From rooftop bars to VIP champagne lounges, here are the best ways to watch the sun set over Hong Kong’s iconic skyline.
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
If you’re looking for a Cantonese dining experience with a side of incredible sunsets, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong has you covered. The glamorous address is home to one of Hong Kong’s most talked-about Chinese restaurants: Four-Star Tin Lung Heen.
From its perch on the 102nd floor, the restaurant offers unparalleled views of Victoria Harbour, as well as a delightful menu of regional specialties. Look for the char siu barbecued pork, double-boiled chicken soup with fish maw, and the steamed crab claw with egg white in Hua Diao wine sauce.
Sugar
The go-to sunset deck in Hong Kong is, surprisingly enough, located at the eastern end of the island. About 30 minutes on the MTR train from Central, East hotel’s rooftop Sugar lounge and bar overlooks the harbor from a unique angle, framing the pastel pink sky come sunset.
Set on the 32nd floor, the bar not only affords uninterrupted panoramas, but it’s also decked out with contemporary couches and a DJ most nights. The city’s stylish set heads here for delicious bar bites — think Cajun fries and chicken satay — and creative sundowners, like the Luz Breeze (Hendrick’s Gin, lychee, cranberry juice, jasmine and lemon).
Cé La Vi
This sky bar knows how to salute the sunset. From the tip of the recently opened California Tower in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong, Cé La Vi feels like it’s sitting on top of the city.
Not only does the sleek bar offer a handy buy-one, get-one happy hour ahead of sundown, but it also serves some of the most delicious Asian bar snacks in town. Dig into juicy salmon skewers and fresh sushi while savoring Hong Kong’s dramatic skyline.
The trendy cocktail menu includes a few signatures, like the East India Co., a refreshing mix of Martell Noblige cognac, raspberry, lemon, champagne and a maraschino cherry.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
Most diners would dash to Five-Star restaurants like Caprice or Lung King Heen at the Five-Star Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong for peeks at the harbor. But the best sunsets are actually enjoyed from the Pool Terrace and the spa on the sixth floor.
Experience golden hour a few ways — with a dip in the infinity pool, a casual bite at the alfresco restaurant or a relaxing treatment at Five-Star The Spa at Four Seasons Hong Kong. Several services, including the romantic Double Serenity, involve an aromatic bubble bath in a harbor-facing suite, so you can watch the sun dip behind the city’s skyscrapers with a glass of champagne in hand.
Sunset Peak
Not for the faint-hearted, Sunset Peak is a challenging hike up Hong Kong’s third highest mountain (2,851 feet above sea level). Following along Lantau Trail No. 2, the four-mile-long hike takes about three hours, starting in Lantau South Country Park.
There’s a pretty picnic area along the way, should you wish to stop for a spell, but don’t sit for too long. You’ll want to complete the ascent to the peak in time for sunset, casting warm hues over the South China Sea.