4) Hong Kong restaurant and entertainment areas - part A

Being one of Asia's most international cities, Hong Kong boasts quite a few trendy dining-and-entertainment precincts, which are as vibrant and up-to-date as Hong Kong itself... Each with its unique ambience and style... So no matter how, or where, you choose to spend your evening, Hong Kong has it, big time.

This article will take you through the most popular dining & entertainment precincts on Hong Kong Island (while my next article will deal with Kowloon)

For a fully detailed article about Hong Kong's dining and entertainment precincts, including many recommended venues, go to Hong Kong Restaurant and Nightlife Guide

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Central , Hong Kong's modern business district, is conquered by sparkling skyscrapers that accommodate the Asia-Pacific head office of international corporations, alongside bank managements, government agencies and foreign consulates.

Famous for its stylish shopping malls and elite boutiques, it is not a designated dining and entertainment area, as such, although its international ambience attracts the city's well heeled residents and, therefore, some of the best restaurants in Hong Kong can be found here...

Among the most recommended venues in Central you can find names like Caprice at the Four Seasons Hotel (one of Hong Kong's most sought-after French restaurants), Le Parisien (classic French cuisine), Grissini (one of Hong Kong's finest Italian restaurants), Shanghai Garden (excellent Shanghainese cuisine), Koi Sushi (creative Japanese cuisine), Tandoor (one of Hong Kong's most favorite Indian restaurants), Lotus (contemporary Australian-Thai resto-bar), Isola Bar & Grill (lovely Mediterranean cuisine and large alfresco terrace, facing the harbor views), Lung King Heen (haute Cantonese cuisine with a modern touch) and Cuisine Cuisine (contemporary Cantonese cuisine with an emphasize on fresh seafood)…

But you can also opt for one of the more "authentic" eateries, where local delicacies can be enjoyed at a reasonable price… Lin Heung Tea House (a true Hong Kong style "yum cha" and some excellent dim sums), Mak's Noodle (some of the best Wonton noodle in town), Wong Chi Kee (delicious Cantonese Noodle and Congee), Sheung Hing Chiu Chow (one of Hong Kong's best Chiu Chow eating houses) and Tsui Wah (a 24 hours Cha Chaan Teng Hong Kong style café, with an extensive menu to choose from)

Getting to Central is as easy as pie: Hong Kong's Airport Express Station is right in the heart of Central and so is Central MTR Station (if coming from Kowloon: Tsim sha Tsui / Jordan / Mong Kok) and Star Ferry Pier (walk 5 minutes along the elevated walkway).

If coming by bus from the airport: Take Citybus' route A11 and drop off on Connaught Road Central, at the bus-stop outside Jardine House (opposite Chater House). Walk a few steps back and climb on the elevated walkway which can take you to almost every building in Central


Lan Kwai Fong ( often abbreviated as LKF) - is possibly Hong Kong's most popular and most famous nightlife arena.

The small quadrangle of streets, formed by the L-shaped Lan Kwai Fong Street and adjacent D'Aguilar Street, is packed with bars, pubs, clubs and some excellent restaurants that make it a popular choice for locals, expatriates and tourists alike.

Visiting on a Friday or Saturday night, you will be amazed by the droves of people who crowd the streets, with all bars having only standing room... And when the bars get too congested, the scene moves to the street, as customers take their drinks and stand outside...

Some of Hong Kong's "night birds" like to start the evening at LKF, move somewhere else, and then come back to LKF, just before the night is over...

Our list of the most recommended venues in and around Lan Kwai Fong includes California (Californian-American resto bar), Dragon I (one of Hong Kong's hottest night spots, combining a Chinese and Japanese restaurant, a stylish bar and a dance-club), Agave (Tequila lovers heaven), Insomnia (a very popular night spot, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), TRU (stylish Thai & Vietnamese restaurant), Zest (contemporary western cuisine with emphasize on Mediterranean flavors), Yung Kee (a renowned Cantonese restaurant, serving some of the best roast goose in Hong Kong), M at the Fringe (one of Hong Kong's most sought after restaurants, combining the "classics" of European cuisine with Mediterranean touches), Koh-I-noor (one of Hong Kong's best established Indian restaurants), Baci (an excellent Italian restaurant, specializing in thin crust pizzas), Indochine 1929 (a splendid Vietnamese restaurant), Café des Artistes (a Parisian style bistro, serving contemporary French cuisine), Post 97 (delicious café-style food, easygoing ambience and nice music), Al's Diner (a 1950s American style restaurant, bar and club) and Tastings wine bar (probably Hong Kong's best wine bar).

Getting to LKF : From Hong Kong's Airport Express Station - Walk to Central MTR station (through the pedestrian passage) and take exit C to Theatre Lane or exit D1 to Pedder Street. Cross Queen's Road Central and climb along D'aguilar Street (entrance to which is on the left side of Entertainment Building) until you get to Lan Kwai Fong.

If coming from Kowloon side (Tsim sha Tsui - symphony of Lights / Jordan - Night Market / Mong Kok - Ladies Market), take the MTR to Central and follow as above.

If coming with the Star Ferry (from Tsim sha Tsui pier, few minutes walk from the "Symphony of Lights"): Walk straight through the elevated walkway, till you get to Alexandra House, cross Des Voeux Road Central and proceed through Pedder Street, as above.

If coming by bus from the airport: Take Citybus' route A11 and drop off on Connaught Road Central, at the bus-stop outside Jardine House (opposite Chater House), walk a few steps back, climb on the elevated walkway, turn left and proceed with it across Connaught Road and Des Voeux Road. Get off the footbridge and proceed via Ice House Street or Pedder Street to Queen's Road Central. After crossing it, turn right and then left to D'aguilar Street, with which you can climb to Lan Kwai Fong.

If walking from SoHo: Enter Lyndhurst Terrace from the corner of Graham Street and Hollywood Road and walk down along it for a couple of minutes. Turn right to Wellington, and from there right to D'aguilar.


The SoHo is another extremely popular dining and entertainment district. Unlike the London area of the same name (but much like the Soho in New York), the area got its name from its geographical location : South of Hollywood Road.
Unlike LKF, Wan Chai and some of Hong Kong's other nightlife areas, SoHo is more about quiet bistro-style restaurants and cafés, where you can enjoy a romantic evening, or have your coffee alfresco, while watching life on the street go by... The art galleries and antique shops on Staunton Street and Hollywood Road add their bit to the "cultural ambience" of this area.

Here are some of SoHo's most recommended venues: Staunton's Bar & Café (a great place to see and to be seen...), Blue door (one of Hong Kong's most popular jazz bars), Bohemian Lounge (a nice, cozy Jazz bar), Joyce is not here (a combination of a bar, café and gallery, with easygoing ambience and nice food), Scirocco (a Mediterranean style resto-café), BIZOU (Mediterranean-style bistro and rotisserie), Chocolux (a chocoholics paradise), Brasserie Le Fauchon (this cute, little brasserie serves beautiful French cuisine at reasonable prices), Le Tire Bouchon (luxurious, romantic French restaurant), La Pampa (Argentinean grill and steakhouse), Café Siam (a fantastic Thai restaurant), Chilli Fagara (serving excellent Szechwan cuisine), Nepal (Nepalese cuisine) and DiVino Wine Bar & Restaurant (This trendy Italian resto-bar is one of SoHo's most popular venues), The Press Room (fantastic contemporary-European brasserie), Duke Burger (gourmet burgers) and Café Graham (a homey French bistro that serves lovely food at reasonable prices).

There are also some fabulous eateries around the SoHo, like Tsim Chai/Jim Chai (outstandingly good wonton dumplings), Lan Fong Yuen (a true Hong Kong style Cha Chaan Teng) and Kau Kee Noodles (where some of the best Beef Brisket in Hong Kong can be enjoyed).

Getting to SoHo: From Hong Kong's Airport Express Station - Take exit D and turn right to Harbour View Street. Cross Connaught Road Central and proceed with Queen Victoria Street (across Des Voeux Road Central) to the corner of Queen's Road Central, from where you can hop on the world's longest escalator and climb with it to Staunton Street (one street above Hollywood Road). If the escalator doesn't work (after midnight), you can climb along Cochrane Street, turn right to Lyndhurst Terrace and left to Graham Street, which takes you to Staunton Street and the SoHo

If coming from Kowloon side (Tsim sha Tsui - symphony of Lights / Jordan - Night Market / Mong Kok - Ladies Market), take the MTR to Central - Use exit C to Theatre Lane, turn right to Queen's Road Central and follow as above.

If coming with the Star Ferry (from Tsim sha Tsui pier, few minutes walk from the "Symphony of Lights"): Walk straight through the elevated walkway, till you get to Alexandra House, cross Des Voeux Road Central, proceed through Pedder Street, turn right to Queen's Road Central and follow as above.

If coming by bus from the airport: Take Citybus' route A11 and drop off on Connaught Road Central, at the bus-stop outside Jardine House (opposite Chater House), walk a few steps back, climb on the elevated walkway, turn left and proceed with it across Connaught Road and Des Voeux Road. Get off the footbridge and proceed via Ice House Street or Pedder Street to Queen's Road Central. Turn right and walk along Queen's Road Central for something like ten minutes, until you reach the corner of Cochrane Street where you can hop on the escalator (see above).

If walking from Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): From D'aguilar, turn left to Wellington, and from there left to Lyndhurst Terrace and again left, to Graham Street.


Admiralty and Wan Chai lie east of Central and are characterized by modern office buildings, hotels and shopping malls. Wan Chai is one of the busiest commercial areas in Hong Kong with many small and medium sized companies, various shopping centres and numerous bars, discos, cafés and dining venues... especially along Lockhart Road.

Here are some of our most recommended bars, restaurants and nightspots in Wanchai: Flying Pan (Hong Kong's best "all day breakfast". The restaurant is open 24 hours a day / 7 days a week), The Pawn (one of Hong Kong's hippest spots – featuring a bar, lounge and a restaurant under one roof), The Bridge (one of Wanchai's nicest resto-pubs... stays open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year...), Coyote Bar & Grill (a Tex-Mex resto-bar), Klong Bar & Grill ("KBG" is one of Hong Kong's trendiest hangouts), Skitz (one of Wanchai's most favorite nightspots), Carnegie's (plenty of "special offers" and "Happy hour deals"... and good 1980s dancing music), Chili Club (This casual, down-to-earth eatery, serves some of the best Thai food in Hong Kong), Ingredients (a stylish restaurant, lounge and bar), Sukothai (a fantastic Thai restaurant), Hong Kong Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant (the Hong Kong branch of one of China's most prestigious and famous restaurants), American Peking Restaurant (a Hong Kong culinary institution, serving Chinese-Pekinese cuisine for the last forty years), Milano Italian Restaurant (serving some of the best thin-crust pizzas in Hong Kong... lovely ambience and surroundings), Fook Lam Moon (a Hong Kong culinary legend, serving superb Cantonese food for more than 50 years…), and Golden Bauhinia Cantonese restaurant (an award-winning restaurant, serving some of the best Cantonese cuisine in Wanchai area).

For those of you who want to try authentic local food at one of the more down-to-earth places, here are some recommendations: Lung Moon Restaurant (has been serving delicious dim sum for the last 60 years), Chiu Yuen (Chiu Chow style noodle dishes), Joy Hing Food Shop (Cantonese and Chinese BBQs) and Prawn Noodle Shop (Southeast Asian prawn noodle dishes)

Getting to Wan Chai (Wanchai) : From Hong Kong's Airport Express Station - Take shuttle Bus H-1 to the Empire Hotel Hong Kong (Right next to Lockhart Road's nightlife zone in Wan Chai). H-2 also goes this direction, so if you want to get to Lockhart Road, you can still use it...
Alternatively, you can walk to Central MTR station (there is a pedestrian link) and take the MTR to Wan Chai - then use exit C and turn left to Lockhart Road

If coming from Kowloon side (Tsim sha Tsui - symphony of Lights / Jordan - Night Market / Mong Kok - Ladies Market), take the MTR to Wan Chai - Use exit C

If coming with the Star Ferry (from Tsim sha Tsui pier, few minutes walk from the "Symphony of Lights"): Walk straight through the elevated walkway, turn right to Central MTR station and take the MTR to Wan Chai (then use exit C and turn left to Lockhart Road)

If coming by bus from the airport: Take Citybus' route A11 and drop off at the bus-stop on 69 Hennessy Road (just before the corner of Luard), walk a few steps forward to the corner, turn left to Luard and walk to Lockhart Road (a minute away...)

In Admiralty : Ye Shanghai (a superb Shanghainese dining experience), Thai Basil (one of the best Thai restaurants in Hong Kong), Restaurant Petrus (one of Hong Kong's most luxurious and romantic restaurants, serving superb French cuisine), Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill (great American food, served in American size portions), Lobster Bar and Grill (a splendid resto-bar, with a lovely jazz bar next door) and Madison's Restaurant & Bar (Madison's offers a unique combination of superb dinning and a beautiful, New York style piano-lounge...) and Victoria Harbour Seafood Restaurant (specializes in Cantonese cuisine and is well-known for its splendid Dim-sums)

Getting to Admiralty : From Hong Kong's Airport Express Station - Take shuttle Bus H-1 to Pacific Place or to the Island Shangri La

If coming from Kowloon side (Tsim sha Tsui - symphony of Lights / Jordan - Night Market / Mong Kok - Ladies Market), take the MTR to Admiralty - Use exit F (through the subway) to get to Pacific Place and the hotels

If coming with the Star Ferry (from Tsim sha Tsui pier, few minutes walk from the "Symphony of Lights"): Walk straight through the elevated walkway, till you get to Alexandra House, turn left to Des Voeux Road Central and walk along it for a few minutes (it joins with Queensway), pass the HSBC building and the Bank of China skyscraper (BOC) until you will see Pacific Place on your right (on the other side of Queensway - there is a footbridge).

If coming by bus from the airport: Take Citybus' route A11 and drop off on Queensway (Near Queensway Plaza and exit C-1 of Admiralty MTR Station). Cross Queensway to the other side (with the footbridge) and you are there.


I already mentioned Causeway Bay in this blog (see Five ways to spend an evening in Hong Kong) so there is no need to introduce this area again... Neither is there a need to repeat directions...

Here are some of our best liked venues in Causeway Bay: Wasabisabi (trendy, ultra-modern and superb restaurant, specializes in contemporary Japanese cuisine), Eden (modern-French cuisine, served in a lovely and romantic environment), Avenue Joffre (serving superb Shanghainese cuisine in an elegant and unique environment...), Green Willow Village Restaurant (wide selection of Shanghainese and Pekingese specialties... reasonable prices), Pokka Café (one of Causeway Bay's best cafés), REFLEXION Natural Dining (fantastic European-Asian food, based mostly on organic and natural ingredients, at reasonable prices...), Opia (This Australian chef-restaurant is a landmark in Hong Kong's culinary scene), Rice Paper - CWB (superb Vietnamese-French fusion cuisine), Entrecote (As its name suggests, this highly rated French restaurant is famous for its charcoal grilled steaks), Oceanna (specializes in fine Italian cuisine with a modern-international touch, as well as in oysters), Sushi Hiro (This excellent restaurant serves some of the best Sushi and Sashimi in Causeway Bay...), Sorabol (one of the best Korean restaurants in Hong Kong), Harakan (This excellent restaurant is particularly known for its fresh, top quality Sashimi and Sushi), Ajitomi (Kushi-yaki and Yakitori meat skewers are the specialty here, and the menu features an extensive selection of them...), Habitu Kitchen and Bar (this splendid restaurant specializes in superb southern Italian cuisine) and Fu Sing (some of the best Dim sum and Cantonese food you can imagine…)

Here are some recommendations for those of you who prefer something more local… Pak Loh Chiu Chow (one of the best Chiu Chow restaurants in Hong Kong), Chee Kee (outstandingly good Beef Brisket and Wonton) and New Chui Wah Restaurant (a rather simple, but extremely popular Chinese eatery) and Ho Hung Kee (Often praised for having "the most authentic wonton noodles" in Hong Kong)