The financial tsunami has hit us a big time. Although recovery seems to be in the air and property market prices have started skyrocketing again, people are still being cautious with their funds.The recession not only makes it more difficult to close a deal in business but also harder to a close a “date” in this city where cash is king. Hiphongkong has chosen 8 budget locations with a cool vibe and unique fare. With a budget of $100 for two, you can date on the cheap and still look hip.

BRUNCH

1. KUBRICK CAFÉ & BOOKSTORE

This cafe and bookstore next to Broadway Cinematheque is artistic and stylish which makes it ideal for your art/music/movie/literature-lover date. Enjoy their Whole Day Breakfast ($49) which includes a continental-style combo with eggs, ham/sausage, mushroom/tomato/beans, toasted bread and a coffee before watching a poetic art-house movie in the late afternoon or evening. If she asks “Which part of the movie did you like the most?”, “You” will be the perfect answer.

2384-8929

H2 Chun Fat Garden, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon

http://www.hiphongkong.com/eat/restaurants/brunch/kubrick_cafe_bookstore

LUNCH

2. SAMMY’S KITCHEN

Sammy’s Kitchen is an old-school steak house established in the 70s. The retro décor remained virtually unchanged over the four decades. The place looks almost the same as Goldfinch Restaurant which appears in Wong Ka Wai’s In the Mood For Love, yet the food in Sammy’s is much cheaper. Their famous dishes are prepared by owner Sammy Yip who is former chef at The Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental. A set lunch is only $40 which includes a soup, a steak with fries and a coffee/tea. At the end of the meal, arrange a second concert/movie date by quoting the famous line in the movie - “If there’s an extra ticket, would you go with me?” How can she say no when she’s (in) in the mood for love.

2548-8400

204-206 Queen's Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

http://www.hiphongkong.com/eat/restaurants/european_food/sammys_kitchen

HIGH TEA

3. PICNIC ON THE BEACH

Get a bottle of wine (around $40), grapes (around $15), some (almost expired) cheese (around $20 when it is on sale), and fresh bread ($10-20) from Wellcome or Park’n Shop and prepare a simple picnic on the beach in the late afternoon. It can’t be more romantic than watching the sunset and having an intimate conversation over (almost expired) cheese and wine with your date. As the night falls, you may even be getting something sexy on the beach.

EVENING

4. GALLERY OPENINGS

Taking your date to a gallery opening makes you look artistic, cultured and sophisticated. Most importantly, it is FREE. Most galleries offer welcoming wines and champagnes in their exhibition cocktail receptions. Sometimes, if they are generous, they even serve finger food and snacks that can double as your dinner. Most of the exhibitions in town open on Thursdays in early evening. Occasionally they do after-party too with the sponsorship from liquor labels. Following our event calendar http://www.hiphongkong.com/calendar and arrange your next (free) date. Also “study” our cool art gallery guide to a little bit so you have a few names to drop when she asks which your favourite galleries are.

http://www.hiphongkong.com/content/best_art_galleries_hong_kong

ANYTIME

5. MIDO CAFÉ

The 60-year-old Mido Café in Kowloon is famous for being a blast from Hong Kong’s historical past. The original cash register is still there as are most of the signs, furniture and flooring. On the wall are movie stills of The World of Susie Wong in which the café makes a cameo appearance. Take the window seats overlooking Temple Street and the colonial Police Station Heritage while enjoying their famous Hong Kong-style café fare such as egg tart, toast, milk tea and sharing their must-try Baked Spare-Ribs with Fried Rice ($50). Hold her hand (left hand if she’s under 30 and right if she’s above 30) and read her palm like a fortune-tellers on Temple Street. Point at her complicated love line and tell her she’s found the one.

2384-6402

63 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei

http://www.hiphongkong.com/eat/restaurants/cafes/mido_cafe_yau_ma_tei

EVENING

6.TSIM CHAI KEE NOODLE (QUEEN’S ROAD)

“I am taking you to a Michelin-recommended restaurant.” Tsim Chai Kee is famous for its delicious budget wonton noodles ($16). Now, as one of the recommended restaurants in Michelin guide 2010, the always-packed chain restaurants get even more popular, except this particular branch. Located in the basement level, it is quite easy to miss this spacious underground venue. Therefore, the place is always quiet in the evening. This Tsim Chai Kee brach is styled in simple contemporary Chinese décor. Their staff are friendly and never disturb you by being over-attentive (a gesture to kick you out in many Chinese restaurants). They never bother you even after they have taken away your finished meal. Apart from its budget Michelin noodles, they also serve (canned) drinks which are only $5. You can sit there all night long and chat with with your date during your almost “private” dinner.

2581 3369

Basement, 153 Queen’s Road Central, Central

http://www.hiphongkong.com/eat/restaurants/chinese_restaurants/tsim_chai_kee_noodle_queens_road

AFTERNOON OR EVENING

7. IFC ROOF LOUNGE

Tell her you love her natural beauty and good-heartedness, like the sweet organic beer ($24) and fair-trade chocolate ($30) you specially bring for her (from City Super). Tell her you love it when she debates about politics, that’s why you bring her to a re-claimed public space won after a series of social activism. Tell her the beautiful Victoria harbor front should be free, and free of pollution, like her purity. That way you have the perfect excuse to sit on the IFC roof lounge sofas without having to ordering from the (comparatively expensive) Red Bar.

LATE NIGHT

8. CLUB 7

“You don’t miss your water till the well runs dry…because you have this bottled one.” That’s your answer to Craig David’s question. From gourmet sandwiches, salad, sushi, Japanese/Korean ramen to premium imported chips and sweets, Club 7 is an ideal place for comfort food after a big night out with your date (especially when you are hungry, yet can’t wait to get back to your/her place). But the love medicine is a bottle of hangover-cure water from Club 7. She will thank you so much in the morning and reward you with a kiss, and perhaps something more if you are lucky.

http://www.hiphongkong.com/content/hong_kongs_hottest_nightspot_club_7_11