We uncover the top places in the city cool enough to relax post-gym
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
You might be making your 2017 New Year's resolution to get fit, but don't forget about kicking back afterwards and relaxing. Wellness is about more than getting breathless in the gym, so whether it’s catching up with a friend or treating yourself, take some much needed ‘you’ time. It can sometimes be tricky in Hong Kong to find somewhere that is really peaceful enough to unwind, but don’t sweat it – we’ve hunted down eight idyllic places that are ideal for a post-gym chill.
Grab a Cup of Coffee
Photo courtesy of Elephant Grounds
If you’re feeling more lethargic than lively after your morning workout, it might be time for a caffeine kick. Elephant Grounds offers a whole range of delicious coffees and intriguing flavours. The chic wood interior is the perfect place to sit with a cuppa and catch up with a friend. With locations in Causeway Bay, Central and Sheung Wan, there’s sure to be one near you.
Find your nearest shop here
Recharge with a Massage
Photo courtesy of The Right Spot
Hit The Right Spot, literally, at one of the newest luxury urban spas in Hong Kong. Lactic acid forms in the body after a workout, and it's important for those wanting to tone but not bulk up to increase lymphatic circulation - and a massage is one way of doing that. Ideally located in Central, The Right Spot fills the gap between a hotel pamper palace and the casual massage parlour. Customers highlight their problem points on a diagram, so that each massage, whether for sport recovery or relaxation, is tailored to your needs. Choose the pressure and oil type - the spa is currently the exclusive Hong Kong distributor of Como Shambala oils, a sweet German almond oil. The spa offers short appointments for busy professionals, napping chairs, organic wine happy hours, and even lunchboxes to enjoy during a lunch-time foot massage, in association with Locofama and Supafood. Protein snacks are also available, so if you're feeling peckish post-gym, The Right Spot can fulfil your every need!
The Right Spot, 5/F 20 Stanley Street, Central; tel: +852 6998 7768
Exercise the Mind
Photo courtesy of Kubrick
After working out your body, it’s time to exercise your mind. Kubrick's is infamous in literary circles as the place to go for writers and readers alike. Clean-cut, airy and spacious, it’s the ideal place to relax for an hour or two: and as a bookshop and café in one, pick a challenging read or get the tatler_stories written down you were thinking about at the gym.
Kubrick, 3 Public Square St, Yau Ma Tei, Tel: +852 2384 8929
Get Juiced
Photo courtesy of Nood
There’s nothing like breaking a sweat to make you feel full of energy – keep on that high with a vitamin-packed pressed juice from Nood. These locations can be found all over Hong Kong so picking up something fresh and fruity won’t be a problem.
Find your nearest Nood store here
Go to the Movies
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
There’s something infinitely refreshing about watching a really good film, and nothing is better than seeing it on the big screen. The AMC Cinema at Pacific Place is convenient and comfortable, with all the latest Hollywood and Chinese blockbusters being shown on their many screens. If you consider yourself a movie connoisseur or are looking for a more cultural experience, then head over to the Broadway Cinematheque in Yau Ma Tei: there’s a great selection of art-house and alternative movies available to engage every taste.
AMC Cinema, Pacific Place, 18 Queensway, Central
Broadway Cinematheque, 3 Public Square St, Yau Ma Tei
Unleash Your Inner Bookworm
Photo courtesy of Books and Co.
You’ve been working hard – is there any better way to relax than getting lost in a book? Small and unassuming, Books and Co. is an Aladdin’s cave of literature: filled floor to ceiling with classic and modern reads alike, there is something for every reader in this cosy bookstore-café mash up. Linger for a rich coffee and peruse their books in English and Chinese, special editions and bargain corner.
Books and Co., G/F, 10 Park Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong
Hang Out at the Culture Club
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
The Culture Club is a creative hub of artistic activity: it’s an art gallery, a café, an event space, a place to dance, to drink, to relax… from live music to Sunday tango classes, this Soho hangout is the perfect place to unleash your artistic side and get creative after you’re workout.
Culture Club, 15 Elgin Street Soho, Central
Tuck into an Ice Cream
Photo courtesy of Ice'N'Lean
Treating yourself to ice cream after sweating yourself silly might sound a bit counter-productive – but not if it’s Ice’n’Lean. This protein gelato is low in sugar, fats and calories, but packed full of organic superfoods and antioxidants – but with flavours like salted caramel, matcha, peanut and chocolate, it’s so deliciously indulgent that your taste buds will never suspect it’s anything but gorgeous ice cream. There’s limited availability in stockists like CitySuper, Just Green, Ursus Fitness, The Store, or choose to hang out at home and have it delivered to your door with Deliveroo.
Find your nearest stockist here