Central

This izakaya-style dining bar comes from the owners of wildly successful Japanese chicken-centric restaurant Yardbird, Matt Abergel and Lindsay Jang. Specialized in seafood and Japanese spirits, Ronin has a more intimate, sophisticated attitude than your average izakaya. The daily changing menu responds to what’s freshest and best at the market.

Established in 1942, this dim sum institution is on the touristy side, but it’s an experience you’d be remiss to skip. Go for the roast goose—it’s world-famous for a reason. Other signature dishes include sautéed frog legs with bamboo shoots, steamed fish in soya sauce, and charcoal-grilled barbecue meats prepared with longstanding family recipes.

Michelin-starred Duddell’s is an arts-devoted restaurant stylishly merging Hong Kong’s British and Chinese heritage to great success. The restaurant serves contemporary spins on traditional Cantonese cuisine—especially dim sum—in a cool setting reminiscent of a country estate. On any given day they also host lectures, talks, screenings, and guest curated exhibitions of international modern and contemporary art, including some local to Hong Kong, and some on loan from private collectors. While the food is exceptional, the art in and of itself makes Duddell's a must. As an added bonus, their garden terrace is a welcome escape from the city streets.

When you've maxed out on dim sum and just want a simple café where you can tuck into the paper, and maybe a bagel and lox or some avocado toast, Classified is a nice choice. So welcome, in fact, that there are something like nine outposts scattered across the region. They do a reliably great English and Irish breakfast and the coffee is better than what you'll find in most joints. Other locations include Stanley, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Repulse Bay, Sheung Wan, and Happy Valley.

Kids go absolutely nuts in this place. And even if you're traveling sans kids, check out this toy stores for a little memento to bring back. The Toys Club is the local mega-store in Hong Kong—absolutely everything a child would ever wish for. It also has a huge book department.

The IFC, which is right on the water and also houses The Four Seasons (if you’re in for a luxury shopping trip), is the best place to go shopping in HK. It has all the basic, big name brands plus every single luxury brand you can think of. It can be dangerous if you’re a serious shopper—you could spend an entire weekend here without seeing the light of day.

Lane Crawford is a beautifully decorated, incredibly well-selected specialty store. It’s the only place in HK where you’ll find varied brands like Alaia, The Row, Thom Browne, Sacai, and more. You can't miss it at the IFC with its beautiful displays of contemporary art and huge and equally well-edited homeware department. (P.S. Stop by the Ultimate Travel pop-up for an exclusive goop in-flight beauty kit.)

Zuma is one of our favorite restaurants in London, and its Hong Kong branch does not disappoint. While the multi-level setting is dramatic, the casual Izakaya-style menu of Japanese delicacies (and extensive drink menu) is totally approachable.

The Four Seasons Hong Kong is on the island side of Hong Kong, with views of Kowloon, exceptional service, and eight Michelin stars under one roof, including three-star French restaurant Caprice. The rooms here are subtle (except for the bathrooms, which are totally encased in mirrors) and well-appointed. This hotel especially convenient for business travel, and you'll notice most guests seem to be here for work. If you're in town with intentions to shop, the Four Seasons is right next the International Finance Center mall and a quick walk from all the shops in Central and Sheung Wan.

The suites here have an elegant and modern look to them, with huge windows that open up onto a balcony that wraps around the entire space. The views from all the way up there are incredible. Non-suite guestrooms are all similarly decorated with Chinese antiques and modern furniture. And while you may not want to leave the confines of your room, there are ten restaurants and bars in the Mandarin Hotel to work your way through.