09.00 Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport (www.hongkongairport.com), situated on reclaimed land about 40 minutes’ drive from the city, or 24 minutes from Central district on the Airport Express, which leaves every 10 minutes (www.mtr.com.hk).
10.00 Check into the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong (www.mandarinoriental.com; +852 2820 4202), one of the city’s oldest hotels and one of the flagship properties of the hotel group. The 501-room grand dame was built in 1963 and was originally called The Mandarin, until the company merged with The Oriental in Bangkok, forming Mandarin Oriental Hotels. Grab a quick breakfast bite in the Clipper Lounge (+852 2825 4007), which has been a meeting place for visitors and residents in Hong Kong since the hotel’s early days.
11.00 Walk across Statue Square and on to The Peak tram station, where a 120-year-old funicular will take you directly up the side of the 552m mountain to The Peak and Sky Terrace 428 (named so because at 428m above sea level, it is the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong). On a clear day, a stroll around the viewing platform gives you 360-degree views over Hong Kong (www.thepeak.com.hk/en; HK$65 for return tram tickets and Sky Terrace 428 entry; departs every 10-15 minutes). Once a retreat where the city’s wealthy European occupants came to escape the summer heat, The Peak is now a great place to learn about Hong Kong’s history and get your bearings.
12.30 Return to sea level and take a table in the main dining room at Bo Innovation (www.boinnovation.com; +852 2850 8371, reservation recommended), one of the most exciting restaurants in the city, if not the world, at the moment. Located in busy Wan Chai, there is nothing remarkable about the location of the two Michelin-starred restaurant, which is accessed via a lift on non-descript Ship Street. However the menu, created by Alvin Leung Jr. (AKA Demon Chef) is nothing short of remarkable. Unleashing the principals of molecular gastronomy on traditional Chinese cuisine, Leung deconstructs familiar Chinese dishes and serves them in their original forms, or incorporates them into Western dishes – with achingly delicious effect.
Go for the Chef’s Menu (US$100 plus 10 percent service charge), which features eight signature dishes including ‘xiao long bao’, a globular ball of warm dim sum reduction, and Japanese saga-gyu beef with black truffle, soy and cheung fun (Chinese rice noodle).
14.30 If your mind is still in one piece, head to the Landmark Mall in Central for some retail therapy (www.landmark.hk). Hong Kong’s largest collection of luxury brands spills out onto the streets around it, but the extensive retail and dining choices inside are more than enough to sate your shopping appetite. If you prefer all your clothing to feature the Armani logo, visit the nearby Pacific Place Mall, where an entire floor is dedicated to more Armani boutiques than you knew existed (www.pacificplace.com.hk).
16.00 Catch the Star Ferry across to the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour (www.starferry.com.hk; +852 2367 7065, departs every 10-12 minutes) and stop off at The Peninsula Hong Kong (www.peninsula.com; +852 2920 2888) for afternoon tea in The Lobby, where Hong Kong socialites have congregated for decades.
If you prefer your tea in a more traditional Chinese setting, grab a snack at Spring Moon and have tea master Terry Tang pair one of 27 kinds of tea with your dish (+852 2315 3160).
19.00 Take a stroll along the Avenue of Stars, where you can find statues of Hong Kong film industry immortals including Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and John Woo, before boarding Aqua Luna (www.aqua.com.hk; +852 2116 8821, HK$240 including one beverage), a traditional red-sail Chinese Junk that will cruise the busy waters of Victoria Harbour while you enjoy sundowners and the famous Symphony of Lights. Every night at 20.00, 44 buildings on either side of the harbour come alive with a colourful light show based around five separate themes.
20.30 Make your way to the infinitely trendy One Peking, an ultra-modern 30-floor tower built using photosensitive glass panes that change tint depending on the strength of the sun, designed by architect WMKY Limited. More importantly it’s also home to loads of stylish shops and restaurants including Aqua. The super-trendy venue is really three-in-one: Aqua Tokyo (Japanese cuisine), Aqua Roma (Italian cuisine) and Aqua Spirit (trendy mezzanine level cocktail bar). The restaurant was recently given a complete makeover by London design legend David Collins (www.davidcollins.com), and the stylish interior now provides one of the nicest spots in town to gaze out at the buildings of Hong Kong Island.
22.30 See the rest of the night off in style back at Mandarin Oriental’s 25th-floor M Bar, a low-lit lounge bar with epic views over the city. Try the signature ‘Legend’.
00.30 Retire to your room and enjoy a good night’s sleep before your return journey.
STAY
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
+852 2820 4202
www.mandarinoriental.com
The Peninsula Hong Kong
+852 2920 2888
www.peninsula.com
