Central and Western is an administrative region of Hong Kong Island. The Central district is the political, administrative financial hub and home to some fantastic skyscrapers and Victoria Peak.
Get in
Ferry
The classic way to get to Central is the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui. $2.2/1.7 on the upper/lower deck. The Star Ferry also serves Hung Hom.
MTR
Central Station is the end of the Tsuen Wan Line. The Island Line passes through central.
Train
The Airport Express terminates at Hong Kong station.
Tram
The tram serves Hong Kong island from Island East and terminates in Kennedy Town.
See
Central-Mid-Levels Escalator
At 800 m long, this is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. The escalator runs downhill from 06:00 to 10:00 and uphill from 10:30 to 24:00 every day.
The Peak
Domestic Workers
Walk around Central on a Sunday afternoon, especially around the HSBC building to check out the sights and sounds as thousands of domestic workers, mostly Filipinos, gather together on their day off.
Do
Peak
Victoria Peak was once the place the rich were carried in their sedan chairs to escape the summer heat. Since 1888 the Peak Tram has been carrying passengers. The Lower Terminus is ten minutes walk from exit J2 of Central MTR station. From the Star Ferry pier, bus number 15C runs regularly. You can also walk to or from the Peak from Mid-Levels along Old Peak Road.
At the upper tram terminus is The Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria, both full of souvenir shops and overpriced restaurants with spectacular views. There are also some viewing galleries. For the best views and to get away from the crowds, there is a circluar walk along Tregunter Road and Harlech Road. From Lugard Road there are views of the skyscrapers of Central and Victoria Harbour, from Harlech road, the views are of Lamma and other Outlying Islands. This takes around an hour.
'''Walk along Wellington Street'''. Nice street with dried foodstuffs, various restaurants, majong pieces. Also check out Art Jam at 123 Wellington Street. They provide you with canvas, paints and materials. From $200 to $500 depending on when you go and canvas size.
'''Kennedy Town'''. Walk up Mount Davies to see the abandoned second world war era gunnery fortifications. Take the steps up from Victoria Road just west of Kennedy Town; or follow Victoria Road until you reach the roundabout (about a kilometre), and take the mountain road up. The climb will take a while, but there are many ruins to explore, and great views. There's also a youth hostel at the top if you are too tired to make it back in one go.
Buy
Flow, 1st Floor, 40 Lyndhurst Terrace. Phone 29649483. Second hand bookshop where you can exchange your used travel guides.
Hollywood Road for antiques.
Eat
'''Soho''', halfway up the Central Escalator, has a wide array of trendy and/or atmospheric restaurants serving international food.
Budget
'''Dumpling House''', 26 Cochrane Street (below the escalator). Great Beijing-style dumplings, avoid going there during lunch hour, because it's packed. Prices range from $8 to $30.
'''Good Luck Thai''', 13 Wing Wah Lane seating is outdoor in a alley (locally known as Rat Alley) off Lan Kwai Fong, very popular on weekends, nice atmosphere, dishes starting from $40.
''' Zhong Guo Song''' Wo On Lane, Central. Good chinese food, without MSG and less oil. Set dinners for two about $180
Mid-range
'''Percy Bakery''', shop b, g/f, 68 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town. Tel: 2855-1882. [http://percys.hk/]. A high quality bakery. Take away and delivery service only.
'''Pizza Express''', 21 Lyndhurst Terrace. Has a nice view overlooking the Mid-Levels Escalator.
'''Fung Shing Restaurant''' (_P______), 7 On Tai Street, Sheung Wan (''in Western Market''), tel. 28158689. Very local eatery known for its ''dim sum'', which is cheap and good at $10 and up per serving. Open daily from 7:30 AM for the dim sum breakfast crowd, but no English menu.
'''Lin Heung Tea House''' (_@____), 160-164 Wellington Street, Central, tel. 25444556. Famous for traditional Cantonese cuisine and dim sum. It is more than 70 years old, and always packed with diners. Do not expect luxury decorations and service in this restaurant, it is a restaurant serving with genuine and traditional Cantonese food but not the decoration and service. The most famous dish here is the whole roast duck ($120), but there's a wide range of other dishes for around $40 or so; try their other speciality, the succulent pork ribs. English menu available.
'''Maxim's Palace'''. 3F City Hall 25269931 (''just east from Star Ferry terminal''). One of Hong Kong's most popular dim sum spots, featuring harbour views if you're lucky enough to score a window table. The atmosphere and food are very much in the classical dim sum tradition, a large, noisy hall with waitresses pushing around carts laden with goodies; try the ''siu mai'', ''har gao'' and mango pudding. Dim sum served from 11 to 3 PM daily, expect to queue on Sundays (when the restaurant opens at 9 AM). Try to gather a few people so you can try many different kinds, and expect to pay $100-200 a head. ''Note'': Don't confuse this with Maxim's Restaurant on the 2nd floor
'''Yung Kee Restaurant''', 32-40 Wellington Street. Tourists flock from all over for the Cantonese food here, especially the roast goose.
'''La Pampa''' Argentinian, Staunton Street.
Splurge
'''Luk Yu Tea House''' (___H____), 26 Stanley Street, Central. Famous for the excellent tea and traditional dim sum. It is a popular meeting place for businessmen. Service, once famously surly, has improved in recent years and they now even provide an English menu on request.
'''M at the Fringe''', [http://www.m-atthefringe.com], 2877-4000. 2 Lower Albert Road. Signature dishes, slow baked leg of lamb and Pavlova.
Drink
Lan Kwai Fong
A few blocks uphill from Central, this is Hong Kong's traditional expat hangout. Drinks are fairly pricy with even your basic beer costing $50 and up, but there are dozens of bars for you to chose from. Some popular ones are:
La Dolce Vita
Insomnia
Al's Diner
Lux
For more cheaper booze. You can go to HAHAClub, that's next to C Club in D Aguilar Street. Why worry about your budget when you can get drinks for $14.
There are also a wide variety of restaurants, serving everything from Japanese sushi, to Swedish blue soup. Some popular ones are:
Beirut for Lebanese cuisine is top of the sheet. Lamb or Chicken Kebab and Sisha.
Tokyo Joe for Japanese food.
Baci for Pizza
There is always something going on in "[http://worldstepper-daworldisntenough.blogspot.com/2008/06/full-of-joys-in-lan-kwai-fong-hong-kong.html The Fong]", be it street festivals during the Halloween and New Year's celebrations or the Beer and Food Festivals that pop up in the summer. If you want good food, good times or just to people watch, make sure Lan Kwai Fong is part of your trip.
SoHo and Mid-Levels
Jump on the mid-levels escalator, and you'll find plenty of bars and restaurants on your way up the hill on Hollywood Road, Staunton Street and Elgin Street:
'''Club Feather Boa''', 38 Staunton Street, 28572586.
'''Stauntons'', Staunton Sreet
'''Works''' is a good place for tourists to start on the gay bar-scene. Popular with expats and tourists alike, it is easily accessible in Central. Friday and Saturday are the most popular nights but don't expect many drinkers to arrive much before 23.00.
'''Propaganda''' is Hong Kong's most famous gay club. Located close to Works, it tends to get going after Works has faded. It has an entrance that is hard to find so try and follow the migration along Hollywood Road from Works.
Sleep
Bishop Lei International House, Robinson Road, Mid-Levels. Operated by the Catholic Diocese. Rooms from $535.
Links
[http://www.lankwaifong.com Lan Kwai Fong bar/restaurant homepage]