THE JOURNAL
Island view twin room, The Upper House. Photograph courtesy of Upper House
With more than 7.4 million people, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the world. An area which was once farmland and fishing villages is now one of the biggest financial centres and commercial ports on the planet. But that’s not necessarily why you’d travel there. Or, if you do happen to be visiting on business, if you’re anything like us, you’ll be far more interested in where to eat, drink and stay rather than an office or boardroom interior. Which is where our Style Council Member Mr Ivan Pun comes in. Mr Pun is a Chinese-Burmese entrepreneur who founded Pun + Projects, a lifestyle agency that focuses on “creating innovative lifestyle and cultural concepts”. He was born and partly raised in Hong Kong, so knows the city well, and has kindly agreed to pick out some of the gems that populate one of the most famous skylines in the world. Below is his quick five-point guide to the autonomous territory.
Where to eat
The Pansodan
“The Pansodan has just opened in a Sai Ying Pun alleyway. I should say that I am rather biased recommending it because it’s my restaurant, but I’m thrilled to be finally bringing a taste of Burmese cuisine to Hong Kong. Many of the dishes are based on very local favourites, like the nan gyi thoke noodle salad.”
Ground Floor, 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun
Where to drink
Dai Bing
Rebujito cocktail. Photograph by What the Fox, courtesy of Dai Bing
“Escape the heat by stopping in at Dai Bing, a frozen wonderland of a cocktail bar that specialises in artisan ice. Try a horse’s neck, made with brandy and served with an immaculate ice-block.”
52 Bonham Strand W, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Where to stay
The Upper House
Photograph courtesy of Upper House
“The Upper House, always. General manager Marcel Thoma runs the tightest ship in town – the service is unrivalled. The interior, created by my friend André Fu, is minimalist, but warm and there’s a lovely garden on the sixth floor.”
What to do
The Peak Circle Walk
Photograph by Mr Richard Jones/Shutterstock
“To get the best view of Hong Kong, do the Peak Circle Walk. I recently did it for the first time in a decade and I thought it was wonderful. I started at Lugard Road and it took me 45 minutes to complete the loop – local people will claim it’s a hike, but it’s really just a short walk.”
What to wear
“As Hong Kong is so humid but can also be formal, I would recommend wearing a light, unlined linen suit. The sunshine can be very temperamental, too, so a pair of clip-on sunglasses is a useful accessory.”