Destination Guide
New museums like M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum have cemented the West Kowloon Cultural District as a global arts hub, while independent galleries, listening bars, and chef-driven restaurants are drawing energy back into neighborhoods from Sai Ying Pun to Sham Shui Po. A new dining wave favors intimacy and craft over spectacle: casual bistros led by Michelin-trained chefs, revived dai pai dong (street food stall) traditions, and thoughtful wine bars and coffee roasters embedded in local streets.
Wan Chai’s streets hum with movement and constant energy
At The Mira, Cuisine Cuisine pairs classic Cantonese flavors with contemporary touches
One of the city’s many Peking duck specialists
Tsim Chai Kee’s iconic wonton noodle soup, served the old-school Hong Kong way
Anthony Bourdain, renowned culinary journalist and author
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
At The Mira, Cuisine Cuisine stakes its claim as one of the city’s most respected Cantonese tables. Michelin-recognized but unpretentious, it balances classic dim sum and seasonal seafood with thoughtful modern touches—a glimpse of refined dining in a neighborhood steeped in hospitality history.
Central, Hong Kong Island
Legendary for oversized bowls of wonton, beef, and fish ball noodles, Tsim Chai Kee is a no-frills institution. Its punchy flavors and rapid service embody the energy of Central streets, offering a glimpse of local life and culinary tradition.
Central, Hong Kong Island
An icon of retro Shanghai glamour, The China Club combines elegant interiors, a curated art collection, and refined Cantonese cuisine. Beyond dining, it remains a cultural touchstone, reflecting the city’s cosmopolitan history.
Central, Hong Kong Island
A century-old institution, Luk Yu Tea House serves classic dim sum in a traditional Cantonese tea house setting, complete with vintage wood interiors and timeless rituals.
Halfway Coffee I like sitting outside on Upper Lascar Row, sketching on my iPad and watching the neighborhood pass by. Along the street, Cat Street’s flea markets reveal antiques, trinkets, and hidden gems, echoing the quiet rhythm of old Hong Kong.
Grand So A true local legend, the calligraphy artist sets up daily from 10 am to 3 pm on a bench at 94 Hollywood Road, proving you don’t need a studio to create. Locals buy his pieces as wedding gifts, each carrying a personal, symbolic touch—if you know, you know.
Visage One By day, a barber shop; by Saturday night, one of Hong Kong’s most intimate live music spots. With just 20 seats, expect jazz or blues, wine flowing, and an atmosphere that feels like a well-kept secret.
Isamu Noguchi’s Play Pyramid blends art and play at M+ Playscape
M+, Hong Kong’s museum of visual culture, gleams across Victoria Harbour
West Kowloon Cultural District, Kowloon
Hong Kong’s landmark museum of contemporary visual culture has quickly become a cultural anchor on the city’s waterfront, attracting global institutions and local audiences alike. M+ presents cutting‑edge exhibitions, multimedia installations, and site‑specific commissions that put Asia’s creative voice on the world stage.
Central, Hong Kong Island
A cornerstone of the contemporary art scene, Kiang Malingue showcases emerging and established international artists in crisp, light-filled galleries. Its focus on experimental, cross-disciplinary work makes it a must-visit for those seeking the cutting edge of Asia’s art world.
Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong Island
Current Plans is a boundary-pushing alternative space dedicated to experimental, multidisciplinary projects. Since 2020, it has hosted exhibitions, performance nights, art residencies, and interactive events that merge creativity and community in playful, unexpected ways.
Kowloon
Stretching along Victoria Harbour, the district houses M+, the Xiqu Centre for Cantonese opera, and Freespace for experimental performance. Waterfront promenades dotted with Ai Weiwei sculptures, seasonal festivals such as Art Basel-related events, pop-up exhibitions, and design markets make it the city’s cultural heartbeat.
Asia Society Building Less a building than a landscape of soft and hard, its architecture has a sci‑fi quality, with sleek slabs jutting from a lush jungle. Walkways wind through dense trees from the new wing to the heritage buildings, leading to expansive terraces with sculpture and fountains overlooking Hong Kong—hardly anyone will be there.
Blue House Square The “square” opens onto restored blue-and-yellow heritage houses, balconies alive with locals calling “Josun” (good morning). Flanked by a coffee shop and vegan eatery, it feels like a tiny village amid the bustle of Wan Chai.
Sik On Street Not a street, but a wide staircase enclosed on all sides, with a tiny exit onto Queens Road Central that most miss. From the top, it feels like a diorama—buildings looming overhead while you’re treated to a dramatic view of Hong Kong’s towering giants.
Street life in Kowloon: vibrant and endlessly dynamic
Vintage treasures tucked away in Sheung Wan
Sleek lines, glass façades, and bold design define K11 and K11 MUSEA
Central, Hong Kong Island
Hollywood Road is the heartbeat of Hong Kong cool: antique dealers sit beside contemporary galleries, cafés are tucked between design studios, and vintage shops hide one-of-a-kind treasures. Must-visits include Hula (consignment), Excuse My French, Goods of Desire, and Chloe Chen.
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
Sheung Wan is a treasure trove for vintage hunters. Select 18 on Tung Street curates homewares and knick-knacks that capture the neighborhood’s character, Once Style Luxury is a go-to for fashion-forward pieces, and On Wo Lane hides small gems where fashion, lifestyle, and design intersect.
Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
A fixture for decades, Yue Hwa is the city’s go-to for Chinoiserie at unbeatable prices. From silk pyjamas and nightdresses to traditional homewares and collectibles, it’s a place to stock up on locally inspired pieces that feel classic yet practical.
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island
Lane Crawford blends luxury fashion with avant-garde design, pairing global high-end labels with emerging designers. It’s where trendsetters and collectors alike get a curated look at contemporary style.
Nury Vittachi, author and journalist
Chi Lin Nunnery, an oasis of classical Chinese architecture in bustling Hong Kong
The Tian Tan Buddha at Po Lin Monastery, a serene landmark on Lantau Island
Diamond Hill, Kowloon
This Tang Dynasty-style Buddhist complex, with soaring timber halls and lotus-filled ponds, provides a contemplative counterpoint to urban life. Alongside Nan Lian Garden, it offers an oasis of calm where architecture, ritual, and landscape converge.
The Peak, Hong Kong Island
One of the city’s oldest green spaces, Victoria Peak Gardens features tree-lined paths, flowering terraces, and colonial-era architecture. It offers a quieter, often-overlooked perspective of the skyline.
New Territories
Stretching 100 kilometers across mountains, reservoirs, and coastal vistas, the MacLehose Trail is the city’s signature long-distance hike. From peaks like Tai Mo Shan to serene sections along High Island Reservoir, it reveals Hong Kong’s rugged natural diversity beyond the urban core.
New Territories, Hong Kong
Known as the city’s “back garden,” Sai Kung blends coastal villages, turquoise bays, and vibrant seafood markets with hiking trails and water sports. Its laid-back pace, hidden beaches, and waterfront cafés makes it a playground for both adventure and serenity.
Mong Kok’s bustling streets in Kowloon glow with neon energy
Words Vidula Kotian
Images courtesy Klaudia Czarlinska, Marcin Liwarski, Manson Yim, Mark Cocksedge, Kaden Taylor, Lok Cheng, Kitmin Lee, Joel Fulgencio, Rex Zingtam, Sicheng Liu, Tomasz Brengos, Nic Low
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