city   guide.

hong kong

NEIGHBOURHOODS

CAUSEWAY BAY

Local retail hotspot; shopping centres, mid-market chains, domestic and international designers. Apparel, kidswear, accessories, beauty

SOHO

Select boutiques and local designers hidden between lively dining spots; design hub at PMQ; explore for apparel and interior picks

TSIM SHA TSUI

Modern shopping malls packed with designer flagships and global labels; apparel, kidswear, accessories, footwear and electronics

ADMIRALTY/WAN CHAI

Local designers, smaller boutiques, international labels and department stores; accessories, footwear, jewellery and interiors

CENTRAL

Luxury designers and skyscrapers; international brands and Western aesthetics; global apparel, accessories and footwear

SHEUNG WAN/NOHO

One-off boutiques; inspiring interiors and contemporary art galleries; best for accessories, interiors and some vintage finds

SAI WAN

Ever-changing residential areas; old and modern coexist. Hidden hip bars, fusion restaurants and regional Chinese food

HONG KONG CITY GUIDE | 48 HOURS

DAY 1

Wake up at...

Little Tai Hang, a quaint, design-centric boutique hotel that embodies Hong Kong’s distinctive blend of local and colonial heritage in the hip neighbourhood of Tai Hang. Start your day with an almond croissant from Plumcot before exploring the community around Caroline Hill Road and Haven Street – home to local select stores such as Journalize and Luddite. Then head towards Causeway Bay to dive into the trendy hub of Fashion Walk, home to several hip streetwear labels and lifestyle stores. Shop at Agnès B's multistorey flagship designed by Japan’s Suppose Design Office, and Maison Kitsuné’s first Hong Kong flagship, alongside stores from Club Monaco, IT and MSGM.

Spend the afternoon...

At Elephant Grounds, tasting Asian comfort food, locally roasted coffee and house-baked pastries. Nearby, stop at Causeway Place and Island Beverley for a taste of where the locals shop. Local boutiques are quick at responding to trends and tend to mix and match them. Afterwards, cross Hennessy Road to check out three-storey concept lifestyle store and bookshop Eslite at Hysan Place, as well as offerings from local chains such as Chocoolate, Bauhaus and Staccato. Nearby, shop special Nike collaborations at Nike Lab on Pak Sha Road, and Hong Kong-themed lifestyle products at Goods of Desire on Sharp Street East. Wrap up the afternoon with some delicious gelato and coffee at 3 Italiani on Jaffe Road.

Spend the evening...

Satisfy your pasta cravings at Pici, or if you prefer a taste of the Middle East, head to Francis for mezes made with organic and seasonal produce, plus your pick from its affordable wine list. Before dinner it’s worth exploring The Starstreet Precinct where well-edited and hip shops such as The Monocle Shop, Kapok and Vein are located. Queen’s Road East is lined with independent boutiques such as Petit Bazaar and Cigogne Bébé offering childrenswear, as well interiors shops such as Ovo Home and Mr Blacksmith. For a cheeky nightcap, head to Central for a drink at the Hong Kong outpost of New York’s iconic PDT, or a few mezcalinspired cocktails at COA.

DAY 2

Wake up at...

The Fleming, a stylish urban boutique hotel with a nautical theme in the heart of Wan Chai. Munch on freshly baked pastries from Bakehouse before hopping on a tram to Western Market. Walk up to Tai Ping Shan Street to find quaint cafes such as Teakha and Oldish, as well as local boutiques such as Chum 5 and Juice. Next, hit up PMQ, a hub for emerging Asian designers and contemporary eateries such as Sohofama and Sake Central. Exiting the heritage building onto Aberdeen Street, shop Orient Senses for quality handmade sterling silver and gold jewellery in simple but stylish and unique designs. Next door, Stockholm is right on point for hip Hong Kong’s latest obsession with Swedish design. Make a turn to Gough Street and shop creative gifts and homeware at Homeless, Woaw and Tunique. On neighbouring Shin Hing Street, check out Okura for a collection of quality Japanese lifestyle products.

Spend the afternoon...

Take the ferry across scenic Victoria Harbour and arrive at one of Hong Kong’s largest shopping malls – Harbour City. It is home to luxury department store Lane Crawford, countless designer outposts and mid-market boutiques, and chains such as Uniqlo and Gap. Shop at the LCX complex for brands for young men and women such as 6ixty 8ight, Snidel, Initial and Market Liberty. Don’t miss a glance at popular beauty brands all under one roof at Facesss. If you’re feeling hungry, grab a quick lunch on Café Épure's terrace or at Muji Cafe.

Spend the evening...

Walk back onto Nathan Road and continue to explore the numerous shopping malls around the area. The One houses local chains popular with young men and women, most of them Japanese labels managed by fashion group IT or owned by The One group itself. Some of them include Double Park, Izzue, Beauty & Youth United Arrows, Beams and Journal Standard. Before getting dinner at Hong Kong’s first Korean makgeolli restaurant, Ssal Bori Ssal, swing by K11 Select and K11 Natural to see the more cutting-edge side of retail in the area.

HONG KONG CITY GUIDE | FAST FACTS

ONCE YOU'RE THERE
AIRPORTS

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (HKG)

Also known as Chep Lak Kok (formerly Kai Tak), this is Hong Kong’s one airport, located 34km (21 miles) northwest of Hong Kong Island. The Airport Express rail-link provided by the MTR takes 24 minutes to reach the central Hong Kong station (via Kowloon and Tsing Yi stations) for HK $115 and runs from 5:54am to 12:48am every 10-12 minutes. Citybus, New Lantao Bus, Long Win Bus and Discovery Bay Bus (DB02R) run a number of routes to and from most of the city, and are available at the Airport Ground Transportation Centre and Cheong Tat Road. Three different types of taxis are available at the airport. Urban taxis (red) connect the airport with Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and parts of the new towns of Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Tseung Kwan O (southern Lantau Island excluded) for HK $225-395. New Territories taxis (green) connect the airport with the New Territories, except those parts of the Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Tseung Kwan O served by urban taxis, for HK $130-465. Lantau taxis (blue) connect the airport with the rest of Lantau Island for HK $19-220.

Note: an international airport departure tax of HK $120 is charged for all persons aged 12 years and above departing Hong Kong – waived for passengers who arrive and depart on the same day.

GETTING AROUND

Hong Kong is geographically compact and boasts one of the world’s most efficient, safe, affordable and frequent public transport systems. Whether by MTR, taxi, ferry, rail, bus or tram, you can get around easily and catch wonderful glimpses of the city along the way. Make use of the Octopus Card, an electronic fare card that is accepted by almost all public transport (including Airport Express), and at many restaurants and stores.

tipping guide

Tipping isn’t a big part of Hong Kong culture, but hotels are one of the few places where tips are expected. Hotels and major restaurants may add a 10% service charge, but usually this does not go to the waiters and waitresses. For exceptional service, or if you plan on frequenting a venue, tipping is highly recommended. For taxis, drivers typically round up the total fare to the next dollar, and a little extra is always appreciated.
Waitstaff: 10-20%
Bartender/Cocktail waitress: not typical, some round up the bill
Porter/Doorman: HK $5-10 per bag (HK $2-5 per bag at the airport)

SHOPPING HOURS

Shops are open daily 10am-7pm, although many stores in busy retail areas such as Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui stay open until 9:30pm or later, particularly on weekends.
* This is a general guideline as hours are flexible and different for each store. Please check store websites or call for more specific information.

other

Time Zone: Hong Kong Time (HKT) GMT +8
Electricity: 220V
Common Language: Cantonese, English, Mandarin