Hot spots for a date in Hong Kong
From seafood restaurants reached only by Chinese junk to opulent dens serving perfect daiquiris or sky-high Szechuan cuisine, Hong Kong has plenty of romantic places for a date. Here is my pick
Get your liver ready…
Prepare to say “This is the best cocktail I’ve ever had” – and mean it. Stanton Street’s Feather Boa is a former antiques store, serving up strawberry and chocolate daiquiris to die for (about HK$75). Combine these with its candlelit ambiance, walls of aquamarine and tassled lampshades and you could well lose a night in here, snuggled up with your date. Pure bliss!
If you’re a sociable pair, succumb to the pull of main drag, Lan Kwai Fong – a strip of bars that spill out on to the street, creating one big party. Don’t miss Al’s diner, either. This is the place for you if you want to slurp jelly shots (HK$38) from each other’s belly buttons. Some people do.
Sexy taste sensations…
If you’ve slept in (ahem), you’ll find tiny bakeries with delicious sweet and savoury treats from as little as HK$4 a piece – the perfect cheap but filling breakfast. When it comes to dining out in stylish romance, you can’t beat Hutong on the 28th floor of One Peking in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Chinese food is expensive and exquisite (be warned, the Szechwan crab could start a fire in your intestines) while the bird cages that hang from the ceilings and the carved wooden walls give it an atmosphere that’s priceless as you take in a bird’s eye view of the shimmering metropolis.
If you’re into the bizarre and taking pictures of each other in the bathroom (what?), Modern Toilet (Portland Road, Mongkok) offers themed dining that could get you a little… well, "flushed". Diners sit on chairs made from plastic toilet bowls, eating Asian and European dishes served in replica toilet bowls, urinals, washbasins, or bathtubs. Yes, that's right.
For a real heart-pounding experience, nab a place on a junk and get someone to sail you out to the Rainbow Rooms. Its inexpensive yet amazing spread of fresh seafood, served in casual outdoor surroundings, makes this a definite hot spot for a date.
Don’t forget the cameras…
If little old ladies selling bicycle parts and fish heads from their doorsteps turns you on, take the ferry out to Cheung Chau island for the day (HK$11). Well worth a wander, this quirky island grants you a look at real local life. It’s home to a substantial fishing fleet and on the other side, the beach plays host to energetic kite-surfers and windsurfers. You also won’t want to miss a glimpse of the infamous, 250-tonne Big Buddha at Lantau Island – though in rough weather, you won’t much like the cable car ride up there. Hold on to each other tight and don’t look down!
Some of the best spots for snapping those new Facebook profile pics are undoubtedly from Victoria Peak on a clear day. A panoramic view of Hong Kong, Kowloon and Victoria Harbour puts the city’s awesome, unique location into perfect perspective.
Get your zzzz’s…
If you’re in love on a budget, the comfy Salisbury YMCA (from HK1,166 a night) or The Harbourview (from HK770 a night) are pretty decent. Save the pennies for some cocktails in Feather Boa, or that dinner in Hutong. And as for dessert… well, you can use your imagination…
Save money on booking flights, hotels and car hire by following our money-saving guides. They are written by our Editorial Director, Nick Trend who has more than 20 years' experience as a consumer journalist.
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