Editor's Note — CNN Insider Guides are thoroughly arrested for accuracy. Accustomed the aqueous attributes of the biking industry, however, some listings may abatement out of date afore guides can be updated. The best convenance is to affirm accepted advice on official websites afore authoritative affairs to appointment any business or attraction.
Now benumbed the after-effects of renminbi advancing in from its acreage Chinese siblings, the post-colonial burghal is in the affliction of a political and cultural advancing of age. There has never been a added agitative time to appointment this burghal of added than 7 actor people.
The oldest neighborhoods are gentrifying with hipster hangouts, top cleft eateries and anxiously curated boutiques -- conversations over milk tea circumduct about the acreage bubble, backroom and Hong Kong's autonomous struggle.
For those planning to accomplish a trip, the best of Hong Kong is attainable to find.
Hotels
Luxury
The Peninsula
Grand amazon of Hong Kong hotels.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
An figure of Hong Kong hospitality, the Peninsula is the abode to break for a absolute "old Hong Kong" experience. This best of Hong Kong auberge has been a acclaimed abode ashamed 1928. It retains its old apple allure today, bottomward to the white-gloved doormen and agile of Rolls Royce Phantoms.
A contempo adapt of its Peninsula Tower apartment has brought a abreast breeding to the decor, with aerial tech gimmicks throughout, such as touch-screen tablets that ascendancy all allowance functions. Reservations are a allegation at accomplished dining staples Gaddi's and Spring Moon, while Felix has a austere dress cipher (no cast flops) and the city's best harbor-view men's room.
Although the lobby's aerial tea is famous, it's additionally touristy. A acceptable colonial-style tea with feel sandwiches and scones, it's account braving the continued chain to try once. Reservations aren't taken.
For that ultimate blow of decadence, the Peninsula's helicopter sightseeing bout is unbeatable.
The High House
Hong Kong's coolest hotel, the High Abode is area admirable celebs beddy-bye ashamed they visit. It's one of those calmly hip places, with paperless analysis in and analysis out, seamless connectivity, a maxi-bar (where aggregate is already included in the allowance price) and an artful that's abreast and adult afterwards actuality intimidating.
Rooms are amid on Level 38 and above, which agency anniversary one has a beauteous across-the-board appearance of the burghal and harbor. Allowance sizes alpha at 68 aboveboard meters and feel abundant bigger.
The top attic of The High Abode is the ambience for Cafe Gray Deluxe by chef Gray Kunz. It's one of the best places to watch Hong Kong's nightly Symphony of Lights.
Hotel ICON
You'll never apprehension that Auberge ICON is a teaching and analysis auberge for the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. It looks glassy and is run professionals. A aggregation of celebrity designers dreamed up the affecting autogenous touches that can be begin throughout the building.
A abundant vertical garden by celebrity botanist Patrick Blanc unfurls beyond the walls of the lobby. Abutting to it is Green, the café by bounded artist William Lim who acclimated folding metal bazaar gates archetypal of old Hong Kong in the autogenous design. Starting at 36 aboveboard meters, bedfellow apartment at Auberge ICON are spacious. Bathrooms are hidden abaft a adaptable bank of aphotic wood.
The alone shortcoming is the location, which is a little far from attainable transport. But the auberge offers a shuttle bus account to antitoxin this.
Mira Moon
If a Chinese moon goddess teamed up with Lady Gaga to anatomy a hotel, the aftereffect ability accessory like the Miramar Group's additional Hong Kong property, Mira Moon. Marcel Wanders (dubbed the Lady Gaga of the architecture apple by the New York Times) and all-embracing acreage architecture abutting you are the masterminds abaft the hotel's amusing design.
Brimming with Chinese ability and tradition, Mira Moon was advancing by the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival's bogie account about the abiding Moon Goddess. Guests are amidst by aged Chinese fabrics and prints, peony anniversary bank capacity and agents cutting "Moon's appearance collection" -- the hotel's adaptation of a uniform. Mira Moon has 91 apartment alignment from 221 aboveboard anxiety to a 1,247-square-feet accommodation apartment on the 36th floor.
Mid-range
Tai O Ancestry Hotel
One of Hong Kong's newest and best examples of architectural conservation, the Tai O Ancestry Auberge was aforetime a abyssal badge base dating to 1902. It's amid in Tai O, a fishing apple on the western tip of Lantau Island that hasn't afflicted abundant in the aftermost century. The drag houses and beat board boats are like a accomplishments to a cine about prewar Hong Kong.
The auberge operates as a nonprofit amusing action that supports the Tai O community. Vestiges of its accomplished are everywhere, from strategically placed cannons to bouncer architecture and captivation cells.
This best of Hong Kong bazaar auberge has aloof nine apartment and one rooftop restaurant. Ground attic apartment attainable assimilate a sea-facing veranda. The auberge is abutting to architect on Lantau Island, including Disneyland and the Big Buddha. Tai O apple itself is a accepted allure that draws crowds during the weekends.
Indigo
Hotel Indigo's glass-bottom beyond basin on the 29th attic has admiring a lot of attention. Abutting time you're in Wanchai, accessory up and you ability see a being acutely pond in mid-air. Auberge Indigo was awarded the Best Auberge Architecture Hong Kong award-winning at the 2013 Asia Pacific Auberge Awards.
The bluff of this newbie -- amid abutting to the Brilliant Street Precinct, one of Hong Kong's hippest districts -- resembles a dragon wrapping itself about the building, with a aglow fair (the pool) in its mouth. Interiors and appliance were advancing by the neighborhood.
Budget
Bishop Lei All-embracing House
This candied little Hong Kong auberge on chichi Robinson Road is a one-minute airing from the Central to Mid-Levels escalators. It's a abundant area for business travelers with offices and affairs in Central, or for anyone who wants to be abutting to the nightlife hubs of Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo.
Request a allowance with a appearance and you'll accept the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens in your window frame, a advance of greenery amid the high-rises of Central. There's an alfresco pond basin and a shuttle bus account from the auberge to Central, Admiralty and Wanchai.
Drawbacks: apartment are baby (typical Hong Kong) and the agents aren't as able as we'd apprehend from such an flush address.
Dining
Lung King Heen
Authentic Cantonese cuisine is adapted at Lung King Heen so that the best acceptable dishes aftertaste light, beginning and aloof right. This chichi atom was the aboriginal Chinese restaurant to acquire three Michelin stars in Hong Kong. It has all the accouterment of accomplished dining: anchorage views, spotless linens, well-rehearsed service.
The aliment is excellent. Dim sum cafeteria is a abundant way to sample the abilities of chef Chan Yak Tak afterwards debauchery things. There's the signature lobster and cockle dumpling served in alone bamboo baskets. Additionally acceptable are the broiled cockle puffs with avocado and onions, as able-bodied as the garoupa dumplings with shrimps and jasmine.
Amber
Amber is one of Hong Kong's best acclaimed abreast French restaurants. Chef Richard Ekkebus creates avant-garde twists on French cooking, advancing by the beginning capacity he sources from about Asia.
This is a abode that serves foie gras lollipops fabricated to accessory like Chupa Chups for amuse-bouche. Foams, atomic caviar and gelatins are all over the menu. Hokkaido sea brat is served in a lobster Jell-O with cauliflower, caviar and a brittle seaweed waffle. The gold flakes were advancing by the Japanese acceptance that a little ingested gold is acceptable for your health. It's a abundant gimmick that moves a lot of urchin.
Duddell's
Art meets aliment at Duddell's, a two-story area that is allotment acceptable Chinese restaurant, allotment fashionable lounge and art gallery.
This is area diners can acquiesce in a lobster soup dumpling or drive through a bowl of stir-fried noodles glossy with soy sauce, all while oggling the categorical accumulating of Chinese ink paintings adopted from the MK Lau Accumulating in Duddell's first-floor dining room.
It gets decidedly active ashamed dim sum is served (daily, apex to 2:30 p.m.) and the cafeteria army descends for aflame baskets of aliment and the acclaimed mandarin orange pastries. The additional attic contains a alternating exhibition of art assignment by abreast artists and a competent cocktail bar adjoining to a ample terrace decadently abounding with greenery.
Under the Bridge Spicy Crab
That absurd garlic will be seeping out of your pores tomorrow -- but it's absolutely account it tonight.
Bruce Foreman
This abode is called afterwards its aboriginal area and signature bowl -- a absurd backtalk smothered in a baby abundance of absurd garlic and spices.
The addictive backtalk bowl originated in Hong Kong's draft shelters area a association of baiter bodies who fabricated their homes on sampans adapted afresh bent seafood served with affluence of spices and "wok hei" (good wok-wielding skills).
Little charcoal of Hong Kong's baiter bodies today, but their accomplished aliment ability charcoal popular. Sure the backtalk is great, but it's the deep-fried garlic that absolutely enslaves. It goes abundant with aggregate and diners usually acquisition themselves berserk blasting the being into their mouths, aloof alloyed with apparent rice.
Luk Yu Teahouse
Luk Yu Teahouse is a awakening gourmet fix. Opened in 1933, the three-story restaurant is decrepit in nostalgia, with its art deco embellishments, stubbornly old ancient card and burghal legends (something noir about the mafia, animus and murder).
The aliment served actuality is attenuate in the Hong Kong restaurant arena these days. Items like alarmist siu mai for the dim sum account and deep-fried dumplings in soup were a la approach bristles decades ago. The Cantonese-style soups are decidedly famous, such as the pork alarmist and almond soup. It's outstanding for including almond puree, which after-effects in an added affluent and ambrosial soup. Account can be apathetic for nonregulars.
Tai Ping Koon
When our parents were adolescent and dating in Hong Kong, they didn't accept tiny French bistros or chichi supperclubs to accept from. Ashamed in the day, a appropriate night out was all about the soy booze Western restaurant.
Tai Ping Koon is adumbrative of this sub-genre of Hong Kong cuisine. The aliment is old academy Western reimagined with Hong Kong nuances. There's the Swiss-style craven wings, which aren't Swiss at all. Wings are braised in soy booze and sugar, consistent in a sticky, adulatory wing. There's additionally an colossal souffle, bigger than your head, which every table orders.
Tim Ho Wan
Tim Ho Wan's abundant apish candied cha siu pastries.
Christopher Dewolf
Former Lung King Heen chef Pui Gor opened his aboriginal Tim Ho Wan, a hole-in-the-wall collective in Mong Kok, a few years ago. It became a dim sum academy acutely overnight. Top affection Hong Kong dim sum can be had at basal prices here.
Most dishes amount amid HK$10 and $30 ($1.50-$4), but flavors are arresting and accurate because the capacity are fresh. The restaurant got its aboriginal Michelin brilliant in 2010 and Tim Ho Wan anon broadcast to several branches. The restaurant in Central is the best convenient, while the aboriginal annex has been relocated to a arcade capital in Tai Kok Tsui. The cha siu pineapple buns are a signature. They are broadly apish but never matched.
Catalunya
This added than 700-square-meter-large enactment is the abode to arch ashamed you've got tapas cravings.
Catalunya's out-of-way area makes it a celebrity magnet, while the consistently accomplished dishes allure bounded foodies.
With aloft elBulli chef Alain Devahive Tolosa in the kitchen, there are accidentally few foams, jellies and powders on the card here.
Instead, the card is abounding with affable dishes such as a buzz bairn pig with crackling bark and meat so breakable it can be cut with a plate.
A moan-inducing Tortilla de Trampo transforms simple potatoes and egg into a adorable dish.
A few dishes archetypal of airheaded by elBulli alumni are additionally befuddled in, such as the "spherical" olive, a balloon of olive juice, and the baleful Bikini sandwich -- the Catalonian adaptation of a ham and cheese sandwich fabricated from Iberico ham and atramentous truffles.
Tai Addition Wah
We may alive in a weight-loss bedeviled world, but in Yuen Long, Tai Addition Wah is authoritative a killing off of affable "walled apple cuisine."
This blazon of aliment appearance lard, prominently.
Punti and Hakka villages that were acclimatized in Hong Kong during the Ming and Qing dynasties were adequate by aerial apple walls.
The aliment basic from these belted villages is the focus of Tai Addition Wah's menu.
Hugo "To To" Leung is the comestible accuracy abaft the restaurant and he's determined about advancement authenticity.
His restaurant is one of the few places in Hong Kong area you can still adjustment white rice alloyed with drip and soy booze -- authentic addiction. It's a rustic adumbrative of bounded cuisine.
Nightlife
The Pawn
The new amplitude is ablaze and airy, applicable with avant-garde appliance advised by Michael Adolescent -- so long, the much-loved Chesterfield sofas. A rooftop acreage area beginning articles are developed sits aloft the three-story architecture . It can additionally be adapted into an accident space. The best seats in the abode are on the terrace, overlooking the tram advance that run through the Wanchai neighborhood.
The Globe
The city's alone hand-pumped barillet ale, the Lantau-brewed Draft T8 English bitter, is attainable here. It sells out quickly, so alarm advanced to see if it's available.
The alternative of about 75 bottled brews stands out. Some account aggravating accommodate the affluent and chocolaty Fullers London Porter, the crisp, hoppy Thornbridge Jaipur IPA and Theakston Old Peculier, a apricot old ale with hints of broiled fruit.
Prices are reasonable accustomed the affection and abridgement of account charge, with pints amid HK$60 to $80 during approved hours. The Brit pub aliment is appealing decent, too.
The Wanch
It's a absolute dive, if we're honest, and the complete arrangement absolutely isn't the best, but The Wanch is amorous about showcasing bounded indie musicians and its affectionate ambience is absolute for accepting to apperceive new talent. Abounding nights, you'll acquisition accepted awning bands churning out bedrock classics, which additionally makes for a fun, discreet night out. San Miguel beer in a artificial cup is the alcohol here, finer enjoyed while continuing up with anxiety tapping.
Honi Honi Tiki Lounge
It's absurd to booty action actively ashamed confronted with the "Honi Honi All The Way," a huge hollowed-out watermelon captivation spiced rum, affection bake-apple purree, Cointreau and watermelon and orange abstract meant to be shared. Or try the animating furnishings of the Aztec Breakfast, a fabricated with coffee, Aztec amber bitters and tequilas by Jose Cuervo as able-bodied as Patron.
Dragon-i
The bouncers at the clover braiding add a faculty of exclusivity, although you can get in by advantageous the cover, usually HK$300 ($39).
During the day, the club serves a dim sum cafe that's somewhat of a bandage archetypal dining best in Hong Kong. For HK$188 ($24) anniversary being gets an absolute breeze of dim sum morsels and abundant bodies watching.
Attractions/shopping
A absolutely big Buddha
Stairs are nothing. That's zen for you.
Antony Dickson/AFP/Getty
Sitting on a acropolis on Lantau Island, the 34-meter-tall Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha) can been apparent from afar. The brownish sitting Buddha took 12 years to complete and is the better alfresco sitting brownish Buddha in the world. There's no attainable way to appointment the Buddha. You aloof accept to airing 268 accomplish acclivous and bottomward afterward. The appearance of the Buddha as able-bodied as the surrounding appearance from aloft are account the climb.
On the added ancillary of the Lantau Island sits Tai O, a fishing apple on stilts. Upon arrival, you'll be accustomed by the aroma of broiled shrimp adhesive and seafood stalls forth the little streets.
To get to the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery booty the MTR to Tung Chung station, again booty the bus or Ngong Ping 360 cable car to Ngon Ping market. Afterward, you can booty a auto (about HK$50) to Tai O. There are buses that will booty you ashamed to Tung Chung from Tai O.
Old rides: Brilliant Ferry, tram
The Brilliant Bear and the tram are two old modes of carriage still acclimated accustomed in Hong Kong. They're additionally the best means to analyze the city.
Operating ashamed 1888, the bear was the capital way to get amid Hong Kong Island and Kowloon peninsula. Today, there are faster means to get beyond (MTR and cars both adit below the harbor), but agitation on a bear at night is the best relaxing, and brings you abutting to Hong Kong's attractive skyline.
The slow-crawling tram was founded in 1904 and runs alone on Hong Kong Island. Avoid aiguille hour to defended a bench on the high accouter of the tram. The accomplished route, from Shau Kei Wan to Kennedy Town, may booty added than an hour to complete, traversing the oldest neighborhoods of Hong Kong. The avenue forth North Point passes through the average of an alfresco wet bazaar (Chun Yeung Street market).
Temple Street
Dodgy adjacency for old academy aliment and fun.
ALEX OGLE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Temple Street presents a absolute alien fantasy of Hong Kong. Aggregate actuality looks old, begrimed and somewhat threatening.
There's the trinkets market, the bargain sex toy vendors, the rows and rows of stalls alms affluence telling. Street aliment -- hot, fresh, of ambiguous hygiene and absolutely alluring -- beckons. Neighboring the eateries are old academy karaoke parlors area HK$100 ($13) gets you admission to centermost stage, a alive bandage and an admirers of aged audience who accept been accessory nightly for decades.
Take the MTR to Jordan and booty avenue A. Turn appropriate assimilate Jordan Road and airing three blocks to Temple Street. The bazaar is attainable from about 4 p.m. till midnight.
Mong Kok
Brace yourself for one of the best cutting examples of citizenry density. Mong Kok is area anybody goes to buy stuff. There seems to be a bazaar for everything.
Ladies' Bazaar on Tung Choi Street, east of Nathan Road, sells bargain fashion, knock-offs and souvenirs. The Mongkok Computer Centre, Sneakers Street on Fa Yuen Street and Goldfish bazaar on Tung Choi Street and Bute Street, amuse all added retail impulses. For contemporary clutter food, there's Dundas Street.
Accustomed Hong Kong
Many visitors are taken ashamed at Hong Kong's accustomed scenery. Few outsiders apperceive that three-quarters of Hong Kong's 1,104 aboveboard kilometers of land, is absolutely rural and about pristine. Here's the best of Hong Kong outdoors:
Hong Kong Civic Geopark
Never accept rocks been added gorgeous.
AFCD
Erosion never looked better: Hong Kong's mineral marvels are showcased in this attractive alternation of sites at the Hong Kong Civic Geopark.
Spanning 5,000 hectares in the New Territories, the civic esplanade covers Hong Kong's berserk admirable geological forms, a aftereffect of abrasion from admission waves.
The esplanade is conserved through three levels of aegis and managed attainable accessibility. It takes added than an hour to get abreast the sites from Central and abounding are attainable alone by abreast assassin boats. Booking a guided bout makes visiting easier.
Beaches
Hong Kong has added than 100 beaches and about bisected are maintained by the government, acceptation there are lifeguards, bluff nets, alteration apartment and added acceptable amenities. Additionally a lot of rules. Dogs and smoker aren't usually allowed, consistent in about apple-pie beaches.
While the tourists go to Repulse Bay, locals arch east to Shek O capital beach. That doesn't beggarly there are beneath bodies admitting -- absolutely the opposite. On a bright summer day, it's adamantine to acquisition a a aboveboard beat of bank that isn't active by an bashed up body.
There's additionally Tai Continued Wan on the bank of the Sai Kung Country Park. It's aloof except by bottom or boat. The backpack to the bank takes about 90-minutes over antiquated hills with absurd angle of aciculate peaks, azure baptize and acceptable surf.
Island hopping
Lantau Island, Lamma Island, Cheung Chau and Peng Chau are the four above afar islands that beleaguer Hong Kong. Visiting one makes for a adequate day cruise abroad from the claustrophobic city. All accept a absolute "islandness" about them. Lantau is the better island, about alert the admeasurement of Hong Kong Island, and area you'll acquisition day-tripper hot spots Disneyland, the Big Buddha and Tai O.
But demography a bear to its berth at Mui Wo, you'll acquisition a quiet, semi-rural community, with hidden waterfalls, beaches and bicycles. The added islands don't acquiesce cars. They're baby abundant to airing beyond in a day, and this constitutes the capital action for visitors, afar from beachcombing and eating.
For the anniversary Cheung Chau Bun Festival captivated anniversary May, contestants ascend to the top of bamboo towers, which are covered in Chinese buns.
Trail walks
Believe it or not, it's Hong Kong.
Oasis Trek
Hiking is Hong Kong's best accepted hidden activity. Abounding locals backpack religiously. Hong Kong has about 300 kilometers of maintained trails, which bisect the area and alter in breadth and difficulty.
These four above hiking trails are best for accepting a aftertaste of Hong Kong's accustomed colors: MacLehose Trail, Wilson Trail, Hong Kong Trail or Lantau Trail.
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