A bar whose name means ‘uproar and commotion’? Could there be a more fitting venue for a night of cocktails, dancing and partying in Hong Kong, Asia’s ultimate wild child city? But this is uproar and commotion with a sleeker, chicer, sexier edge. Think minimalist décor, high ceilings and industrial detailing; Manhattan Loft meets wild Irish shindig. This is the venue to hit up when you’re looking to switch the night up a gear - there’s plenty of space on the dancefloor to showcase your Gangham Style and a list of space-age style, molecular shots to fuel your smooth moves. Make sure that you try the genius Jäger Balls – jelly encased shots of Jägermeister served floating in a glass of Red Bull, AKA liquid Michael Flatley - one shot and we guarantee you’ll to be the Lord of the Dance …

58-62 D'Aguilar St., Central, Hong Kong
+852 2179 5225
Google map: bit.ly/WIyBBV

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Had enough of bright lights and buzzing streets? How about transporting yourself far away from the skyscrapers and honking taxis of Hong Kong and saying Aloha to a Polynesian Paradise at Honi Honi. Tucked away in an unassuming building on Wellington Street, this little cocktail den feels like a dessert island haven among the neon and vodka jelly of the streets below. Grab a high stool at the bamboo bar or head out to the leafy terrace and prepare to be blown away by some totally tropical cocktails. Whip up some trouble with the Tropical Storm - Grey Goose, passion fruit, elderflower, guava nectar and fresh strawberries - or go for some group re-hydration courtesy of the Around the World – the king of cocktails, made up of five different rums some obligatory soft, fruity stuff and a whole bottle of Tattinger Champagne – this probably doesn’t end prettily …

www.honihonibar.com/
3/F 52 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
+852 2353 0885
Google map: bit.ly/ZDV4jz

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

If you’ve headed down to hot Peruvian restaurant, Chicha, but can’t get a table, don’t feel bad, we’re all in the same boat. Literally actually – we’re talking the boat themed bar, The Roger Room, right across the road of course! But this isn’t some awful themed bar, this is Chicha’s naughty, rum-swigging, buccaneering little brother – fresh out of the box drinking spot and the place all the cool kids are heading for strong drinks and Peruvian bites. Decked out like a very chic pirate ship, with killer cocktails for the thirsty and tacos for the peckish – peg legs and parrots are optional! Go classic with a Pisco Sour or really shiver those timbers with the bar’s namesake tipple, the Jolly Roger – Pisco, muddled berries, sparkling wine and a spike of chili. Several of those and it’ll be cutlasses at dawn…

G/F, 39 Peel St., Central, Hong Kong
+852 2561 3336
Google map: bit.ly/Y3mvEv

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Looking for a little respite from the rowdy crowds on Wyndham Street? How about a little well-heeled refinement and a strong Gin & Tonic? Origin sounds right up your street. This brand new drinking spot specialises in the stiff upper Brit’s favourite tipple, gin. Whet your whitsle with a gin-based cocktail or tickle your fancy with a nip of home-infused gin, think: basil, grapefruit or lemongrass. Like it’s sister bar, The Quinary, lots of new fangled wizardry and some serious science lab-esque equipment, is used to whip up Origin’s menu of delicious concoctions. So hop up onto a tartan-topped stool at the elegant arched bar and watch the mixology magic commence.

G/F, 48 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong.
+852 2668 5583
Google map: bit.ly/ZDVztY

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

For a little slice of Cuba in the very heart of Lang Kwai, zip past the lagered-up crowds doing jelly shots and head up to Havana Bar’s huge 4th floor terrace where the atmosphere’s much more Caribbean Carnival. If the Latin beats don’t get you in the party mood, the mind-boggling array of rum is guaranteed to have you salsaing on the tables quicker than you can say Daiquiri. Nab an alfresco cushioned corner seat under the colourful reclaimed shutter wall art, and get the drinks flowing. The Luxury Mojito is a delicious but deadly twist on everyone’s favourite Cuban cocktail – it’s a classic Mojito topped up with champagne.

4/F, The Plaza, 21 D'Aguilar St., Central, Hong Kong
+852 28514880

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A lovely, laid-back, quiet rooftop bar and restaurant, with views of the Potala Palace. Pretty much only used by hotel guests, so not raucous, and with no-one hassling you for your table like the rooftop places off Barkhor Square. A perfect place for breakfast, or to let the afternoon and evening slip by.

www.shambhalaserai.com/html/Shambhala-palace-1.html
No. 16 Taibeng Gang Wengdui Xingka Sangdong Yuan Lhasa, Tibet, China
+86 (891) 632 6695

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The cheapest Michelin starred food in the world at Tim Ho Wan's restaurant in Mongkok, Kowloon may not be a secret - you will be able to identify the small restaurant by the queue outside - but what I did discover this year was that you could get takeaway. The pleasure I took in walking past all the outraged queuing tourists to pick up my freshly baked pork buns was only topped by the pleasure of sitting by the side of the road eating the delicacy.

2-20 Kwong Wa Street, Mong Kok
Flat 8, Ground Floor, Phase 2, Tsui Yuen, Mansion, 2-20 Kwong Wa St
+852 2332 2896
Google map: bit.ly/X010Bv

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

On the fishing island of Cheung Chau, just 45 mins by ferry from Hong Kong there is a harbour bar named Moroccos. Its location and name hide its Indian background. Ice cold Kingfisher on tap is the order of the day, although the regulars love their bottles of Blue Girl, a perfectly respectable local brew. There is also a list of fine traditional curries and naan breads to munch at the bar as you watch the footy on TV. You can even order by phone from the ferry so it's hitting the bar at the same time you are. Lovely service (bottles kept in the ice cooler until you need a top up) and the sound of the local fisherman clicking and clacking their Chinese chess pieces together at furious corner table games provides the atmosphere in this amazing, noisy life exuding bar.
Or simply sit outside in the cool quiet and watch the world go by along the harbour walk.

Cheung Chau harbour, take ferry from Hong Kong pier 5.
Google map: bit.ly/Vt4hvW

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Hong Kong’s newest, gastro-opening, Wild Grass, brings simple, nose-to-tail, home-cooking to our bustling metropolis. If you’ve had your fill of dim sum and Peking duck, this is the perfect spot for a great big plate of hearty, comforting sustenance.
Head up the brightly tiled staircase and make yourself at home around one of Wild Grass’ big communal dining tables. The light, airy, whitewashed dining space is given an air of French farmhouse, eco-chic with plenty of warm wood and reclaimed, recycled rattan furniture dotted between recipe book stacked shelves and copper pot filled dressers.
Serving up simple but flawlessly executed dishes, Wild Grass sources the best organic ingredients for its hearty, seasonal menu. Head chef, Jean-Paul Gauci focuses on traditional recipes (many passed down from his grandmother) - roasts, stews and nursery food favourites with a little sprinkle of French je ne sai quois. The restaurant’s specialty is beef of the wild, grass-fed variety – think cattle who’ve spent their days romping across the Australian outback. We guarantee that you can taste the difference. Not a meat lover? Wild Grass has Pescatorians covered with sustainable fish options and vegetarians catered for with inventive, farm-fresh vegetable dishes.
A word of warning - ensure that you leave space for dessert. Crème brulee served custard tart style in a crumbly pastry case is devilishly delicious and simple delights like apple turnover with whipped cream and rhubarb oatmeal crumble with dairy frozen cream will have you licking the plate clean.
The bill? Surprisingly very reasonable, with the set three-course lunch menu priced at just HK$220 and the three-course dinner menu coming in at a very wallet friendly HK$390.

1/F, 4-8 Arbuthnot Road, Central,
Hong Kong
+852 2810 1189
Google map: bit.ly/UpjnR1

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Anything even vaguely Latin American is super hot in Hong Kong right now. Perhaps it’s not entirely surprising - who doesn’t love the winning combo of tacos and tequila? The latest Latino opening is brand new tequila bar, Ted’s Lookout.
Part slick, New York-style cocktail den, part favela chic dive bar, Ted’s is gritty glam with a generous side of cool. Nestled in a deserted corner at the end of Moon Street, exposed light-bulbs spelling out the bar’s name beckon you in with whispered promises of debauchery and ill-advised dancing.
Sip your liquor alfresco, propped on a high stool by the hurricane lantern illuminated bar hatch, or head inside and settle in to a leather banqueted booth while you watch the barmen shake up what’s sure to be the first of many liquor-laden concoctions. Feeling peckish? Keep the cocktails flowing while you chomp on a round of bite-sized Chorizo tacos and nibble on a plate of prawn ceviche.
Very clearly designed with misbehavior in mind, there’s even a ‘Hiding from Wife’ telephone affixed to the wall. And when naughtiness is expected then you’d better behave accordingly, after all it would be a waste for the night to end before the tequila bottle’s empty…

G/F Moonful Court, 17A Moon St, Wanchai,
Hong Kong.
Google maps: bit.ly/YKwj6U

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It is a very clean hostel with private rooms with their own bathroom. We had a triple room with bathroom for 240 RMB. The staff are friendly and there is always lots going on. You can book tours through the hostel to see the Terracotta Warriors or Han Yang Lee museum which is smaller but much quieter but in a beautiful setting. You can buy western food here or try local Chinese restaurants nearby for a quarter of the price.

www.itisxian.com/English/
Nanxin Street, Xincheng, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, 710002
+86 29 8728 7772
Google map: bit.ly/U1zGRF

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

22 Ships is a brand new, modern tapas restaurant brought to us by Michelin starred chef, Jason Atherton (protégé of Gordon Ramsey and El Bulli's Ferran Adrià).
A cosy 35-seater restaurant tucked away on the strip de jour in Wanchai (from which it takes its name), Ship Street, 22 Ships is the perfect pit-stop to refuel and refresh before heading out for the night. Whitewashed exposed brick walls are hung with framed black and white photographs and big blackboards with the day's specials chalked across them. The atmosphere is laid-back but buzzy; a neighbourhood restaurant with a bit of sparkle.
Settle on high stools at the bar, for a front row view of the blur of action in the open kitchen or bag a table by the open front - ideal for spilling out onto the pavement with a group of friends while tapas grazing and working your way through a couple of bottles of wine.
Once you're settled, go ahead and order up a storm, with this menu you really can't go wrong. Stand outs include the DIY tuna tartare, the scallop ceviche and the mindblowingly awesome char grilled Iberico pork and foie gras burgers (heaven in a bun).
Sweet tooth? Finish off with the peanut butter ice-cream with blue fruit sorbet and salted peanut caramel. Positively ambrosial!

www.22ships.hk
22 Ship Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
(+852) 2555 0722
Google map: bit.ly/RRmBbZ

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It’s a common misconception that Hong Kong is all skyscrapers and bustling, neon-lit streets. So if you’ve arrived having only packed for a city break, what do you do when you discover that Hong Kong is actually home to some beautiful beaches and you’re in dire need of a bikini? If you’d asked me a year ago, I’d have said you were in a bit of a tricky situation. Hong Kong oddly seems to lack good swimwear shops, but that all changed when bikini and beachwear boutique, Itsie Bitsie, opened up last March.
For the uninitiated, Itsie Bitsie may be a little bit of a puzzle to reach. Although the shop window, giving a tantalising peek of Itsie Bitsie's wares, is slap bang opposite the Central-Midlevels escalator, to crack into the shop you need to navigate back down to street level, head through a gated doorway and up a grubby staircase in an old Chinese walk-up building. Believe me though, it's more than worth the effort.
As you enter the little boutique space, you're greeted by rail after rail of gorgeous bikinis, one pieces, kaftans, and maxi-dresses - a veritable Aladdin's Cave of all things beachy. Coming in an eye-popping kaleidoscope of colours with a cut and style to suit every body type, each piece is designed to be as flattering and comfortable as possible. Owner and designer, Cristina Wilkinson is usually on hand to help you find your perfect beach essentials and having lived in Hong Kong for several years, she's been on enough junks, beaches and exotic holidays to know exactly what she's talking about.
Have a mini-me in tow? Itsie Bitsie has recently also added super-cute baby Kaftans to the range. And as Victoria Beckham and Harper have taught us, its very important for Mummy and baby to match - better pick up the full-size version while you're there too...
So, if you're heading to Hong Kong shortly, I suggest that you sneakily go and remove your bikini and kaftan from the case and what a coincidence to find when you arrive that there's a whole shop worth of Itsie Bitsie gorgeousness just waiting to fill the gap!

www.itsiebitsie.com/
1/F, 45 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
+852 6871 0201
Google map: bit.ly/U40O0X

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Tucked away in a grubby walk-up on Hollywood Road, you wouldn’t find TBLS unless you were looking for it. But this is a little gem of a restaurant that I definitely suggest you go looking for.
A private kitchen with well-deserved rave reviews and a two month waiting list, TBLS does comfort food with a gastro twist. The TBLS philosophy is simple enough, a seasonal, fixed six-course menu of trusty favourite dishes created using the best quality ingredients and a dash of haute cuisine magic. It’s HK$650 a head (just over £50) but when you factor in that you're guaranteed an evening of pure, unabashed indulgence, it’s actually great value. Plus you save on astronomical wine list pricing as it's BYO.
The restaurant itself is pretty basic - a cosy (read small) space with minimalist décor (read bare white walls and standard issue black tables and chairs) leading out to a large terrace perfect for a pre-dinner drink or alfresco eating during the cooler months of the year. The real thought and creativity has been invested in the food which is whipped up by Vietnamese-American chef, Que Vinh Dang and his team in the large stainless-steel open kitchen in the centre of the room.
When we finally managed to bag a table and were informed that the evening’s menu was themed ‘American Supermarket Foods’ I couldn’t help but feel that perhaps we’d been slightly shortchanged. A massive misconception.
Our six courses of decadent deliciousness kicked off with a soup and sandwich. But this wasn’t any old soup and sandwich, this was TBLS’ indulgent, gourmet soup and sandwich – a punchy, earthy mushroom soup with sautéed shitakes, roasted garlic and rosemary oil with a miniature sloppy Joe sandwich – all buttery brioche and juicy beef smothered in a tangy, spicy sauce. Next up mac and cheese, so good that one of our party ate it twice (feigning an allergy to one of the ingredients in another course to ensure a double serving). Following swiftly after, two further dishes of beautifully presented morsels of heaven on a plate, apparently inspired by a fish sticks TV dinner and tinned pork and beans.
And then it was time for dessert.
No matter how near to burstingly full you may feel, skipping dessert would be criminal. As we loosened our belts, out came ramekins of Banana Moon Pie - an ambrosial creation consisting of baked bananas, chocolately crumble, homemade vanilla bean ice-cream and a wicked little dash of bourbon. Spooning up the last of the boozy, sticky bananas and declaring ourselves completely defeated, yet another dessert, the pièce de résistance floated into sight – a macaroon sandwich. Two semicircles of the palest mint coloured macaroons, homemade and just the right mix of crisp and chewy, sandwiched together with a thick round of creamy mint choc-chip ice-cream and a layer of unctuous raspberry jam. We all suddenly seemed to find a second wind and gobbled up every last crumb with relish.
TBLS really is something a little bit special; an insider's secret not to be missed. My advice? Spend the day of your booking working up a proper appetite - say, hiking up perilously steep hills or shopping like your life depends on it. Better yet, engage in full on starvation. This is a feast and a half which warrants a monumental appetite.

www.tbls-kitchenstudio.com
TBLS, 7th Floor, 31 Hollywood Road, Central,
Hong Kong Island
+(852) 2544 3433
Google map: bit.ly/NQJijN

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

I’ve waxed lyrical about the wonders of foot massage in Hong Kong before. If you’re tired, hungover, jetlagged or all three, 50 minutes of foot massage and I guarantee you’ll be back to your former fabulous self.
While I still love my trusty favourite reflexology spot, Gao’s (see my previous tip), I must admit that I’ve been having a hot little reflexology affair on the side. It’s younger, much better looking and there’s frozen yoghurt involved … For a super luxe, top of the range foot massage experience, nowhere beats Ten Feet Tall.
Perched up on the 20th & 21st floor of the sparkly new, L Place building, Ten Feet Tall opened at the start of the year and became an immediate hit. One visit and I guarantee you'll understand why. Zoom up in the lifts to the sleek white reception area on the 21st floor and you're greeted by a very cool neon Ten Feet Tall sign and a desk of friendly, white-uniformed receptionists. Word of this slice of foot massage heaven has got out, so it’s best to call and book in advance, particularly if you want to bag one of the private rooms (which come complete with day beds and 80” projector screens).
Arrived early? Recline in the little waiting area leafing through the selection of big glossy coffee table books or pick some reading material to accompany your reflexology from the magazine racks stocked with all the latest international fashion, lifestyle and business titles. When it’s time for your appointment you’ll be whisked through to the spa, a warren of cosy little rooms ranging from the ultimate private snug for two to communal rooms which are still über luxe with just eight huge white armchairs separated by billowing gauzy curtains.
For pure indulgence, plump for a private room, nestle into the reclining day bed, and pick from a selection of films or TV channels to have burbling away in the background on the big screen as you have your feet rubbed. Alternatively, bring your iPad and take advantage of the free wifi throughout the spa to surf the web – internet shopping while a therapist is kneading your shoulders, does it get any better?
Yes actually! Before your heavenly treatment starts your therapist proffers a menu of delectable treats to feast on while you’re pampered. No measly mug of hot water here, instead you can have a Fuji Fusion smoothie (banana, strawberries, apples and orange), fresh young coconut or even a frozen yoghurt (including a choice of scrummy toppings).
Sumptuous décor, a myriad of magazines, films and frozen yoghurt but what about the foot massages? Is Ten Feet Tall all style and no substance? Not a bit of it. The miracle working therapists deftly deliver 50 blissed-out minutes of pure indulgence. In fact, if you arrive with heavy eyelids you’ll be napping before you can say dozy. And if you find yourself being gently nudged awake at the end of your treatment, the dregs of your frozen yoghurt melting beside you, there’s really nothing for it but to snuggle back down, order a smoothie and ask your therapist for another 50 minutes …

www.tenfeettall.com.hk
20/F & 21/F, L Place, 139 Queen's Road
Central, Hong Kong Island
+852 2971 1010

Monday – Sunday 11:00am – 1:00am
(Last Appointment at 12am)
Google map: bit.ly/QtQuwX

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

In July I tried an alternative mode of transport into China and booked return tickets on the overnight sleeper train from Shenzhen to Guilin. Tickets can be booked in advance from a small office in Hung Hom Station, TST, Hong Kong. They will charge an extra HK$100 commission for their service and be prepared to pay cash. Even though they have a computer the ticketing system, once they’ve finished their noodles, involves hand writing receipts and keeping cash in a drawer under the desk. There is a choice of hard seat, bottom hard sleeper and bottom soft sleeper and the price varies according to the comfort you desire. I went for the soft sleeper which is approximately HK$500 one-way. The journey takes around 13 hours and the train leaves at 17.50 from Shenzhen each day.

As I had a China visa already I took the KCR to Lo Wu, passed through immigration into Shenzhen and walked to the Railway Station following signs for ‘long distance trains’.

The waiting area bustled with travellers and once the call went out to board the train we were all duly and efficiently in our designated carriage to leave on time. The soft sleeper is the first class area of the train and is a four-berth compartment with clean sheets, a pillow and a duvet. There was a chaotic buffet car which I declined to make use of.

I was pleasantly surprised as the train pulled smoothly out of the station and after a picnic and a drop of wine, which I had cunningly prepared earlier, I simply made myself comfortable, stretching out on the soft (ish) sleeper, read my book, chatted to the nice polite Dutch couple in the same compartment, before sleeping for most of the night. Certainly better than sitting up in economy class all night. No one came to ask me if I wanted the chicken or the fish, no one made me put my seat belt on and I wasn’t squashed against another human wrestling for elbow space. The toilets were better than anticipated and were even functioning and clean the next morning as we trundled into Guilin Station.

Once off the train we found a local mini bus a short walk out of station and headed for the small town of Yangshuo which is 90 minutes away from Guilin. The gorgeous limestone karst pinnacles are located right in the town of Yangshuo and surround it. The countryside is stunning and away from the main road is quiet and peaceful. It is possible to book a variety of tours from a variety of travel agents around the town and it’s also easy to hire a bicycle and explore without any prior, and more expensive arrangement. There are also options of rock climbing and kayaking for the more adventurous

As it was very hot, early morning starts seemed to be the best bet to beat the crowds We hired a couple of bikes and took them on a bamboo raft down the Li Jiang to the small village of Fuli, then to the village of Liu Gong Gu Pu where we left the raft and began a flat, easy ride back to the main town, keeping by the river, but not before sampling the freshly ground coffee at a small café offered to us by a charming waitress and her children. We just couldn’t refuse.

The town of Yangshuo has a plethora of small craft shops selling any amount of trinkets and slightly quirky items to adorn yourself and your home. There are tons of places to eat and as well as traditional Chinese food there is also a few places offering food from Italy and the USA, I’ll leave it you to guess the menu.

The return train left Guilin Railway Station at 21.40 so we ate a hearty meal before boarding and once back in Shenzhen at 10.30am we were ready for breakfast. Not as luxurious or as expensive as flying first class but the benefits are equal. All in all it was a refreshing and invigorating trip made easier by being able to sleep while travelling. Recommended.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Lang Kwai Fong - neon-lit tourist trap, home to kebab shops, purveyors of vodka-laced jelly and hawkers selling flashing glasses and glowing devil horns. Prefer your vodka unset and a slightly less lads on tour crowd? Once you’ve had your photograph taken under the Lang Kwai Fong sign, I’d suggest hastily darting down an unmarked alley a little further down the hill. This dank and dirty back street may look like the sort of spot that only cockroaches and thugs would lurk, but persevere and you’ll emerge, Alice in Wonderland like, in the middle of Mexico-City.
Well not quite, but the nearest thing that Hong Kong has to Mexico-City - bar-restaurant, Brickhouse.
Perennially packed and with a strict no-bookings policy, if you spot a spare perch make sure that you grab it immediately. The favela-style décor is the perfect mix of gritty cool – graffitied concrete walls, chunky church candles, mish-mash furniture and sunny, bright murals. Drinks taste dangerously non-alcoholic - the raspberry and chili Diabla is as deadly delicious as it sounds and the pineappley Brickhouse Margarita is a great twist on a classic. Soak up the alcohol with some South American snacks. The chips with five salsas are a total winner - super salty, crunchy tortilla chips with home-made guacamole and an array of other more unusual dips. Follow up with pulled pork tacos, tuna tostadas and Mexican Street Corn (chili mayonnaise slathered BBQ-ed corn on the cob sprinkled with cheese and coriander).
And the best news? Several cocktails later, when you fall out of the alleyway back into Lang Kwai Fong, no one will bat an eyelid, they’ll just assume you’ve had one too many vodka jellies.

www.brickhouse.com.hk/
Brickhouse, G/F, 20A D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong,
+(852) 2810 0560
Google map: goo.gl/maps/CoeU1

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

By night Dragon-i is home to the rich and the beautiful. Models prowl in packs, the finance boys compete to buy ever bigger bottles of ever more expensive champagne, the It Girls lounge at tables resting their Louboutin clad feet while they sip grey goose poured from a bottle so big that it makes them look the size of Borrowers... By day though, Dragon-i is a whole different story. Book for lunch for a table full of not Dom, but dim sum. If it's cool enough to sit outside, bag a table on the large terrace perched just above Wyndham Street which you share with a flock of twittering birds housed in a giant black birdcage. If the mercury's rising, seek sanctuary inside the sleek, glossy restaurant decked out with sunken leather sofas and red Phoenix print lanterns - the perfect fusion of East and West.

Then for the main event, time to get stuck into the dim sum... For the bargain price of HK$188 you get as much dim sum as you can manage and unlimited tea. And we're not talking low grade, buffet eat-all-you-can, this is little parcels of deliciousness ordered straight from the a la carte menu. Don't miss the Shanghai Dumplings with Ginger Vinegar, the Baked Barbecued Pork with Sesame Puff or the Steamed Rice Paper Rolls with Fresh Prawns. Dragon-i is the ideal stop off to refuel after a hard morning's antiques shopping on Hollywood Road giving you the sustenance to tackle an afternoon's sightseeing or an excuse to do nothing but lie by your hotel pool like an overstuffed dumpling.

Be sure to return after dusk to see all evidence of dim sum swept away, and the Jeroboams of Champagne being wheeled out complete with sparklers to a soundtrack of cooing models and thumping music spun by the best DJs in town.

www.dragon-i.com.hk/
UG/F The Centrium,, 60 Wyndham Street,
Central, Hong Kong.
+(852) 3110 1222
Google map: bit.ly/MLFcHM

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Applying El Bulli-style food science to cocktails in a bid to engage all five of your senses, the Quinary shakes up some pretty impressive concoctions. This brand new temple to cocktails is Located on Hollywood Road, right in the middle of Central. The decor juxtaposes comfy leather sofas with a never-ending, sleek, black bar and padlocked, mesh-fronted shelving units crammed with a menagerie of trophies, books and knick knacks.
Mixologist magician, Antonio Lai, whips up his sensory drinks using an arsenal of high-tech kit including a rotary evaporator and a centrifuge which are proudly displayed in a science lab area at the end of the bar. I highly recommend the Quinary take on the Earl Grey Martini which comes topped with a swirl of bubble bath-like foam and laden with petit pois sized spheres of Earl Grey infused 'caviar' (much nicer than they sound). The Touch of Rose and the Oolong Tea Collins are also delicious - my memory of everything after that gets a little bit hazy though. The truffle fries are apparently incredible, maybe an order of those next time will help to make my head a bit less fuzzy the morning after ...

www.quinary.hk/
56-58 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong Island
+(852) 2851 3223
Google map: bit.ly/OqulDy

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Victoria Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong Island which means 360 degree views of the island and a breathtaking harbour vista as you look across to Kowloon side. Hong Kong's most popular tourist attraction is a definite must-see, but I have a couple of tips that the guide books don't include.
My first top tip relates to getting up to the Peak. Your guide book will tell you take the Peak Tram, a funicular railway that's been running since 1888 which creaks 396 metres up the side of the hill at a hair-raising gradient. The ride is an experience not to be missed but the queues to catch the tram up the Peak (at the Garden Road Terminus in Central) snake right around the block morning, noon and night. The queues at the top to ride back down again however, are much smaller and anyway, in my opinion, the ride down is even more exciting and roller coaster-esque than the ride up. So, I always save the tram for the way down the hill and just jump in a cab on the way up thereby skipping the maddening queues at the bottom (Hong Kong's cabs are plentiful and cheap - the red and white taxis are for hire when the red circle on the dashboard is lit up and the white taxi sign on the car's roof is alight).

My second tip centres on what to do once you get up there. The majority of visitors flock straight to the Peak Tower, a wok-shaped viewing platform 428 metres above sea level. You undoubtedly get breath-taking views from this lookout point but it sits atop a giant shopping mall packed with tacky souvenir shops and generic chain restaurants. While I see the Peak Tower as a definite must do (it’s a great place to snap a few impressive skyline photos) I’d suggest that you don't confine your Peak experience to this Disneyfied corner but instead combine it with something that not everyone does. Ask your cab driver to drop you off outside the Peak Tower and take a gentle stroll along the Hong Kong Trail, a route which loops for about an hour around the top of the Peak through lush greenery that chirrups with cicadas. Along this trail you'll get beautiful views across the city and wind past some of Hong Kong's most luxurious houses (prices of the real estate up here exceed even those of Monaco's mansions). This is a perfect walk to take during the latter half of the afternoon so that you end up back at the Peak Tower just before sunset. Head to the viewing platform in time to watch the sun sink below the skyscrapers and stay until the city’s kaleidoscopic lights come up. By this point you should have worked up a healthy appetite.

Which brings us to my third tip - where to eat. Scoot straight past the shopping mall chain restaurants and head directly across the road from the Peak Tower to the Peak Lookout, the quaint cottage-like building that twinkles under chains of fairy lights. The restaurant sits on the site of the former resting shelter of the sedan chair carriers whose job it was to ferry the Peak's wealthy residents up and down the hill. Bag a table out on the terrace which overlooks the South side of the island and refuel with jet-fresh seafood, tandoori oven fired meats accompanied by pillows of fluffy naan or a char-grilled steak from the barbeque.

www.thepeak.com.hk/en/1_2_1.asp
128 Peak Road, The Peak, Hong Kong Island.
Google Maps: goo.gl/maps/yziA

The Hong Kong Trail
www.thepeak.com.hk/en/1_3.asp

The Peak Lookout
www.peaklookout.com.hk/
121 Peak Road, The Peak, Hong Kong Island.
(852) 2849 1000
Google Map: goo.gl/maps/TT7Y

* Natalie is our local for Hong Kong. You can read all about her here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/hong-kong-local-natalie-robinson.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/natalierobinson
She also has her own blog at: www.3badmice.com/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends