Hong Kong Dining - Shopping and Restaurants Guide

Dining Overview

Dining in Hong Kong is certainly one of the highlights of a trip to this metropolitan city. The number of places to sample good food here is endless. One of the best things about dining in Hong Kong is that you can always find something good to eat no matter what time of day or night it is! Most restaurants open early and close late and in some areas, especially Soho there is a delivery service enabling diners to get food delivered from the local restaurants to many of the bars and clubs nearby!

As with any modern city, things change here at an incredible rate and we only mention a few of the places we think are special in the area. Hong Kong has its own eating magazine, Dining in Hong Kong and if you are a serious foodie, it is a good idea to pick this up before you start feasting.

Cantonese food is the local specialty and there are some good restaurants serving up high quality and authentic Cantonese fare. The best dishes to try are Dim Sum (small steamed dishes) and the seafood. The Cantonese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, is the most sophisticated and arguably the best in town.

At the top end of the market, Hong Kong's finest and most exquisite restaurants tend to be in hotels. Felix, the Peninsula Hotel's most famous restaurant is certainly among the top in Hong Kong if not in Asia. The best thing about many of the Hotel restaurants, are the spectacular views that they afford.

If the sight on your plate is more important than the one from the window, then there are literally hundreds of good restaurants that should satisfy even the keenest of gourmets. The area around Soho in Central is fast becoming THE district to wine and dine in. The range of restaurants in this district is vast and includes French, Italian, Thai, and Nepalese. The district around Lan Kwai Fong also has some surprisingly good places to eat.

None of the above are cheap however, and if you really are on a budget here you'll find it hard to eat well. McDonald, KFC and the Chinese chain Maxim's however, all do fast food at cheap prices. Maxim's is especially good for a quick and cheap bowl of noodles although their menu is fairly limited.

Where to Shop

Hong Kong's chief shopping districts are Central, Admiralty, and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, along with Tsim Tsa Tsui and Mong Kok in Kowloon. Shopping hours vary, but most shops are basically open until late at night, seven days a week. Shops are also open on public holidays, except during the Lunar New Year. However, shops in Central close earlier at around 6 p.m., but the other main areas stay open till 9:30 p.m.

Malls
There is a myriad of glamorous and glitzy shopping malls in Hong Kong. These malls are certainly more comfortable than roaming around the streets, especially during the hot and humid summers.

Main shopping malls on Hong Kong Island include Landmark in Central, Pacific Place in Admiralty, Times Square in Causeway Bay, and City Plaza in Taikoo Shing. Kowloon also has its share of malls, which includes the linked Ocean Terminal and Harbour Centre complexes.

Markets
Shopping markets in Hong Kong are abundant, selling every item imaginable. These markets are cheap and interesting. Even if you do not wish to buy anything, it would be fun to just walk through the markets to observe the ways of market dwellers.

"Cat Street" off Hollywood Road in Central is a flea market offering inexpensive trinkets and bric-a-brac. The neighboring area is famous for fine arts and antiques. Stanley Market, on the south side of the island, is famous for sports and casual wear, linen, tableware, silk, and leather garments. The markets are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hong Kong's most popular night market is Temple Street, which runs from Jordan to Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon. Cheap clothing, watches, pens, sunglasses, CDs, electronic gadgets, and luggage abound in its colorfully lit stalls. The market opens from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Tung Choi Street is a bustling street market in Mong Kok. It is less tourist oriented than Temple Street, and specializes in local women's fashions, jewelry, and accessories. The market is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Jade Market, located under the fly-over near Kansau Street in Yau Ma Tei, is famous for its unique jewelry. It opens daily from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.