How to be extra AF in Hong Kong

When it comes to showing off the affluent and ostentatious lifestyle of the rich in movies, having the characters travel around via a private helicopter is a long-standing trope. So forget taxis and Uber, the only way to commute in Hong Kong is via a chopper. Turn to Heliservices for your pick of a short 15-minute ride over Victoria Harbour ($10,500) or a spectacular one-hour aerial journey across the city, the Big Buddha and Hong Kong Geopark for the tidy sum of $38,000. heliservices.com.hk

Because we only get married once – or so we hope – there’s no reason why we shouldn’t splurge and go overboard for the big day. If you don’t have deep enough pockets for a destination wedding, you can still go OTT right here in Hong Kong and hold your nuptials at the city’s only seaside chapel. As well as the floor-to-ceiling windows by the waterfront, you can take the pageantry to the next level and hire a horse-drawn carriage to bring you to the chapel for the complete fairy tale wedding ($38,888 for one-hour rental).

Instead of settling for some run-of-the-mill barbecued pork, dine like a king and tuck into Hong Kong’s most expensive char siu. On top of its scrumptious dim sum, Mott 32 is also renowned for serving the priciest char siu in town, costing a cool $298 (it’s another $20 if you want some rice to go with it). Using the most tender part of Spanish iberico pork and marinated in a char siu sauce, seven kinds of seasoning and brushed with maltose and honey, every bite tastes like luxury.

A McFlurry not doing it for you? If you want to really spoil yourself, order the over-the-top Cremadoro ($98) from high-end Japanese ice cream parlour I Cremeria. Spun from Hokkaido milk, this luxurious soft serve is sheathed in edible gold leaf. The gilding doesn’t do much in terms of flavour, but it does add a whole lot of flair.

Sure, a trip to the spa gets you glowing from within, but to really blind others with your shine what you need is a pure gold-infused treatment. Angsana Spa by Banyan Tree is a renowned spa in its own right but its Glitter Golden Bliss Treatment ($2,000) takes things to the next level. Customers get treated to a pure gold body polish, a body conditioning massage infused with gold dust and a hydra express facial. You’ll walk out sparkling like one of the Twilight vampires. 

Do you enjoy fighting over the armrest with some stranger at the movies and snacking on flavourless popcorn? How sad. There’s no better way to watch a film than on a reclining leather chair while fresh food is delivered straight to your seat at the push of a button. The Oval Office, AMC Pacific Place’s VIP experience ($270), offers all that and more, including a private lounge with free-flow light refreshments and stewards who are ready to take your food or drink orders at any stage during a film.

One of the city’s regular hotspots come Wednesday night is the weekly (during race season) Happy Wednesdays at Happy Valley Racecourse. The place to go to catch exciting horse racing action during the week, place your bets and enjoy plenty of extra trackside entertainment. But instead of heading there in your post-work outfit like a commoner, this is the perfect opportunity to throw on your best fancy dress and fascinator and turn the event into your very own Kentucky Derby. But if you want to super extra, consider applying for a full membership, which costs a measly $600,000, and get your very own private box.

A junk trip is so ordinary. To really set sail in style, hop on board with Michelangelo and its restored 80-foot classic motor yacht decked out in mahogany, teak, brass and copper. The 4,000sq ft boat is the definition of luxury. You can sprawl on lounge mattresses and hammocks, relax on cosy couches in the grand living room or pass out in bed in the master cabin. Catering packages include chefs and waiters for cocktails and canapés or even a sit-down dinner with proper silverware – and not your crappy plastic utensils. From $24,000 for the day; michelangelocruises.com.

The Peninsula has more than a few extraordinary attractions –its iconic afternoon tea set in its elegant lobby, private helicopter tours, restaurants like Gaddi’s and Spring Moon – but if you’re in need of some seriously luxury R&R, book an overnight stay at the Grand Deluxe Harbourview Suite and get yourself a luxury corner bath with a view to die for. If that’s not a big enough draw, there’re three settings for mood lighting and bath products and fragrances from Oscar de la Renta. Oh, and a hands-free phone for those that need to call home and rave about it. From $17,880 a night.

There’s no shortage of dessert and cake shops in Hong Kong, but can you say you’ve digested $1 million dollars-worth of sugar, milk and flour? Penney Pang has got you covered if you feel you’re missing out. The award-winning cake designer is best known for her signature ‘couture cakes’ and her going-rate can be up to one mil for her top of the range. We’re talking handcrafted flowers, customised designs, edible gold and sequins, the works. It’s literally too pretty to eat. penneypang.com.

Hong Kong is awash with Japanese eateries but you, dear reader, should aim for only the best. We’re talking Sushi Shikon, the first and only Japanese restaurant in the city to receive three Michelin stars five years in a row. It also happens to be one of the most expensive places to dine in town – its omakase set is no less than $3,500. Still, everything you eat here uses the freshest of ingredients and it’s recommended that you enjoy each piece of sushi within 30 seconds of it arriving at your table. Love next-level food? Look forward to Wagyumafia opening up in Hong Kong this November, offering its famed wagyu cutlet sandwich – touted as the world’s most expensive sando.

Taking a dip in a public swimming pool? Pur-lease! It’s time to do your laps in style. Head up to the 73rd floor of W Hotel to make a splash in Hong Kong’s highest outdoor swimming pool. Nothing screams extra than having a paddle surrounded by neighbouring skyscrapers while peeking down at the city below through the side windows – think of the sick selfies, too. Really make the most of it with W Hotel’s special weekend packages that include access to the pool, the gym and water facilities (sauna and steam room), as well as two complimentary glasses of champagne for $988.