The founder of The Woods and The Walrus tells us about a few of her favourite things and where we might find her outside of her two trendy bars
Victoria Chow has certainly made her mark on Hong Kong’s vibrant F&B scene with The Woods, which she opened in 2014 with her two sisters. The Central bar has earned praise for their conceptual menu that puts a culinary spin on cocktails, ensuring there is drink to suit every taste.
The Chow sisters recently opened The Walrus, an innovative oyster bar in the heart of Soho – and aside from overseeing the day-to-day operations of both businesses and innovating new menu ideas, Chow loves all Hong Kong has to offer. Here, she tells us where we may find her when she’s not darting between her hip establishments:
The beauty of being in Central is that the people in the area are open to trying new things, and there are always familiar faces on the street.
The best coffee in Hong Kong has got to be at Elephant Grounds on Gough Street.
My favourite cocktail is the ‘Bee’s Knees’ – I love the simplicity of just gin, lemon juice, and honey.
When it comes to working out I prefer to break a sweat at home with programs like P90X and Insanity.
I’ve recently become a big fan of brunches on the balcony at Aberdeen Street Social. Their Bloody English hits the spot – probably one of the most effective hangover cures.
Naturally I tend to splurge at restaurants and bars whenever I travel, at artisanal liquor stores such as Cask in San Francisco, and on omakase meals for special occasions.
Sometimes you just need to clear your head and when I want to get away from it all, I like to go camping on the beaches of Tai Long Wan – it’s the perfect way and place to recharge without straying too far from home.
My guilty pleasures usually consist of Haagen-Dazs Coffee Almond Crunch popsicles – and buying designer sunglasses.
When I need to get glammed up, I find I don’t give my hair and makeup nearly enough attention, but the manicurists at EightyEight can do magic with anything you can dream up for your nails.
My favourite places to eat have got to be Bep, Sohofama, and Yardbird – you can’t go wrong with amazing food in casual settings.
If I’ve been away for a while my first stop upon my return to Hong Kong is naturally The Woods and The Walrus!
Photography by Edgar Tapan