Afternoon tea at Hong Kong's Landmark Mandarin Oriental (Brad A. Johnson)

There are two ways to take afternoon tea in Hong Kong—both revered, both steeped in tradition, but with a different culture and practice. And while one is flourishing, the other is fading. 

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Hong Kong skyline photos from HKTB

It is 5 pm, and like precision clockwork the porte cochere at the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, in Kowloon hums with a dozen Ferraris: The serious business of happy hour has begun. Elevators brim to capacity, shooting upward like jewel-encrusted rockets to the 103rd-floor lobby, ears popping in the 52-second ascent. Another lift completes the relay to the 118th floor and the ultimate cocktail destination: Ozone, the world’s highest bar, but even more dizzying, the world’s highest outdoor patio.



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Afternoon tea is a huge part of the culture in Hong Kong. It might even be bigger here than it is in England.

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This is one of the most incredible restaurants in Hong Kong. It's a floating restaurant in the typhoon shelter in Causeway Bay. The kitchen is on a ramshackle boat, and the only way to get to it is on another boat. The restaurant operates several of these little boats outfitted with dining tables and chairs; each boat can accommodate anywhere from two to 10 or so diners. You have to call ahead and reserve a boat, which you'll board from a sketchy, very grungy section of the pier. Then a really old Chinese woman with the strength of 10 rugged men rows the boat over to the kitchen and ties the boats together.

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Lung King Heen, the fine dining Cantonese restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, is quite possibly the best Chinese restaurant in the world.

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When in Hong Kong this month, I enjoyed all kinds of amazing food and drink: street food, boat food, rooftop cocktails, underground speakeasies, luxury five-star feats... And one of the greatest highlights of all was discovering MingCha tea boutique in Quarry Bay. The shop is tucked away on the 12th floor of an industrial factory building—so I have to admit, I was skeptical at first as we entered through the high-rise's loading dock. But, wow, what an amazing hidden gem.

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I love this new ad from Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts. It's an amazing little short film. Coincidentally, I just stayed at the Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong last week, and saw this ad on TV on the airplane flying into the city, which made me look forward to my visit even more. Everyone on staff at the hotel was remarkable, from the doormen to the pool's lifeguards, to the hostesses in the Horizon Club lounge.   

Feeling lucky? Cathay Pacific is giving away an awesome vacation for two to Hong Kong and Macau!  The sweepstakes prize package includes:

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The Buzz
The Swire Group’s 117-room Upper House debuted in October atop Hong Kong’s Pacific Place Towers and instantly turned rising-star architect/designer Andre Fu into a local celebrity.

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Cafe Gray Deluxe at The Upper House

 Celebrity chefs, rooftop tables and... powderized foie gras? Hong Kong’s dining scene seizes the spotlight

Sevva

The Buzz: Socialite, heiress and local style icon Bonnie Gokson launched this 22,000-square-foot restaurant and lounge overlooking the harbor from the 25th floor of the Prince’s Building. If there’s a rock star or fashion diva in town, you can bet this is where they’ll be sipping cocktails alfresco or savoring a prolonged afternoon tea while lounging on brightly colored sofas.

The Bottom Line: Slip into your skinniest Spy Henry Lau jeans and cozy up to the bar for a Shiraz and a round of Kobe beef bites. Then retire to the dining room and order the outstanding burrata salad with teardrop tomatoes and white balsamic. 011.852.2537.1388, sevva.hk  

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