[3D2N] March’s Hong Kong Weekend Staycation - Day 01

I'm back in Hong Kong again after my last visit a year ago! The last time we were here was in September, with my Baby hubby! We are ultimate food lovers, especially of Hong Kong cuisine! 

As usual, I took Cathay Pacific Airways to Hong Kong, and I did my normal routine onboard, which was to browse through the list of newly released movies from the in-flight entertainment guide selection.

After 3hrs 45mins of flying, I finally landed at Hong Kong International Airport! Upon clearing immigration customs/checks, we took the Airport Express, which is the most convenient way to town. Prior to our departure, we purchased our round trip tickets for the Airport Express from KLOOK

For this trip, I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, and it is located at the Central MTR Station. We left our luggage with the concierge, and we headed to Causeway Bay for our breakfast and for some morning activities! 

We visited Café Match Box which is located at Fashion Walk Food Street, Causeway Bay for our brekkie. Upon entering the premise, I felt like traveling back in time, with its retro diner vibes and classic cha chaan teng flavors. 

We sat on a seat in one of the Hong Kong minibus/Formica tables while dining on nostalgic and traditional all-time favourites! 

We ordered the Hong Kong favorites, such as the Classic Fried Egg served with Luncheon Meat & French Toast, Ham Macaroni Soup and Pineapple Bun. 

The graffiti-adorned exterior adds character, creating the perfect backdrop for Instagram-worthy moments.

There’s outdoor seating as well, where you can find a ping pong table and small tricycles for the little ones to entertain themselves with.

The place is a nostalgic cafe, offering a taste of old Hong Kong with a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Cafe Match Box is a vibrant tribute to 1980s Hong Kong

After our brekkie, we walked to the Wan Chai promenade and we took some random photos against the beautiful harbour views. 

I love the Harbourfront Shared Space initiative which focuses on arts and culture elements. IMHO, The Wan Chai promenade is perhaps the best new area in Hong Kong.

We also visited a new exhibition of Retired East Rail Line Train at the Wan Chai Waterfront. 

The Wan Chai Waterfront is also interesting, as it is filled with about fifty retro street lamps that spans from the 1890s to the 1970s. They were super special, as this vintage scene can barely be seen/found anymore

We walked over to Sushiro for some light refreshment, as they are having a collaboration with Sanrio this Spring Season. I was delighted to discover that the character is Hangyodon. We decided to take this opportunity to enjoy the limited-time menu items and get your hands on the some of the exclusive themed merchandise! 

During the event period, we ordered their three exclusive menu items, and each item featured Hangyodon and comes with a small gift for us to take home. 

The Romantic Ice Cream Mint Cake was refreshing, and it come with an Elastic Hairband featuring Hangyodon.

The highlight of the collaboration was the ‘Hangyodon Romantic Parfait’, and it comes with a Hangyodon Charm which accompanies your drinks or desserts. Do note that the small gifts come in various styles and are randomly distributed.

We took a train down to Central Station for our Dim Sum Indulgence! Prior to our trip, we purchased our spots for the Dim Sum Cruise via KLOOK. It was a skyline cruise that combined 4 of the top Hong Kong’s iconic features, such as the red-sailed Aqua Luna - one of the few remaining traditional Chinese junk boats, the gorgeous Victoria Harbour, and of course tasty Dim Sum dishes! What an all-in-one experience! 

The Aqua Luna is a 75-minute cruise, and it took us from Central Pier into the old fishing port of Aberdeen, giving a completely different experience.

The Dim Sum Set comprised of Yum Cha Favorites from well-loved dim sum varieties, and was served on a two-tier wooden tray. The set was paired with juice/soda, beer and a glass of white/red wine. The holes on the tables were strategically placed on the sides for the drinks. 

This truly enchanting and unforgettable experience is probably one of the most precious memories that we will always cherish!

We walked straight back to our hotel to do our check in! After the registration, we received our welcome gifts from the hotel! 

I stayed in the Harbour View Room. The standout feature were the window seats, which are perfect for unwinding with a cup of tea or a glass of wine while gazing at the iconic harbour view.

I love the room, as it is perfectly beautiful and pretty spacious. Getting around Hong Kong was also a breeze, all thanks to the hotel’s prime location which is just a minute's walk from the Central MTR Station.

The black and white contrast of the bathroom creates a striking visual effect. What’s more, the bath amenities at the hotel are supplied by Diptyque, adding to a luxurious experience

This would be my second time stay at a Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and the first time was at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur. 

If you’re considering a stay at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, you should know join the Mandarin Oriental Fan Club - program that provides a suite of extra benefits for your stay at no additional cost. We enjoyed some of the benefits such as a HKD100 to be used on food & beverage or spa credit per room per stay, daily full breakfast for two, complimentary high-speed internet access, personalized welcome amenities and early check-in. 

In a nutshell, you’ll pay the same as the public flexible rate, but you get more benefits by booking through the Mandarin Oriental Fan Club.

We took the train to Yau Ma Tai Station for our dinner. We re-visited Hing Kee Restaurant (興記煲仔飯), as we fell in love with this restaurant after our visit back in 2023. We got to know about this eatery place as it was recommended by the Michelin Guide.

We were so lucky to be given a table within 5 minutes of waiting in line. This restaurant primarily sells Claypot Rice, but they do have many other options. The claypot rice sold here are cooked to order, and there is an average waiting time of about 20 minute.

We had these Deep-Fried Oysters Cakes to fill our stomachs, while waiting for our Claypot Rice to be served to us. They were super delicious and worth the price paid! The serving was pretty generous even though we asked for the small version.

Do remember to add their house special rice pot soy sauce which was slightly sweet, and this enhanced the overall taste of the rice!

I would definitely come back again, as the rice was skilfully cooked as well as being extremely delicious! The total damage was about HKD300+ for 2 claypot rice, 1 side dish and drinks! 

After our dinner, we walked around the Temple Street Night Market which is located between Jordan and Yau Ma Tei MTR station. It is a popular bazaar among tourists and locals and has quite a rustic charm to it. IMHO, I think the things sold here are also much cheaper than compared to those being sold at the Ladies Market. We did some grocery shopping at Wellcome - Supermarket Chain in Hong Kong before heading back to the hotel, as we were quite tired after our flight the night before from Singapore. 

Before heading back to our room, we made use of our HKD100 credits at the hotel lounge. We ordered some drinks and relaxed ourselves after a whole day of activities! 

After our drinks, We ended our night by going up to our room. We went straight for our shower and then headed to bed after a long day. We needed to charge up our energy levels in order to explore Shenzhen, Mainland China the very day!