Subtract the frequent rain, oppressive humidity, and stifling heat and you’re left with one really great city to spend the summer: our very own Hong Kong! Here’s our round-up of the best summer activities in HK:
Get roof-side!
My favorite thing to do in the summer is to enjoy my rooftop, whether it’s with a glass of shandy and a good book or a few bottles of wine and my girlfriends. If your rent doesn’t include access to a decked out rooftop, then try an alfresco restaurant or bar. My personal favourite: Red Bar in ifc mall. Because you can order delish food and drinks from the restaurant or go for the bring-your-own option, it really is a great place to spend Saturday afternoon. Bonus: great views of the harbour!
Bottoms up!
If you’d prefer not to get a sunburn with your sav blanc, you can also enjoy the many happy hours that take place after work. After a hard day of work, who doesn’t want to indulge in $30 cocktails or buy-one-get-one-free with your coworkers? The best places I’ve found so far also give you a great seat to watch the escalators: Shelley’s Yard and Cicada on Shelley Street both have $30 cocktails everyday from 3-8pm. If your job keeps you later than 8, try a ladies’ night equipped with free drinks – and we’re got a round-up of all the best ones in HK coming up, so stay tuned!
Bubbly brunch
To keep the drinks rolling, another great place to spend your weekends are at the champagne brunches popping up around town. I love Top Deck with its Sunday brunch with free flow champagne and wine and a decadent buffet filled with seafood, international fare, and fabulous desserts. Another great option is Zuma with a sushi bar made for a Japanese empress, a sake bar fit for a Hong Kong lush, and a beautiful terrace for an indulgent outdoor vibe.
Cool off and get cultured
If drinking to forget how sweaty you are isn’t your idea of fun, check out one of the great museums Hong Kong has to offer. Not only do they have air conditioning, they’re full of interesting information and artifacts. Even though it’s geared toward kids, the Hong Kong Science Museum has fascinating facts about the food we eat, hands-on fitness activities/tests, and a groovy mirrors hall. If you’re a history buff, there are a few note-worthy museums to peruse: Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Museum of Coastal Defence in Shau Kei Wan. All offer an intriguing look at the past of our great SAR and include a rotating set of exhibits; the Museum of Coastal Defence is half based outside and offers great views of the harbour from Island East side, so you can get the best of both air conditioned indoors and sunny outside. Bonus: entry is super-cheap (all are under $30) for a full day’s entertainment!
Shop til you drop!
When the air conditioning is calling your name and you’ve seen every fact that the museums have, shopping is definitely next on the agenda… even if it is just a quick sticky-beak (hehe silly Australian term that I love) before heading home after work to escape the heat. There are malls galore in HK; try checking out the just-opened LAB CONCEPT in Admiralty for some wardrobe eye candy or grab some cool and colourful summer tees at the new American Vintage in ifc. If boutiques are more your style, we’ve rounded up our faves for some summery floral outfits too!
A sneaky staycation?
If gambling away your money on clothes isn’t risqué enough for you, Macau has really great shows (like The House Of Dancing Water) to check out and cool (in more than one way) casinos. It’s only an hour ferry ride away, but Macau definitely is a new world – perhaps you’ll even be tempted by a staycation (we recommend The Wynn and The Banyan Tree for girlie getaways!)
Go explore
With its diverse terrain, Hong Kong really can offer it all: beaches, mountains, and a vast ocean surround this shopping and museum metropolis. Plan a junk trip, hit the beach, go exploring on a day trip or learn how to scuba dive, windsurf or paddleboard. Splash Hong Kong offers recreational diving lessons and can take you all over the many diving spots in HK. The Water Sports Centre of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department also provide training courses on various water sports including windsurfing, dinghy sailing, and kayaking/canoeing. If that sounds a bit too intense, maybe plain old swimming will float your boat – in terms of public ones, we recommend the ones at Kennedy Town or Morrison Hill.
Hong Kong truly is a special place with so many fun things to do. Whether it’s indoor sightseeing or outdoor recreation, you really can only have fun here! So what are you waiting for?!