Avelino Cortes
my mid-levels Q: Where do you live? A: I live on Bonham Road, looking down on Hospital Road. Q: How long have you lived in Mid-levels? A: A bout six months. I recently moved back to the Midlevels after a brief stint in Happy Valley. But I previously lived in Mid-levels for about five years.
Q: Best place for a drink? A: The Phoenix, located along the upper reaches of the Midlevels escalator, is great for a quiet drink away from the increasing chaos of SoHo. It’s good for an afternoon glass of wine whilst people watching.
Q: What do you like about Mid-levels? A: I love that it’s quiet yet it still has a certain buzz about it. There are bursts of small cafes and cute one-of-a-kind boutiques amongst clusters of residential buildings and a real sense of community. Q: Favourite restaurant? A: I ’m a bit of a health nut so I cook the majority of my meals at home, but I love Grassroots Pantry. I appreciate the preparation and the thoughtfully sourced ingredients that go into the dishes. Plus I know that I can indulge without any worries.
Q: Best place for a drink? A: T he Phoenix, located along the upper reaches of the Mid-levels escalator, is great for a quiet drink away from the increasing chaos of SoHo. It’s good for an afternoon glass of wine whilst people watching. Q: I s there a shop that you would like to see come to your local area? A: I f there was such a ‘CrossFit Mid-levels’ gym with a truly healthy boutique cafe attached to it, I would never need to leave the neighborhood!
Q: Best place for a coffee? A: You can often find me working on my laptop and enjoying a coffee at Mana Cafe on Pound Lane. It’s cosy and quiet so I can get lost in my work without any distraction. My favourite is their Mono coffee which is a version of a latte with coconut oil.
Q: Any hidden gems near where you live? A: Germain Tailors on Po Hing Fong is uber chic! I haven’t actually set foot in the shop yet but always slow down to peek inside at their cool threads. Q: What would you like to change about your local area? A: Lower rents and a healthy cafe to replace the mediocre supermarket below my apartment. Q: How well do you know your neighbours? A: Our apartment block is filled with airline crew so I make a point to smile and be super friendly - I’m hoping karma will reward me with free upgrades. Mid-levels is the best place to live in Hong Kong because… ...it has everything you need, and if it doesn’t, the rest is a stone-throw’s away.
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