In recent years, Hong Kong’s art, design, and architecture scene has experienced a profound flourishing. This cultural resurgence has been sparked in part by the late 2021 opening of the M+ museum, a striking cultural anchor designed by Herzog & de Meuron. Concurrently, Art Basel Hong Kong, which launched in 2013, grows with each return, anchoring a robust ecosystem of satellite events such as Art Central and the Edible Art Fair. And the landmark architecture additions keep on coming: The city will soon see the unveiling of the WestK Performing Arts Centre (WestK PAC) designed by UNStudio. This new venue joins the recently completed, Zaha Hadid–designed tower known as The Henderson, which serves as the home to Christie’s Hong Kong headquarters as well as Peridot, a lime-green, eye-popping wonder of a cocktail lounge.
Yet, beneath the gleam of these high-profile architectural achievements lies a deeply textured urban fabric. "There’s the impression of Hong Kong as a hyper-efficient financial capital, all modern skyscrapers," says interior designer and Hong Kong native Vincent Lim, who returned to the city in 2015 after spending a decade in New York. "लेकिन the Hong Kong we love is more textured than that." Spend even a couple of days here, and you realize these sleek glass towers are interspersed with traditional street stalls, bustling wet markets, family-run businesses, and vintage cha chaan tengs—the colonial-era cafés that still serve quintessential comfort food like milk tea, toast, and pork chop rice. "The layering of the city is what makes it special," Lim observes.
Laura Cheung, founder of the decorative furnishings brand Lala Curio, agrees that it is the atmospheric alleyways and decades-old shops featuring vintage neon signs that design-lovers find especially alluring. "I can’t think of another city where, in its prime commercial center, you still have these little family-run antiques shops and fruit stalls lined with red and blue canvas," she notes. "But then there’ll be a hidden door, and inside that, the chicest speakeasy lounge." Cheung loves the dynamic mix of old and new, the humble and the high-flying, or, as she describes it, "the wonton noodle shop sitting beside a sleek new building."
To gain our footing in this metropolis of contradictions, we turned to five Hong Kong design insiders for their personal recommendations on where to stay, eat, shop, and wander. Our expert panel includes Pak Man Lee, founder and CEO of Nuovo, a contemporary design gallery in the Central district known for its experimental exhibitions; Vincent Lim and Elaine Lu, the husband-and-wife team behind the award-winning interdisciplinary practice Lim + Lu; Frank Leung, founder and principal of architecture firm Via, celebrated for his high-end residential, commercial, and hospitality work; and Laura Cheung, founder of luxury interiors brand Lala Curio, which specializes in bespoke handmade wallpapers and cloisonné tiles.
Where to Stay: Exceptional Design and Hospitality
When considering accommodations in Hong Kong, our design experts point to properties that balance world-class hospitality with thoughtful architectural and interior design. Elaine Lu frequently recommends the Rosewood Hong Kong for its exceptional attention to detail in both design and hospitality, noting that its restaurants are among her favorites in the city, the harbor views are spectacular, and the service always feels warm and genuine.
For those seeking a tranquil sanctuary in the middle of the urban rush, Vincent Lim highlights The Upper House. Designed by André Fu, the hotel feels remarkably calm and residential despite its central location. "The restrained palette and thoughtful detailing demonstrates how architecture can create a genuine sense of serenity amidst one of the world’s busiest cities," Lim says.
Longstanding institutions continue to capture the imagination of local creators as well. Laura Cheung grew up visiting The Peninsula Hong Kong, which remains one of the city’s great icons. "Its colonial heritage, timeless architecture, and impeccable hospitality embody the city’s unique blend of British elegance and Asian warmth," she says. "And the sweeping Victoria Harbour views capture the city’s romance like nowhere else."
Frank Leung points to a newer addition, the Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui, which his firm helped design. Boasting an impeccable waterfront location and panoramic island views, the hotel’s arrival experience celebrates Hong Kong’s artistic spirit with a curation of pieces by local photographers and ceramicists. Pak Man Lee rounds out the hotel recommendations by highlighting the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. "Hong Kong’s grande dame, the Mandarin Oriental, is still the one that, to me, feels like the city itself," Lee says. "The heritage, the service, the sense of occasion—there’s nothing quite like it."
Where to Eat: From Izakayas to Legendary Noodle Shops
The culinary landscape of Hong Kong mirrors its architectural landscape, offering everything from avant-garde dining to century-old neighborhood institutions. Frank Leung’s top recommendation for out-of-town guests is Yardbird, an izakaya-style eatery in Sheung Wan. Run by chef-owner Matt Abergel and his team, it serves what Leung considers the best yakitori in the city.
For contemporary dining with a seasonal focus, Elaine Lu recommends Roganic, helmed by chef Simon Rogan. "His restraint feels very aligned with our own design philosophy," she notes. For a down-to-earth local evening, Leung suggests Ju Xing Home in Prince Edward, a favorite after-work hangout for local chefs known for its outstanding seafood and boiled hand-cut beef. Meanwhile, institutions like Yung Kee remain the go-to destination for legendary roast goose and family celebrations, while neighborhood noodle spots like the Chiuchownese Noodle Shop in Sai Ying Pun offer simple, comforting soup noodles that draw residents back time and again.
Best Hong Kong Cafés and Institutional Tea Rooms
The city’s café culture bridges the gap between historical preservation and modern creative reinvention. Elaine Lu points to the Mido Café in Yau Ma Tei, opened in the 1950s, as a living time capsule of old Hong Kong, where stained-glass windows, mosaic floors, and timber booths remain intact. For Vincent Lim, no visit is complete without a pineapple bun from the Cheung Hing Coffee Shop in Happy Valley. Laura Cheung naturally gravitates toward Café Causette inside the Mandarin Oriental for an effortless elegance that never feels formal, while Frank Leung praises Halfway Coffee for its vintage cups, salvaged furniture, and hand-sculpted counters at its Peak location.
Where to Drink: Hidden Bars and Relaxed Institutions
When the sun goes down, Hong Kong’s beverage scene offers hidden sanctuaries and vibrant social hubs. Pak Man Lee recommends b.a.r. Executive Bar, a hidden, appointment-recommended Japanese-style bar in Causeway Bay with no sign and no walk-ins. Frank Leung highlights Paragon, opened by chef David Lai, which features a vinyl record collection, a small cocktail menu, and seating in the legendary 1964 Karuselli Chair designed by Yrjo Kukkapuro. For Laura Cheung, Bar Leone offers a lively yet unpretentious atmosphere for exceptional cocktails and Italian food.
Best Neighborhoods for Wandering
To truly understand Hong Kong, our experts advise exploring its distinct neighborhoods on foot. Pak Man Lee champions Tsim Sha Tsui East for its nostalgic 1990s energy, while pointing to Ap Lei Chau and Wong Chuk Hang as the city’s Southside art district, where serious galleries and warehouses like Horizon Plaza are stacked floor by floor.
Vincent Lim frequently guides friends through Sheung Wan, starting at the atmospheric Man Mo Temple before wandering Hollywood Road to observe weathered tong lau buildings sitting alongside contemporary architecture. Elaine Lu highlights Sham Shui Po as an inspiring working district for textiles and hardware that has increasingly welcomed independent cafés and creative studios. Laura Cheung points to the Star Street Precinct as a hidden village tucked into the city, offering independent cafés, boutiques, and galleries.
Where to Shop for Unique Design and Antiques
Hong Kong’s retail landscape offers treasures ranging from high-end bespoke tailoring to rare vintage homewares. Pak Man Lee recommends Crack and Anecdote and Select 18 for one-of-a-kind vintage finds and antiques, as well as the HK Tram Store for retro toys. Elaine Lu highlights G.O.D. Goods of Desire for contemporary homewares playing on local iconography. Frank Leung directs visitors to the Pedder Arcade on the fifth floor of the Pedder Building, anchored by Mark Cho’s The Armoury, and to Yuet Tung China Works in Kowloon Bay for hand-painted neo-vintage ceramics. Additional recommendations include Yat Pit for contemporary fashion reinterpreting Chinese heritage, Hak Dei for everyday household objects, Beaureguards for resort wear, Lala Curio’s flagship for decorative surfaces, and Permanent Resident for curated artisan homewares.
Best Museums, Galleries, and Cultural Excursions
Cultural institutions provide further insight into the city’s identity. Laura Cheung emphasizes the significance of the M+ museum for contemporary visual culture, architecture, and design, while Pak Man Lee highlights his own gallery, Nuovo, in Central for collectible design and Italian masters. Other recommended galleries include Alisan Fine Arts, Hanart TZ Gallery, Kiang Malingue, Ora-Ora, Touch Gallery, and Grotto Fine Art.
For those looking to venture beyond the urban core, the experts recommend taking the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour, exploring the trails of the Wilson Trail or Lo Fu Tau on Lantau Island, visiting the serene Tsz Shan Monastery in Tai Po, experiencing the Herzog & de Meuron-designed Tai Kwun cultural center, taking a ferry to outlying islands like Cheung Chau or Tai O village, or visiting the Asia Society Hong Kong Center for adaptive reuse architecture amidst lush greenery. As Pak Man Lee advises, the best of Hong Kong often hides upstairs—never judge a building by its street level, and always take the freight lift.
