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5 Must-Do Things In Hong Kong To Experience The City's Vibrant Nightlife

Whether you love bar hopping or chowing down on street food, there's something for everyone!

Cover image via Hong Kong Tourism Board (Provided to SAYS)

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This Spotlight is sponsored by Hong Kong Tourism Board.

If you're seeking a refreshing city escapade, Hong Kong is a captivating destination that comes alive, especially after dark

Nestled at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, Hong Kong offers a diverse tapestry of night experiences, where culinary enthusiasts can savour an eclectic blend of flavours, avid shoppers can explore bustling night markets and luxury boutiques alike, and cocktail aficionados can revel in the vibrant energy of rooftop bars and hidden speakeasies. 

From now until March, Hong Kong enjoys its dry season, characterised by comfortably cooling temperatures ranging from 6°C to 20°C.

These conditions provide an ideal setting for those who love to explore the city at night without the inconvenience of dealing with heat and humidity.

Thinking of exploring Hong Kong soon? Here are five must-do things you should check out at night:

1. Indulge in a wide range of supper options that blend local and international flavours

Here's a look at some of Hong Kong's best supper spots:

- Temple Street Night Market: A unique night-time hotspot, Temple Street has long been known for its great food, shopping, and authentic local culture. In fact, there are over 22 food stalls and about 10 stalls selling nostalgic snacks, allowing you to indulge in local nibbles, unique tastes, and refreshing drinks.
Address: Temple St, Jordan
Opening hours: 2 - 11pm

- Oi Man Sang: Established in 1956, Oi Man Sang is a famous dai pai dong (open-air food stall) that has expanded and now occupies a few blocks of Sham Shui Po. You should definitely try the salt and pepper squid, garlic steamed razor clams, salted egg yolk prawns, and their crowd-favourite black pepper potato and beef stir-fry.
Address: Sham Shui Po Building, 1A-1C Shek Kip Mei St, Sham Shui Po
Opening hours: 5.30 - 11.30pm

- Jia Jia Dessert: Located in Yau Ma Tei, Jia Jia Dessert is the perfect spot to fill yourself up with red bean, sweet potato, sesame, and soya bean tong sui, all of which will surely warm your soul.
Address: 27 Ning Po St, Yau Ma Tei
Opening hours: 12pm - 1am

- Sun Hing Restaurant: Open from 3am to 4pm daily, Sun Hing Restaurant is the ultimate supper spot, especially after a good night out drinking at rooftop bars and nightclubs. The restaurant serves traditional dim sum and flying tea in a small tight space that will surely make it one of your most authentic supper experiences in Hong Kong.
Address: Shop C, G/F, 8 Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town Western District 
Opening hours: 3am - 4pm

2. Dive into a whole new world of mixology at unique and award-winning bars

Image via COA

COA, located in Central, is the perfect place to start. It continues to top Asia's 50 Best Bars list for the third consecutive year, and for good reason: it offers the city's largest agave collection, with over 200 bottles of spirits to date. Dive into the realm of Mexican spirits, indulge in imaginative cocktails, and discover firsthand why this local bar stands out as the finest in the region.
Address: Shop A, LG/F Wah Shin House, 6-10 Shin Hing Street, Central
Opening hours: 6pm - 12am (Tues, Wed, Thurs & Sun), 6pm - 1am (Fri & Sat), closed on Mondays

Argo is another award-winning bar located inside the Four Seasons Hotel in Central. This bar highlights inventive spirits and a conceptual cocktail menu, incorporating authentic Hong Kong elements such as soybean, XO sauce, vegan char siu (Cantonese-style barbecued pork), and black vinegar.
Address: 8 Finance St, Central
Opening hours: 7 - 10.30am, 12 - 2.30pm, 5pm - 12am (Mon - Thurs), 7 - 10.30am, 12 - 2.30pm, 5pm - 2am (Fri & Sat), closed on Sundays

3. Capture the city's vibrant night view

Image via Klook

One perfect spot for you to take in the view of Hong Kong is by going on a nighttime cruise with Star Ferry or Aqua Luna. These cruises offer a unique perspective of the city lights, as well as a view of the Victoria Harbour, one of the world's most photographed harbours thanks to its one-of-a-kind panoramic night view and skyline.

Or, if you're looking to immerse yourself in the city lights within the concrete jungle, going on a night bus tour or riding HK Tramways (also known as 'Ding Ding') will do just the trick. You can hop on the Hong Kong Night Bus Tour for only HK$20 (RM12) per head. The neon signs, bustling markets, and lively streets will create a dynamic backdrop to your tram and bus rides.

4. Shop till you drop at night markets in Hong Kong

Temple Street Night Market

Image via Hong Kong Tourism Board (Provided to SAYS)

Here's a look at some of the top night markets in Hong Kong:

- Temple Street Night Market: It offers a lively atmosphere where you can shop for a variety of goods, such as clothing, accessories, electronics, and traditional Chinese crafts. The market also comes alive with fortune tellers and street performances!
Address: Temple St, Jordan
Opening hours: 2 - 11pm

- Ladies' Market: Situated in Mong Kok, it's a bustling market that primarily targets female shoppers, but offers a wide range of goods for everyone. From clothing and accessories to toys and souvenirs, the market is a great place to hone your bargaining skills.
Address: Tung Choi St, Mong Kok
Opening hours: 11am - 11.30pm

- Fa Yuen Street Market: Also known as Sneakers Street, this sneaker haven has over fifty shops selling shoes of all brands and sizes. In fact, Fa Yuen Street Market is the only place where you can get genuine brands like Nike, Converse, Adidas, Reebok, New Balance, Puma, and more at affordable prices.
Address: Fa Yuen St, Mong Kok
Opening hours: 12 - 11pm

To further liven up Hong Kong's vibrant nightlife, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) recently rolled out a six-month promotion for Temple Street Night Market!

On top of food stalls offering local flavours, new thematic photo spots will also brighten up the street with local features for a limited time only. 

HKTB invited local architect Stanley Siu to design a series of illuminated art installations, road signs, and art projects, creating a mesmerising brilliance to brighten up Temple Street in the evening. There is even a lineup of surprises around the street for you to uncover!

Here's what you can expect:

- Illuminated art installations: Temple Street-themed illuminated art installations are set up at 11 locations. Look out for neon signs of the Chinese character of fortune (福), a bat with a coin icon, birds, fish balls, pear-shaped herbal tea containers, and spicy crabs.

- Signature road signs: Artistic elements are added to existing road signs. For instance, cartoon icons of the Temple Street archway like claypot rice and spicy crabs are added to the street signs to provide visitors with information in a playful air, making them an excellent photo option.

- Art projections: Art projections will brighten up your steps along Temple Street with lanterns, birds, and other icons that showcase the unique life on Temple Street. With many visitors including the Tin Hau Temple as one of their checkpoints, one of the projections features a Chinese character symbolising bliss to bestow blessings upon visitors.

But that's not all! With the support of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the century-old Tin Hau Temple Complex, which is a declared monument in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong, will extend its opening hours every Saturday from 5pm to 10pm to add a cultural touch to the nighttime vibes of Temple Street.

And to let you truly experience the magic of Hong Kong's vibrant nightlife, HKTB is giving away a million 'Hong Kong Night Treats' visitor dining vouchers to use in restaurants and bars across the city after 6pm!

Each traveller will be entitled to a HK$100 (RM60) 'Hong Kong Night Treats' visitor dining voucher. This will give travellers a chance to taste local delicacies and international flavours, which will leave them craving more.

You'll be able to receive these dining vouchers at one of the Hong Kong Tourism Board Visitor Centres, which include the Hong Kong International Airport Visitor Centre, the Kowloon Redemption Counter, the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station Redemption Counter, and Causeway Bay Redemption Counter.

Only visitors staying in Hong Kong for 90 days or less are eligible for the 'Hong Kong Night Treats' visitor dining vouchers. You'll need to show a copy of your valid overseas travel document to prove your eligibility.

Find out more about the participating restaurants and bars here

You can also enjoy discounts and promos on flights, hotels, and attractions in Hong Kong!

Cathay Pacific is currently offering a 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free' promotion for flights to Hong Kong. This promotion is valid from now until 31 January 2024.

From 20 November 2023 to 20 January 2024, you can enjoy 20% off hotel bookings in Hong Kong when you book through Trip.com's website or app. The maximum discount is capped at RM64 per booking.

You can also save money on Hong Kong attractions by booking through Klook's website or app.

Find out more about the deals here.

Find out more about the Hong Kong Night Treats offer on their website

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