One Night in Hong Kong

Frank Sun, restaurateur and architect
Have a drink at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s Captain’s Bar, tel: (852) 2825 4006. It has a lot of history. Then take a walk from there to Sheung Wan — a very different side of old Hong Kong and one that is rapidly disappearing. You can visit shops that still make traditional sausages and sell dried seafood.

After that, take the tram all the way to North Point. On the third floor of the market at 99 Java Road you’ll find the Tung Po seafood restaurant, tel: (852) 2880 9399. Ask for the owner Robby, or his partner Larry. Tell him you would like to order dishes Frank likes to eat. When you’ve finished dinner, take a cab back to the SoHo (“South of Hollywood Road”) district, and go to the funkiest bar in Hong Kong, Feather Boa, tel: (852) 2857 2586. The place is always crowded and you will most likely have to elbow your way inside, but it is without doubt one of the most interesting places to be in Hong Kong.

Bowie Yau Sze-lai, sales associate
Hong Kong city life is pretty diverse, so your night should be too. I’d start out in Kowloon with a glass of wine at Felix, tel: (852) 2315 3188. It’s a beautiful bar that overlooks the harbor from the 28th floor of Hong Kong’s oldest hotel, the Peninsula. After drinks, head to Hong Kong island and the colorful shopping district of Causeway Bay. This place is very busy most evenings, mostly with a younger crowd looking for the latest fashions and accessories. Try the Island Beverly Centre or Lee Theatre Plaza for a good and affordable range.

For refueling, try one of the little hole-in-the-wall joints in Causeway Bay, like Red Pepper, tel: (852) 2577 3811. It’s where I go to for family-style service and amazing Sichuan food. After dinner, you can mix it up a little at my favorite local pub, The Barn, tel: (852) 2504 3987. Go for some loud music and even louder dice games. It’s a little rough and ready, but it’s the real Hong Kong.

Eddis Tang, salsa instructor
At the start of the evening, I would take the Star Ferry from Tsimshatsui to Central. Along the way you can enjoy fantastic views from lots of different angles. You could then ride the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak for dinner. Try Pearl on the Peak, tel: (852) 2849 5123. It’s a famous restaurant with 360-degree views and modern Australian cuisine. The seafood is very good. After that, California, tel: (852) 2521 1345, in Lan Kwai Fong is a good spot for drinks and people-watching, especially if you sit outside. The Lan Kwai Fong area is famous for its bar life.

There is a good salsa scene in Hong Kong, but it starts late. Club CiXi, tel: (852) 2286 0333, has just opened after big renovations. Club 97, tel: (852) 2810 9333, has a great vibe, though it’s small and easy to crash into people. Some nights there are live drums accompanying the music, and everyone squeezes onto the dance floor.