City insider – Page 1 of 3

Welcome to City insider, the first in a regular series of features designed to give you the inside track on on the cities where we have offices around the world , and help you make the most of your time there. Our first edition focuses on Hong Kong, as we head towards the Chinese New Year. Each Chinese Zodiac year begins on Chinese New Year’s Day with this year being the year of the Rooster.

Favourite restaurants

Go to Tim Ho Wan for inexpensive, delicious dim sum. Order the Har Gow (shrimp dumplings). Also If you are bamboozled by the choice at Tsui worth a visit is the Lei Garden: the roasted pork belly Wah, try the beef brisket and tendon curry over cubes are out of this world. For something fancier, rice, the pork ribs instant noodles, or the toasted we recommend the Dynasty at the Renaissance buns slathered in condensed milk. Hotel for its barbequed pork slices, fried fish in five spices and one of the many heart-warming double- boiled soups. If you are an adventurous eater, pork Best month to visit lung soup is a must. If it’s late and you’re hungry, Tsui Wah is a casual chain of restaurants with November and December. Fall is just beginning and it locations all over Hong Kong, which serves noodles, will be dry and cool. Any time between February and Hainan chicken rice and everything in between. May is also fine, but avoid the typhoon season, which starts around May and ends in early October.

Best place for cocktails

Foxglove boasts a hidden entrance, mean cocktails, cool bathrooms and live music. Reservations are advisable.

VEA lounge serves ultra-cool cocktails and delicious accompanying snacks. The truffle fries and salted caramel ice-cream sandwich are to die for.

Quinary and The Woods are good choices for ‘creative drinks’.

Iron Fairies is new on the block with interesting cocktails and décor. There is usually a long queue at the door during weekends.

The Library in Wanchai is set back from the hustle and bustle of the Central district. This quiet Japanese bar has an extensive whisky selection and cocktails made with fresh seasonal Japanese fruit – good for liquid lunchers.

Top rooftop restaurants/bars

If heights are your thing, OZONE at the International Commercial Centre, West holds the award for the highest bar in Asia. Others include:

MaisonEight in Tsim Sha Tsui Sugar at East Hotel, Taikoo Shing SKYE at the Park Lane Hong Kong, Mahalo Tiki Lounge at QRE Plaza, Wanchai Wooloomooloo Steakhouse at the Hennessy, Wanchai SEVVA at Prince’s Building, Central ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge at 8 On Lan Street, Central.

Where to spend a leisurely (or not so leisurely) Sunday morning

Put on your running shoes and go for a morning jog or brisk walk along the famous Peak Circle Walk on Lugard Road at the . It is the best way to enjoy the iconic view of Victoria Harbour. The Jogging Trail on is another easy

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pick if you are looking for a good morning walk or run while enjoying the spectacular view of the city. You could also take the ferry to Lamma Island for a family -friendly hike and a delicious seafood lunch at one of the seaside restaurants.

Best place to plug your laptop in and work

You are welcome to work at almost all cafes in Hong Kong (most provide wifi as well). However The Cupping Room is a favorite, serving delicious all-day breakfast/brunch (the bread is amazing) and it serves award-winning coffee. It has branches in Central and Sheung Wan. Café Deadend in and Elephant Grounds in Star Street are also worth a visit. Must-see museums

Hong Kong Heritage Museum Dr Sun Yat Sen Museum Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens.

Ideal spots for watching the world go by

Head to The Pulse at Repulse Bay beach and sit at one of the many beach front restaurants. You can choose from wood-fired pizza, roast duck soup noodles, oysters and many more dishes. Limewood serves delicious guacamole and Mexican-inspired cocktails. Favourite cheap eats

As Asia’s finest gourmet paradise, Hong Kong offers many different kinds of street food and cheap eats. Egg tarts, curry fishballs and egg waffles are all on the ‘must-try’ list. Cart noodles (piled high with various types of meat and veg) are also popular.

Be sure to get an Octopus card which you can top up and use as payment for any of the above methods of transport.

Best nightlife How to get around

Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) in Central holds the prize as The subway/metro (called the MTR) is very easy to Hong Kong’s centre of nightlife. The LKF strip is navigate and takes you almost everywhere in Hong home to a variety of bars, lounges and clubs, where Kong. The bus or minibus is another option. Otherwise, you can dance (and drink) the night away. However, taxis are inexpensive and easy to flag down, unless it be prepared for steep prices if you decide to hit up happens to be rush hour. There are also tram networks places like Dragon-I or Ce La Vie. Soho District and around certain parts of Hong Kong which double as a in Wanchai are cheaper. great way to experience the sights of Hong Kong. You can also take the ferry to get from one side of the harbour to the other.

Top spots for shopping

Central houses the high-end shops. Causeway Bay offers contemporary fashion brands and household goods. Check out Mong Kok for kitsch cheap fashion and great souvenirs.

Best kept secret

As well as being a busy global financial hub, Hong Kong is also blessed with a beautiful natural environment; be sure to plan a hike on one of its trails. You may even stumble upon hidden waterfalls .

Your insiders

Christine Fok, banking associate and Calvin Lai, business development assistant.

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17 January 2017 City insider – Hong Kong

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Page last updated: 09:56 on 17/01/2017 by Staines, Nick

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http://athena2/en/News/GroupPeopleNews/Pages/City-insider- -Hong-Kong.aspx 17/01/2017