(I always like writing Japan! with an exclamation mark because I imagine some violent comic-book Japanese schoolgirl yelling “JAPAN!” and slicing somebody’s head off with a katana.)
These are my favorite Japanese restaurants and bars in Hong Kong.
I was born and raised in Hong Kong until I was 13—my parents sent me to boarding school in Devon, England. So I went to boarding school for four years, then after that I went to Toronto for school and university. I came back to Hong Kong in 1991.
I didn’t know [I was going to be the owner of a nightclub]. I wish I did. I always loved entertainment, but I never knew I would be so lucky to do something that I really love—and working with great people around me.
Gilbert Yeung is the owner of local institution/nightclub Dragon-i, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. He talks to Andrea Lo about how partying has changed, growing up, and learning from his dad.
HK Magazine: How did you begin your career as a DJ?
Ahead of his gig in Hong Kong, Dutch house DJ Afrojack tells Andrea Lo about his career, his top artists… and electropop.
When I flag down an available taxi and it slows down but then speeds up and drives away:
Oh man, I’m really late for work. Why did I hit the snooze button six times? Why did I watch that “Harlem Shake Compilation 22” on YouTube? It’s like three months old. The Harlem Shake is ancient. Why am I hungover? I didn’t even drink. Is that what getting old is like?
It’s a cliché, but yes, Hong Kong is a city of extremes. Whether you want to live the high life or have fun on a dime, you can have (almost) the same lifestyle for two very different budgets. Wanna (literally) get high and/or low? There’s always something to match your lifestyle—and your budget.
Sure, Hong Kong can be great if you’re rich, but you don’t need to be a billionaire to see the best of the city. Go half-baller and half-busker as Adam White looks high and low for awesome things to eat, see and do.
I’m inventing a new term and assigning it to me: techno-luddite. I’m comfortable with old technologies (Blackberrys, books, low-end toasters) and tolerate some new (new iPad) but for the most part I’m wary of new things. It takes a long time for me to adapt and usually tech makes my life more confusing, not better.
Dear Mr. Know-It-All,
Do you know which bars do the Standard Chartered banknotes happy hours? As in, if you pay for a drink with their banknotes, you get a discount.
- Happy Hour Hunter
This year it was one directive and one only: make it through to the night. Every year I start off the Sevens pumped up, ready to live up to my HK Magazine nightlife column moniker, and every year I get too drunk too early and end up in bed both freezing and sweating. This year I was ready to buck the trend.
The Hong Kong Beer Company, the city’s first-ever microbrewery, paved the way in 2003, offering premium lagers and winter ales made right on their premises in Aberdeen. But it wasn’t until 2010, when Typhoon Brewery started a humble operation in Mui Wo and distributed its cask ales to pubs around the city, that the term “craft beer” became a buzz word once again.
Hongkongers are no strangers to the Carlsbergs, Stellas, Asahis and San Migs that line the chilled walls of our 7-Elevens. We live in a city that loves its beer: we chug it down with our deep-fried dishes, we’re stay sozzled at the local pub, and our annual beer fests keep us happily quenched for weeks on end. But while the big industry players are as popular as ever, more and more beer drinkers here are starting to appreciate the lesser-known, more artisanal brands—enter the craft beer movement.
a) Having drinks and schmoozing with friends at a rooftop party.
b) At a bar sipping cocktails that are paid for by someone other than yourself.
c) Pre-gaming so hard you can’t make it out of the apartment.
d) Starting the night off playing beer pong or flip cup, then heading out to the usual watering hole to meet up with the rest of the guys.
With a number of after parties to choose from around town, there is something out there for everyone. Take Andrea Lo’s quiz to find out which one best suits you.
