Flying High in Hong Kong

While it may seem like a far-off destination, Hong Kong is a lot closer than you think. The key: choosing the right airline and, upon arrival, nestling into a five-star luxury hotel. We recently did just that, and more (note: we’d take any amount of jet lag to do it all over again). If the Pearl of the Orient is on your travel radar, here’s all you need to make the best of it. —Aurea Dempsey

soar. A diamond in the sky, Cathay Pacific is more than an airline—it’s a lifestyle brand that’s redefining wellness travel. Prior to our departure from YVR we settled into Cathay’s elegant business-class lounge for espresso, snacks and a noodle bar serving eggs, if you please. Things only got better once we boarded the airline’s new Airbus 350. Snuggled into business class, we enjoyed state-of-art seating that converts into a full-sized bed (with cosy duvet), LED mood lighting and improved cabin pressure (which, by all accounts, reduced our lag significantly). Not to mention fine dining and getting lost in La La Land on our HD touch-screen monitor. Completely wowed, our incredible experience continued upon our return to Vancouver, thanks to Cathay’s flagship lounges in HK International (business- and first-class passengers, your heaven is here in the form of full restaurant dining, showers, sleep rooms and even complimentary foot and neck massages). Talk about redefining travel. cathaypacific.com

stay. It’s easy to see why the InterContinental Hong Kong is a Forbes-rated five-star hotel: besides a beautiful waterfront location, it boasts world-class restaurants like Nobu, Rech by Alain Ducasse and Michelin two-star Yan Toh Heen. Each of the IC’s 503 suites comes with 24-hour butler service and such luxe amenities as free mobile phones, three outdoor infinity pools and a fitness centre featuring state-of-the-art equipment (Power Plate anyone?). Best of all, its staff is ready to take care of your every need—and we mean every. Want to learn how to make dim sum? We took a lesson with Yan Toh Heen executive chef Lau Yiu Fai, who showed us the magic behind his menu. Need to balance your yin (or yang)? We did just that with tai chi master William Ng. And, thanks to our concierge, we set out with the perfect itinerary for the best spots to hit in the city. It’s impossible not to fall in love with this hotel. hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com

savour. Granted, with world-class cuisine being served right below our room, getting our fill without leaving the hotel wasn’t difficult to do (the seafood at Parisian import Rech, by the way, is not to be missed: the fish, from cod to sole, is flown direct from Northern France, the butter is perfectly salted and the bread is toasty warm). When coffee called, however, we headed to Hong Kong’s tiny Cupping Room for a caramel-smooth latté made with almond milk (like home, only better). Next, we were off to Grassroots Pantry for a famous house-made kale salad with avo and cashew dressing served in an urban open space. Yum. grassrootspantry.com

sip. For a pick-me-up cocktail of the swankiest kind, Sevva‘s the spot. Located on the 25th floor of Hong Kong’s Prince’s Building, its outdoor patio offers snap-worthy views of the city’s financial district and people-watching of the best-dressed kind (expats getting their après on, urban hipsters—you get the idea. For something more subdued, hidden clave Foxglove may look like an old-fashioned umbrella shop on the outside but things get very glam once you step through its doors. Impressed with its classic, reinvented cocktails (pick your poison), we’d make a return visit for the live jazz music that’s offered most evenings. sevva.hk | foxglovehk.com

step (up). No visit to Hong Kong is complete without a hike (of some kind) for postcard-perfect views. Most city trails are clean and well-marked trails but, to eliminate all guesswork, we hired Sam the Local and let one of its expert city guides plan and lead our way. In under two hours we had completed the most stunning climb—while working off some of those dim-sum calories, to boot. samthelocal.com

shop. Along with every high-end fashion brand (Gucci, Prada, Rolex) on nearly every street corner, Hong Kong is chockablock-full of markets, one-of-a-kind mom and pop shops and everything in-between. To experience an authentic hustle and bustle, we hit the Ladies Market where stalls of clothing, food and accessories satisfied our spending itch. Mall-wise, the enormous IFC is home to nearly every name brand imaginable. Serious shoppers will appreciate Lane Crawford for its contemporary mix of top designers and luxe athleisure wear. When hunger beckoned, we made our way to the City Super: a high-end grocery store experience with the prettiest take-away salads. ladies-market.hk | ifc.com.hk