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THE ONLY Guide You Need to Mid-Levels
- How to Get to Mid-Levels
- Where to Stay in Mid-Levels
- Ovolo Central
- The Pottinger
- Where to Eat in Mid-Levels
- Elephant Grounds
- Pure Veggie House
- XOCO Mexican Cantina and Bar
- What to Do in Mid-Levels
- Meet furry friends at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
- Ride the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator
- Visit Hong Kong Park
- Explore Asia Society Hong Kong Centre
- Where to Shop in Mid-Levels
- LANDMARK
Mid-Levels is one of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods, and it’s nestled at the base of the ever-famous The Peak too, so it isn’t hard to find either. Here, you can find a range of luxurious high-rise pads and apartments that’ll make your jaw drop (and your savings dry).
It’s no wonder it’s a top pick for the well-heeled expats. But you know, more than just being a posh address, Mid-Levels is also a district that offers a variety of must-visit restaurants and attractions just waiting to be discovered.
And hey, you already know we’re not good at gatekeeping top hotspots, so today, we’ll spill all the deets on what makes this fancy neighborhood so buzz-worthy. Let’s walk you through our complete Mid-Levels travel guide!
How to Get to Mid-Levels
The cheapest and most convenient way to reach Mid-Levels if you’re coming from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is via Airport Express and MTR.
Ride the Teal Airport Express bus until you reach Hong Kong Station and then transfer to Central Station. After that, take Exit G or D1 and walk west along Peddler Street until you reach Queen’s Road Central.
Once you’re in Queen’s Road Central walk north until you reach the starting point of the Mid-Levels Escalator. Ride it until you reach the end. From there, you can walk to your destination!
Where to Stay in Mid-Levels
Ovolo Central
Media Credit: Gaile Lok
Address: 2 Arbuthnot Rd, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3755 3000
Pricing: $$$
Ovolo Central may not be at par with Mid-Level’s expensive apartments in terms of luxury, but it’s definitely a solid and well-rated 4-star hotel. It’s set at the crossroads of popular tourist spots, Lan Kwai Fong and SOHO, so you’ll literally be a stone’s throw away from all the nightlife action.
But a fair warning, though, if you’re a very light sleeper, you might need some earplugs. You see, the blasting music from nearby bars and nightclubs can be a bit of a slumber-time nuisance.
Anyway, when it comes to room amenities, you’ll be spoiled with a modern bathroom decked with a rainfall shower and a dash of extra treats like a minibar, an LCD television with cable channels, and a coffee/tea machine. Moreover, the hotel features an onsite restaurant, VEDA, which serves a range of vegetarian dishes.
The Pottinger
Address: 74 Queen’s Road Central (Hotel main entrance, 21 Stanley St, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2308 3188
Pricing: $$$
The Pottinger is a classy and modern 5-star hotel that boasts refined rooms and suites with soaring ceilings, intricate Chinese decor, and helpful amenities to make staycations extra special and lavish.
Its onsite restaurants and bar are also worth noting. At Ta Vie, a 2-Michelin Star restaurant, you can try various French and Japanese fusion dishes, while at HUSO, you can find premium caviars and other French-Mediterranean dishes.
And there’s more! Come to The Envoy if you wish to try uniquely crafted high-tea and cocktail pairings while enjoying the stunning cityscape views below.
In terms of accessibility, we can say that it’s really at the center of things. You see, The Pottinger is just within walking distance of Lan Kwai Fong and Central MTR Station.
Besides that, it’s in the Central Business District, so you can easily access a range of attractions like Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum and Hong Kong Park.
Where to Eat in Mid-Levels
Elephant Grounds
Address: 8 Wing Fung St, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Operating hours: Monday to Friday – 8 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Sunday – 9 AM to 9 PM
Phone: +852 2778 2700
Pricing: $$
Elephant Grounds is a cafe renowned for its independently roasted coffee beans, quirky-flavored ice cream sandwiches, and seasonal menus.
What sets Elephant Grounds apart from the rest is that they make every signature blend, drink, and dish in-house. All are locally sourced and made from scratch, so it’s like an antithesis to the usual mainstream coffee shops in the city that serve identically tasting premade drinks and food.
If you’re not a big fan of coffee, hold your elephants or your horses– there’s also something in store for you! The Elephant Grounds also offers tasty, fruity, and Instagrammable fruit-based teas.
Pure Veggie House
Address: Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Heard St, 6號UG樓 Kwong Sang Hong Building Block B-d
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 12 PM to 3 PM, 6 PM to 10 PM
Phone: +852 6438 1628
Pricing: $$$
Whether you’re a certified vegetarian or you simply enjoy the fresh crunch of veggies, you’ll surely love Pure Veggie House.
True to its name, this Buddhist vegetarian restaurant is all about veggie goodness and farm-to-table freshness. All its ingredients and spices are sourced from the restaurant’s very own Kang Zhi Yuan Ecological Farm.
The vegetarian offerings are a tasteful fusion of Chinese, Japanese, and Western cuisines, so their menu is like a carnival of choices.
Anyway, if it’s your first time here, we recommend you try their Matsutake Mushroom Pouches, Kale and Porcini Mushroom Griddlecake, and Tea Pot Steamed Morel Soup.
Just a heads up – this restaurant is quite hard to find. You see, it’s perched on a hill and set in a nondescript and narrow street like a well-hidden secret. That’s why if you’re coming from Mid-Levels or Central, your best bet is to hop on a cab and opt for a door-to-door service.
XOCO Mexican Cantina and Bar
Media Credit: 小灰
Address: 37 Mosque St, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong
Operating hours: Wednesday to Sunday – 12 PM to 11 PM, Monday to Tuesday – 5:30 PM to 11 PM
Phone: +852 3620 2323
Pricing: $$
No matter what your ethnicity, a bite of Mexican cuisine can satisfy your cravings. With its use of different aromatics and spices, a burst of flavor will surprise you in each bite.
At Mid-Levels, there are only a few Mexican restaurants in the area, and our best pick among them is XOCO Mexican Cantina and Bar. This hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant is renowned for its authentic and generously portioned Tex-Mex dishes.
Make sure to come here hungry because you’re in for a treat. Here, you can chow down on mouthwatering classics like loaded Nachos, Grilled Steak Big Burritos, and Tacos!
What to Do in Mid-Levels
Meet furry friends at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Media Credit: オイスカ香港日本語幼稚園
Address: Albany Rd, Central, Hong Kong
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 4:30 PM
Phone: +852 2530 0154
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens is like a slice of paradise amidst the bustling streets and towering skyscrapers of Mid-Levels and Central. It was built in 1871, so the park is now more than 150 years old, making it the oldest park in the city.
Despite its age, it’s still one of the most visited parks in Hong Kong. This stunning and well-maintained sanctuary is surrounded by 5.6 hectares of gardens that are sectioned into eastern and western parts.
It also showcases botanical and herb gardens that contain over 900 plant species sourced from different parts of the world.
The eastern garden, also known as the Old Garden, features a fountain terrace garden, a children’s playground, a greenhouse, and the park’s renowned aviaries.
Meanwhile, the western garden, or the New Garden, is where the sanctuary is nestled. Here, you can visit a sanctuary that’s home to a variety of species, including 70 mammals, 20 reptiles, and more. Some of the cuties you can find here are Meerkats, Tamarins, Orangutans, Lemurs, and Tortoises.
Here’s a pro tip you should remember – some facilities inside the park have different opening and operating hours. For reference:
- Mammals Section – Monday to Sunday – 6 AM to 7 PM
- Fountain Terrace Garden – Monday to Sunday – 5 AM to 10 PM
- Greenhouse/ Education and Exhibition Centre – Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 4 PM
Ride the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator
Media Credit: Lee Oh Yong Jie
Address: Jubilee St, Central, Hong Kong
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 6 AM to 12 AM
Phone: +852 2523 7488
Mid-Levels is a steep and hilly area, so for it to be connected to Central and other neighborhoods, an 800-meter long and moving outdoor walkway was created in 1993 – Central-Mid-Levels Escalator.
More than just being a means of transportation, this escalator is also a renowned attraction in itself.
It’s probably one of the coolest commutes you can take in Hong Kong. A one-way ride from Mid-Levels to Central can be as long as 20 minutes.
But we think it’s already a quicker and more convenient ride compared to tackling the stairway next to it that’s definitely a whole lot of steps. So, why break a sweat and have an unwanted leg day when you can enjoy a chill and speedy ride on an escalator?
Well, technically, it’s not really a single continuous escalator because it’s divided into a series of 3 moving walkways and 20 escalators. Plus, there are 14 entrances and exits, so you can hop on and off depending on your destination.
Also, note that this escalator operates downhill (Mid-Levels to Central) from 6 AM to 10 AM. After that, it switches directions and goes uphill (Central to Mid-Levels) from 10 AM to midnight.
Visit Hong Kong Park
Address: 19號 Cotton Tree Dr, Central, Hong Kong
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 6 AM to 11 PM
Phone: +852 2521 5041
Want to spend quality time outdoors with the kiddos? Come check out Hong Kong Park and explore the aviary, playgrounds, fountain plaza, and other family-friendly attractions inside.
To start your day, you can visit Edward Youde Aviary. This aviary mimics the setting of a tropical rainforest, and it’s one of the largest aviaries in the world, so there are no cages in sight. This tropical enclosure ensures that the 150 bird species inside can fly freely, just like they would in the wild.
After that, you can drop by the artificial lake and meet cute koi carp and turtles happily swimming around.
Just steps away from the lake, you’ll come across a man-made waterfall. With the beautiful Hong Kong skyline as your backdrop and the lush greenery around, this place is an excellent photoshoot spot, so snap as many photos as you wish!
That said, with so many places to discover, a day may not be enough to explore the whole park. But no worries, if you need to recharge and rest for a bit, just swing by the kiosks and cafes that are scattered around Hong Kong Park.
Explore Asia Society Hong Kong Centre
Address: 9 Justice Dr, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 11 AM to 6 PM, Monday – Closed
Phone: +852 2103 9511
Asia Society Hong Kong Centre is a premier spot for local and international lectures, conferences, exhibitions, seminars, and programs that showcase the city’s culture, history, and diversity.
But, before all that, this heritage site was once the Explosives Magazines (ammunition bunker) of the former Victoria Barracks. That’s why if you explore inside, you’ll notice mid-19th-century architectures that are incorporated with modern structures.
Apart from that, the place is also filled with a range of function spaces, theaters, and galleries
that are open to the public for free. These spots and hubs are totally IG-worthy and they depict Hong Kong’s rich history and culture, so many tourists flock here to snap some good shots.
Where to Shop in Mid-Levels
LANDMARK
Address: 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 12 AM
Phone: +852 2500 055
There aren’t a lot of malls near Mid-Levels, but if you need a quick shopping fix or maybe you just need to pass time through window shopping, the best place to be is at LANDMARK.
This one-stop shopping complex spans four buildings and features more than 200 international brands, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the biggest malls in Hong Kong.
Many of the regular visitors of LANDMARK are the local elites and bougie visitors who wouldn’t think twice about indulging in top-notch goods and upscale experiences.
Most of the products you can find here are high fashion brands, jewelry, bags, and watches that are rarely showcased in other parts of Asia.
