Hong Kong
I spent just a few days in Hong Kong in October while on set for a film. The city is frenetic and crazy but has an incredible energy. It’s a magical place and I hope to visit again sometime soon. In the meantime, here’s my list of great spots for a whirlwind visit.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Love,
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The view from one of Hong Kong’s many highrises
Hotels:
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The Upper House was recommended to me when I was looking for places to stay in Hong Kong. It is definitely the most contemporary of the luxury hotels there, with a minimalist, Japanese look. After an incredibly long day on set, I had their Turkey Club Sandwich with fries at the hotel’s Café Gray Deluxe—another place where you’ll find a great view of the harbor.
We arrived on National Day and there were some spectacular fireworks.
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I went to the Four Seasons which is located right on the water’s edge with amazing views of Kowloon. It houses 3 Three Star Michelin restaurants, including the Caprice, a French restaurant, if you’re in the mood for something different. The Four Seasons also has great central location, being right inside of the International Finance Center mall which houses all the good shops like Lane Crawford, etc.
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I wanted to check out the famous Mandarin Oriental for my GOOP readers, and a friend of mine arranged for me to visit the presidential suite ... Why not start at the top? The suite has an elegant and modern Chinese look to it with huge windows that open up onto a balcony that surrounds the entire suite. The views from all the way up there are incredible. The bathroom had both a huge jacuzzi and a steam room. I am told that the other rooms in the hotel are all similarly decorated with Chinese antiques and modern furniture. There are 10 restaurants and bars in the Mandarin Hotel including the M Bar, which seems to be one of the more trendy places to go to for a night out.
Hong Kong hosts a pretty major lightshow on the buildings facing the harbor every single night.
Credit: Scott Thistlehwaite
Restaurants:
 | China Club Old Bank of China Bldg. Bank St., 13th & 14th fls. + (852) 2521-8888 |
David Tang’s classic member’s club, China Club, is one of the most beautifully decorated spaces I’ve encountered. The feel is Shanghai circa 1930, with all the furnishings hand-selected by David himself. The China Club is also a gallery, packed with art by some of the most outstanding Chinese artists today. The dining room has a great vibe, with a woman singing standards by the piano; it’s like you might run into a movie star from the 1940s. The club also has a Mahjong room upstairs if you want to make an afternoon of your visit. Though it’s members only, a great hotel concierge can definitely pull some strings.
 | Dim Sum 63 Sing Wood Road, Happy Valley + (852) 2834-8893 |
My friend Ellana took me for brunch at Dim Sum in the Happy Valley section of Hong Kong. As its name suggests, it serves up just this. If you want to have an authentic Chinese dining experience, Dim Sum is a good place to start.
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As I was filming a scene for a movie set partially in Hong Kong, I ended up spending a lot of time on the Jumbo, which is a floating restaurant on Aberdeen Harbor. It is a major tourist attraction, with 5 floors of restaurants floating on this big boat. It is also a self-proclaimed “theme park”—just so you’re warned. All this taken into account, it’s pretty fun in the end and the food is not half bad.
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Zuma is one of my favorite restaurants in London, and its Hong Kong branch does not disappoint.
Nightlife:
The Kee Club is another worthwhile members club to visit. Try to go with a friend who is a member, or twist a concierge’s arm. The club is like an elegant old house with a lounge, game room, library, dining room and salon. The night I went, I had a great time dancing in their club.
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I ended up at this teeny club late one night and had a great time. The club has a great vibe, a long and fun list of cocktails, and the dance floor is always packed.
 | Sevva Prince’s Building, 25th floor 10 Chater Road + (852) 2537 1388 |
After going to the China Club, I got after dinner drinks at the Terrace at Sevva with my friend Ellana. It has a great view, and it’s the perfect place to have a drink in Hong Kong’s balmy weather.
A boat ride is a wonderful way to see Hong Kong and get away from the city—it’s so busy it almost vibrates. I was lucky to catch a ride on a friend’s boat.
Shopping:
Red Lanterns in a street-side marketplace.
The IFC, which is right on the water and also houses The Four Seasons (if you’re in for a luxury shopping trip), is the best place to go shopping in HK. It has all the basic, big name brands plus every single luxury brand you can think of. It can be dangerous if you’re a serious shopper … You could spend an entire weekend here without seeing the light of day.
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Lane Crawford is a beautifully decorated, incredibly well-selected specialty store. It’s the only place in HK where you’ll find varied brands like Acne, Elizabeth and James, Moncler, Vanessa Bruno, etc. It was definitely my favorite find at the IFC with its beautiful displays of contemporary art and huge and equally well-edited homeware department.
 | William Cheng & Son 8/F, Han Hing Mansion 38 Hankow Road, TST + 1 (852) 2739 7888 |
This workwear tailor has been around for more than 50 years, making and copying bespoke suits for clients all over the world. A friend of mine bought a suit there while we were visiting and they did a great job, and very quickly. William Cheng & Son have an international following and make yearly trips to London and Australia for their customers.
Whenever I’m away from my kids, I always check out the toy stores for a little memento to bring back. The Toys Club is the local mega-store in Hong Kong—absolutely everything a child would ever wish for. It also has a huge books department.
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