Six Instagram-worthy Locations Loved by Hong Kong Locals

The drone of your daily routine getting to you, but don’t have the time or money to spare for a long holiday? For a quick escape, I recommend a long weekend getaway in a city like Hong Kong.

It’s a compact city that packs a punch. What it lacks in land mass (at just 2,700 square kilometers), it makes up for in a plethora of things to do, attractions to visit, and food to eat. And everything is within reach a quick walk, MRT ride, or Uber away, which makes it the perfect destination for a short getaway!

You’ll also have plenty of content for your social media feed after a trip to Hong Kong, with its many picture-perfect destinations hidden in the most non-descript locations. So here’s a pro tip: if you’re short on time for planning and want to make the most out of your trip, booking a Hong Kong private tour with an expert local guide is the way to go.

Here are a few Instagram-worthy destinations to visit on your next trip to Hong Kong!

1. Choi Hung Estate

Everyone who’s spent an inordinate amount of time on Instagram (and let’s be real, who hasn’t?) would’ve seen the aesthetically inspiring photos taken at this unexpected location. The pastel-colored backdrop of the basketball court at Hong Kong’s oldest public housing estate makes for a great shot for your Instagram profile photo.

It’s a little ways away from the Hong Kong regular tourist route, so it’ll be good to have a local show you around.

Choi Hung Estate, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon East, Hong Kong

2. PMQ

Hong Kong’s coolest new creative hub is a great place to shop, eat, and take Instagram-worthy photos in. The site used to be the location of Queen’s College, the first school to offer a Western education to Chinese students. After the war, it became a dormitory for police officers (hence the name PMQ, which stands for “Police Married Quarters”).

Now the area is home to numerous cafes and shops selling local, handmade products. Our faves include G.O.D. (Goods of Desire) for the coolest and sometimes irreverent Hong Kong souvenirs you can take home, The HK room for home goods and other trinkets, and for food, visit Levain Bakery for their amazing sourdoughs and the PMG Taste Library where you can attend various food-related workshops and events.

pmq.org.hk

3. 65 Peel

Not far from PMQ is a great lowkey bar serving local craft beer in a beautiful space. If you like the aesthetic and visual mood of the movie “In the Mood for Love”, you’ll love 65 Peel. Try one (or two, or three!) of the twelve local brews they always have on hand, sourced from various microbreweries around Hong Kong.  

65 Peel St, Central, Hong Kong

4. Ho Lee Fook

Let’s face it, you really need to go to Ho Lee Fook for the food, first and foremost. But their wall of lucky cats and the local artwork that dot the restaurant’s interior are definitely worthy of space on your Instagram stories.

A self-proclaimed “funky Chinese restaurant”, you can’t leave Ho Lee Fook without trying the roast Wagyu short ribs and the grilled pork belly with Taiwanese caper salsa.

holeefook.com.hk

5. Quinary

Hong Kong is known as one of the cities with the best nightlife spots in Asia, sporting a number of bars that serve award-winning craft cocktails. Among them, a locals’ favorite is Quinary. Their imaginative cocktails are as pretty and visually pleasing as they are delicious. Don’t forget to snap a photo or a story before taking a sip!

My go-to cocktail is a whisky sour, so any place that serves an amazing whisky sour gets a check on my book. I’m happy to report that the Quinary Sour, their own unique take on the classic, gets my approval!

If you want something a little more fun and flirty, try the Lavender Meringue Pie, and if you want something a little more adventurous, try their seasonal cocktails!

6. Yumcha

Hong Kong is also a city that thrives on cuteness, no better demonstrated anywhere else than in Yumcha. Not only are their food delicious and a great introduction to Hong Kong cuisine, they’re also so adorably pretty! The dimsum are particularly overflowing in cuteness, they’re almost too cute to eat!

yumchahk.com