"Café Culture You’ll be on the go during your visit to Hong Kong , but there’s always time for a cuppa. International design magazines are strewn across the main table, and a chandelier hangs from exposed pipes at the hip The Coffee Academics. Try the Classico No. 3 ice drip (served in a wine glass) with flavors evoking chocolate, mint, orange and raisin. If you’re feeling peckish, the cheese platter should do the trick. However, for the best high tea in town, head to the legendary Peninsula hotel. A string quartet serenades you as you pay homage to Hong Kong’s colonial past over your tea, scones and finger sandwiches presented on silver platters. Reservations aren’t available so expect to line up. A strict dress code is also enforced."

"Built in 1928 by Asia’s oldest hotel brand, the Peninsula Hong Kong is one of the most historic properties on the Kowloon Peninsula, just across Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong Island. Designed originally as an upscale accommodation for passengers riding the adjacent Kowloon-Canton railway, the Peninsula has been a fixture of Hong Kong society throughout the region’s history. It was a magnet for Hollywood stars and dignitaries, the site of Hong Kong ’s surrender to Japanese forces at the start of World War II, and temporary housing for residents following the war. In 1994, a 30-story tower was added to house 135 additional rooms and suites as well as shops, a spa, a fitness center, twin rooftop helipads, and Felix—the hotel’s 28th-floor fine-dining restaurant, designed by Philippe Starck. The entire property was renovated in 2013 to update rooms with creamy colors, polished wood, and stitched leather and introduce high-tech extras that include a bedside control panel allowing guests to adjust the room’s light, sound, and temperature without getting out from under the covers. Today, the hotel is sleek and modern, but historic relics evoke the glory days that established the Peninsula as the "Grande Dame of the Far East."

"Nostalgic Eggettes You haven’t tasted Hong Kong until you’ve sampled a treat from the side of the street. There's always a crowd waiting in line for fresh waffles and eggettes at Yi Heung Yuen, located on the street behind Sogo department store in Causeway Bay. But the final piping hot paper bag of delicious treats is well worth the wait. Loved by kids and reminding adults of their childhoods, each batch of waffle-like “gaai dan jai,” or eggettes, gives off a sweet, buttery aroma. When done right, the outside is crisp while the spongey filling provides an affordable, addictive bite. Nowadays, eggettes also come in chocolate, black sesame, or black & white (half chocolate, half plain)."

"Star Ferry Join throngs of locals on the five-minute ferry ride across Victoria Harbour between the Tsim Sha Tsui cruise pier in Kowloon, on the mainland side, and the Central Pier on Hong Kong Island (a slightly longer ride goes to Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island). This is not just any ferry: The historic green and white Star Ferries have been moving the masses back and forth for decades, with the origins of the company going back to 1880 with the service of a single steamboat, the Morning Star . Today, the classic wooden boatsmake the trip many times daily, and a ride provides a great view of the city's famous skyline and a whiff of nostalgia to boot."

"Encountering Hong Kong's Past The best way to know a city is through its history. Hong Kong’s many well-curated museums tell the stories of its heritage by allowing visitors to literally walk through it. For a journey through time, the Hong Kong Museum of History uses impressive, life-size replicas to take you through 400 million years of the city’s development. Start with a tour of its terrain, wander through recreated streets of Old Hong Kong and end with a film on that pivotal moment in 1997 when it acquired its Special Administered Region status. The kids will love exploring the different Hong Kong eras and identities, too."

"View from the Top If by chance you still haven't yet fallen in love with Hong Kong during your trip, a visit to the Peak Lookout on a clear night will make sure that you do. The view from here is what people keep coming back for – Hong Kong's signature skyscrapers are now below you, and the glistening Victoria Harbour melts into both sides of the island. You can even see all the way across to the New Territories. At night, the romantic sheen of the city's dazzling lights are mesmerizing. Make sure you give yourself the chance to take in this magnificent panoramic sight before you head home."

"Lightgazing on a Clear Night Hong Kong by night requires a view from the Avenue of the Stars. It affords the best views in the city of the city (albeit of the business/downtown part of the city). It can get dark up on the 2nd level where it's chock-a-block full of tourist and locals enjoying a stroll and laser light shows (check the times). By Kokleong Tham"

"Party Central No visit to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to Lan Kwai Fong. LKF is where expats are seen drinking, dancing, and partying the night away on any given night. The area forms a small rectangle in the Central districts with D'Aguilar Street and the smaller Lan Kwai Fong, an L-shaped, cobblestoned lane. By Jacqueline V"

"A Delightful, Trendy Dessert Hong Kong loves a foodie trend - and right now, soft serve is what it's all about. Creameries have popped up around town, and Soft Creme is one of the first to bring this fad to town. We tend to stick to our favourite - Hokkaido milk with a side of honeycomb - but limited edition, boozy treats like the Moët and Chandon Champagne soft serve always catches our attention. There is also the popular cereal milk creation, and a new soft serve featuring savoury bacon bits. Each order is impressively served up with dry ice."

"A Simple Cafe White interiors can appear stark and sterile. But when done right, white can evoke a sense of calm in a city that never sleeps. ethos, located at the Hong Kong University MTR stop, is the perfect example of this. Coupled with strong coffee and a menu of brunch and lunch favourites, this place is ideal for a weekend breather. Delicious coffees aren't the only thing that keeps Hong Kong's coffee-loving hip crowd coming back, though - just adjacent is its lifestyle shop, which is equally low-key and simply decorated to allow the products to shine. Come back often to see new brand collaborations and to enjoy Hill Road's quietness."