City Guide: Hong Kong
In my unending search to uncover all the top ICO companies globally and fundraise for ourselves and for our clients, we ended up in Asia (the place of all places for everything blockchain and crypto related). Much to our surprise, it ended up being far better than any of us could have imagined. The market there is just booming and we got to meet the who’s who of the blockchain space everywhere we went. During our Asia tour, we ended up traveling to: Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore and Hong Kong. It had been about a year since I had been in Asia and every time I go back, my love for the far east grows stronger and stronger.
I decided to break down my trip based on each city that we went to and follow my City Guides structure in terms of where to stay, where to eat, where to drink, where to get self-care, where to shop and where to play. I didn’t bring my usual DSLR camera since it was a work trip, so everything was shot via iPhone. Enjoy!
H O N G K O N G 香港
Stay: To me, the only place to stay in Hong Kong is The Upper House. This was my third stay and each time continues to get better and better. It is the only place I will stay, while visiting Hong Kong and I can't wait to come back every time I leave. It's my "home" in Hong Kong and by far one of my favorite spots worldwide. The team at Upper House knows Hong Kong inside and out- everywhere to go- from secret restaurants, nail salons that you can get amazing nail art at (I got Yayoi Kusama nails painted before I headed back to NYC), massage parlors, and places to explore local culture and create memorable experiences. Instead of giving all the space to the lobby and the corridor, Andre Fu, Architect and Designer of The Upper House, gave it back to the guests. Each room is double the size of a standard hotel room in Hong Kong, and embarks on creating the most intimate experience from the panoramic cityscape views to the intimate minimalistic nooks (in the most posh shade of green).
Eat: We hosted our final investor dinner at China Tang in Landmark in Central, which is just an absurd restaurant. China Tang first opened in London in 2007 at the Dorchester Hotel, and later opened in Hong Kong at Landmark in 2013. The decor is rooted from Chinese tradition but with an extra flare to it that includes hand-painted and hand-embroidered wallpaper, upholstered chairs, antique lights, and deco mirrors and glass. Ho Lee Fook is a super relaxed spot with great food and great vibes. Din Tai Fung is an institution in Hong Kong, so make sure to stop there and load up on dim sum and noodles. Also, check out Duddell's rooftop for more dim sum and cocktails with an arty and lively terrace. It's interiors are done by Ilse Crawford and the Cantonese food is Michelin-starred.
Drink: Wooloomooloo Rooftop Bar in Wan Chai is awesome for views to see all of Hong Kong. Cassio, Dragon I, Tazmania in Lan Kwai Fong are fun to go out at night if you are with a group of friends. This was one of the only cities we had time to go out in, so we enjoyed a night out with some of our investors but crashed around 2am. If we had more time, I love Ophelia nightclub (be prepared for birdcages everywhere, as this is a fantasy land designed by the one and only Ashley Sutton) and Dr. Fern's Gin Parlour for drinks (my favorite place in HK for drinks).
Care: Ten Feet Tall is the place that most people go to for massages in Hong Kong. It was good, but I wouldn’t say it was my favorite massage ever. I love traditional Chinese massages that are super hard and similar to a sports medicine massage, but this one was just average compared to all the others that we received on our trip. I still think it’s worth going to, but try pre-booking and requesting a really good massage therapist in advance. In Hong Kong, they also do really great nail art, but it’s quite expensive so be prepared to pay more than you would even back in New York.
Shop: Hong Kong has similar shopping to New York, London, etc. so you’re going to find similar brands, but maybe different buys of those brands. They have a Harvey Nichols (one of my favorite department stores), and they are home to Lane Crawford, and Joyce. They also have really incredible shopping malls, so make sure to checkout The Landmark, Pacific Place, and Harbor City. There are a ton of beauty stores like Sasa all around town where you can buy all the face masks, eye creams, mascara, collagen gummies, etc. that your heart could ever desire.
Play: Exploring Hong Kong by foot, by boat, or by tram is the best way to really see the city. If you are new to Hong Kong, take the tram to the Peak to see some of the most striking views from Hong Kong Island to Kwloon and the New Territories. In general, Hong Kong has a ton of new development from towering skyscrapers with beautiful green mountain backdrops to hiking trails, well designed landscape and traditional Chinese architecture inspired by the Tang dynasty. Seeing Victoria Harbor from the deck of a wooden junk boat is also a great way to see the city (you can explore and book one through M Yachts). The Kowloon Flower Market and Yuen Po Bird Garden are both lovely to explore during the weekend if you are used to markets (think London, but funkier). Nan Lian Garden nearby adjoining Chi Lin Nunnery were established during the 1930s as Buddhist complex's inspired by the style of the Tang dynasty. The mainland craftsmen that completed the restoration used only unique cypress wood with the Tang-era nailless dowel method.
