Monday, October 21, 2013

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Insider Guide: Best of Hong Kong

Posted: 20 Oct 2013 08:20 PM PDT

Hong Kong -- so intense, it's like packing 10 different trips into one. Here's how to fit them all into one brief stay

No matter how high you build it, someone in Hong Kong will put a bar on top of it. Just one reason to love this city.

Hong Kong has a loud personality. Kind of like its locals.

No matter if it's food, culture or architectural heritage, Hong Kong (population just more than 7 million) is the world leader in East-meets-West personality.

Now riding the waves of renminbi coming in from its mainland Chinese siblings, the post-colonial city is in the throes of a political and cultural coming of age. 

There has never been a more exciting time to visit.

The oldest neighborhoods are gentrifying with hipster hangouts, top notch eateries and meticulously curated boutiques -- conversations over milk tea revolve around the property bubble, politics and Hong Kong's democratic struggle.

For those planning to make a trip, the best of Hong Kong is easy to find.

Hotels

Luxury 

The Peninsula Hong KongGrand dame of Hong Kong hotels. The Peninsula

An icon of Hong Kong hospitality, the Peninsula is the place to stay for a definitive "old Hong Kong" experience.

This best of Hong Kong hotel has been a prestigious address since 1928. It retains its old world glamour today, down to the white-gloved doormen and fleet of Rolls Royce Phantoms.

A recent revamp of its Peninsula Tower rooms has brought a contemporary elegance to the decor, with high tech gimmicks throughout, such as touch-screen tablets that control all room functions.

Reservations are a must at fine dining staples Gaddi's and Spring Moon, while Felix has a strict dress code (no flip flops) and the city's best harbor-view men's room.

Although the lobby's high tea is famous, it's also touristy. A traditional colonial-style tea with finger sandwiches and scones, it's worth braving the long queue to try once. Reservations aren't taken.

For that ultimate touch of decadence, the Peninsula's helicopter sightseeing tour is unbeatable.

The Peninsula, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon; +852 2928 2888; rooms from HK$5,180 (US$668)

Spaciousness and great views at The Upper House. The Upper House

Hong Kong's coolest hotel, the Upper House is where stylish celebs sleep when they visit.

It's one of those effortlessly hip places, with paperless check in and check out, seamless connectivity, a maxi-bar (where everything is already included in the room price) and an aesthetic that's contemporary and sexy without being intimidating.

Rooms are located on Level 38 and above, which means each one has a stunning panoramic view of the city and harbor. Room sizes start at 68 square meters and feel much bigger. 

The top floor of The Upper House is the setting for Cafe Gray Deluxe by chef Gray Kunz. It's one of the best places to watch Hong Kong's nightly Symphony of Lights.

The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; +852 2918 1838; from HK$4,500 (US$580)

Also on CNN: Where to find the ultimate designer hotel experience in Hong Kong

The vertical garden dominates the lobby wall. Hotel ICON

You'll never notice that Hotel ICON is a teaching and research hotel for the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. It looks sleek and is run professionals.

A team of celebrity designers dreamed up the dramatic interior touches that can be found throughout the building. 

A lush vertical garden by celebrity botanist Patrick Blanc unfurls across the walls of the lobby. Next to it is Green, the cafĂ© by local designer William Lim who used folding metal shop gates typical of old Hong Kong in the interior design. 

Starting at 36 square meters, guest rooms at Hotel ICON are spacious. Bathrooms are hidden behind a movable wall of dark wood.

The only shortcoming is the location, which is a little far from public transport. But the hotel offers a shuttle bus service to remedy this.

Hotel ICON, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon; +852 3400 1000; rooms begin at HK$2,200 (US$283)

Mira Moon

If a Chinese moon goddess teamed up with Lady Gaga to build a hotel, the result might look like the Miramar Group's second Hong Kong property, Mira Moon.

Marcel Wanders (dubbed the Lady Gaga of the design world by the New York Times) and international property design firm yoo are the masterminds behind the hotel's whimsical design.

Brimming with Chinese culture and tradition, Mira Moon was inspired by the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival's fairy tale about the immortal Moon Goddess.

Guests are surrounded by antique Chinese fabrics and prints, peony flower wall details and staff wearing "Moon's fashion collection" -- the hotel's version of a uniform.

Mira Moon, which plans to open in August 2013, will have 91 rooms ranging from 221 square feet to a 1,247-square-feet penthouse suite on the 36th floor.

Mira Moon, 388 Jaffe Road, Wanchai; from HK$2,600 ($335)/night

Mid-range

Boutique heritage hotel done right. Tai O Heritage Hotel

One of Hong Kong's newest and best examples of architectural conservation, the Tai O Heritage Hotel was formerly a marine police station dating to 1902.

It's located in Tai O, a fishing village on the western tip of Lantau Island that hasn't changed much in the last century. The stilt houses and worn wooden boats are like a backdrop to a movie about prewar Hong Kong. 

The hotel operates as a non-profit social enterprise that supports the Tai O community. Vestiges of its past are everywhere, from strategically placed cannons to guard towers and holding cells.

This best of Hong Kong boutique hotel has just nine rooms and one rooftop restaurant. Ground floor rooms open onto a sea-facing veranda.

The hotel is close to sights on Lantau Island, including Disneyland and the Big Buddha. Tai O village itself is a popular attraction that draws crowds during the weekends.

Tai O Heritage Hotel, Shek Tsai Po Street, Tai O, Lantau Island; +852 2985 8383; rooms begin at HK$1,380 (US$178)

Also on CNN: 10 new Hong Kong hotels for every type of traveler

Indigo

Hotel Indigo's glass-bottom infinity pool on the 29th floor has attracted a lot of attention since opening in May. Next time you're in Wanchai, look up and you might see a person seemingly swimming in mid-air.

Hotel Indigo was awarded the Best Hotel Architecture Hong Kong prize at the 2013 Asia Pacific Hotel Awards.

The facade of this newbie -- located next to the Star Street Precinct, one of Hong Kong's hippest districts -- resembles a dragon wrapping itself around the building, with a glowing pearl (the pool) in its mouth.

Interiors and furniture were inspired by the neighborhood.

Hotel Indigo Hong Kong, 242 To 246 Queen's Road East, Wanchai; +852 3926 3888; from HK$2,300 ($297)/night

Budget

Tiny, but sweet. Bishop Lei International House

This sweet little Hong Kong hotel on swanky Robinson Road is a one-minute walk from the Central to Mid-Levels escalators. It's a great location for business travelers with offices and meetings in Central, or for anyone who wants to be close to the nightlife hubs of Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo.

Request a room with a view and you'll have the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens in your window frame, a spread of greenery among the high-rises of Central. 

There's an outdoor swimming pool and a shuttle bus service from the hotel to Central, Admiralty and Wanchai.

Drawbacks: rooms are small (typical Hong Kong) and the staff aren't as polished as we'd expect from such an upscale address.

Bishop Lei International House, 4 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels; +852 268 0828; as low as HK$550 (US$71), plus 10 percent per night during low season from May to June


Dining

This is just the sauce. You can imagine what the rest of the food is like.
Lung King Heen

Authentic Cantonese cuisine is updated at Lung King Heen so that the most traditional dishes taste light, fresh and just right.

This swanky spot was the first Chinese restaurant to earn three Michelin stars in Hong Kong. It has all the trappings of fine dining: harbor views, spotless linens, well-rehearsed service. 

The food is excellent.

Dim sum lunch is a great way to sample the skills of chef Chan Yak Tak without overdoing things. There's the signature lobster and scallop dumpling served in individual bamboo baskets. Also good are the baked scallop puffs with avocado and onions, as well as the garoupa dumplings with shrimps and jasmine.

Lung King Heen, 4/F, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance St., Central; +852 3196 8888; expensive

Also on CNN: Best new restaurants in Hong Kong

How to up the ante on sea urchin and caviar? Gold foil, of course.Amber

Amber is one of Hong Kong's most celebrated contemporary French restaurants. Chef Richard Ekkebus creates modern twists on French cooking, inspired by the fresh ingredients he sources from around Asia.

This is a place that serves foie gras lollipops made to look like Chupa Chups for amuse-bouche. Foams, molecular caviar and gelatins are all over the menu.

Hokkaido sea urchin is served in a lobster Jell-O with cauliflower, caviar and a crispy seaweed waffle. The gold flakes were inspired by the Japanese belief that a little ingested gold is good for your health. It's a great gimmick that moves a lot of urchin.

Amber, 7/F The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen's Road, The Landmark, Central; +852 2132 0066; expensive

Duddell's

Art meets food at Duddell's, a two-story venue that is part traditional Chinese restaurant, part fashionable lounge and art gallery.

This is where diners can indulge in a lobster soup dumpling or bulldoze through a plate of stir-fried noodles slick with soy sauce, all while oggling the impeccable collection of Chinese ink paintings culled from the MK Lau Collection in Duddell's first-floor dining room.

It gets particularly busy when dim sum is served (daily, noon to 2:30 p.m.) and the lunch crowd descends for steamed baskets of goodies and the famous mandarin orange pastries.

The second floor contains a rotating exhibition of art work by contemporary artists and a competent cocktail bar adjacent to a large terrace decadently filled with greenery.

Duddell's, 3-4/F, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell St., Central; +852 2525 9191; expensive to moderate

That fried garlic will be seeping out of your pores tomorrow -- but it's totally worth it tonight. Under the Bridge Spicy Crab

This place is named after its original location and signature dish -- a fried crab smothered in a small mountain of fried garlic and spices.

The addictive crab dish originated in Hong Kong's typhoon shelters where a community of boat people who made their homes on sampans cooked freshly caught seafood served with plenty of spices and "wok hei" (good wok-wielding skills). Little remains of Hong Kong's boat people today, but their excellent food culture remains popular.

Sure the crab is great, but it's the deep-fried garlic that truly enslaves. It goes great with everything and diners usually find themselves uncontrollably shoveling the stuff into their mouths, just mixed with plain rice.

Also on CNN: Secrets of Under the Bridge Spicy Crab

Under the Bridge Spicy Crab, Shop 6-9, G/F, 429 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai; +852 2573 7698; moderate

Luk Yu Teahouse

Luk Yu Teahouse is a retro gourmet fix. Opened in 1933, the three-story restaurant is dripping in nostalgia, with its art deco embellishments, stubbornly old fashioned menu and urban legends (something noir about the mafia, revenge and murder). 

The food served here is rare in the Hong Kong restaurant scene these days. Items like liver siu mai for the dim sum service and deep-fried dumplings in soup were a la mode five decades ago.

The Cantonese-style soups are particularly famous, such as the pork liver and almond soup. It's outstanding for including almond puree, which results in an extra rich and fragrant soup.

Service can be slow for non-regulars.

Luk Yu Teahouse, G/F-3/F, 24 Stanley St.; +852 2523 5464; moderate

Tai Ping Koon

When our parents were young and dating in Hong Kong, they didn't have tiny French bistros or swanky supperclubs to choose from. Back in the day, a special night out was all about the soy sauce Western restaurant.

Tai Ping Koon is representative of this sub-genre of Hong Kong cuisine. The food is old school Western reimagined with Hong Kong nuances. There's the Swiss-style chicken wings, which aren't Swiss at all. Wings are braised in soy sauce and sugar, resulting in a sticky, honeyed wing.

There's also an oversized souffle, bigger than your head, which every table orders. 

Tai Ping Koon, 6 Pak Sha Rd., Causeway Bay; +852 2576 9161; moderate

Tim Ho Wan's much imitated sweet cha siu pastries.Tim Ho Wan

This is what dim sum is meant to be.

Former Lung King Heen chef Pui Gor opened his first Tim Ho Wan, a hole-in-the-wall joint in Mong Kok, a few years ago. It became a dim sum institution seemingly overnight.

Top quality Hong Kong dim sum can be had at rock-bottom prices here. Most dishes cost between HK$10 and $30 (US$1.50-$4), but flavors are pronounced and authentic because the ingredients are fresh. 

The restaurant got its first Michelin star in 2010 and Tim Ho Wan soon expanded to several branches. The restaurant in Central is the most convenient, while the original branch is about to be relocated to a yet undisclosed site.

The cha siu pineapple buns are a signature. They are widely imitated but never matched.

Tim Ho Wan, Central branch, shop 12A, Hong Kong Station (Podium Level 1, IFC Mall), Central; +852 2332 3078; budget

Also on CNN: The best Hong Kong dim sum

Catalunya 

This more than 700-square-meter-large establishment is the place to head when you've got tapas cravings.

Catalunya's out-of-way location makes it a celebrity magnet, while the consistently excellent dishes attract local foodies. With former elBulli chef Alain Devahive Tolosa in the kitchen, there are unexpectedly few foams, jellies and powders on the menu here.

Instead, the menu is filled with hearty dishes such as a roast suckling pig with crackling skin and meat so tender it can be cut with a plate. A moan-inducing Tortilla de Trampo transforms simple potatoes and egg into a luscious dish.

A few dishes typical of menus by elBulli alumni are also thrown in, such as the "spherical" olive, a bubble of olive juice, and the lethal Bikini sandwich -- the Catalonian version of a ham and cheese sandwich made from Iberico ham and black truffles.

Catalunya, G/F, Guardian House, 32 Oi Kwan Rd, Wan Chai; +852 2866 7900; expensive to moderate

Super old school, super fatty, super good.Tai Wing Wah

We may live in a weight-loss obsessed world, but in Yuen Long, Tai Wing Wah is making a killing off of hearty "walled village cuisine." This type of food features lard, prominently.

Punti and Hakka villages that were settled in Hong Kong during the Ming and Qing dynasties were protected by high village walls. The food originating from these walled villages is the focus of Tai Wing Wah's menu.

Hugo "To To" Leung is the culinary brains behind the restaurant and he's adamant about maintaining authenticity. His restaurant is one of the few places in Hong Kong where you can still order white rice mixed with lard and soy sauce -- pure addiction. It's a rustic representative of local cuisine.

Tai Wing Wah Restaurant, 2/F, Koon Wong Mansion, 2-6 On Ning Road, Yuen Long; +852 2476 9888; budget

Also on CNN: 40 Hong Kong food we can't live without


Nightlife

Tom Wood doing what he does best.Wyndham the 4th

Tom Wood set this place up. He was Hong Kong's representative to the 2012 Diageo Reserve world bartending championships, so you know Wyndham the 4th is at least going to get the cocktails right.

Wood is a creative fellow and always making up new drinks. He does things like serving Johnnie Walker with a Chinese tea mist and dragon beard's candy. That's the drink that he entered into the world championships.

If it sounds too fussy, no worries. Wood does great classic cocktails as well, like a killer old fashioned.

Also on CNN: Whiskey and green tea sends Hong Kong barman to world champs

The walls of this best of Hong Kong bar are plastered with blown-up black and whites of beautiful women. The best seats are in the outdoor terrace.

Expect long lines and a waiting list of reservations.

Wyndham the 4th, 4/F, 48 Wyndham St., Central; +852 2523 8001; expensive

With more than 70 kinds to choose from, grabbing a pint isn't that simple. The Globe

With its British colonial past, Hong Kong does a great pub. The best one to go to for beer selection is The Globe.

Hong Kong's leading beer bar and sports pub has a huge variety of British and Belgian in bottles and on tap.

The city's only hand-pumped cask ale, the Lantau-brewed Typhoon T8 English bitter, is available here. It sells out quickly, so call ahead to see if it's available.

The selection of roughly 75 bottled brews stands out. Some worth trying include the rich and chocolaty Fullers London Porter, the crisp, hoppy Thornbridge Jaipur IPA and Theakston Old Peculier, a bittersweet old ale with hints of dried fruit.

Prices are reasonable given the quality and lack of service charge, with pints between HK$60 to $80 during regular hours.

The Brit pub food is pretty decent, too.

Also on CNN: Best beer bars in Hong Kong 

The Globe, 45 Graham St., Central; +852 2543 1941; moderate

Socialito

The last thing we would expect to find smack in the center of prime nightlife real estate in Hong Kong is a taqueria.

Yet, Socialito's taco truck-inspired kiosk on the Wyndham Street bar strip fits right in, attracting beautiful crowds each night. It's secret isn't just in morish tacos and a rich horchata.

Clubbers head towards a set of kitchen doors off to the side of Socialito that leads into a back room where the real action takes place. There, in an ornate room looking like a formal dining hall on a hacienda, patrons can eat Mexican classics until 11 p.m. when the whole place turns into a disco with the help of some of Hong Kong's better known DJs such as Eve Speciall.

Socialito, shop 2, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St., Central, Hong Kong, +852 3167 7380; expensive to moderate

Get a feel for Hong Kong's indie scene at The Wanch.The Wanch

When it comes to live music in Hong Kong, The Wanch is a true institution.

Set among the weary girlie bars of Wanchai, this tiny live stage is the last thing you'd expect.

It's a total dive, if we're honest, and the sound system really isn't the best, but The Wanch is passionate about showcasing local indie musicians and its intimate setting is perfect for getting to know new talent.

Also on CNN: Best Hong Kong live music venues

Many nights, you'll find standard cover bands churning out rock classics, which also makes for a fun, unpretentious night out. San Miguel beer in a plastic cup is the drink here, preferably enjoyed while standing up with feet tapping. 

The Wanch, 54 Jaffe Rd., Wanchai; +852 2861 1621; budget

 

Honi Honi Tiki Lounge 

A tiki bar is great antidote to the cookie-cutter chrome-and-neon nightlife scene in Hong Kong.

Honi Honi cures that after-dark ennui with its fruity, spirit-lifting cocktails, and dramatic-yet-soothing bamboo interior design.

It's impossible to take life seriously when confronted with the "Honi Honi All The Way," a huge hollowed-out watermelon holding spiced rum, passion fruit purree, Cointreau and watermelon and orange juice meant to be shared.

Or try the energizing effects of the Aztec Breakfast, a made with coffee, Aztec chocolate bitters and tequilas by Jose Cuervo as well as Patron. 

Honi Honi Tiki Lounge, 3F, 52 Wellington St., Central; +852 2353 0885; moderate

The Pawn

Architecture conservation done right, The Pawn is a pre-war tenement building transformed into one of the most popular lounges in the city.

Artist Stanley Wong revamped the former pawn shop without sacrificing the main characteristics of its turn-of-the-century Chinese-style architecture.

There is a rooftop garden, and a third-floor formal dining room, but the main attraction is the second-floor lounge. The Chesterfield sofas are occupied daily by the after-work happy hour crowd sipping vintage whiskies, pints of beer and munching on Brit classics like fish and chips and streaky bacon sarnies.

The best seats in the house are on the terrace, overlooking the tram tracks that run through the Wanchai neighborhood.

The Pawn, 62 Johnston Rd., Wan Chai; +852 2866 3444; moderate

Dragon-i

Dragon-i is a clubbing landmark in Hong Kong. A mix of locals, expats, models, celebrities -- all sharing an affinity for posing -- congregate on a nightly basis. 

It's crowded and dance-y on the inside, but lounge-y on the outside terrace where aggressive networking takes place. The bouncers at the velvet rope add a sense of exclusivity, although you can get in by paying the cover (usually HK$300/US$39).

During the day, the club serves a dim sum buffet that's somewhat of a cult classic dining choice in Hong Kong. For HK$188 (US$24) each person gets an unlimited flow of dim sum morsels and great people watching. 

Dragon-i, UG/f, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St., Central; +852 3110 1222; expensive

Attractions/Shopping

Stairs are nothing. That's zen for you.A really big Buddha

Sitting on a hilltop on Lantau Island, the 34-meter-tall Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha) can been seen from afar. The bronze sitting Buddha took 12 years to complete and is the biggest outdoor sitting bronze Buddha in the world.

There's no easy way to visit the Buddha. You just have to walk 268 steps uphill and down afterward. The view of the Buddha as well as the surrounding view from above are worth the climb.

Po Lin Monastery is a stone's throw away. The monastery is a colorful Buddhist sanctum that includes a vegetarian restaurant.

On the other side of the Lantau Island sits Tai O, a fishing village on stilts. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed by the smell of dried shrimp paste and seafood stalls along the little streets.

To get to the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery take the MTR to Tung Chung station, then take the bus or Ngong Ping 360 cable car to Ngon Ping market. Afterward, you can take a taxi (about HK$50) to Tai O. There are buses that will take you back to Tung Chung from Tai O.

Green-bottomed Star Ferry is the best ride in town.Old rides: Star Ferry, tram

The Star Ferry and the tram are two old modes of transport still used everyday in Hong Kong. They're also the best ways to explore the city.

Operating since 1888, the ferry was the main way to get between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon peninsula. Today, there are faster ways to get across (MTR and cars both tunnel beneath the harbor), but rocking on a ferry at night is the most relaxing, and brings you close to Hong Kong's gorgeous skyline. 

The slow-crawling tram was founded in 1904 and runs only on Hong Kong Island. Avoid peak hour to secure a seat on the upper deck of the tram. The whole route, from Shau Kei Wan to Kennedy Town, may take more than an hour to complete, traversing the oldest neighborhoods of Hong Kong.

The route along North Point passes through the middle of an outdoor wet market (Chun Yeung Street market).

More on CNN: Best wet markets in Hong Kong 

Dodgy neighborhood for old school food and fun.Temple Street

Temple Street presents a perfect exotic fantasy of Hong Kong. Everything here looks old, filthy and somewhat threatening. 

There's the trinkets market, the cheap sex toy vendors, the rows and rows of stalls offering fortune telling. 

Street food -- hot, fresh, of questionable hygiene and totally irresistible -- beckons.

Neighboring the eateries are old school karaoke parlors where HK$100 (US$13) gets you access to center stage, a live band and an audience of geriatric regulars who have been attending nightly for decades.

Take the MTR to Jordan and take exit A. Turn right onto Jordan Road and walk three blocks to Temple Street. The market is open from around 4 p.m. till midnight.  

Consumer heaven in Mong Kok.Mong Kok

Brace yourself for one of the most overwhelming examples of population density.

Mong Kok is where everyone goes to buy stuff.

There seems to be a market for everything. 

Ladies' Market on Tung Choi Street, east of Nathan Road, sells cheap fashion, knock-offs and souvenirs. 

The Mongkok Computer Centre, Sneakers Street on Fa Yuen Street and Goldfish market on Tung Choi Street and Bute Street, satisfy all other retail impulses.

For trendy junk food, there's Dundas Street.

Also on CNN: Hong Kong Goldfish Market: Shops for threatened species threatened

Natural Hong Kong

Many visitors are taken aback at Hong Kong's natural scenery. Few outsiders know that three-quarters of Hong Kong's 1,104 square kilometers of land, is actually rural and nearly pristine. Here's the best of Hong Kong outdoors:

Never have rocks been more gorgeous.Hong Kong National Geopark

Erosion never looked better: Hong Kong's mineral marvels are showcased in this gorgeous series of sites at the Hong Kong National Geopark.

Spanning 5,000 hectares in the New Territories, the national park covers Hong Kong's wildly beautiful geological forms, a result of erosion from incoming waves.

The park is conserved through three levels of protection and managed public accessibility. It takes more than an hour to get near the sites from Central and many are accessible only by privately hired boats.

Booking a guided tour makes visiting easier.

Hong Kong National Geopark

Shek O: Ample people-watching opportunities, not much privacy.Beaches

Hong Kong has more than 100 beaches and nearly half are maintained by the government, meaning there are lifeguards, shark nets, changing rooms and other convenient amenities.

Also a lot of rules. Dogs and smoking aren't usually allowed, resulting in relatively clean beaches.

While the tourists go to Repulse Bay, locals head east to Shek O main beach. That doesn't mean there are less people though -- quite the opposite. On a clear summer day, it's hard to find a a square meter of sand that isn't occupied by an oiled up body.

There's also Tai Long Wan on the coast of the Sai Kung Country Park. It's inaccessible except by foot or boat. The hike to the beach takes about 90-minutes over scrubby hills with incredible views of sharp peaks, turquoise water and good surf.

Also on CNN: Summer dreaming: Hong Kong's best beaches

Cheung Chau bun festival parade: original and adorable. Island hopping

Lantau Island, Lamma Island, Cheung Chau and Peng Chau are the four major outlying islands that surround Hong Kong. Visiting one makes for a relaxing day trip away from the claustrophobic city.

All have a real "islandness" about them. Lantau is the biggest island, almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island, and where you'll find tourist hot spots Disneyland, the Big Buddha and Tai O.

But taking a ferry to its pier at Mui Wo, you'll find a quiet, semi-rural community, with hidden waterfalls, beaches and bicycles. 

The other islands don't allow cars. They're small enough to walk across in a day, and this constitutes the main activity for visitors, apart from beachcombing and eating. 

For the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival held each May, contestants climb to the top of bamboo towers, which are covered in Chinese buns.  


Believe it or not, it's Hong Kong. Trail walks

Hiking is Hong Kong's most popular hidden activity. Many locals hike religiously.

Hong Kong has about 300 kilometers of maintained trails, which traverse the territory and vary in length and difficulty.

These four major hiking trails are best for getting a taste of Hong Kong's natural colors: MacLehose TrailWilson TrailHong Kong Trail or Lantau Trail.

Also on CNN: Best hikes in Hong Kong

7 hotel restaurants you'll be talking about for years

Posted: 19 Oct 2013 07:00 PM PDT

Michelin stars and starched tablecloths are fine. But these hotels take your dinner and turn it into a life experience
Soneva Kiri Resort, Residences & Spa

Most hotel restaurants don't inspire huge thrills.

We barely even take pictures of our hotel food.

Standard menus (burger or chicken fingers?) and pastel dining rooms are more likely to have you smacking your face than your lips.

Some hotel restaurants, however, offer unique experiences and are worth the trip alone.

Also on CNN: 15 unusual places to spend a night

Velassaru Resort (Maldives)

 Velassaru"Waiter! There's sand in my ... oh never mind."

The luxury resort's private dining options are all pretty great, but it's the satay barbecue experience that stands out.

Sand-formed chairs on the beach might seem gimmicky, but they're actually fantastic.

A four-course Indonesian feast is served at sunset and comes with a dedicated chef and waiter.

Velassaru Resort, K. Velassaru, South Male Atoll, Maldives Islands, Maldives; rooms from $280; +960 665 6100

Longitude 131 (Australia)

 Longitude 131Who knew red came in so many colors?

With eternal Ayers Rock in the background, guests at this high-end outback hotel get a candlelit dinner under the stars.

As diners try native bush dishes featuring crocodile, kangaroo and barramundi, a didgeridoo plays in the background and a traditional dance performance provides a look at local Aboriginal culture.

Longitude 131, 1 Yulara Dr., Yulara NT, Australia; rooms from $1,560; +61 8 8957 7131

Soneva Kiri Resort (Gulf of Thailand)

 Soneva KiriIf Tarzan did fine dining.

Once seated within the cozy bamboo dining pod at this beautiful retreat, guests are hoisted six meters into the air through a pulley system so they can feast among the treetops of an ancient rainforest.

Waiters swing to and fro delivering baskets of wine and food via zip line.

Soneva Kiri Resort, 110 Moo 4, Koh Kood Sub-District, Koh Kood District, Trat, Thailand; rooms from $550; +66 (0)3961 9800

Also on CNN: World's 50 best restaurants for 2013

Hotel Ristorante Grotta Palazesse (Italy)

 Grotta PalazzeseFood from the underground.

 

Located within a vaulted limestone cavern, this waterfront restaurant in Polignano a Mare on the Adriatic Sea in southern Italy annually charms thousands of visitors between May and October.

Sitting 22 meters above the Adriatic Sea, diners get amazing views from this spacious cave.

Seafood and Mediterranean dishes are house standards, but few bother to notice the food.

Hotel Ristorante Grotta Palazesse, Via Narciso, 59, Polignano a Mare (Bari), Puglia; rooms from $150; +39 (0)80 4240677

Conrad Maldives (Maldives)

 Conrad Maldives"I'll have the fish, please."

Amazing ocean views have put Ithaa, the Conrad Maldives' famed underwater restaurant, on numerous travel "best of" lists.

Five meters below the water's surface with 180-degree views of coral marine life, if this ultra-cool restaurant doesn't impress your date, get a new date.

Kids are welcome for lunch, but not dinner.

Conrad Maldives, Rangali Island, Maldives; rooms from $490; +960 668 0629

Treetops Lodge (Rotorua, New Zealand)

 TreetopsHerbs, waterfalls, pretty blondes ... is this a restaurant or a shampoo commercial?

The wild food packages at this serene New Zealand retreat offer guests the chance to partake in a 4WD safari to observe the estate's varied wildlife before being led to forage in the bush for fresh herbs and spices.

Organic ingredients collected are used by the lodge's acclaimed chefs to create the evening's dishes.

Dinner is served al fresco in front of a cascading waterfall.

Treetops Lodge, 351 Kearoa Road, RD1, Horohoro, Rotorua, New Zealand; rooms from $900; +64 7 333 2066

lebua at State Tower (Bangkok)

 Lebua at State TowerDefinitely not down to Earth.

On the 63rd floor of this soaring five-star hotel, Sirocco is the world's highest al fresco restaurant. It offers gorgeous panoramas of Bangkok.

In addition to the acclaimed Mediterranean-inspired fare, live music helps create a dream-like atmosphere.

As you'd expect, dinner with a view as spectacular as this one is popular -- reservations are recommended at least a week in advance.

Lebua at State Tower, 1055 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok; rooms from $135; +66 2624 9999

Also on CNN: World's least romantic hotels

Originally published June 2013. Updated October 19, 2013.

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