Hong Kong Retried: Central
So I ended up going back to Hong Kong, and if you read my blog posts on my first experience a few weeks earlier, I was not necessarily impressed. What did I think the second time around? Well we tried different clubs and more fantastic restaurants and let me tell you, this is one of the best cities in the world, without a doubt.
Where to stay in Central: JW Marriott
JW Marriott is in a complex with several other five star hotels and is truly fantastic. The lobby at this hotel may be one of, if not the most stunning city lobby I have ever seen. Massive glass windows above the roads of Central Hong Kong frame the view in an imposing and breathtaking fashion. The hotel is home to fantastic restaurants restaurants and bars with great drinks and vibes thanks to a live band. The rooms are spacious and designed so that each view is a corner view over the city (and no matter which way you face, the view is very engaging). The value of the hotel and the prime location, coupled with a fantastic property, makes this one of the premier resorts in Central.
How about that for an entrance. The lobby is as breath-taking you could ever experience.
Where to party (on a Tuesday): Tazmania Ballroom
We actually were able to score a table for free, but we definitely ended up spending more than we anticipated because of how surprisingly fun it was out here. Walking around LKF beforehand and essentially pregaming while hopping from bar to bar was the perfect way to lead us into Tazmania Ballroom, where we were met with a fun scene in a low key, dimly lit bar with ping pong tables at the center of attention. That's right, ping pong. Tuesday nights are ping pong nights I guess, and we had a blast watching and cheering on the players, some of which were the best ping pong players I have ever seen. So if you are in Hong Kong and want to party on a Tuesday night, look no further than Tazmania Ballroom.
Tazmania Ballroom is a pretty unique club, and makes for a great Tuesday night out
Where to eat at a farm but not on a farm: Fish and Meat
When it comes to simplicity, this place does it best. Like seriously, there are no frills, just high quality fish and meat served with simple ingredients to compliment. The cocktails on the other hand, were most definitely not simple, and even a hungover Milad was thoroughly enjoying the avocado, jalapeno and fruity cocktails. It's pricey, but for a reason. It is all about quality here, in a trendy, Instagram-worthy setting. This place is the best available farm-to-table restaurant in Hong Kong, and a must visit if you want to to experience a simple meal with the best ingredients in the city.
Where to get breakfast when you're hungover: R&R Bagels
This place located in a hole-in-a-wall smack in the middle of Central is a new joint that derives its ingredients from New York and aesthetic from Los Angeles. Clean lines, simple colors, and trend-setters on their MacBooks create a super relaxing and ideal spot for a morning after drinking. But then throw in some seriously awesome bagel sandwiches, and you have yourself the ideal breakfast spot. R&R Bagels is a new place, and the management was clearly still working on the service of the place, as the manager himself had to come out and clear some things up for our order, but he did so in a smooth manner and seemed entirely in control, so I have no worries about the future of this spot.
The cure.
Where to see the city without dealing with the bull shit of tourism: Peak Circular Path
If you read my last post on Hong Kong, you'll see that I was seriously not happy with Victoria Peak. It's overpriced and overcrowded as hell, and not to mention incredibly inconvenient, especially if you're pressed on time. Instead, find the spot I have attached below and walk out about 30 minutes through the trees and get essentially the same view for free and alone. It's a nice walk, but try and get out early or late to avoid the scorching heat of Hong Kong. Then on the way down, take the tram, because the line on the way up is just way too long. And if you decide to take a taxi up, well, read my last post from Hong Kong (let's just say, make sure you have your concierge arrange a drive up so you pay a maximum of $25).
The pathway to the same view from Victoria Peak (reference cover photo of this post)-note the tourists
Where to buy fake Goyard: Ladies Market
Take an hour or so to head up to the world's most densely populated area, Mong Kok. The main attraction here is Ladies Market, which is open for a few hours every night, selling everything you could imagine. Have fun bargaining with the vendors here, but be sure you don't pay more than half of the original price they offer you.
Literally whatever you want to buy, you can find it here
Hong Kong has a reputation of being one of the best cities in the world, and I am seriously glad I was able to figure out a way to return before I got back to the states because I saw first-hand why. This place is awesome, from the food to the views to the culture. Enjoy it to it's capitalistic maximum!