home.html; calligraphy, paintings & sculpture from China, Hong Kong & other parts world.
Hong Kong Park – 19 Cotton Tree Drive (Central, Rawlinson House); 011-86-852-2521-5041; lcsd.gov.hk/parks; 8 hectares; modern design and facilities blend with natural landscape; cliffs, ponds, streams & waterfalls (involving artificial rocks); make sure to see Museum of Tea Ware (10 Cotton Tree Drive, 011-86-852-2869-0690, lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Arts/en/tea/tea01.html)).
Lehman Maupin – 12 Pedder Street (Central, 407, Pedder Building); 011-86-852-2530-0025; lehmannmaupin.com/exhibitions; art.
Livelihood Place – 74 Stone Nullah Lane (Wan Chai, at Blue House); offers blend of exhibitions & tours that delve into Wan Chai neighborhood’s history.
Museum of Coastal Defense – 175 Tung Hei Road (Shau Kei Wan); 011-86-852-2569-1500; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Museum_of_Coastal_Defence; stands at Victoria Harbor’s eastern entrance & good place for city introduction; largely undiscovered by tourists, museum actually is half-ruined British fortification series; simple cafe with balcony overlooking South China Sea is delightful (limited menu - get grilled cheese); to get there, try taking subway to Shau Kei Wan stop, right outside of which is Tin Hau Temple, dating from 1870s and worth peak; during 3-block walk to museum, you also will pass Tam Kung Temple.
Peak Tram – 1 Lugard Road (Central); 011-86-852-2849-7654; thepeak.com.hk; best to go early in morning; can have breakfast at top; long lines by 10 am (best to get there at 7 am).
Victoria Peak – 1 Lugard Road (Central); 011-86-852-2849-7654; www.thepeak.com.hk; when reach terminus, can take hard right onto Lugard Road & stroll around Victoria Peak; about 3/5ths way round mountain, street name changes to Harlech; 2 roads form fairly flat, 2 mile circuit with magnificent views.
Wan Chai District Market – located in north Hong Kong Island; good for photographs of street market scenes.
Yuen Po Street Bird Garden – between Boundary Street, Embankment Road, Prince Edward Road West & Yuen Po Street; 011-86-852-2302-1762; discoverhongkong.com/us/shop/where-to-shop/street...streets/bird-garden.jsp; Chinese-style theme park in which bird-owners wander, carrying their bird cages.

No comments:

Post a Comment