Shui Kee Coffee in Hong Kong has been around for decades and it is as old school, as traditional, as Hong Kong as you can get to a cha chaan teng.

You almost don’t see tourists dining there; just locals who want breakfast in the most comforting form they know, without having their wallets take a beating.

Where Hong Kong-style buns, sandwiches, French Toast, noodles and milk tea are concerned, Shui Kee Coffee does it in the most traditional no-frills way. You have to try it for yourselves if you want a true taste of Hong Kong-style breakfast.

Shui Kee Coffee sits within the food centre, on the third level of Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building. You wouldn’t “chance upon it” if you didn’t know about it and hunted for it. It is one of those places where locals in the know go to and one that they always return to for a quick, casual and affordable breakfast.

On the very straight forward menu, you have your usual Hong Kong-style beverages (HK$13/ S$2.16) such as Milk Tea, Yuan Yang and Almond Milk. Shui Kee Coffee is famous for its Hong Kong-style Milk Tea; you have to go for the Milk Tea, of course. We loved the cold one that came in an old-school glass bottle. It was silky with a subtle bitter after taste.

For breakfast, there is no better way to start your day in Hong Kong than with a bowl of Noodles (HK$24/ S$4). What is essentially just instant noodles is made better with two slices of luncheon meat and a fried egg; the locals sure love their “can tan mee”.

The Beef & Egg Bun (HK$14/ S$2.30) is a popular choice. Honestly, there is nothing special about it, but it is one of those typical breakfast items that locals grow up eating. Shui Kee Coffee’s rendition comes with eggs that are fried with chives for an elevated flavour.

What you must not miss is the Hong Kong-style French Toast (HK$23/ S$3.83). Shui Kee Coffee’s rendition is one of the best that we’ve had in Hong Kong.

The next time you find yourselves in Sheung Wan, make a trip to Shui Kee Coffee and eat like a local.

Shui Kee Coffee
Shop 17, 18167, Sheung Wan
Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building
Tel: +852 2850 8643
Mon to Sat: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

We know how Hong Kong’s dense skyscrapers might be suffocating over time. For a quick escapade, head over to the laid-back Repulse Bay for a temporary change of environment.

The resort-like destination is especially hectic over the weekend, so dropping by on a weekday seems more sensible.

From shopping at The Pulse, suntanning at Repulse Bay Beach, dining at Limewood to enjoying an afternoon tea at The Verandah, here is a brief guide on what to do, eat and see during a day trip to Repulse Bay in Hong Kong.

WHAT TO DO IN REPULSE BAY

The Pulse

Newly opened The Pulse is a one-stop destination for retail therapy, entertainment options, gourmet dining and the list goes on. Shop for pet’s supplies, marvel at exhibited artworks at the galleries or dine at the various bayside restaurants.

28 Beach Rd, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2815 8888
Daily: 10am – 7pm

Repulse Bay Beach

It’s no brainer that the scenic Repulse Bay Beach is the main attraction at Repulse Bay. Take your furry animals for a leisure stroll, partake in one of the many events held here, dip into the inviting waters or simply do nothing on the golden sands!

Zhenhai Tower Park

Located adjacent to the shore is Zhenhai Tower Park, a traditional Chinese picturesque garden fronted by majestic statues of the Goddess of the Sea and the Goddess of Mercy (Kwan-yin). The shrine overlooks the sea and is believed to be guardians of the fishermen out at sea.

WHERE TO EAT IN REPULSE BAY

Limewood

Limewood is yet another successful food and beverage venture by the Maximal Concepts Group. The restaurant boasts a selection of Caribbean, Hawaiian, South American and Southeast Asian barbecued meats and seafood. Their cocktails are equally impressive too.

Limewood Shop 103/104 The Pulse, 28 Beach Rd, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2866 8668
Daily: 12pm – 10.30pm

The Coffee Academics

Chic and chill, The Coffee Academics’ pooch-friendly outlet at Repulse Bay is where coffee lovers and dog lovers alike gather to hang out and unwind over coffee. For those not in the know, the coffee chain has been voted as one of the best coffee shops by reputable international publications such as CNNGo and Vogue.

Shop No. 108, Level 1, The Pulse, No.26-30 Beach Road, Repulse Bay, Southern
Tel: +852 2511 1902
Daily: 9am – 9pm

The Verandah

Celebrated restaurant The Verandah is effortlessly elegant and a popular destination for high teas and Sunday brunches. A smart-casual dress code is required; no sleeveless shirts (for gentlemen), flip-flops and sandals are allowed.

109 Repulse Bay Rd, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2292 2822
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Wed to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 3pm – 5.30pm, 7pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 3.30pm – 5.30pm, 7pm – 10.30pm

HOW TO GET TO REPULSE BAY

From Hong Kong MTR Station: Head to Exit D, board bus 6, 6A, 6X, 66 or 260 from the Exchange Square bus terminus and drop off at Repulse Bay Beach.

From Central MTR Station: Head to Exit A, board bus 6, 6A, 6X or 260 from the Exchange Square and alight at Repulse Bay Beach.

A one-way ticket on these buses typically cost about HK$7.90. Make sure you have smalls on you as no change would be given.

Located in Southern Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui is one of the most popular and populated districts in Hong Kong. From chic restaurants in shopping malls to hole-in-the-wall eateries, there are so many dining options to choose from.

Tsim Sha Tsui has so many restaurants, eateries and cha chaan teng that it can be quite a headache to decide on where to dine at. For a start, here is a quick guide to the restaurants in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong that you can dine at.

ATUM RESTAURANT

Brought to you by the same people behind Atum Desserant, Atum Restaurant is the group’s first full-fledged restaurant. We highly recommend their ultra photogenic high tea set. Instead of the typical cake stand, Atum Restaurant uses a flat lay to display their bite-size canapés.

18 Hanoi Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3586 1959
Sun to Thu: 10.30am – 10pm
Fri and Sat: 10.30am – 12am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

AQUA

Aqua’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows span across two levels of One Peking Building and they unveil an extraordinary view of Hong Kong’s cityscape. Reputable presses such as Travel & Leisure and Condé Nast Travel have coined it as ‘Hong Kong’s Sexiest Cocktail Bar’ and ‘One of the World’s Most Exciting Restaurants & Bars’ respectively.

29/30F 1 Peking Road
Tsim Tsa Tsui, Hong Kong
Daily: 12pm – 2am, +852 3427 2288
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 3427 2288

BUTAO RAMEN

Founded in 2010, Butao Ramen started with its original shop at Wo On Lane and it has since expanded six more outlets across Hong Kong.

Specialising in Japanese Hakata Ramen, Butao Ramen offers ramen in four options: the signature Butao; Black King (tonkotsu base with black garlic and squid ink): Red King (tonkotsu base with chilli powder and miso); and Green King (tonkotsu base with olive oil and fresh basil leaves).

We tried both the Red King Ramen and Butao Ramen. While the former was kick-ass spicy, we preferred the latter for its rich and full-bodied

Shop A & B, G/F, Kam Wing Commercial Bldg,
28 Minden Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Tel: +852 2316 2878
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

BUTLER BAR

Butler Bar is an exclusive 20-seater watering hole and cocktail lovers should make a special trip for their Japanese-style premium cocktails. Their Classic Gin Martini (HKS$128) and Old Fashioned (HK$128) are highly recommended; the former is a concoction of chilled Tanqueray gin and Japanese perilla liqueur, while the latter is expertly prepared with Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

5/F, Mody House, 30 Mody Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2724 3828
Mon to Fri: 6:30pm to 2am
Sat: 6:30pm to 1am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

CAFFEE HABITU

Cafe Habitu first started out in 2003 and today is a successful coffee chain with various outlets across Hong Kong. The cafe provides free wifi and coffees with consistent quality—which is no surprise why the brand has won itself a strong following over the past decade.

Shop L608, The ONE
100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 3572 0622
Mon to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 10.30am – 11pm
Sun & PH: 10.30am – 10pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

CHUK YUEN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Talk about a family-friendly seafood restaurant in Hong Kong, and locals would probably direct you to Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant.

That old establishment has been around for decades and today, it remains a popular haunt for locals when they want an unpretentious and good meal with family and friends.

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant has a menu of dim sum items and seafood. And in particular, the famous Cheese Lobster deserves a special mention. Be prepared to wait in line for a table no matter what time of the day you go; their popularity is simply undeniable.

28 Hankow Rd, Hong Kong Pacific Centre
Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2722 0633
Mon to Sat: 11am – 12midnight
Sun & PH: 10am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Tsim Sha Shui

DIM SUM ICON

You must have seen pictures of Dim Sum Icon at some point in time on your Instagram explore feed. There were adorable Little Twin Stars, puking Gudetama and more. Dim Sum Icon changes their character themes every three months and it sure is a brilliant marketing strategy to keep your customers coming back for more.

L308, 3/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

ICHIRAN RAMEN

Now, what else do we need to say about Ichiran Ramen? Ask any foodie traveller what you must not miss out when visiting Japan and most of the answers will definitely include the popular chain Ichiran Ramen.

The famous eatery sells only tonkotsu ramen and after sampling endless bowls of ramen across Asia, the verdict is out – it is indeed the best rendition we ever had!

Ichiran Ramen currently has two outlets in Hong Kong—Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui.

8 Minden Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2369 4218
Daily: 24 Hours
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

KIMBERLEY CHINESE RESTAURANT

Kimberley Chinese Restaurant is best known for its Roasted Suckling Pig (HK$1,288). What makes Kimberley’s Roasted Suckling Pig so special is that the whole pig is stuffed with glutinous rice. The skin of the suckling pig is crispy while the glutinous rice retains its moist and sticky texture.

Before you make a trip there, do note that you need to pre-order the Roasted Suckling Pig and pay a deposit one day in advance. And one more thing, the suckling pig can easily feed 10 persons, so make sure you go in a big group.

Other than the iconic Roasted Suckling Pig, the old-school restaurant also offers a range of the classic Chinese dishes—go for the Beef Ribs Stew, Stewed Pig’s Lung with Cabbage—and dim sum.

28 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2369 8212
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

M&C.DUCK

Offering a modern twist to traditional Peking and Shanghainese cuisine, M&C.Duck is not quite what you would expect of a typical Hong Kong restaurant. The familiarity of a Chinese outlet is comforting yet reveals hints of sexiness; the list of dishes is what tugs your heartstrings yet surprises with the unexpected.

Well, we would go there especially for the very good Peking duck, but there is much more to love, and we say them with a passion.

Shop 3319, level 3, Gateway Arcade
Harbour City, 17 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2347 6898
Daily: 11.30am – 4pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

N1 COFFEE & CO

N1 Coffee & Co is a stone’s throw away from Tsim Sha Tsui Station and is owned by two prominent figures in the competitive cafe industry, namely award-winning barista El Au and Cafe Corridor founder Felix Wong. The menu is simple but concise and features a list of breakfast items, salads and sandwiches ranging from HK$40 to HK$65.

34 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Tel: +852 3568 4726
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

RELAX FOR AWHILE

Conveniently positioned along Kimberly Road and in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, Relax For Awhile cha chaan teng’s exhaustive menu ensures that all visitors will definitely find at least one item that suits his/her fancy. And here’s the best part—everything is incredibly affordable!

G/F, Cheung Lee Commercial Building
25 Kimberley Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3113 6388
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

SUSHI TOKAMI

Established in 2013, Sushi Tokami is a popular sushi restaurant in Tokyo which is known for its tuna dishes. The 18-seater restaurant earned its Michelin star status in 2014 and opened its first overseas outpost in Hong Kong in 2015.

Sushi Tokami Hong Kong—located at level 2 of Ocean Centre at Harbour City—offers three lunch menus priced at HK$800, HK$1,000 and HK$1,200. If you feel like splurging, go for the Omakase (HK$2,200) and leave everything to the chefs.

Shop 216A, Level 2, Ocean Centre
Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel:  +852 2771 3938
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

STAR CAFE

Hunting for underground cha chaan teng Star Cafe might be quite a challenge, but your efforts will be paid off once you have arrived. The native Hong Kongers frequent this casual eatery for its tomato soup noodles with egg and luncheon meat. Here’s a tip on finding this hidden local gem: Enter Champagne Court B at 16 Kimberly Road, walk to the end and head down the stairs.

Shop 36, Basement
16 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2721 2908
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

THE STEAK HOUSE WINEBAR + GRILL

Located at the basement of InterContinental Hotel Hong Kong, THE STEAK HOUSE winebar + grill is a 1-Michelin star in Hong Kong that specialises in charcoal grilled steaks.

Prices can be quite cut-throat, but they run on a full house almost every night.

The steakhouse offers a great selection of the finest cuts – from USDA prime beef to Australian Wagyu to Japan Hida A5 Wagyu. Well, let’s just say the options are mind-boggling – even for non-steak lovers.

LG, InterContinental Hong Kong
18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2313 2323
Mon to Fri: 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

TSUI WAH RESTAURANT

Yes, Tsui Wah Restaurant may be touristy, but we love it all the same.

Locals and tourists alike flock to Tsui Wah Restaurant for their signature Hainanese chicken rice, fishball noodles, and Bo Luo Yiu.

2 Carnarvon Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2366 8250
Daily: 7am – 2am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

YAN TOH HEEN

Known for its refined Cantonese cuisine, Yan Toh Heen is a 2-Michelin Starred restaurant at Intercontinental Hong Kong.

Yah Toh Heen has one of the best Peking Ducks in Hong Kong. What makes the Peking Duck here different is the condiments and sauces. It is served with six condiments that include green papaya, cucumber, red chilli, pineapple, yuzu and spring onion; as well as three different sauces – traditional sweet sauce, osmanthus plum sauce, and black garlic chilli sauce.

G/F, InterContinental Hong Kong
18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2721 1211
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun & PH: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

YUM CHA

Yum Cha—situated on the third floor of Attitude Hotel in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui—is a spacious and elegant 130-seater dim sum restaurant. If you are looking for a great yum cha meal without the scruffiness, Yum Cha is the place to go. Furthermore, they specialise in irresistibly adorable cartoon-themed dim sums that taste as good as they look.

3/F, 20-22 Granville Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2751 1666
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

For more recommendations, read our Hong Kong food & travel guides to find out the best places to go to.

Singapore’s proximity to other Asian countries has entitled many Singaporeans to frequent overseas travels. The emergences of budget airlines and AirBnb have further facilitated this privilege – there truly has never been a better time to travel than now.

In this curated guide, we will show you how to travel to Hong Kong with just S$290 (includes air fare, activities, accommodation, transportation and meals). There is no need to stay in a hostel or scrimp on food; traveling on a budget without the compromise of comfort is very possible.

With just S$290 per person, you can sample the best food Hong Kong has to offer and visit iconic sites in 3 days 2 nights.

#1 KAM WAH CAFE

Kam Wah café is a household name amongst the locals; they are renowned for having the best bo lo bao aka pineapple buns (HKD 6 / SGD 1 each) in Hong Kong. Word of its bo lo baos has extended beyond the city’s boundaries and now the cafe receives a significant influx of foodie tourists on a daily basis.

Interestingly, the traditional pineapple buns actually have no traces of the fruit. The name ‘pineapple bun’ was bestowed to the snack due to its uncanny resemblance to the checkered fruit. These legendary sweet buns are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and served warm with a slab of butter in between. Besides their signature pineapple buns, Kam Wah Café also sells many other Hong Kong style dishes at extremely affordable prices.

Kam Wah Cafe is also listed in our guide to Hong Kong’s Best Pineapple Buns.

$: HKD 21 / SGD 3.70 for a breakfast set

G/F, 47 Bute Street
Prince Edward

#2 GOLD FISH MARKET

Feng Shui is an integral part of Hong Kong’s culture and gold fishes have been said to bring good luck. While we do not think it is possible to bring a pet gold fish onboard a plane or let even check it in, it is still worth a trip down to the local Gold Fish Market. It was a fascinating sight to see rows of bagged fishes displayed along the street.

The pretty fishes are stored in transparent bags and displayed clearly to onlookers. Besides fishes, most shops sell a variety of other aquatic creatures too such as terrapins and crabs. You will also chance upon a handful of pet shops selling the cutest puppies and kittens along the same street.

$: Free

Tung Choi Street North
Mong Kok, Kowloon

Accumulated from a few trips’ worth of exploration, we share with you 23 Best Western Cafes in Hong Kong you must visit at least once in your life. Time to look at the city from a different perspective!

#3 HONG KONG’S EGG WAFFLE

Odd looking egg-shaped golden brown waffles called Gai Daan Tsai in Cantonese are sold in almost every street in Hong Kong. The local snack is best described as conjoined balls of cooked batter. The petite waffle is actually very filling due to its high carbohydrate content. The waffle’s eggettes are easily fragmented when plucked and is perfect for sharing. While recipes vary across each vendor, the best egg waffle would be one that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Over the decades, North Point’s delicious fluffy egg waffles have won the hearts of the locals. There are many franchises across Hong Kong to cater to the high demands for it. Unsurprisingly, Hong Kongers have ranked the affordable and tasty egg waffles as their favourite street snack.

$: HKD 15 / SGD 2.60 for an egg waffle

Various locations

#4 LADIES MARKET

Ladies Market is where you can put your bargain skills to test (and leave your shopaholic girlfriend to rest). The market boasts over 100 stalls selling all sorts of items. The name of the market may be misleading as vendors actually sell more than just ladies’ accessories.

While you might not be looking to purchase anything, it is still interesting to window shop through the market’s chaotic crowd. Do note that the luxury goods are ridiculously cheap only because they are counterfeit. Police raids do happen, though not often and is an exciting sight. Watch in awe as the makeshift stalls disassemble in front of you instantaneously.

$: Free

Tung Choi Street
Mong Kok, Kowloon

#5 FLOWERS MARKET

It is Valentine’s Day everyday at Flower Market. The breathtaking display of blooming fragrant flowers and potted plants will lift your spirits immediately. Located on Flower Market Road, the market is actually a strip of flower shops selling all sorts of flowers you ever dreamt of. Bouquets are readily available or if you would like, stalks of roses can also be bought at relatively cheap prices.

$: Free

Flower Market Road
Prince Edward, Kowloon

#6 YUEN PO STREET BIRD GARDEN

The traditional garden is second home to a community of elderly bird hobbyists who are extremely proud of their caged creatures’ gorgeous feathers and melodious chirping. Besides showing off their prized possessions, the Yuen Po Street Garden also serves as a convenient meet up place for the old folks. Take a stroll through the bird park and be captivated by the colourful canaries. Free wifi is also available throughout the garden.

$: Free

Yuen Po Street
Prince Edward, Kowloon

If you already have an intimate bonding with Hong Kong, how many of these can you resonate with? But if you haven’t been, maybe it is time to fall in love – hard. Here are 29 Reasons To Love Hong Kong:

#7 MAK’S NOODLES

Mak’s Noodles can be found almost everywhere in Hong Kong but the store at Wellington Street is its founding father. The first thing one notices about their signature springy Wanton Noodles (HKD 33 / SGD 5.80) is its tiny palm-size portion, which makes it more of a snack than a meal. Mak’s Noodles specializes in shrimp wantons and its fragrant broth is infused with dried shrimp roe, pork bones and dried flounder.

The brand has been around for more than half a century but its original recipe dates back to more than hundreds of years. Mak’s Noodles had won over the likes of Anthony Bourdain, David Myers and even former China President Chiang Kai Shek. Today, Mak’s Noodles is the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred eatery.

While Mak’s Noodles will be opening in Singapore this July, you would not want to miss the opportunity in dining at the original store!

$: HKD 33 / SGD 5.80 per bowl of noodles

77 Wellington Street
Central, Hong Kong

#8 AVENUE OF STARS

A jogging trail amongst locals by the day and a major tourist site by the night, The Avenue of Stars is a 400 meters long promenade created to pay tribute to Hong Kong’s film industry. As its name suggests, the sidewalk features handprints and signatures of famous Hong Kong movie stars such as Jackie Chan.

A spectacular 13 minutes long lightshow takes place at the Avenue of Stars every night at 8pm and the glitzy performance showcases Hong Kong’s cityscape at its very best. This brilliant show has also been recognised by the Guinness World Records as the ‘World’s Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show’.

$: Free

Promenade
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

#9 MAXIM’S PALACE

No trip to Hong Kong is complete without a feast of dim sums. From lukewarm siew mais to freshly baked egg tarts, these dainty snacks surprisingly filled us up quicker than we thought. We highly recommend Maxim’s Palace at City Hall for an afternoon of dim sums.

While visitors may question the authenticity of dim sums at Maxim’s Palace due to its grand décor, you can be rest assured that Maxim’s has actually strived to retain Hong Kong’s traditional traits in every possible way.

From traditional dim sum teahouses, to the cheapest Michelin Starred dim sum restaurants, and very posh Chinese restaurants that offer an exquisite dining experience like no other – here is our guide to Hong Kong’s top 12 dim sum restaurants.

The informative waitresses donned in their aprons push carts filled with delectable dim sums around the grand hall, stopping from time to time to replenish tables of hungry diners. Besides storing endless stacks of bamboo steamed baskets, the trolley also doubles up as a walking menu.

$: HKD 105 / SGD 18.45 per pax

2/F, City Hall
5-7 Edinburgh Place, Central

#10 YUET HIN

For a no-frills and cheaper alternative, venture into the backyards of Hong Kong’s local neighbourhoods and you may discover an unexpected treat. Yuet Hin offers equally mouthwatering dim sums at half of Maxim’s price. The shop’s clientele is predominantly local but features a few unique take on dim sums.

$: HKD 50 / SGD 8.70 per pax

G/F, 27 – 29 Luen Hing Street
Luen Wo, Fanling

#11 THE PEAK

Everyone knows about The Peak for its amazing panoramic views of Hong Kong. Getting up to The Peak is however the tricky part. You can choose to take the bus number 15 (HKD 10 / SGD 1.75), taxi (HKD 45 / SGD 7.85 from Central MTR), tram or even walk.

While the classic tram (HKD 53 / SGD 9.25 for one way) is the most preferred transportation method, peak travel periods will have you enduring a painful queue of up to an hour or more. It takes about 90 minutes to hike up The Peak. Upon arrival, you can visit Victoria Peak Galleria’s roof top terrace for free.

$: Free

Mid Levels, Hong Kong

#12 SHEUNG WAN

The eclectic neighbourhood of Sheung Wan is a hot spot for hipsters, fashion instagrammers and gourmands. Take an hour or two to explore the vicinity with your camera, where an enclave of indie-looking shops is waiting to be discovered. From stylish cafes and coffee shops to the humble old school Cha Chaan Tengs, Sheung Wan is filled with surprises at every turn.

$: From HKD 20 / SGD 3.50 for coffee

#13 YAT LOK GOOSE RESTAURANT

Famed for their award winning succulent roast goose meat, Yat Lok Goose Restaurant has gained a special place in the hearts of both local Hong Kongers and foreigners. The geese have been roasted to perfection – juicy tender meat with a crispy glistening skin that tastes amazing on its own.

The signature meat is served with a sweet plum dipping sauce and bowls of plain rice/noodles. Despite being recommended in the Michelin guide and raved about by various international TV personalities, the family business remains humble and keeps their prices affordable.

$: From HKD 50 / SGD 8.80 for a main

G/F, 34 -38 Stanley Street
Central Hong Kong

#14 LAN KWAI FONG

With over 90 bars, clubs and restaurants, Lan Kwai Fong is a notorious party district and the ideal destination for Hong Kong’s nightlife. ‘Happy Hour’ in Hong Kong starts at 5pm and ends at 9pm, where you can get an iced cold beer at a steal (about HKD 20 / SGD 3.50 per bottle).

The end of ‘Happy Hour’ is actually only the beginning of the entertainment Lan Kwai Fong has to offer. There are many nightclubs in the vicinity that open till the wee hours and popular clubs include Magnum Club and Dragon-I. Cover charges do apply, but females are entitled to free admission and complimentary drinks on ladies night.

$: From HKD 20 / SGD 3.50 a beer during happy hour

#15 TSUI WAH

Tsui Wah is akin to fast food chains with the primary difference being that they too sell Cantonese food such as wanton noodles. While Tsui Wah may not be a dining destination worth making a special trip to, it offers comforting filling meals at very low prices. Some of the outlets are open 24 hours and is a great option for supper. We particularly enjoyed their Fish Balls and Fish Cakes in Fish Soup (HKD 30 / SGD 5.30) – their fish balls are actually made fresh daily!

$: Mains start from HKD 30 / SGD 5.30

Various locations

A trip to Hong Kong is not complete without eating at Cha Chaan Teng. Here’s a list of the Top 10 Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng.

TOTAL EXPENSES PER PERSON FOR 3D2N (ALL-INCLUSIVE)

AirBnb Stay (2 nights): SGD $100 (for 2 persons)
Return airplane tickets: SGD $136** (per person)
Transportation + Return airport transfer: SGD $43.60
Food: SGD $60.40
Attractions: Mostly free (assuming no shopping was done)
TOTAL: SGD $290 per person (all-inclusive)

** This fare is based on the ticket that we booked (a month and six days in advance the trip) without check in baggage.

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng was previously a marketing executive and freelance photographer in the food industry. Her work has been published on Epicure, Lifestyle Asia and Meld Magazine etc. She is currently on a break and traveling around the world. Follow her travel adventures on Instagram or The Keepers Map where she shares useful curated travel itineraries.