And real humour, too. Covering the hottest new eats, the best places to play, offbeat takes on local culture, and so much more, Localiiz is every Hongkonger’s destination for how to live a well-rounded life in our vibrant city. We share our stories visually, through lifestyle and neighbourhood guides, quirky news articles, and narrative videos that deep-dive into the hidden side of the 852.
Since our launch in 2012, we have fast become one of Hong Kong’s leading websites for things to do and where to do them. We also provide an ever-expanding directory to help you navigate the maze of Hong Kong. Why the strange spelling? Well, Localiiz is designed to be your ‘local eyes’—and for that, you need two i’s.
In 2018, we joined the Nexus Media family to continue our growth and expansion in Hong Kong. Formerly Angloinfo Asia, Nexus Digital also owns and publishes My Life in Hong Kong. Catch up with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay ahead of the curve.
Born in Hong Kong, raised in Germany, and educated in the U.S., Jen is an award-winning creative with a background in illustration, communication design, art direction, and content creation. When she’s not getting lost in a good book, you’ll find her doing crosswords, eating dim sum, covering all sides of a “Hamilton” number, and taking naps.
Never content with sitting still, Nicole has turned her passion into a career. Hong Kong is her home, but she’ll always have a soft spot for L.A. and London, where she spent her college years. She loves exploring hidden places, hunting for cool vintage pieces, and talking to interesting people. Her vices include consuming excessive amounts of wine and cheese, a debilitating weakness for sparkly things, and spending too much time on Instagram.
Annette is an editor and copywriter with a lifetime of experience in hunting out the most interesting, odd, and delightful things about her beloved home city. Having written extensively about everything from food and culture to fashion, music, and hospitality, she considers her speciality to be Hong Kong itself. In her free time, you can find Annette trying out new dumpling recipes or playing Big Two at her favourite local bars with a cocktail in hand.
A wanderer, chronic overthinker, and baking enthusiast, Beverly spent much of her childhood in the United States before moving to Hong Kong at age 11 and making the sparkling city her home. In her natural habitat, she can be found baking up a storm in her kitchen, journalling at a café, or scrolling through OpenRice deciding on her next meal.
Always down for an adventure, Alisa’s general approach to life (and anything, really) is to “just go with the flow.” She believes that the most unforgettable moments are the most spontaneous ones. One thing she will always be certain of, however, is her love for the band My Chemical Romance and potato-based food.
Fascinated by the power of visual imageries, Leo has taken his love for storytelling and developed it into a career in video production. After spending his university years in California, he returned to Hong Kong to capture more untold stories in his hometown. Coffee is his daily drink, but he enjoys nothing more than a good boba pairing with a bag of popcorn chicken.
Born and raised in the UK, sneakerhead Danny is now on a mission to reconnect with his Hong Kong roots. He brings 20 years of experience in publishing and film to Localiiz. When he’s not hard at work, you’ll find him curating his watch collection, perfecting his snooker skills, and sneaking a cheeky red wine while taking in Netflix titles.
A wife and a mother who has great determination balancing work, family, and her new-found fit life. Sharifa is also a foodie-chef who enjoys cooking up her proud speciality: a Filipino-style lechon belly! She is also a professional singer, so not only can she handle a big show on stage, but ultimately rock it on the sales floor, bringing in her years of expertise in events, print, and digital media.
Kamilla grew up in Sweden and has lived in Denmark, Dubai, and Hong Kong in the past eight years. She has over 15 years of experience trading successfully in the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. Her background is in fashion and she has a massive passion for dogs and cats. Coffee is her preferred drink during the day and wine at night. Loves laughing and positive vibes!
Born in the UK and raised in Malaysia, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Manchester, Katie has never stayed in one place for more than five years. Switching between schools and cities, her exposure to different cultures and being able to meet people from all around the world really opened her eyes from a young age. In her free time, you can catch her on her phone chatting with friends or scrolling through Instagram looking for her next dining destination. If you are unable to reach her, then she is probably napping!
Stephanie is extremely passionate about all things animal or sports-related. When she’s not at work, she’s out on an adventure with her cheeky pup, Lola, or leading Exploring Dogs hikes to raise funds for the local shelters. You may also find her playing pick-up basketball or on the hunt for a good coffee shop—dog-friendly, of course.
Known for being a bubble of joy who has the ability to out-eat everyone, Steph was born and raised in Hong Kong and has returned after spending her university days in the UK. You’ll most likely find her jetting off to neighbouring cities during the weekends or being outdoors in Hong Kong. On top of listening to podcasts and spending an obsessive amount of time on Instagram, she tries to balance out all her tech time by doing yoga or taking phone-free walks!
Lola was rescued from the China meat trade and brought to Hong Kong by a kind lady who rescues dogs in Dongguan. When Lola isn’t throwing herself into the harbour for a swim or befriending anyone with food, she is out adventuring or sticking her head out of car windows, enjoying the wind! Follow Lola on her adventures @livin_da_vida_lola on Instagram.
Our charming, charismatic leader has a long history in advertising sales and has led teams in London, New York, and here in Hong Kong.
Ivy brings bags of financial experience in the media representative and publishing industry to Localiiz. As a working mum, when she’s not in the office, she enjoys taking her kids out and shopping online.
Fion enjoys working in the PR and media industry. When she’s not crunching numbers or working on financial reports, you will find her in the kitchen baking up a storm of desserts, which she loves to share with others.
SEA is an independent education consultancy who believes in students having the right to choose their own education. We provide students with information on various institutions and assist them with visa applications and connect them directly with schools. Visit our website for more information.
Scott Dunn is a luxury tour operator specialising in tailor-made holidays. We build your holiday around what you want, not our preferences, and we take the time to understand what you enjoy so we can create the perfect holiday for you.
A fresh university graduate drawn to stories, Anna is often found looking between pages and with an ear out for what the city’s lanes and alleys have to tell. Books, theatre, and almost-forgotten windows to the past hold the keys to her heart. Sometimes, she feels the need to put them all into words.
Kopal started the Instagram page @adoptdontshop.hk when she realised she was following seven different dog rescue shelters in Hong Kong and was not even looking to adopt! Her platform shares information about all animal rescues primarily focusing on highlighting dogs and cats available for adoption. As an active participant of the Hong Kong pet community, Kopal also runs Hong Kong Foster Pawrents, volunteers at dog rescues, is a foster mama herself, and is currently pursuing a certificate in canine behaviour. When not involved in animal advocacy, Kopal is an avid reader and coffee drinker, and you can find her looking for new coffee shops to explore.
Born and bred in Hong Kong, Natalie is a medical student never bored with her hometown but is always infused with immense energy to explore everything inside out—intriguing spots, scrumptious food, hiking, and running trails, to name but a few. Supposedly burying her head in books or notes to keep up with her studies, she instead often hits the gym, new restaurants, and cool shops. If she is not in town, though, she is definitely out having fun—sometimes on her own—in exotic cities which you have barely even heard of. Follow Natalie on Instagram or take casual English lessons with her on her brand-new YouTube channel, Yinglish.
Paul, the founder of Movieconomist, likes to watch movies and make graphs. He also writes a monthly column on Localiiz about new Netflix releases and is a lead community director for Finimize. His writing has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNBC, Financial Times, Asia Investor, and the Hong Kong Economic Journal. He also spends a great deal of time playing squash.
Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Aarohi moved to Hong Kong after spending time in the United States and Japan. When she’s not sipping on sake or fervently searching for the smoothest cheung fun the city has to offer, you can find her reading and writing about the politics of food and getting involved with local organisations focused on empowering immigrant and refugee women. Read more of her writing here and follow her on Instagram.
Fashila was born in India but raised in Hong Kong and shares a strong bond with both her home and birth land. She loves hunting for hidden gems and finding the road less travelled. When she’s not breaking her back from educating and shaping little earthlings, you can find her loading up on succulents at the Flower Market, buying yet another book to rest on the shelf, or making calories come to life by baking.
Nanda Haensel, the author of We Love it Wild, writes about remote destinations and adventure travels. She loves to go to those little corners of the world that are far from the touristic drag and sidestep away from the obvious, where remoteness exposes the original way of life. Nanda focuses her work on conservation, culture, and wildlife. To immortalise her travels, she also has a passion for photography.
Faye Bradley is a freelance writer based in Hong Kong, covering topics in travel, wellness, F&B, and the arts. As the editor and business development executive for Cha Siu Papers Times and Compare Retreats, Faye has experience in writing predominantly about luxury travel and well-being. With a keen eye for finding hidden gems, exploring new destinations, and tasting best-of-the-best cuisines, she continues to pursue her love for writing about travel and visiting remote lands. You can find her by the pool with a good book and a mojito in hand.
Originally from the UK— but currently hailing from Hong Kong— Rachel Sadler is a freelance writer with experience in travel and lifestyle content. After a stint in Shanghai, now well-acquainted with her new Asian lifestyle, she loves searching for the best street-eats or losing hours at the beach. She can be found sipping on a G&T in town or scouring the city for the next best picture op— follow her on Instagram for all things travel and lifestyle related.
Rosslyn is currently working on her undergraduate degree in Montreal—however, her interests run far beyond the classroom. She craves hands-on learning through new experiences in different countries and cultures. Raised in Hong Kong, she’s had the privilege to travel to numerous Asia-Pacific regions within arm’s reach. Therefore, with any spare time available, Rosslyn is up for new adventures, whether it be action-packed or simply lounging by the beach soaking up some rays.
Amrita was born and brought up in the city of dreams—Mumbai—before she moved to Hong Kong. Magic is her life’s mantra. Which is why, you get no points for guessing that she’s a die-hard Potterhead. She loves manoeuvring through the bylanes of alien cities in search of delectable delicacies and blogging about them. She also has a palate for short stories and often writes tales inspired around the food she eats. Amrita has contributed to Condé Nast India in the past as a Copy Editor and Writer. And now, she’s on the quest to discover Hong Kong, one bite at a time.
Born in England but raised in Hong Kong since she was one, Holly is a freelance writer recently returned from a six-weeks-turned-six-months trip to New Zealand. When she’s not catching up with her friends and family, Holly can usually be found on a trail, at a gig, or hunting down Hong Kong’s best margarita. She is passionate about conservation, eco-travel, music, and fitness.
Based in Manila, Chinny is a grammar fiend and travel-holic by nature. She can usually be found scouring the internet for cheap tickets and planning her next trip to wherever the wind takes her.
Manasee is a Hong Kong-based freelance writer by profession and lover of fascinating cultures, lip-smacking cuisines, and a vibrant social life. Having worked as a travel guide all across APAC, Manasee has dug deep into historical fun facts, architectural styles, and the best places to eat and drink in the places she visited. As a travel writer, Manasee aspires to inspire readers to follow in her footsteps. After a long day of work, you can find her binge-watching Netflix shows with a glass of crisp wine.
Born and raised in Manila, Cy is a freelance content writer who travels to escape reality. Her definition of delayed gratification is booking multiple plane tickets several months ahead, often to the same Asian cities that have significantly influenced her perspective of the world. She has been a passionate fan of K-pop for over a decade now and will always have half of her heart in Seoul.
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