DK Travel : Hong Kong

“A dream of Manhattan, arising from the South China Sea.” For succinctness, modern travel writer Pico Iyer’s description of Hong Kong has yet to be bettered. From opium port to Cold War enclave to frenetic financial capital, Hong Kong has never been boring. This is the hedonistic engine room of cultural fusion: East meets West in high style, and the results astonish and delight. Prepare to experience one of the most dramatic urban environments ever conceived.

Bahama Mama’s

A little worn around the edges, but still the best watering hole on trendy Knutsford Terrace. DJs play a range of sounds, there’s table football (“foosball”), surfboards and alcoholic slurpees.
Balalaika

Chilled vodka shots in a room at freezer temperatures. A fur coat is provided.
Balalaika

The décor is more rustic than Russian. Trypiroshkies ,borscht or a cold shot of Stoli.
Balcony Café

OK, it’s part of a supermarket, but breakfast on this sunny terrace with sea views is one of the Southside’s undiscovered bargains.
Ban Fan Floriculture

The porcelain and ceramic vases and wicker-work flower baskets may not win awards for chic or design, but the choice is impressive and the prices are reasonable.
Bang & Olufsen

Audophiles will drool over the sleek designs and crystal clarity from one of the most distinguished names in sound.
Bank of China

This one is also famous in feng shui circles, but more for dishing it out than possessing it – the glass-skinned tower shoots bad vibes at the old Government House and other colonial entities. Its knife-like edges were the inspiration of American-Chinese master architect I. M. Pei. The 70-storey, 368-m (1,207-ft) stack of prisms opened in 1990. Its viewing platform is the natural place to go for a sweeping city perspective.
Bargain Beauty Treatments

When you reach breaking point with all the shopping malls and theme parks, rest and refresh yourself with an exceptionally cheap foot or back massage, or perhaps some nail painting. A vast range of treatments are available at Lo Wu (see Lo Wu Commercial City). Hotel health centres offer the assurance of professional reflexology and traditional massage. Submitting to several treatments at the same time is the last word in pampering.
Beach Pub

Overlooking the bay and a 10-minute stroll around the waterfront from Sai Kung Town. The Beach Pub has bands on the weekends and a regular crowd of local Chinese and expatriates.
Bei Yuan Jiujia

A great opportunity to try – among other Cantonese and Chaozhou specialities – sweet and sour pork (tang cu li ji) as it should be.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal) and extra charges.
- under HK$100
- HK$100-250
- HK$250-450
- HK$450-600
- over HK$600