4 February 2019 - Since the early colonial days, the Mid-Levels has been the place of residence of government officials and the wealthy ones. Today, it is still an area where billionaires and celebrities alike choose to live, including Hong Kong actor Cheung Ka-Fai, Hong Kong’s former chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa, the family of the late Hang Seng Bank's founder Ho Tim and the family of the late business tycoon Henry Fok Ying-Tung.

Most of these homes carry a whopping price tag from $50 million to as high as billions of dollars. But if you are not ready for that price yet, renting might be an option as there is no shortage of options available on the market. We have picked a few (relatively) affordable but still very sought-after developments in Mid-Levels Central below, so you know where to look.

Grenville House

Grenville House was built in 1971, offering luxury apartments of over 3,000 square feet. While most developments in the area such as Magazine Court and Estoril Court also provide apartments of this size, Grenville House apartments are slightly larger by a few hundred square feet and have an efficiency ratio of over 90% which beats most other new private residential units in Mid-Levels.

Each of the five blocks in Grenville House has 12 floors and only two apartments on each floor. The apartments have an original layout of four good-size bedrooms with two en-suites, a ceiling height of 10 feet and a large balcony of about 150 square feet. Some apartments are designed with split-level living and dining room, giving them that extra luxurious feel.

Garden Terrace

Garden Terrace is located on Old Peak Road, an area that offers peaceful garden settings and secluded luxury as most of the road is closed to traffic. It has always been known for its large unit size with a four-bedroom layout and high efficiency ratio. It is 36 years old but meticulously maintained, and its appearance is still alluring. Each block in Garden Terrace has more than 30 floors, with only two apartments on each floor which provides a sense of privacy. Most apartments come with a balcony with a 180-degree view of the harbour.

Regence Royale

Regence Royale is conveniently located on Bowen Road. It is close to the main roads in Central such as Magazine Gap Road and Garden Road – you will be within just a 10-minute drive from the Central business district. Regence Royale has over 100 apartments in two blocks, a large clubhouse with an indoor swimming pool and a gym. Built in 2001, the development is also relatively new compared to other homes in the area. All apartments are well laid out with 3-4 bedrooms and features floor-to-ceiling windows.

Regence Royale is surrounded by mountains on one side with the other side facing Victoria harbour. The section of Bowen Road from Stubbs Road to Bowen Drive is lined with trees and equipped with metal gym equipment along the way, making it the perfect place to enjoy a stroll or a run.

Tregunter Towers

Tregunter Towers is located on Tregunter Path in Mid-Levels Central, with three high-rise residential towers named Tregunter 1, Tregunter 2, and Tregunter 3. The three towers share facilities such as an outdoor tennis court, an outdoor pool and a clubhouse where residents can enjoy sports facilities such as badminton, squash, billiards, basketball, weight training and aerobics. There is also a restaurant in the clubhouse and a multi-purpose activity room. In an area with predominantly older developments, this is quite an impressive range of facilities. Residents are also free to use the shuttle bus services to and from Central and Admiralty.