Hong Kong's big-name hotels — the Peninsula, Shangri-La, Mondrian — will happily pamper you. But if you want to actually feel the city, a local flat beats a lobby every time. Condé Nast Traveller UK has rounded up its editors' pick of the city's best Airbnbs, and the shortlist doubles as a quick neighbourhood guide to one of Asia's most dense, kinetic places.
The listings share a common DNA: they're typical Hong Kong apartments, which means compact, simply furnished and full of clever space-saving design. That's not a criticism — it's the reality of the city, where square metres are precious, and it's exactly what makes staying in one feel authentic rather than resort-like. Think neon-lit streets below your window, markets on the corner, and green hills peeking between skyscrapers.
The picks are sorted by traveller type. Couples get a cosy bolthole in Sai Ying Pun, the western edge of Hong Kong Island that has shed its grit for a lively strip of cafes and bars. Families are pointed towards an eclectic apartment near Hong Kong Park in Central, handy for the city's commercial core and its green lung. Big groups can take over the Blue House on Lantau Island — the same island as the airport and the Big Buddha, but a world away in pace. And design lovers get a pretty apartment with a garden terrace in Tai Hang, a low-key pocket just behind Causeway Bay that most visitors never see.
The editors say they vetted each listing on Superhost status, ratings, amenities, location, decor and guest reviews, so it's a filtered shortlist rather than an algorithm dump. It's a useful model for booking anywhere in the city: prioritize Superhosts, read recent reviews closely, and pick the neighbourhood first — Hong Kong's districts have wildly different characters.
Where should you base yourself? Central and nearby Mid-Levels put you at the heart of things, steps from the historic Hollywood Road and its galleries and antique shops. Tsim Sha Tsui, across the harbour in Kowloon, is grungier and shopping-focused, with unbeatable views back towards the island skyline. Sai Ying Pun and Tai Hang suit travellers who want local eating and drinking without the tourist crush, while Lantau is the pick if beaches, hiking and space matter more than proximity to Central.
Who is this for? Anyone visiting Hong Kong who'd trade a concierge for a washing machine, a kitchen and a street-level view of daily life. It's especially smart for families and groups, where an apartment works out cheaper and roomier than multiple hotel rooms, and for longer stays when hotel rates start to sting.
Condé Nast Traveller UK
