The Ultimate MICE Guide Contents 16 Dining 02 Teamwork in Action Restaurants with quality 30 Choose Your Own Adventure Entertaining workshops that cater for food and lively ambiences Discover the epic sights, sounds and smells all interests and group sizes for group gatherings of this historic district at your leisure Your ultimate MICE guide to Old Town Central A vibrant neighbourhood and a hub of cultural activity that’s steeped in history, Old Town Central perfectly exemplifies Hong Kong’s unique East-meets-West characteristics and traditional and contemporary influences. Home to many of the city’s cultural cornerstones, exceptional Chinese and international 08 Challenge Central! restaurants, mesmerising street art and a renowned party hub, Tackle Old Town Central with our fun this district is the ideal location to work hard and play hard. scavenger hunt game This handy guide can help you plan and design creative itineraries for your MICE groups by introducing an array of engaging and innovative activities in the hub, as well as 38 Other information workshops for MICE visitors to encounter new cultural experiences. With all the remarkable venues and trendy 40 More experiences await in Central restaurants on offer that can cater for varying sizes and 42 Hong Kong Rewards! 24 Event Venues occasions, Old Town Central is an ideal hub for social events Discover where to hold your next MICE event and corporate gatherings. Turn to the back page for our Old Town Central map Best of all, we have some of the top travel agents and expert planners from across Asia to recommend their best spots for Disclaimer : MICE groups. Follow this guide and discover why you should The Ultimate MICE Guide to Old Town Central is planned and produced by Time Out Hong Kong and published by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. The Hong Kong Tourism Board shall not be responsible for any information described in the book, including those of shops, restaurants, goods, services and opening hours of restaurants, and they do not represent and make host your next MICE event in Old Town Central – for business guarantees concerning any such information regarding shops, restaurants, goods, services and opening hours of restaurants and so on, including its commercial applicability, accuracy, adequacy and reliability, etc. Information as described in the book is as of September 2018. Customers can refer to relevant parties if they have any enquiry. The guide is carefully compiled and for pleasure. in order to provide the most accurate information and the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Time Out Hong Kong will not be liable for any outdated information, errors or omissions. Cover image @Calvin Sit 1 TEAMWORK IN ACTION Cook up Stronger Connections Teamwork in Action All the ingredients to make a perfect team combo Sharing a unique experience brings people closer, whether it be cooking, art jamming or simply learning a new skill. These team building workshops offered in Old Town Central also encourage cooperation between MICE visitors by giving them the chance to bond outside of office walls. Classes can vary from arts and crafts or food tasting to the traditions, all of which features a local twist for participants to interact with and to appreciate Hong Kong culture while experiencing plenty of fun. Social Place – dim sum making HK Brewcraft – Capacity: 50. Available off-site to cater craft beer workshops for larger groups Capacity: 20 for sitting; Dim sum is a staple of Hong Kong cuisine so 40 for standing. Available off-site there’s no better way to truly appreciate the to cater for larger groups food than getting some hands-on experience The craft beer scene is booming on the art of making them. Social Place takes in Hong Kong. Discover for participants through the tricks of the trade yourself what makes home- of dim sum making at its modern and chic brewing the latest trend in the restaurant, and invites teammates to pair up city at this local homebrew and create three adorable yet delicious dishes store. HK Brewcraft welcomes together. Whether you’re successful or not in this beer lovers to customise team culinary challenge, your group can finish up the workshops including activities 2 4/F, 15 Cochrane class by enjoying a tasty afternoon tea set. like craft beer appreciation, beer Street, Central pairings with local delicacies and +852 5925 2739 [email protected] 2/F, The L. Place, 139 Queen’s Road even pub quiz style craft beer 1 www.hkbrewcraft.com Central, Central challenges to amp up the fun. It’s +852 2180 7057 the perfect group activity to wind [email protected] down with after a business event. www.socialplace.hk PMQ Taste Library – cooking classes Capacity: 10 Bringing people together through their love for food, Taste Library’s one-of-a-kind programme provides a Mr Lim Kim Hay (MICE well-rounded experience of local cuisine. Held in the Manager, Bayu Buana city’s only food-themed library that houses 4,000 from Indonesia) says: cookbooks and culinary literature, groups are tasked with brainstorming ideas before heading out to the “Old Town Central wet market on Graham Street for fresh ingredients to is home to some make the dish. The programme also teaches visitors wonderful businesses how to cook up festive dishes like turnip cake for that literally allow you Chinese New Year and classic local food like egg tarts H504, 5/F, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central to play with your food 3 and Hong Kong-style milk tea. Enjoy a fun bonding – or drinks – during +852 2811 9891 [email protected] experience with teammates and appreciate the local team-building events.” www.pmq.org.hk culture at the same time. 2 3 TEAMWORK IN ACTION Arts and Crafts Unleash your delegates’ imagination with these creative pursuits Be Candle – scented dim sum candle making Capacity: 40. Available off-site to cater for larger groups Appreciate the iconic har gao – shrimp dumplings – in a new light by replicating them via wax and candle making. While these are sadly inedible, the process of candle PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central 5 making provides a fun and entertaining activity for groups. +852 3586 0320 Participants can take these candles home as souvenirs, [email protected] complete with traditional bamboo baskets. www.becandle.com.hk PMQ arts and crafts workshops Capacity: 10-20, depends on selected workshop capacity Looking to take your group to an arts and crafts workshop for some quality team building? Why not choose from the wide selection at PMQ? Under its special ‘Chillax’ series, your group can be further divided into teams and sign up for as many unique workshops as they want. Experience innovative crafts like Hong Kong road sign making and lip-balm making, or try recycling cans into bag tags. Or, marvel at the history of the beautiful building at one of PMQ’s guided heritage tours. And for bigger groups, PMQ’s event space The Qube (listed on page 25) is an ideal venue for groups over 80. Studio 83 – artjamming Capacity: 40. Available off-site to cater for larger groups Form a stronger bond and connection with your team through the Mr Lee Ho Jin (Vice President, Center universal language of art. This bright and airy art studio offers a range Tour from South Korea) says: of workshops, from sketching and acrylic painting to oil painting and “You can lose yourself in an arty mixed media art. The lofty space has been offering team building 13/F, Winning Centre, 46-48 team-building experience. I find that I services since 2008 and can design tailor-made classes, including 6 4 PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central Chinese calligraphy and traditional Chinese ink painting. Learn how Wyndham Street, Central +852 2811 9891 discover creativity I never knew I had!” +852 2523 3852 [email protected] to recreate the iconic Victoria Harbour with paint alongside your team [email protected] www.pmq.org.hk while also experimenting with other forms of art at the same time. www.studio83.com.hk 4 5 TEAMWORK IN ACTION Local Traditions Build a better team the Hong Kong way Living Chinese – Mindful Wing Chun – martial art classes calligraphy workshops Capacity: 40. Available off-site to cater for larger groups Capacity: 20. Available off-site to cater for larger groups Brought to popularity by Bruce Lee and the Ip Man film series, Wing Chun is one of the most renowned Chinese martial Calligraphy is a specialised Chinese arts that also promotes relaxation and mindfulness. Mindful art form that has existed since Wing Chun, led by a team of experienced English-speaking ancient times. There’s no better instructors, offers corporate events and workshops on the basic way to explore and discover the forms of Wing Chun. Fun and interactive, these classes make traditional techniques behind this art for a great team building and socialising tool with the bonus of than with the tailor-made workshops teaching you how to relax and focus in a workplace. that Living Chinese offers. Classes can be tailored for first-timers. Enjoy 8/F, On Lan Centre, 11-15 On Lan Street, Central the hands-on experience of working 7 +852 6620 7050 with Chinese paint brushes and ink, [email protected] as well as some friendly competition www.mindfulwingchun.com.hk with teammates on who will produce the best final piece. Unit A, 14/F, Carfield 9 Commercial Building, 75 - 77 Wyndham Street, Central +852 2486 9062 [email protected] www.living-chinese.com Yuan Yuan Tang – tea appreciation classes Capacity: 20. Available off-site to cater for larger groups Chinese tea has a history that spans centuries and drinking the beverage is still, to this day, an important part of Hong Mr Rajneesh Mishra (Manager Kong tradition.