The Best Neighbourhoods in Hong Kong, and Where to Stay in Them
From the harbour to the hills, here's where to base yourself during your next trip to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is one of those cities where the MTR, ferries and taxis make getting around so effortless that you could stay almost anywhere. But choosing the right neighbourhood and the luxury hotel within it, sets the tone for your next Harbour City adventure. Here’s where we recommend.
Central and Soho
If it’s your first time in this waterside city, Central is the place to be. It's the commercial and cultural core of Hong Kong Island, but it also happens to be home to some of the city's best eating and drinking. From the Star Ferry terminal on the waterfront, the streets climb uphill through glass towers that get lost in the clouds and colonial-era buildings towards the Mid-Levels Escalator, the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system, which delivers you neatly into the winding lanes of Soho.
The bars and restaurants here are top notch, particularly around Elgin Street and Staunton Street, and nearby Lan Kwai Fong is where you’ll find things abuzz after dark. For culture, Tai Kwun, the beautifully restored former Central Police Station, PMQ and Central Market are all within a few minutes of each other.
The luxury hotel offering in Central is exactly what you’d expect for such a sought after location. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, currently mid-renovation but open throughout, has been one of the city's defining addresses since 1963. Meanwhile, Mandarin Oriental The Landmark pictured, left) recently reopened after a full redesign and has seven Michelin-starred restaurants on its seventh floor alone - colour us impressed.
The timeless Four Seasons Hong Kong, tucked beside the IFC on the waterfront, is a slightly quieter choice with unobstructed harbour views. And from 2027, Andaz Hong Kong Central will bring Hyatt's lifestyle brand to Wellington Street.
Our top picks: Mandarin Oriental The Landmark, Four Seasons Hong Kong
Tsim Sha Tsui
Crossing the harbour to Kowloon is unmissable whether you’re staying there or not, purely for the unforgettable Star Ferry veiws. For a neighbourhood where you don’t have to let this view go, TST is just the spot, and it has more on offer than just skyline vistas.
The Avenue of Stars stretches along the waterfront, M+ has established itself as one of Asia's most important contemporary art museums, and K11 MUSEA, an arts and retail complex at Victoria Dockside that blurs the line between gallery and shopping centre, is worth a wander when you have time to kill. It’s also marginally easier to reach the airport from here, and with Hong Kong traffic, every minute counts.
TST also has more luxury hotels per square kilometre than anywhere else in the city. The Peninsula (pictured, above) has been the grande dame of Hong Kong since 1928, famous for its fleet of Rolls-Royces, its afternoon tea and a rotation of delicious dining experiences. Rosewood Hong Kong, which ranked number one on the World's 50 Best Hotels list in 2025, occupies a Tony Chi-designed tower at Victoria Dockside with 413 rooms, eleven restaurants and Asaya - in our opinion, one of the best wellness experiences in the city.
The unmissable Regent Hong Kong, reopened in 2023 right on the harbourfront and is home to two-Michelin-starred Lai Ching Heen, but for something new-new, try the recently opened Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui, which wraps design-led rooms with harbour views from every room and the rooftop infinity pool on the 50th floor.
Our top picks: Rosewood Hong Kong, The Peninsula
Wan Chai and Admiralty
A short MTR ride or a walk along the elevated walkways east of Central brings you to Wan Chai and Admiralty, two neighbourhoods that tend to get overlooked by first-time visitors repeat visitors will appreciate their charm.
The draw here is the Star Street Precinct, a cluster of low-rise lanes between Admiralty and Wan Chai: named after Sun Street, Moon Street and Star Street, it's full of independent restaurants, wine bars, boutique shops and galleries, and has a relaxed, almost European feel that makes it a favourite with locals who want to eat well without the Central crowds.
Nearby, the Blue House’s Hong Kong House of Stories is a great place to get under the city’s skin, or at Happy Valley Racecourse, where the Wednesday night races pull in everyone from local families to high society - it helps that tickets are just HKD $10
Our suggestion would be The Upper House, which sits at the top of Pacific Place in Admiralty. Designed by André Fu, it has just 117 rooms and a rooftop Sky Terrace that looks out over Hong Kong Park. There's no lobby in the traditional sense, no check-in desk, and interiors are beautifully minimalist. It's connected by walkway to Hong Kong Park, the Peak Tram and the rest of Central, making it one of the best-positioned hotels in the city.
Nearby, St Regis Hong Kong, also designed by André Fu, is a safe choice for a traditional luxury experience in its Wan Chai waterfront location, which boasts the two-Michelin-starred L'Envol restaurant.
Our top picks: The Upper House, St Regis Hong Kong
