< Previous70 VINPEARL GRAND WORLD PHU QUOC A new dazzling entertainment hub located on Long Beach, Grand World Phu Quoc is rapidly becoming another must-visit destination on the island. The compound with its European architecture is a mega entertainment and shopping complex, a self-contained town on the island where things happen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Do not miss cruising the river elegantly in a Venetian-style gondola, exploring the food street in the miniature Shanghai City, enjoying the Teddy Bear Museum, strolling along Urban Park, getting soaked at VinWonders Phu Quoc, witnessing the wildlife in Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc and last but not least, experiencing “The Quintessence of Vietnam” – engaging stories about Vietnamese culture told during the day and night through mini-shows using cutting-edge technology and unique staging including a water stage, movable rows of houses, zipline and 3D mapping project. Photo courtesy: Vinpearl Grand World Phu Quoc PHU QUOC NIGHT MARKET The must-visit market for shopping and eating is the one and only Phu Quoc Night Market, a walking street in Duong Dong which comes to life at dusk. There are more than 100 stalls to browse at, as well as restaurants offering rare seafood species that you may have only seen on television! All the vendors allow patrons to eat onsite or else takeaway. Dishes come deep-fried, pan-fried, grilled, boiled or steamed, and accompanied by a specific flavoursome sauce. To beat the heat, do not miss the ice cream roll or fresh coconut ice cream served in its shell. Not only is this market famous for its street food, but it is also where abundant handicrafts can be found. Visitors will find souvenirs and jewellery which are made from starfish, pearls, shell and more. 71 HOW TO GET THERE: Thai Vietjet flies direct between Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phu Quoc International Airport every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The airline’s SkyBOSS service adds more convenience for passengers on their journeys. www.vietjetair.com WHERE TO STAY: Many accommodation options are available on the island to suit all pockets. The Best Western Premier Sonasea Phu Quoc and Best Western Premier Sonasea Villas Phu Quoc have everything one could ever want on holiday. www.bestwestern.co.th HOW TO STAY CONNECTED: Travellers from Thailand can purchase a Travel Sim Asia from TRUE 5G to enjoy fast connectivity.72 NOW THAT HONG KONG HAS FULLY REOPENED ITS BORDERS AND WITHDRAWN ANY QUARANTINE REGULATIONS, THE CITY HAS BECOME A HAPPENING DESTINATION ONCE AGAIN WITH ITS NOTED EPICUREAN SCENE. Text by Somkamol Mukdamanee and Pirata Group Photos by Pirata Group GASTRONOMIC CELEBRATIONS IN THE FRAGRANT HARBOUR THE JOURNEY73 ong Kong might be small in size, but it packs a diversity of leisure activities. Upcoming events such as Clockenflap (3–5 March), Art Central (22–25 March), Art Basel (23– 25 March), Creamfields (1–2 April) and the Hong Kong Sevens (31 March–2 April) attest to this. However, it is the epicurean scene that tends to act as the biggest draw on the island. From buzzing Causeway Bay and Soho to laid-back Stanley and old-meets-new Wan Chai, here is the line-up of not-to-be-missed restaurants to satisfy your tastebuds in the reopened and reinvigorated “Fragrant Harbour”. H CAUSEWAY BAY: SHOP, STROLL, SIP AND EAT ’TIL YOU DROP Home to some of Hong Kong’s best shopping, from street markets and niche boutiques to multi-storey malls and department stores, Causeway Bay is buzzing with energy again all day and well into the night. Don’t miss the hundreds of stores (and top-notch cinema) at Times Square and neighbouring Hysan Place anchored by retail destinations such as Lane Crawford, Taiwan’s Eslite Bookstore and the Apple Store. While you’re in the area, don’t forget to also check out Sogo which features a large supermarket in its basement for all your needs. This popular Japanese-style department store showcases a wide selection of international items including fashion brands, skincare products and jewellery. Or, stretch your legs and enjoy a stroll through Victoria Park to enjoy the Hong Kong Flower Show 2023 (10–19 March) or visit Hong Kong Central Library and Haven Street – known as Little Mecca for all kinds of (un)necessary oddities – next to the park. Rugby fans will want to keep heading inland towards Hong Kong Stadium for the Hong Kong Sevens (31 March–2 April), the world’s premier rugby event of its kind. The fashion-minded, meanwhile, should make a beeline for Fashion Walk and its assortment of favourite designer and high-street brands as well as indie boutiques. Browse B’In Select for a curated selection of local and international designer items from clothing to watches, jewellery and accessories or pause for a coffee break at sneaker lifestyle store-cum-cafe HER, created by stylist and former actress Hilary Tsui. For a slice of sustainable fashion, head to Pak Sha Road and snag yourself one-of-a-kind vintage steals at A break 93 – a treasure trove of high-quality pre-owned clothes. Once you’ve built up an appetite, make your way to the welcoming tapas restaurant and bar Calle Ocho. Named for its location on 8 (“Ocho”) Cleveland Street down Fashion Walk, the eatery opened very recently in January. It embodies the generous spirit and vibrancy of Iberian culture with its classic Spanish tiling, flamenco paintings, traditional instruments and vintage 1960s fans dotting the walls. Executive Chef Víctor Caballé Molina serves up an extended and varied traditional tapas experience of freshly-made and boldly-flavoured dishes such as Iberico ham croquetas, fluffy Spanish tortilla and grilled baby corn with Manchego cheese as well as larger plates like a show-stopping arroz negro and succulent roasted Spanish suckling pig “boneless” terrine. And, with prices starting at just HKD 45, Calle Ocho has set its sights on being one of the most accessible, high-quality Spanish dining experiences in Hong Kong. 74 STANLEY: SOAK UP THE BEST OF SEASIDE LIVING Sand, sea, shopping and hiking trails aplenty – no trip to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to the coastal enclave of Stanley. Once a major fishing port, the area is now best known for sprawling Stanley Market filled with small shops selling everything from souvenirs and tchotchkes to Chinese silks and custom artwork. If you’re looking for a memorable Hong Kong souvenir or a gift for a loved one back home, drop by Stephen Yeung Gallery or T Wong Atelier. Then, once you’ve haggled to your heart’s content, take a stroll along the picturesque seaside promenade with an ice cream in hand. History buffs will love Stanley’s unique historical treasures such as Murray House, Tin Hau Temple, Blake Pier, Pak Kan Uk (which means “eight houses” and is a row of traditional red-brick houses on the eastern side of Stanley Bay) and the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum with allows a peek into prison life from then to now. Stanley’s surrounding hiking trails are some of the best on offer in Hong Kong. If you’re up for a challenge, plan an adventure in the great outdoors and hike your way to Stanley via Twin Peaks and Violet Hill, followed by a dip and a snooze at Stanley Beach. For a gentler child-friendly stroll, visit Stanley Ma Hang Park which has a number of beautiful temples and stunning photo opportunities, or walk up to Rhino Rock – a short but adventurous trail that leads to a spectacular rock formation with an uncanny resemblance to, you guessed it, a rhino. Capturing the best of Stanley’s warm, welcoming seaside vibe with a dash of Italian flair, Pane e Latte is the perfect place to indulge in some pre- or post-exploration refreshment while giving your social media followers major FOMO! With walls and counters decorated with antiques, paintings and real family photographs from Italian beachside holidays, the cosy panetteria is an established Instagram hotspot with many delightful corners and opportunities to capture priceless memories. The experience evokes comfort and familiarity while satisfying cravings for artisanal breads, pastries, cakes, pizza al taglio and sandwiches. Everything is produced from scratch in-house daily using nine different types of flour from Italy and only the freshest raw ingredients. Also on offer besides the traditional baked goods and an all-day menu of healthy, “earthy” and “heavenly” meals is a delectable selection of hand-crafted artisanal gelato “experiences” as well as Italian coffee, wines and cocktails. You might enter thinking you’re in Stanley, but you’ll leave dreaming of Positano. THE JOURNEY75 TAIKOO PLACE: DISCOVER WHAT’S RISING IN THE EAST If you haven’t visited the Fragrant Harbour in a while, you may not know there’s a vibrant new business and entertainment district on the eastern side of the Island. Taikoo Place and the surrounding Quarry Bay neighbourhood are home to hundreds of multinational corporations and all the amenities you can think of to serve their thousands of employees. Besides hiking trails and an amazing harbourside promenade that connects Tai Koo Shing with Quarry Bay Park, the district is home to Ryze trampoline park and Verm City (a 1,858 sqm climbing gym) as well as Cityplaza shopping centre with its indoor ice rink. Where Taikoo Place really excels is its diverse dining and nightlife experiences. The Sixteenth is a collection of four restaurants (two Italian and two Japanese) housed within a single self-contained dining environment at Taikoo Place’s Oxford House. Recalling the flamboyance of Italian opera houses in the 1960s, La Favorita features a grand, theatrical interior to match its Italian menu classics such as handmade lobster tagliatelle and a show-stopping 1 kg Bistecca alla Fiorentina. The Sixteenth’s other Italian concept, Tempo Tempo, sets the scene for il dolce far niente – the joy of doing nothing – whilst enveloped by stunning sunsets and breath-taking views from its vast outdoor terrazza. Guests are encouraged to linger at their leisure over comforting bites and an array of drinks from classic martinis to refreshing Aperol spritzes and inventive vodka infusions. A more intimate choice is contemporary Japanese restaurant Honjokko, an enchanting venue for guests with a taste for life’s finer things. Menu highlights include a nigiri experience featuring bold combinations like fragrant hamachi truffle and buttery wagyu uni, and grilled items including wagyu beef, pork belly and barramundi. Turning things up a notch is TMK Funk & Rolls, the third iteration of the wildly popular, music-inspired temakeria TMK. Guests can expect TMK’s signature handrolls while surrounded by a groovy interior and a playlist full of the best funk tunes ever, making for a fun, casual and uplifting vibe to Taikoo Place’s dining scene.76 WAN CHAI: GET TO KNOW THE REAL HONG KONG With its mix of skyscrapers, street markets, hidden temples and neon-lit nightlife districts, Wan Chai is the image that typically comes to mind when one thinks of Hong Kong. The former fishing village certainly has something for everyone, whether you enjoy browsing the daily catch at old-school Wan Chai Wet Market or chasing the latest trends at Starstreet Precinct’s hip fashion and lifestyle boutiques. One of the coolest streets in the world, Star Street has a lot to offer. Must- visits include multi-label lifestyle store Kapok, which presents a curated selection of clothing, lifestyle products and homeware, and Hong Kong- based brand Lane Eight which has the most versatile workout shoes made with recycled materials. For the artists and creatives, Wan Chai is also home to a number of small ateliers and painting studios offering bespoke Chinese painting, art jamming workshops and more, whilst yogis can book their favourite yoga classes just around the corner. If history and culture are your thing, be sure to also take a stroll along Wan Chai Heritage Trail before seeing what’s on at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Arts lovers won’t want to miss Art Central (22–25 March) and Art Basel (23–25 March) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. From there, it’s a quick hop to Lockhart Road and its famous bars, clubs and live music venues. THE JOURNEY77 If anything, time spent in Wan Chai is sure to stoke your appetite. The Optimist is a chic Barcelona bar and Asador-inspired restaurant which provides guests with an authentically generous Northern Spanish experience. This is the place for towers of fresh seafood, grilled prime cuts and sharing dishes, all washed down with anything from white sangria and ice-cold champagne to innovative cocktails and bubble tea. A recent addition, now available daily between 3 – 5 p.m. is a Spanish Afternoon Tea Set brimming with savoury and sweet pinchos and a selection of refillable beverages. The Italian eatery, Pirata, takes pride of place higher up on the 30th floor. Committed to delivering Italian culinary treasures at prices that don’t break the bank, the warm and welcoming eatery offers traditional family-style dining alongside an equally familial style of service – all against a breath-taking backdrop of the Hong Kong skyline. Of course, this is just an appetizer of all Hong Kong has to offer – dining and otherwise. Perhaps you’ll find yourself strolling among the art galleries and dried seafood shops of Sheung Wan. Then why not cap off the day with a memorable Japanese meal at Honjo? If you’re in the mood for heartier or spicier fare before an evening out in Lan Kwai Fong or the Central Harbourfront for the Creamfields Music Festival (1–2 April), look no further than Soho’s ultimate meat bar, MEATS, or modern Indian destination Chaiwala. TO CELEBRATE HONG KONG’S LONG-AWAITED REOPENING, ALL TRAVELLERS WILL RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY SPECIAL HOUSE WELCOME DRINK WHEN DINING AT ANY PIRATA GROUP RESTAURANT AFTER SHOWING THEIR PASSPORTS AND TRAIN/FLIGHT TICKETS. ACT QUICKLY AS THIS PROMOTION ENDS ON 30 NOVEMBER 2023.COME SLEEP WITH ME 7888 BEST ON THE BEACH Sprawled along a stretch of beach in the southern region of Vietnam is where you’ll find the Best Western Premier Sonasea Phu Quoc. COME SLEEP WITH ME 80 PROFOUND PARADISE Discover a seamless blend of luxury accommodation, ultimate privacy and serene nature at Best Western Premier Sonasea Villas Phu Quoc in southern Vietnam. 82 THAI ELEGANCE, WORLD-CLASS HOSPITALITY Chatrium Grand Bangkok offers a seamless fusion of Thai charms and world-class hospitality by bringing together Thai arts and elegance with modern technology in the centre of Bangkok. 84 A RESORT YOU WON’T NEED TO LEAVE Situated on a stretch of Khuk Khak Beach, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa brings together modern creature comforts with top-notch dining outlets and exceptional leisure facilities to the serene island setting. 86 URBAN GETAWAY Experience the epitome of convenience and sophistication of Thong Lor, one of Bangkok's most chic districts. 79Next >