Here’s a quick guide to the city’s coolest neighborhoods and what to see there—from boutique ice cream shops to Michelin recommended snacks to local delicacies and souvenirs.
Hong Kong is definitely one of my favorite Asian destinations. And because of its close proximity to our country, many of us like travelling to Hong Kong for a change of pace and scenery.
As you may know, I recently went to Hong Kong to shoot an episode of Overnight. While 36 hours in a city might be a little daunting, it’s entirely good fun as long as you know where to go.
If you guys missed it last time, here are some of my favourite places around the city:
Food
The city is packed with so many dining and drinking options—from high-end Michelin stars to that one place behind the hardware store and up a hundred steps and down a fishing alley. You’ll never get tired of eating and drinking here.
Try Yat Lok for their famous one Michelin star roasted goose. You could also go to Yung Kee, Kam’s, Sham Tseng Chan Kee for similar sweet, umami, oily satisfaction.
For breakfast you’ll have a choice of heading to either a great western style place like the Papillon Cafe, Café Deadend,Nosh, Green Waffle Dinner or the Flying Pan or going to a Cantonese dimsum spot or traditional tea house café like theAustralian Dairy Company, Café Hoi On or Tsui Wah like we did.
While Hong Kong is also teeming with foreign-style restaurants, you should also get your fill of local joints that serve authentic or modernized Chinese cuisine like Mott 32, Duddell, Chuen Cheung Kui, Xi Yan, Tim Ho Wan, Loyal Dining, Sun Hing, Tsim Chai Kee Noodles, or Bistro Manchu to name a few.
But one of my favorites in the city is Ronin—a hidden gem that understands my needs to serious and fresh deliciousness. Come here for wave after wave of uni, crab, fresh fish from Japan.
There are more than enough forward thinking food concepts to go around and at the top of my list are:
– Toritama
– Brickhouse
– Little Bao
– Posto Publico
– Hoo Lee Fook
– Yardbird
– Chino
– Le Garcon Saigon
– Belon
Dimsum
– Lin Heung Tea House
– Dim Dim Sum
– Maxim’s Palace
– One Dim Sum
– Luk Yu
– Lung King Heen
– Fook Lam Moon
– Man Mo Cafe
– Island Tang
– Dim Sum Square
Drinks
For your fill of alcohol, head out to Pontiac where you can get shots from friendly tattooed bartenders—some of which are women who reminds me of attractive suicide girls. Other hangouts you should also check out are:
– Rummin Tings
– Liily and Bloom
– The Woods
– Ping Pong
– The Envoy
– Honi Honi
– Quinary
– Origin
– 001
But if you want a taste of the local bar scene, head down to the areas surrounding Lang Kwai Fong, the popular, surreal bar street, filled with clubs and drinking holes you’ll always wonder how you ended up in and talk to locals or people just passing through. Some of your most interesting conversations can be sparked up this way.
If you manage to still be functional by the end of the night, cap things off, like a regular with a wrap at Kebab House orEbenezer’s.
Active
A lot of people come to Hong Kong as a stopover or for work, so if you are like me, you like keeping your daily routine up and going.
I love to exercise while i’m travelling and here are some great ideas for next time you’re on the peninsula.
There are quite a bit of Hike’s to do around the area, Dragon’s back is a really famous option and can work up a good sweat.
You can try out a Crossfit workout at Crossfit 852
XYZ for a good spinning class
Bounce Limit to work on your trampoline moves
Studio Fitness for some weights in a club like environment
If you want to see my customized map of all these places, check out this link: https://www.mapcustomizer.com/map/Erwan%20Heussaff%20Overnight%20HK
If you want to go by area, check out my guide to the city’s coolest neighborhoods and what to see there—from boutique ice cream shops to Michelin recommended snacks to local delicacies and souvenirs.
Causeway Bay
Boutique Ice-cream/ Yogurt Shops:
ISEE iSEE Handcrafted Icy Desserts
G/F, Haven Court, No. 138 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
For fruity artisanal ice pops that’s both healthy and refreshing.
Honey Creme
G/F, 34 Lee Garden Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
While available now in the Philippines, nothing beats the original honey comb soft-serve!
I Cremeria
F-9, 1/F, 11-19 Great George Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Their signature Japanese melon soft-serve parfait is a must-try.
Must See Attractions:
Bowring Road Market and Cooked Food Centre
21 Bowring Road, Ngo Keng
One of the most historic Cooked Food Center in Hong Kong, it’s the place to be for Dai pai dong delicacies at a reasonable price. Especially busy at night, this place is a glimpse of Hong Kong resisting its modern influences.
Petty Person Beating at Ngo Keng Kiu
Junction of Hennessy Road and Canal Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island
This flyover which passes over a three-way junction is, according to feng shui, an ideal spot for dispelling evil. Come here and check out their “professional beaters” and get that demanding boss or annoying neighbor a “beating” without having to do time for assault.
Local Delicacies:
Sun Kee Noodles
Shop B, No. 49 Tung Lung Street, Causeway Bay
For curry, hot pepper powder, marinated food stuff, and 12 other secret ingredients that are transformed into this special Hong Kong-style hot and spicy sauce loved by customers.
Danish Bakery
G/F, Leishun Court, 106 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Stop by for a delectable snack of juicy pork buns and hotdogs with mouthwatering toppings.
Man Fai
22-24 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay
Try their Shahe fen (Chinese noodles) with cuttlefish balls
Souvenir shops:
Sweet Boutique de Tony Wong
Shop 3, G/F, Yan Wo Yuet Building, 432-436 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island
For candy, snacks, and cakes.
Two Girls
Shop 283, Causeway Place, Hong Kong Mansion, 2-10 Great George Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island
For cosmetics and skin care products
Fook Ming Tong Tea Shop
Counter at Sogo Department Store, Basement, 2555 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island
For various tea selections
Wanchai
Boutique Ice-cream/ Yogurt Shops:
Oddies
Shop 1F, G/F, 149 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Known for reinventing classics, they’re known for their soft-serve low-fat gelato with crispy egg waffles. The Night Wolf–Italian low fat soft gelato twisted with 66% dark chocolate served with egg waffles with Bownie Chocolate chips, buttery crumbles, caramelized banana ice cream, passion fruit panna cotta and crunchy flakes—is a best-selling item.
Yo Mama
16 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
For silky yogurt that’s imported from Italy.
Cafe Aboong HK
Shop B, G/F, Pao Woo Mansion, 177-179 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
For a bite of Korean-style ice cream fish bun.
Must See Attractions:
Lee Tung Avenue
200 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
A 200-m, tree-lined pedestrian shopping street, it features hip foreign and local brands, alfresco cafes and quaint shops.
Local Delicacies:
Keung Kee (Michelin-recommended)
G/F, Chuang’s Enterprises Building, 382 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Well-known for its glutinous rice, rice rolls and sweet soup, drop by this place for a Michelin-recommended treat!
The Butchers Club (Michelin-recommended)
Shop 10, G/F, Rialto Building, 2 Landale Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
For hearty burgers made of signature dry-aged Black Angus beef from Australia, served on a freshly baked floured scotch bap and tapped with mature cheddar cheese, glazed bacon, tomatoes, pickles and onion spread with thick cut fries triple fried in duck fat.
Kelly’s Cape Bop (Michelin-recommended)
G/F, 57 Johnston Road, Wan Chai
For freshly-made kimbap (Korean rice rolls), fried chicken bites, tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes) and fried egg rolls
QTS souvenir shops:
Venchi
Shop 316, 3/F, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island
For candy, cakes, and snacks
voi_la!
Shop 103, 1/F, China Resources Building, 26 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island
For wine and spirits
Tsim Sha Tsui
Boutique Ice-cream/ Yogurt Shops:
Nakamura Tokichi
Shop G06, G/F, The Mira Hong Kong, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Offers a variety of matcha desserts ranging from ice-cream, glutinous rice balls to icy treats.
MangoChaCha
Shop 5, G/F, Union Mansion, 33-35 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui
For Soufflés, waffles, shaved ice and roll cakes
Sweets House Cha Cha
city’super, 3/F, Harbour City, 17 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
For velvety and creamy matcha ice cream, cream pufsf and matcha smoothies
Must See Attraction:
The Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre
Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Features historical buildings and is the place to be to check our Hong Kong’s sustainable architecture
Local Delicacies:
Fat Boy (Michelin-recommended)
Shop G1, G/F, Workingport Commercial Building, 3 Hau Fook Street, Tsim Sha Tsui
Specializes in local and cheap street foods
Mammy Pancake (Michelin-recommended)
G/F, Carnarvon Mansion, 8-12 Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
For Hong Kong-style egg waffles with a variety of flavors such as chocolate, sesame, sweet potato
Hing Kee Shanghai Pan-fried Buns
Shop 6A, G/F, 48 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
For Shanghai-style pan-fried pork buns and vermicelli soup
Souvenir shops:
Shanghai Food
Shop 5, G/F, Lee Wai Commercial Building, 1-3 Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
For candy, cakes, and snacks
One Tea House
Shop 33A, G/F, Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
For teas
Cookies Quartet
Shop E, G/F, Carnarvon Mansion, 8-12E Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
For cookies, candy, and sweets
Mong Kok
Boutique Ice-cream/ Yogurt Shops:
Next Station Dessert
G/F., 13 Hak Po Street, Mong Kok
For test tube icy treats, purple sweet potato waffle with ice cream
Stacks
Shop 11, Paradise Square, Mong Kok
Check out for homemade ice cream sandwiches, featuring flavors of thai milk tea, taro, salted caramel, and more.
Joyful Dessert House (Michelin-recommended)
Shop 2&3, G/F, Ngai Hing Mansion, 74 Hak Po Street, Mong Kok
For Western desserts including mango Napoleon, Oreo parfaits and pineapple sherbet
Flower Market and Pre-War buildings
Flower Market Road, Prince Edward, Kowloon
A jungle of exotic blooms and scents that’s worth immersing yourself in. After picking up the flowers, you may also visit a cluster of pre-war buildings located nearby (190-204 and 210-212 Prince Edward Road West), the largest cluster of remaining pre-war buildings in the urban area.
Local Delicacies:
Kei Tsui (Michelin-recommended)
G/F, 135 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
A traditional Chinese pastry shop that has been on Fa Yuen Street for more than 30 years for their signature glutinous rice cakes with red bean paste, “wife cakes”, egg tarts and “baby chicken cakes”, a pastry with a sweet and savory filling.
Three Potatoes (Michelin-recommended)
Shop 5, G/F, Mei Shing House, 30-32A Nullah Road, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
For Michelin-recommended paked potatoes, fries and potato hash
Soupreme (Michelin-recommended)
G/F, 20 Beech St, Tai Kok Tsui
For Cantonese-style, double-boiled soups like matsutake soup
Souvenir shops:
Ryoyu Bakery Studio
Shop 321-342, 3/F, Moko, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mong Kok, Kowloon
For candy, cakes, and snacks
Bee Cheng Hiang (HK) Ltd
Shop B02-36, Basement 2, Langham Place, 8 Argyle Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon
More candy cakes, and snacks
Wing Lee Joss Sticks & Sandal Wood
G/F, 434 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon
Sham Shui Po
Boutique Ice-cream/ Yogurt Shops:
Heart’s Dessert
G/F, 57 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po
Their soft coconut jelly with coconut flesh topped with silky caramel pudding is a treat.
Noble
G/F, 161 Un Chau Street, Sham Shui Po
Their Uji Matcha Sorbet (shaved ice garnished with matcha ice-cream, red beans and glutinous rice dumplings) is a must-try
Must See Attraction:
Apliu Street Flea Market (Electronics)
Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong
For bargain-priced new and second-hand electronic devices. Sharp-eyed shoppers can also uncover antique watches, old coins and other relics.
Local Delicacies:
Hop Yik Thai (Michelin-recommended)
G/F, 121 Kweilin Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
The family-run shop is renowned for its aromatic rice rolls, with no fillings but come doused in a delicately combination of soy sauce, sesame paste and lard.
Kwan Kee Store (Michelin-recommended)
Shop 10, 115-117 Fuk Wah Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
What started as an illegal street vendor is now a specialty cake shop. Kwan Kee has been selling a variety of authentic local traditional sweet snacks such as white sugar cakes, put chai ko (Hong Kong-style glutinous rice pudding), black sesame rolls, red bean puddings and water chestnut cakes for more than 50 years.
Kung Wo Bean Curd Factory (Michelin-recommended)
118 Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po
For soy products including tofu pudding, stuffed tofu, soy milk and fried tofu puffs
Souvenir shops:
Tai Cheong Bakery
Shop 128, 1/F, Dragon Centre, 37K Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon
For pastries and cakes
Wing Wah Cake Shop Ltd
Shop 128C, 1/F, Dragon Centre, 37K Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon
For cake, candy, and snacks
First Edible Nest
Shop 202, 2/F, Dragon Centre, 37K Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon
Tai Hang
Boutique Ice-cream/ Yogurt Shops:
Lab Made Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Laboratory
G/F, 6 Brown Street, Tai Hang
This liquid nitrogen ice-cream laboratory gives you the classics but also a range of innovative Lab Made Specials such as crunchy French toast, Hong Kong custard bun and purple rice.
Loooop
2A Wun Sha Street, Tai Hang, Tai Hang, Hong Kong
For freshly-baked cookie cones with edible rice paper wrapping and various toppings
[小甜谷]﹙No Eng Name, pronounce as “Siu Tim Kuk”﹚
G/F, 10-11B School Street, Tai Hang
Try their stewed milk with red bean and pineapple shaved ice mountain
Must See Attraction:
Lin Fa Kung, Tai Hang
Lin Fa Kung Street, Tai Hang, Hong Kong Island
Literally means Temple of Lotus, this rare structure which was a Declared Monument in 2014, was constructed in 1863 for the worship of Kwun Yum, the Goddess of Mercy.
Local Delicacies:
[民聲冰室]﹙No Eng Name, pronounce as “Man Sing Bing Zut”﹚
G/F, 16 Wun Sha Street, Tai Hang, Hong Kong
Well-known for its steamed minced pork with salted egg.
[順興車仔麵大牌檔]﹙No Eng Name, pronounce as “Shun Hing Che Chai Mian Tai Pai Dong”﹚
First Lane, King Street, Tai Hang
Check them out for rice with scrambled egg and barbecued pork, rice with scrambled egg and shrimps.
[炳記茶檔]﹙No Eng Name, pronounce as “Bing Kei Cha Dong”﹚
Next to 5 Shepherd Street, Tai Hang
For Local delicacies including pork chop noodles, toast and milk tea
Kowloon City
Boutique Ice-cream/ Yogurt Shops:
Smile Yogurt & Dessert Bar
G/F, 65 Lion Rock Road, Kowloon City
For home-style ice cream treats
Golden Hall Dessert
Shop 5,6,9 Shing Nam Road, Kowloon City
Check them out for their signature coffee jelly sorbet
Honey Granny
Shop 18, UG/F, Kowloon City Plaza, 128 Carpenter Road, Kowloon City
For fresh milk soft serve topped with a slab of oozy honeycomb
Must See Attraction:
Kowloon Walled City Park
Tung Tsing Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon
Once a lawless enclave, now a peaceful park
Local Delicacies:
Lan Ying (Michelin-recommended)
92-94 Fuk Lo Tsun Road, Kowloon City
For Indonesian-style snacks like nasi rendang and satay skewers
[義香荳腐食品]﹙No Eng Name, pronounce as “Yee Heung Tofu”﹚
G/F, No. 74 , Nga Tsin Long Road, Kowloon City
Serves glossy and silken tofu pudding. Also worth trying is the three stuffed treasures.
Hoover Cake Shop
136 Nga Tsin Wai Road, Kowloon City
Known for their trademark egg tarts
Souvenir shops:
Mrs. So’s XO Sauce
Shop 3, G/F, 97 Hau Wong Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon
Cookies Quartet
G/F, 9A Lion Rock Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon
For cookies and sweets
Tak Hing Loong Company
Shop A, G/F, 52-54 Nga Tsin Long Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon
Check them out for dried seafood
Sweet Boutique de Tony Wong
G/F, 20 Hau Wong Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon
For cakes and other sweet treats
