Hong Kong's iconic glowing skyline, presided over by the towering Victoria Peak, attracts visitors from around the world, many of whom use the metropolis as a stopover before or after a trip to China, Japan, or South Korea. However, the city — best known for its vibrant neighborhoods, diverse cuisine, and memorable luxury hotels — offers plenty as a standalone destination.

"Hong Kong is one of the most dynamic cities when it comes to food and drink in Asia," says Lorenzo Antinori, co-founder and manager of Bar Leone, which was recently named No. 2 on the list of World’s 50 Best Bars 2024. "But something that people don't know necessarily is the beautiful variety of its landscape. You have mountains, so you have beautiful hiking trails, and then you have beaches. The nature here is incredible because it intersects with this concrete jungle that is the city. So you have the excitement of a very buzzy food and drink scene, but you also have the nature that surrounds it." 

To fully explore the city and its surrounding area, Antinori recommends at least five days in Hong Kong. "You can do a little bit of everything," he says.

How you plan that itinerary will depend on your interests and who you are traveling with, although must-do attractions include the Temple Street Night Market, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Here, Antinori shares some of his top picks for where to eat and drink and what to do in his adopted hometown of Hong Kong, where he’s lived for the past five years.   

Where to Eat and Drink

Hong Kong boasts an exceptionally diverse food scene, ranging from fine dining to iconic street fare. The city has seven three Michelin-starred restaurants and an impressive 59 spots with one star, but there’s plenty to enjoy if you want to more casually rub shoulders with locals. Antinori encourages visitors to try the variety of Asian options in town. "I love Kowloon City, which is also called ‘Little Bangkok.’ There are some amazing restaurants there that are both Chinese and Thai Chinese," he says. "It’s a chaotic little gem that I always take people to. Go into any one of those Thai restaurants — I like to be adventurous and try a different one each time."

One of his favorite spots in the city is Islam Food, a Hong Kong institution since 1950. "They're very famous for their beef patty pancakes," Antinori says. "It’s this doughy pillow with an amazing beef situation inside, and it’s so warm and juicy. You need to eat it with two hands — and you need a bib."

For Cantonese food, Antinori likes the classic Oi Man Sang. But Hong Kong is also famous for its street food and night markets, the best of which he says is the Temple Street Night Market. "You can find pretty much everything there," Antinori says. "There’s also a big Nepalese community in the area, so you can get momos, which are Nepalese dumplings." 

Another good area for street food is the Sham Shui Po district. "There are places called dai pai dong everywhere, which are kiosks on the street with open kitchens," he says. "It’s very quintessentially Hong Kong. Salt and pepper squid is amazing, and the braised eggplant with fish sauce is also very good."

For drinks, Antinori recommends seeking out cocktail spots The Diplomat Hong Kong, Mexican-inspired Coa, and Japanese bar Mizunara. And, of course, there’s Bar Leone, which draws inspiration from Antinori’s Italian heritage and is located in Victoria Peak, an area known for its city views. The bar serves high-end cocktails and food, and Antinori recommends going early since it doesn’t take reservations. His favorite drinks include the olive oil sour and the negroni, a collaboration with Australian distillery Never Never. 

"People should come and try our smoked olives," he says. "They’re Spanish olives cold-smoked in-house that taste like bacon. And then there’s our focaccia with mortadella, which became our signature. We made mortadella famous in Asia. We are the ambassadors of mortadella, very proudly."

What to Do in Hong Kong

To get a full view of Hong Kong, Antinori suggests going to the Central Pier, which overlooks Victoria Harbour and Kowloon. Visitors can also ascend Victoria Peak, located on Hong Kong Island, via the Peak Tram, which runs every 15 to 20 minutes daily. He likes Ma On Shan Park, a public park in Hong Kong's New Territories, for a relaxed day out. "It’s basically a natural reserve on the opposite side of the island," Antinori says. "It has a beautiful hiking trail and really, really beautiful nature."

For a hike in the city, head to the Twin Peaks trail, a relatively short (around five kilometers) but very steep trek. "It’s one of the toughest hikes in Hong Kong, but it's very rewarding when you go up there because you are immersed in nature and you have a fantastic view," Antinori says. "I once did it with my mom. We were supposed to go to the beach, but we took the wrong turn and we started to climb this mountain for hours with no water, no sunscreen. So do the Twins, but also be sure to have the right gear with you and plenty of water and sunscreen."

To see more of the region and its impressive natural beauty, it’s easy to hop on a boat and explore farther outside of the metropolitan area. Ferries run frequently between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, but visitors can also take them to the nearby Inner Islands and beyond. These destinations offer an additional glimpse of Hong Kong you won’t get in the city.

"Definitely go to one of the islands, either Peng Chau or Cheung Chau," Antinori says. "It's worth taking the ferry. Spend the day out eating amazing seafood. In Cheung Chau, there’s a place called New Baccarat, which is along the waterfront. I love to go there. The staff is very grumpy, but the food is always fresh and you have a view of the dock. You can just spend an afternoon there having beers and eating razor clams or sweet and sour chicken or calamari."

Those looking for art or culture can explore a range of museums. The M+, located in the thriving West Kowloon Cultural District, is a popular pick. "It features lots of art from mainland China, but also from Hong Kong," Antinori says. "Lots of young artists show there, so there’s lots of technology and a new wave of art like NFTs. I don't know much about it, but I like to go there. It's a good date spot as well." He also suggests Christie's Hong Kong, which often displays well-known artists like Matisse and Dali. 

For higher-end shopping, head to Queen’s Road, home to everything from Gucci to Valentino. "But if you want to get more into the local, artsy shopping you can go to Sheung Wan," Antinori says. "There are a lot of these antique shops and pottery shops where you can look for vintage stuff, pottery, and teas. They have [shops with] local botanicals to brew your own teas."

To get around the city, Antinori’s top tip is to get an Octopus card, which is a contactless smart card used for public transportation. "It helps you when taking the tram," he says. "And then [I suggest] a very nice pair of comfortable shoes as Hong Kong is a city that is built on hills. There’s a lot of walking to be done, so [it’s] better to be prepared for that."

Where to Stay

Hong Kong’s skyline is lined with luxury hotels, from the iconic Peninsula Hong Kong to the beloved Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. But the actual location of the hotel matters as much as its amenities. Antinori likes the Sheung Wan district because it’s close to the pier and to Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park. "It has lots of green," he says. "It's an iconic neighborhood where the Dried Seafood Street [an area that specializes in traditional Chinese banquets and health foods] is located."

His preferred hotels include the iconic Four Seasons Hong Kong. "The Four Seasons is an iconic property in Hong Kong, with an amazing food and beverage program," he says. "They have Caprice, which has three Michelin stars, and Lung King Heen, which has two stars. I used to run the bar, Argo. The hotel has an amazing pool, too. You’re in the center of Hong Kong, but you can find this escape. It’s my favorite getaway. I take a Sunday off and go to the pool at the Four Seasons."

He also recommends the Rosewood Hong Kong and The Upper House, both of which embrace a modern luxury vibe. 

"With the Upper House, you don’t feel like you’re in a hotel. Their rooms are very cool and minimalist. Lots of wood. Very comfortable," he says. "Both hotels are in a central part of Hong Kong, but they’re on a hill, so there’s more privacy, and it’s a little bit more quiet. And maybe you’ll bump into David Beckham. That’s not my goal, but it might be fun for somebody." 

The Best Time to Visit Hong Kong

The weather in Hong Kong can be extreme, depending on the time of year. Antinori recommends coming in October, November, December, or January, when the temperature averages 60 to 70 F. It’s often still sunny, but coming during the fall and winter helps keep travelers out of the mid-year heat and mugginess. "It's nice and fresh," Antinori says. "It's not as hot as the summer season, and you stay away from the typhoon season."