A trip to Hong Kong isn't complete without trying cuisine from the world-class destination.
While I don't consider myself a "foodie," my recent trip to the Asian destination had me sampling a diverse array of cuisine, making my travel experience richer and getting me closer to locals. From historical teahouses to upscale modern fusion concepts to traditional outdoor dai pai dong (big license stall in Cantonese), I ate my way from the bustling city centres to a remote fishing village and restaurants perched several storeys high.
Hong Kong also has a rich history, with several museums and ancient temples to explore and cultural tours to join. I had a wonderful tour guide, Agnes Tam, who showed me around some of the key points of the destination, including a pedestrian bridge where Christian Bale speaks to Morgan Freeman on the set of The Dark Night. The bridge houses Central Hillside Escalator Link, the world's longest outdoor escalator, spanning an impressive 800 metres and connecting the historic district to the Soho dining area and nightlife hub.
Tam was the warmest and most informative tour guide I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Hong Kong also has an established and up-and-coming arts scene, with several galleries supporting new talent through residencies and other programs.
K11 Musea, a unique museum-retail space, boasts breathtaking artwork across its seven storeys and charms visitors with a subtle fragrance as they stroll past shops, eateries, and galleries. It is an architectural wonder you can visit for free, although many experiences cost a fee.
The Xiqu Centre is a two-theatre venue showcasing traditional Chinese theatre and Cantonese opera. I watched a 90-minute opera featuring immaculate costumes, impressive choreography, harmonic vocals, and cultural settings. It included traditional tea and dim sum.
The Victoria Harbour comes alive at night, boasting a mesmerizing panorama of the world's most impressive buildings glowing with active light displays at 8 p.m. Scores of passenger ferries and pleasure boats cruise through the popular waterway, with many people enjoying sips and eats as the sun sets. You can watch the display from the shore on Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon, which features searchlights, lasers, drones, and LED screens (see slide four).
You can pick up an Octopus Card to ride the MTR and city buses, and to make small purchases in convenience stores. A HKD 50 deposit is required (roughly C$8.72) but you can get that back when you return it at the end of your trip (see slide nine).
Hong Kong: Bars and nightlife
Hong Kong's Bar Leone topped the 2024 list of Asia's 50 Best Bars, making it the first bar in the ranking's history to claim the top honour. The bar was opened in 2023 by Rome-born Lorenzo Antinori, a successful mixologist and former hotel manager. Drinks are designed under the philosophy "cocktail popolari" or "people's choice." Bar eats include things like Italian-inspired smoked olives and mortadella sandwiches.
Bar Leone is located on Hong Kong Island in the Central neighbourhood, making it an ideal choice to start a night out.
Other Hong Kong bars included in the coveted list include COA (a Mexican-inspired craft cocktail bar), The Aubrey (a Japanese restaurant and bar), The Darkside (a live jazz bar inside the Rosewood Hotel),and The Savory Project (specializing in "unorthodox ingredients" with savoury and umami notes).
I had the chance to sample several cocktails at Argo, which placed ninth on the list and offers jaw-dropping views of Victoria Harbour from inside the Four Seasons. The bar was previously run by Antinori, who has taken the reins at his solo project Bar Leone. Drinks include inspired creations like the "Nectar of God" (Glenlivet 12, Ginger lily, Amontillado, Kabosu, chocolate bitters, and egg white), and the "To The Valley Below" (Remy Martin VSOP, Chen Pi Distillate, Mr. Black, Honduras Single Origin Coffee, and purple potato cream).
Argo is named after the Greek myth about Jason and the Argonauts who embark on a journey to retrieve a golden fleece. The bar manager says the menu was curated with this concept: discovering the "wonders of the world." They also change the menu frequently, employing the motto "here today, gone tomorrow," meaning there's always something new to sip.
The bar is also spectacularly furnished. With its ornate mirrors and shiny decorative pieces covering nearly every inch of the space, including the ceiling, I felt as if I was immersed in a crystal ball.
Hong Kong dining: Street stalls to Michelin restaurants
Some restaurants sell family-style portions that are meant to be shared by several people. If you travel with a group, many options are inexpensive when split. Solo travellers can enjoy low-cost options at restaurants and food stalls selling smaller portions.
It is possible to eat three squares for under C$40, particularly if breakfast consists of bakery items (a couple of my breakfasts cost around C$5 and consisted of a fresh bun from a nearby shop and juice from one of the many 7-Elevens). Many eateries sell small plates of rice noodles with sauces or other small bites that are great for sharing.
Tourists can sample traditional bean curd puddings at a long-standing, family-owned business called Kung Wo Beancurd Factory in the Sham Sui Po neighbourhood. The shop specializes in low-cost, silky-smooth puddings and has recently added "beancurd puffs, deep-fried tofu and homemade sugar-free soy milk," to its popular menu. It has received a Bib Gourmand from Michelin.
Dai pai dong are part of the region's quintessential outdoor dining experience, where visitors can sample a variety of street eats from food stalls. They date back to the late 19th century and serve authentic food piping hot from woks where you can eat right beside them.
The Ladies Street Silk Fan restaurant is styled as an indoor Dai Pai Dong, capturing "the essence of traditional food stalls." It is adjacent to the famous Lady Street - a one-kilometre stretch of stalls selling clothing, knock-off designer bags, accessories, souvenirs, and other goods. The casual restaurant is very popular, serving up traditional Cantonese fare including black truffle and fresh shrimp toast, steamed giant scallops with garlic and vermicelli, crispy beef brisket, sweet and sour pineapple port, and salted egg yolk crispy squid.
The Luk Tu Tea House was established in the 1930s and serves traditional dim sum. Popular dishes include crispy fried chicken, whole shrimp toast, prawn siew mei, mini beef shredded rolls, and fresh crab meat noodles. It also has an impressive tea selection.
Travellers looking for upscale dining also have no shortage of options in Hong Kong.
Situated in the ultra-luxurious Four Seasons, the Lung King Heen has a Michelin two-star rating and serves sophisticated Cantonese dishes in an elegant setting. Sparkling teas and wine pairings accompany dishes including marinated jellyfish, roast goose, crispy suckling pig, and crispy eel with sweet wasabi sauce.
Legacy House in the Rosewood Hong Kong offers Michelin-starred Cantonese cuisine with jaw-dropping views. It sources ingredients from local fishermen, artisans, and farms, and has a set dim sum menu as well as a la carte options. The menu features a Wok-Fried Australian Wagyu Beef Cube, Marinated Razor Clam, Braised 28-Head Yoshihama Abalone, and more.
I was lucky to enjoy an exclusive experience at VEA curated by Michilen-starred Chef Cheng. He was born in Hong Kong but grew up in Canada and dazzled everyone with a creative menu complete with unique touches that were important to him. Some included nostalgic treats from his childhood, a stellar eight-course menu fusing French and Chinese cuisine, and a song he dedicates to his wife.
Hong Kong temples and nunneries
Temples are free for visitors to explore, including the breathtaking Wong Tai Sin Temple in Kowloon. The Taoist temple's striking ornate features and perfectly maintained garden juxtapose the city's bustling pace.
Visitors will observe people burning incense, making offerings to deities, getting fortunes, and asking for good fortune. People looking for love or to bless their relationships can visit the area with two lovers joined by the red ribbon of fate. In Chinese culture, the invisible red thread connects all the individuals you are meant to meet, most notably your spouse.
Established in the 1930s, the Chi Lin Nunnery boats elegant wooden architecture using housing gold statues and finely crafted artworks. The massive nunnery was built with wood cut to interlock and hold it together. The design is meant to signify harmony and the interconnectedness of life. Filming isn't permitted indoors, allowing visitors to enjoy a serene moment in the peaceful sanctuary free from distractions.
The Nunnery is built on a hill slope and has over 20 individual timber structures from the Main Gate to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda.
The adjacent 3.5-hectare Nan Lian Garden houses beautiful bridges, beautiful trees, and massive, rare rocks.
Hong Kong outdoors: Hikes, fishing villages, and other experiences
Known for shimmering skyscrapers soaring among the highest in the world and densely populated streets with bustling markets and eateries, Hong Kong might not strike you as a hiking, rural, or beach destination.
But the former British colony offers some of the most diverse landscapes anywhere in the world, featuring historic fishing villages, uninhabited islands, breathtaking hikes, a massive Buddha in a thickly forested area, and several white-sand shores.
The Dragon's Back has been voted the best urban hike in Asia numerous times and I would be astonished if there was a better contender. As a born-and-bred British Columbian, I've experienced several awe-inspiring hikes. However, this urban trek offers a magical experience that takes a second to absorb-it strikes you with beauty a few minutes into the excursion.
Travellers who prefer to view Hong Kong from a traditional viewing platform can enjoy a stunning perspective at The Peak in the central business district. The Sky Terrace 428 stands a whopping 428 meters above sea level, offering sweeping views of the city, ocean, and forested areas on the local mountains. Visitors can take a historic tram ride or hike to reach the summit.
Sai Kung District is known as "the back garden of Hong Kong" and is home to quaint fishing villages, markets, hiking trails, peaceful islands, and geological formations not found anywhere else on Earth.
Tai O fishing village is tucked away at the far end of Lantau Island but offers a rare perspective into the history of Hong Kong's fishing villages. The Tanka people who still live there have built their homes on flats high above the water for generations using inventive building methods. You can go inside one of these historical homes to see how they have functioned over the years and take a boat ride through the harbour.
Tai O is also a great place to wander through markets, grab a seafood lunch, and talk to ever-welcoming locals. I was met with friendly bids for conversation while strolling through the narrow streets, where I could ask about different foods and seasonings. This area also has a lantern parade and dragon boat festival.
Where to stay in Hong Kong
I stayed at the Four Seasons Hong Kong for the first half of my 10-day trip and was delighted by the service and the rooms. Not only did I return to an immaculate and refreshed room nearly every time I left it (even for a quick afternoon stroll), but I also received a thoughtful treat. These gifts ranged from fruit, pastries, and fine teas to a trolley car crafted from chocolate. Some of my travel companions found their trolley "too beautiful to eat."
This five-star hotel is located in the Central area of Hong Kong Island and wows visitors from the entrance through its well-appointed rooms. Guests have access to the adjacent International Finance Centre (IFC) mall.
I stayed at the Grand Harbour Kowloon for the second half of my trip and enjoyed nearly floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of Victoria Harbour and a rooftop infinity pool for under C$150 a night. I originally booked a standard room that did not include an ocean view but received a free upgrade on arrival. The hotel was within a short walk of seemingly endless food and retail options, including everything from upscale dining to convenience stores to The Whampoa Mall, which has over 300 shops.
Travellers who don't need a sweeping waterfront view or infinity pool can find cheaper options, including several for under $100 on Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. Prices for a night at four-star hotels like the Iclub To Kwa Wan Hotel in Kowloon start at just C$70 a night, while The Harbourview near the Observation Wheel on Hong Kong Island costs around $71.
What airlines fly from Vancouver to Hong Kong?
A direct flight from Vancouver International Airport to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) takes over 13 hours. Round-trip prices start from $1,200.
- Related: Watch: Here is what it’s like to fly Business class from Vancouver to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong is the first stop en route to many destinations in Asia and the South Pacific, including Bali, Thailand, India, Nepal, Australia, Fiji, and numerous other hot spots. It can make an ideal place to spend anywhere from a couple of days to a week or two.
Airlines that fly directly or part of the way on the route include:
- Cathay Pacific
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air France
- Air India
- Air New Zealand
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- ANA
- Asiana
- British Airways
- China Airlines
- Delta
- EVA Air
- Fiji Airways
- Finnair
- Hainan
- JAL
- Jeju Air
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Lufthansa
- Malaysia Airlines
- Philippine Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Sichuan Airlines
- STARLUX Airlines
- SWISS THAI
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airines
- WestJet
- XiamenAir
Disclaimer: Thanks to the Hong Kong Tourism Board for facilitating portions of the trip. All opinions and inclusions are those of the author and were not guided or influenced in any way, and none of the businesses or entities mentioned were granted any previews of the story before publication.
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