Places To Chill Out And Read A Book In Hong Kong

When you’re sharing a city with seven million other people, it can be hard to find some peace and quiet. That said, it’s not impossible to find a quiet corner in Hong Kong where you can read undisturbed for hours. Here are the best places in the city to curl up and escape into a literary world. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Holly Brown

This cozy coffee shop in Central occupies two floors and has a gelato counter that serves delectable frozen desserts. The best seats are the velvety blue armchairs along the back wall on the bottom floor, which are perfect for sinking into with a good book.

Victoria Park

Hong Kong’s most famous park is packed during the weekends, but spacious and quiet on weekday afternoons. Settle down at a bench, or better yet, spread a towel or picnic cloth on the Central Lawn under a clear spring sky.

Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade

Yes, the promenade is packed with selfie-taking tourists during the summer, but outside of the peak tourist season, it’s easy to stake out a spot by Hong Kong’s most iconic waterfront. It can get chilly this close to the water, so be sure to bring a light cardigan or jacket.

The Coffee Academics (The Morrison)

Hipster coffee chain Coffee Academics has branches all over the city, but the Wan Chai Road outlet (not to be confused with the Johnston Road branch, also in Wan Chai) is by far the quietest.

Central Library

If you’re the type of person needs deathly silence in order to read, the 12-storey Central Library in Causeway Bay offers plenty of seating space and over two million print and non-print materials for you to browse.

Hong Kong Park

With man-made waterfalls, fountains, lily ponds, botanical gardens and an aviary, Hong Kong Park is a charming oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. It’s a beautiful and relaxing place to settle down and get some reading done.

West Kowloon Cultural District

The West Kowloon Cultural District is a major arts and culture site located on the harborfront of West Kowloon, right next to Tsim Sha Tsui. Although parts of the district are still under construction, there’s a significant amount of lawn and park space that’s already open to the public.

Kowloon Park

This tranquil 33-acre park in Tsim Sha Tsui is designed in the style of traditional Chinese gardens. It’s the perfect place to lose yourself in a good book amongst flowers, birds and ponds.

Victoria Peak Garden

Located on Mount Austin Road, close to the Peak Tower, this park is rarely ever crowded and boasts a unique vantage point with a sweeping view of the whole city. Settle on a park bench or if you prefer, bring something to spread on the grass.

Sai Kung Pier

Right by Sai Kung’s waterfront and close to the entrance to Hoi Pong Street, there are some public benches under the shade of trees where you can sit and look at the boats and junks bobbing by the pier — the perfect place to while away a quiet afternoon.

Eslite (Cityplaza)

This 49,000 sq ft branch of the Taiwanese bookstore Eslite has a special section where customers can sit and read — which is a rarity for Hong Kong, where bookstores tend not to have any seating. Eslite’s Causeway Bay store has a reading area too, but we think this one is just a tad bigger and nicer.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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