Writing up a recommendation for Kia, my sister’s friend who’s going to Hong Kong for five days. Hong Kong is not a budget destination, but I do my best to make reasonable recommendations. If you’re a foodie, outdoor enthusiast, and city slicker all at once, then this is for you. Trust me, I know this city well 😉

Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail

Saturday: Tsim Sha Tsui

Dinner: Tsim Sha Tsui

Take the Star Ferry to/from Central Pier
Duck at M&C Duck Harbour City (they have an outdoor terrace) or House of Jasmine (also have a balcony)
Hutong (Sichuan cuisine) has an amazing view
Also try: Any of Tim Ho Wan’s branches
8pm: Symphony of Lights at Avenue of Stars on the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade. You should walk down the length of this, especially near the Star Ferry, it’s beautiful

Drinks at Tsim Sha Tsui

Aqua (rooftop)
Ozone (ICC, Elements, West Kowloon)

Central’s skyline from the Avenue of Stars

Sunday: Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung, Hong Kong’s Best Beaches

You’re gonna love this day – choose one that’s sunny

Get there: Follow my instructions here
Breakfast in Sai Kung: Go to Let’s Jam before taking the boat to Tai Long Wan
As soon as you arrive in Ham Tin / Sai Wan, don’t forget to immediately book your boat back to Sai Kung Town
Tai Long Wan is comprised of four beaches (at least). The first is Sai Wan, where you can follow the stream / river to arrive at a waterfall where you can go cliff jumping
You can rent boards to surf at Sai Wan / Ham Tin. If you have energy you can carry the boards to the 3rd or 4th beaches which is a bit of a hike but wilder and empty
Dinner: Sai Kung Seafood Street where you can pick out fresh catch from aquariums

Sai Wan Beach, Sai Kung

Monday: Central / Admiralty / Causeway Bay / Wan Chai

Breakfast: Sheung Wan

Breakfast places: BrewBros, Why50, 3rd Space, 208, Corner Kitchen Cafe, The Cupping Room
Explore neighbourhoods: Tai Ping Shan St., Po Hing Fong, Gough St., Kau U Fong

Lunch: Soho and around

Elgin St
Hollywood Road (check out Man Mo Temple)
Restaurants: Goose at Yat Lok (more local) or Yung Kee (fancier) / Ramen at Butao or Shugetsu / Healthy at MANA! / Chinese at Ho Lee Fook / Vietnamese at BEP
More (cheap) food options: Check out the restaurants on lower Cochrane and Stanley Street, they have a lot of delicious hole-in-the-walls like specialty dumpling or noodle shops. They usually have Michelin logos and magazine clippin gs in front
Dessert: Emack and Bolio’s ice cream

View from On Dining

Afternoon at Victoria Peak

Get there: You can either take a Minibus from IFC (cheapest and fastest way) or do the tourist route via Peak Tram if it’s not too busy (try weekdays).
You can also walk up to the Peak if you’re up for a workout
Do the Peak Circle Walk that goes around around the mountain for a 360 degree view
Instead of going up the paid observation deck, there’s one on top of the Galleria (same building as Spaghetti 360)
Check out Victoria Peak Garden (15min walk uphill or taxi from The Peak)
Coffee / Tea break: Terrace of The Peak Lookout in a colonial building (they have a good view of the mountain at the back)
You can hike up to The Peak at night if you want to see the skyline all lit up

Victoria Peak Garden

Admiralty / Wan Chai

Walk from Star Ferry Central to Tamar Park in Admiralty
Continue the walk to the Hong Kong Convention Centre in Wan Chai
Golden Bauhinia Square (and HKCEC)
Lunch: Too many options to choose from. Check the restaurants / bars list below
Victoria Park
Hong Kong Park
Times Square/Hysan Place etc if you wanna shop

Penthouse, Causeway Bay

Restaurants / Bars

Kam’s Roast Goose (for me the best goose in Hong Kong) – but you have to queue up for a bit
The Optimist (also for drinks)
Chinese: Fook Lam Moon, Dynasty, Emperor City Huaiyang, Peking Garden in Pacific Place, The Continental for afternoon tea
Brunch / tea / drinks at Cafe Grey (incredible rooftop) or The Pawn, an iconic colonial building
Wooloomooloo for drinks – this rooftop is a must in the evening!
Typhoon Shelter Crab under the bridge between Wan Chai and Causeway Bay
There’s this thing in Causeway Bay where you can go on a fishing boat and eat dinner there, but I haven’t tried it yet!

Neighbourhoods

Lee Tung St (At night check out a bar called Ophelia)
Star Street
Red Light District : Lockhart Road

Tuesday: Big Buddha, Lantau Island

Hiking Lantau Island (Trails 5 & 6)

Take the ferry to Mui Wo (make sure you don’t take the slow service)
Brunch/Lunch: Deer Horn (Nepalese) / China Beach Club (beachfront) / Bahce (Turkish) / China Bear
Take the bus / taxi to the start of Shek Pik Country Trail
Hike to the Big Buddha / Ngong Ping

Alternatively:

Take the MTR to Tung Chung and take the cable car to the Big Buddha

Dinner:

Cheung Sha Beach (Upper), then bus back to Mui Wo + Ferry to Central

Wednesday: Southside Hong Kong Island

Middle Island with Lydia

Lunch at Stanley Beach or Repulse Bay
Choose from Stanley Beach, Repulse Bay, South Bay, Deep Water Bay, etc.
If you’re feeling adventurous you can check out Po Toi Island
Dinner: Beach BBQ at Shek O

Good to Note:

On Wednesdays you can check the schedule of the races at Happy Valley. They’re social events more than gambling and it’s fun to people watch and enjoy the atmosphere. Starts around 8.30pm
Wednesdays and Thursdays have ladies’ night promotions in several places in Central and Wan Chai (the latter in the red light district though, but during race night the crowd can be fun as it’s on the way back from Happy Valley). That means you get to drink for free until midnight or so..

What’s on your essential Hong Kong list? Have anything to add? Did you love/hate my suggestions? Leave a comment below! 🙂