3 Days in Hong Kong - Itinerary and Food Report
In October, we took a three day trip to Hong Kong, which has since become my favorite destination in Asia yet. What to say about Hong Kong? The food, the lights, the shopping. The atmosphere was incredible.
Well, I wrote an entire write-up here, discussing the protest movement and our experience running around. However, that post is loooong. For those not willing to read a novel, here’s my distilled breakdown for three days in Hong Kong, including what we ate.
NAVIGATION
Itinerary
Thursday evening: Chungking mansions, The Delhi Club, Jenny’s cookies, Tsim Sha Tsui, Night markets
Friday: Brick Lane (breakfast) BT21, Causeway Bay, Central, Times Square, Aberdeen floating village, Kau Kee beef noodles, the Peak, the Ferry, Lan Fong Yuen (french toast)
Saturday: Le Pain Quotidien (breakfast), Choi Hung estates, Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens, Yum Cha Dim Sum, Butler Cocktail Bar
Sunday: Left early in the morning
DAY-BY-DAY BREAKDOWN
Day 1: an evening in Tsim Sha Tsui
We arrived in Hong Kong at around 3pm, then hopped on the airport express bus to Tsim Sha Tsui, a downtown neighborhood full of shopping and restaurants and crazy lights.
Because I was going with a friend, we booked an airbnb instead of a hostel. So no recs there, sorry! Our airbnb was lovely but I can’t find it (my friend booked, not me) and I think really any spot in TST will do.
We were dropped right by the Chungking Mansions, which was our first stop and where we had dinner. After, we stopped by Jenny Bakery for a tin and walked around the Temple Night Market.
MY FAVORITE EATS:
The Delhi Club: Indian restaurant inside the Chungking Mansions, incredible naan. I loved their aloo gobi.
Jenny Bakery: Little shortbread cookie shop inside a building, various sizes of tins and flavors
Day 2: Cause we're in causeway
We headed out bright and early to Central & Causeway bay area, where we got a full English breakfast, visited the BT21 Store and went round to the Aberdeen floating village. Back to Central, we wandered in expensive looking lobbies, took a breather in an (air conditioned) little cafe, Teakha, and snapped some shots at Man Mo temple, potentially my favorite temple ever.
After, we grabbed a mid-afternoon coffee and lunch at Kau Kee Beef Noodles. We made our way up to the Peak and by nightfall, headed to Lan Fong Yuen for french toast.
MY FAVORITE EATS:
Teakha: Very cute little cafe with lots of milk teas. I highly recommend their sea salt milk tea. Not much seating in the front but if you go around the back there’s another room.
Kau Kee Beef Noodles: Michelin awarded beef noodles with lots of variations on cuts of beef and types of noodles. Lines are long but move quickly. We went with their original, which was served FAST and steaming hot. Beef was delicious, but a bit chewy.
Lan Fong Yuen: Old school cha chaan teng (Hong Kong breakfast place), famous for its french toast and milk tea
Brick Lane - Full English breakfast spot, including Eggs Benedict and very good coffee
Day 3: Brunch and basketball
The next day, we started off with brunch at Le Pain Quotidien. By noon, we were heading north to San Po Kong for the rainbow Choi Hung estates, where we got incredible photos and watched tourists and a local kid play basketball.
The rest of the day saw us going to the Nan Lian Nunnery, grabbing cheese tarts (egg tarts were out of stock due to the protests), and getting foot massages. From there, we got dim sum at Yum Cha, which had a deal for all-you-can eat.
Then, our favorite bit, we went to Butler Cocktail bar, where we had the best cocktails of our lives with super friendly bartenders. I sound like an ad for Butler, and I wish they were paying me.
MY FAVORITE EATS:
Le Pain Quotidien: Bakery and brunch place. Great pastries, and their homemade oranges marmalade was insanely good.
Pie & Tart Specialists: Grab n go pies and tarts
Yum Cha: Dim sum place with a cutsie twist. When we went, had a deal for all-you-can-eat for I think close to $20 including a drink. Not super authentic, but a playful novelty dinner.
Butler Cocktail Bar: Japanese cocktail bar with incredible cocktails. Sometimes you need a reservation, but if it’s not busy they’ll let you in. 2 drink minimum (again, if it’s not busy, they’ll be flexible).
I'll Come back for you
I’m a planner, if you can’t tell. I love to research ahead of time, especially when it comes to food. I’m so happy with our Hong Kong trip, but between many shops closing due to the protests and only having 2.5 days to run around, there is so much I want to return for.
Here is my list of other restaurants/attractions we didn’t do:
Mak Man Kee Noodle Shop: Famous Michelin starred noodle shop, known for the wonton noodles
Mido Cafe: Aesthetic lil restaurant, standard HK fare
Bafang Dumpling: Known for their (you guessed it) dumplings, both fried and steamed.
Ceung Hing Kee Shanghai Pan Fried Buns: Noodles and dumplings
Ding Taifeng: Taiwanese restaurant
Hao De Lai Dumplings: wantons and dumplings
Australia Dairy Company: Western brunch place, lines can run long
Kam Wah Cafe & Bakery: Pineapple buns, milk tea and egg tarts
Kam’s Roast Goose: Roasted goose
Thanks for reading!