Hong Kong has gone from hedonistic to health-conscious in just a matter of years, with new gyms, yoga studios and healthy eateries opening up faster than you can say “namaste”. Whether you’re looking for the newest place to practice pilates or the occasional plant-based goodie, here are five new wellness spots in Hong Kong to get your ‘om’ (or nom) on:
Photo: Courtesy of Treehouse
Mod, plant-based cuisine that tastes as good as it looks with a brand new buzzy location at BaseHall, Jardine House. Tuck into wholesome, vegan delights including burgers, buddha bowls and wraps in homemade sourdough to cold-pressed juices and yummy sides like sweet potato fries. Tip: Don’t ‘leaf’ without trying the guilt-free desserts, including the densely rich hazelnut chocolate cake.
Treehouse, B1/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central, facebook.com/treehouse.eco
Photo: Courtesy of Flowga
Hong Kong’s first hot yoga studio mixing club tunes with candlelight and infrared heat. Feel good factor with eco-friendly amenities, reclaimed wooden floors and post-sweat iced tea for members on the outdoor terrace, beneath the 'grammable Japanese maple tree. Dog-friendly - look for Zola and Princess at reception!
Flowga, Unit F, 1st, Winner Building Block A, 37 D'Aguilar St, Central, flowga-studio.com
Photo: Courtesy of MANA!
All good things in life take time… including the ‘fast slow food’ at this eco-conscious, plant-based haven with brand new locations at SoHo and Star Street. Join the woke post-yoga and workout crew to refuel on freshly made flats (read: wraps) packed with tasty fillings of your choice (we love the hummus, falafel, roasted veggies and halloumi) on a spicy zaatar spread. Power up and pair with freshly squeezed juices for an all-around vitamin boost.
MANA!, 8 Staunton Street, Central, mana.hk
Photo: Courtesy of Be Earth
Nourish your mind, body and soul at this brand new yoga studio on Queen’s Road Central. Bright and airy taupe/gold interiors flanked by greenery and macrame decor soothe frazzled nerves while you downward dog in small group classes. Organic and eco-friendly; choose from Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Detox classes and more.
Be Earth, 2/F, On Building, 162 Queen's Road Central, Central, facebook.com/beearthofficial
Photo: Courtesy of O:RIN
Pic-pretty yoga, pilates and Gyrotonic studio in Island East with an ultra-mod ‘60s peachy design - from the studios to the changing rooms. Expert trainers advise on proper body alignment and posture while you stretch out those limbs. Perfect for everyone from office workers to off-duty athletes.
O:RIN, Westlands Centre, Unit 6, 19/F, 20 Westlands Rd, Quarry Bay, orin.com.hk
Want more wellness tips in the concrete jungle? Check out our print and mobile guides for LUXE Hong Kong.
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Art, history and travel buffs will fall in love with Tugu Hotels, a small and privately owned collection of luxury hotels that transports guests to Indonesia’s yesteryears. Tugu, which means ‘monument’ in local language, reflects the museum-like surrounds of the hotels, which are home to the biggest collection of fine Indonesian art and cultural antiquities in the world owned by Indonesian Renaissance man, Anhar Setjadibrata.
We spoke with his daughter and Tugu Hotels MD, Lucienne Anhar, to find out what it was like growing up in the magical Tugu world and what’s coming up next... Psst, another trip to the past, perhaps?
Tugu Hotels are all about celebrating Indonesian art, history and culture—do you share the same passion as your father?
Absolutely. The first Tugu opened when I was just 12 years old and I remember it being as magical as a real-life fairytale. Tugu is ethereal, beautiful and timeless, and it continues to transport me to the most romantic and most exotic eras of the Indonesian archipelago.
Is your father still involved in the business?
He was actually never involved in the ‘business’, because Tugu is not a business for him—it is his life and dream. He’s always told us that a country is nothing without its roots, and his dream is to leave something beautiful for the next generations to enjoy and remember its history.
(Photo: @tuguhotels/Instagram)
What makes Tugu Hotel a must-visit when in Bali?
At Tugu, guests are immersed in local traditions through our collection of Balinese antiques, artworks and architecture. Various near-forgotten cultural and spiritual experiences can be found at Tugu, from making jamu elixirs from hundred-year-old recipes to spa therapies with Balinese Hindu mantra, as well as Balinese dances and music from another era. As previous guests have observed: if Bali is the island of the Gods, then Tugu must be their home.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day doesn’t exist—but that’s what makes it exciting because there’s never a boring day. My roles include being a problem solver, co-antique/land hunter, co-designer, co-creator of ideas and experiences, brainstorm partner for staff of all levels and writer/editor of the hundreds of stories stored in my father through his life and antiques.
What's the best part of your job?
Because of Tugu, I never stop learning new things about Indonesian history and culture firsthand. I love creating, designing, traveling, conceptualising food and drinks, experiences, and working with the beautiful energy of our amazing team.
Which room/suite would you recommend staying in at the Tugu Hotel in Bali?
It depends on your mood—the Rejang feels like a treehouse with a nice breeze and sparkling ocean view, while the Dedari has a lovely giant bathtub overlooking the lily ponds through a beautiful antique carved door.
The Puri Le Mayeur Villa makes me feel like a Balinese princess from the 20th century with romantic floating dining huts, but the Walter Spies is probably my favorite because of the nostalgic art-deco Java feel, the romantic round tub and antique dragons above the plunge pool.
(Photo: @tuguhotels/Instagram)
What’s coming up for Tugu Hotels?
The Tugu Jakarta was slated to open this year, but has been delayed due to Covid-19. It will have four different food and beverage venues with different themes, and tells the history of Batavia (the former capital of the Dutch East Indies that corresponds to modern-day Jakarta).
Any secret hideaways in Bali we should know about?
I love road trips to Sidemen and the many hidden waterfalls of Bali, visiting Pura Luhur Batukaru, Tampaksiring and Tirta Empul, and going to La Lucciola and The Sayan House for beautiful views over lunches and sunset.
Your favourite thing about travel?
I draw inspiration from my travels—a few of my favourite trips include Rajasthan, southern Spain, Africa and Morocco. I love discovering new and exotic flavors, diverse landscapes, different cultures and admiring the creativity and innovation of the geniuses in different countries.
The next trip you'll take once we can fly again?
Depending on when that is, I’d love to visit Norway or Iceland.
Get more insider tips for the Island of the Gods—shop LUXE Bali guides here:
]]>Taiwan-born and Vancouver-raised chef Jowett Yu is best known for creating two of Sydney’s most famous Cantonese restaurant concepts: Ms. G’s and Mr. Wong.
Then in 2014, Jowett created Ho Lee Fook, a cheekily-named ’Asian fusion’ resto in Hong Kong that spun classic Chinese dishes with high-end ingredients and a side of sass. Now as executive chef of Black Sheep Restaurants, he’s overseeing not only Ho Lee Fook but the group’s other restaurants including Fukuro, Le Garcon Saigon and Le Petit Saigon.
In our latest edition of Eat Like A Chef, Jowett (who’s a connosseiur of Chinese roast meats and dumplings) lets us tag along his favourite food haunts in Hong Kong:
This is a no-frills, intimate neighbourhood bistro serving classic Cantonese cuisine. I first came here five years ago with a friend and have been coming back at least once a month, without fail. Don’t miss the sweet and sour pork with strawberries, the crispy skin chicken and the stir-fried egg whites with scallops. Perfect for lunch or dinner, but bigger parties should book in advance.
Pang’s Kitchen, 25 Yik Yam Street, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
TIn Cheung is one of the last surviving dai pai dongs in Hong Kong with a street-side kitchen and outdoor seating. Located in Sham Shui Po, it makes for a truly unique Hong Kong experience. Get the salt and pepper squid and their “beef and peaches” (wok-fried beef and potatoes with black pepper and honey) or the chicken organs stewed with zedoary. They’re only open for dinner (tip: avoid their busiest hours from 7-8pm), and be sure to order a long-necked beer to go with your meal.
Tin Cheung, 98 Yee Kuk Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Located in hipsterhood Sheung Wan, Yardbird is a modern Japanese izakaya with a focus on yakitori. I’ve been going since they first opened in 2011 and I love the ventricles and thyroid, tsukune (or chicken meatballs) and oyster. Don’t miss the Yardbird Caesar with anchovies and miso, and the sweet corn tempura, which is simply seasoned with sea salt and pepper. While they recently opened for lunch, the yakitori is dinner only so be sure to go early to avoid your favourite skewers selling out.
Yardbird, 154-158 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Yat Lok, which specialises in Cantonese roast meats, has been around since 1957 and earned their first Michelin Star in 2015—retaining it ever since. The roast goose is definitely a highlight and I recommend ordering by the half so you can try some char siu (barbecue pork) and soy chicken as well.
Service is fast-paced here, but so is the meal. You eat and leave quickly—there’s no time for lingering. I enjoy it best for lunch between 11-12pm, when you can get the goose fresh out of the oven before the rest of the lunch crowd rushes in.
Yat Lok, 34-38 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong
I’ve been going to BELON ever since they opened in 2016 and it has always been a new and elevated experience. Located just steps away from Ho Lee Fook, you absolutely have to try any pigeon dish on the menu. The Pigeon Pivither is a classic while the Drunken Pigeon is chef Daniel Calvert’s take on the classic Shanghai Drunken Chicken. Finish your meal with the seasonal mille-feuille or chocolate tart.
BELON, 41 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong
Get more tasty insider tips for Hong Kong with our print and mobile guides:
]]>Due to Covid-19 closures, gyms from all over the world have started offering their classes virtually, meaning armchair travel just got a lot more active. So, if you’ve ever wanted to take a spin class in NYC, pilates in Barcelona or barre in Bangkok, get ready to sweat with these LUXE-approved gyms:
Burn, baby burn! This Hollywood-approved workout uses Lagree Fitness Megaformer machines to sculpt muscles with low-impact movements. Classes are 45-60 mins long and span high-intensity MegaKore HIIT and strength-based KettleKore to the more relaxing Yoga Flow. h-kore.com
WOFH: Online classes available daily via Zoom; bring your own sliders (paper plates, small towels or socks will do)!
High octane spin class with a cultish following of beautiful “spinners”, perfect for cycling off any burgeoning bagel bot. Popular with NY's young ladies who lunch, with no need to bring trainers – you can rent cycling shoes before class. Founded in 2006 with over 90 branches across the nation. soul-cycle.com
WOFH: Click in for Soulcycle’s ‘Off The Bike’ series on IG for a mix of live meditations and workouts (minus the bike, obvs)!
Stomach in, chin up: make like a Gaudí facade and bend! This Aussie import is the go-to for Pilates (regular, barre, pregnancy and facial), massage, yoga, Reiki and other wellness treatments. studioaustraliabarcelona.com
WOFH: Online pilates and healing sessions available, or sub monthly for the weekly package of 4+ pilates classes, food and lifestyle workshops, live talks and more!
Hone your asanas in this spiritual desti for gurus, dancers, healers – be it yoga, meditation, capoeira, chanting or ecstatic dancing at almost any time of the day or night. Just add Ayurvedic rejuvenation packages, holistic healing programmes, detox retreats and a charming garden caff. theyogabarn.com
WOFH: Get your om on with daily classes including Qi Gong, Hatha Flow, Acceptance Meditation, Restorative Yoga and more; book online or on the YB app.
See also: Wellness Warrior: Nadine McNeil
Excellent Anglo-owned pilates, yoga and fitness studio set under a glass-domed ceiling in Paree. Post agony comes the ecstasy with hot or cold stone and Thai massage, plus natural face-lifting, reflexology and acupuncture too. studio-rituel.paris
WOFH: Get bendy with pilates, Xtend Barre, vinyasa yoga and even gyrokinesis from their online schedule of classes.
Hot yoga in a cool warehouse space with body-warming far infrared (FIR) heat. Downward dog against a backdrop of zen-serene blonde woods, white walls and paper pendant lanterns. And exhale, Gail! Moveyoga.com.au
WOFH: Sweat it out with 45 or 60-minute live stream classes ranging from Move Hot, Yin, Power and Slow classes to suit all levels.
Channel your inner Misty with a ballet-inspired barre workout at one of three studios across Bangkok. This body-sculpting New York workout will get your muscles shaking with each squat, kick and crunch – remember, no pain, no fame. physique57bangkok.com
WOFH: Feel the burn at home with Facebook live streams and the virtual Barre studio with Power Flow and Endurance Interval formats.
All gyms above are recommended in our print and mobile guides — get more global fitspo by exploring our collection of LUXE City Guides in 30 cities:
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