It’s a mainstay of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, too. Located in the Four Seasons Hotel within the iconic IFC building, this harbourfront restaurant was the first Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong to be awarded the coveted three Michelin stars - a recognition it was first designated in the 2008 guide, and maintains to this day. No matter your budget though, it’s not hard to see why Hong Kong is one of the world’s best places to eat.īegin your culinary journey at Lung King Heen. Hong Kong is one of the world’s most Michelin-starred cities, and one of the most varied - famously, it’s home to a number of the least expensive starred restaurants anywhere on the planet. The Asia stop of this roaming international art fair sees some of the world’s biggest galleries take over the impressive Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre for a week in March, and has spawned a number of satellite events around the city, as well as glamorous parties and events. This citywide celebration of local and international creativity is anchored by Art Basel. While Hong Kong’s creative scene is buzzing all year round, the eyes - and chequebooks - of the art world arrive during Hong Kong Arts Month. The city’s first major art museum is situated right on the Tsim Sha Tsui harbour, and features over 17,000 items, mostly by local artists, in its extensive collection. The museum will focus on visual art, design, architecture and moving image, and, once open, will be the centrepiece of the West Kowloon Cultural District.įurther along the peninsula, the Hong Kong Museum of Art has recently reopened after extensive renovations.
It aims to rival internationally revered institutions such as Tate Modern, the Centre Pompidou and MoMA across its 33 galleries, as well as three cinemas and a roof garden. Set to open in late 2021, the 65,000-square-metre space is billed as a new creative landmark not just for Hong Kong, but for Asia. If the Pedder Building is where Hong Kong began to establish its credentials on the international art stage, M+ stands perhaps as the most prominent example of just how far it’s come. The Herzog and de Meuron influence can also be seen across the harbour at M+ Museum.
Further inside the complex you’ll find JC Contemporary, a Herzog and de Meuron-designed space that houses a gallery, an artists’ book library and studio spaces. There are also excellent restaurants, cafes, watering holes and creative retail spaces - don’t miss local ceramic maker Loveramics or the first Asian bricks-and-mortar site of international art book publisher Taschen. Named for the historical colloquial name for the compound, Tai Kwun is now a UNESCO-recognised precinct housing gallery and performance spaces (both indoor and outdoor) that provide a platform for local artists. Upon arriving at Tai Kwun, you’ll discover a centre for heritage and arts set on the site of the former Central police station compound. We recommend taking a detour via the historic Duddell Street and ascending its granite steps, built between 18 and framed by the last remaining gas lamps in the city, and past the heritage-listed, Victorian eclectic-style Hong Kong Fringe Club. Over its nine floors, the building houses a vibrant mix of international and homegrown galleries, like the blue-chip Gagosian, Massimo de Carlo and Simon Lee, and leading local spaces like Pearl Lam Galleries.Īfter gallery hopping at the Pedder Building, take a short stroll up the slope of Central towards Tai Kwun. While its history dates back nearly 100 years, it was over the past couple of decades that the Pedder Building became ground zero for Hong Kong’s international art scene. Inside, you’ll find a meticulously maintained example of colonial-era architecture.
This beaux arts-style structure sits in the heart of the bustling Central district - flanked on either side by glass-fronted, modern skyscrapers. In a city of contrasts, the heritage-listed Pedder Building is one of the most fascinating examples of the meeting point of old and new Hong Kong.