Airside: A guide to Kai Tak's new shopping complex

To mark the soft opening of Airside, Nan Fung is launching an extensive opening campaign titled Up in Airside. Themed around the aviation world, the campaign celebrates the transformation of the former Kai Tak Airport into a brand new landmark in Kowloon.

Photograph: Jenny Leung

Visitors are invited on a journey to explore the evolution of Hong Kong's aviation industry through immersive experiences and exhibitions, including the Desire to Fly exhibition, featuring historical artefacts and personal collections that illustrate the rich history of Kai Tak Airport; a showcase of a real, full-sized single-engine Beagle Pup 100 aircraft, which landed at Kai Tak Airport in 1972; an exclusive flight experience zone for visitors to enjoy the thrill of flying, and more.

Shoppers at Airside will be treated to a delightful shopping experience with a diverse range of homegrown and international brands at the mall.

Apart from a 25,000sq ft city'super, Airside is also home to Nespresso's first concept store in Asia, offering shoppers a glimpse into their sustainable recycling system, Re:Farm, which converts used coffee capsules into fertiliser for urban farming at Airside.

Photograph: Jenny Leung

There will also be a massive 12,000sq ft Muji store boasting a range of the brand's signature apparel, home essentials, and other lifestyle items. Inside the store is also a free water refill station and a coffee machine where customers can use their Octopus to purchase a cup of coffee on the go.

Photograph: Jenny Leung

Additionally, a series of homegrown brands will be present at Airside, including popular lifestyle stores like Homeless, B'IN Select, White Concept House, and Garian, as well as a selection of shops catering to the needs of both pets and owners. These include pet groomer Hola il colpo Hair & Pets, Japanese pet clothing store All Japan Pet, pet washing and supply store Ruff & Fetch, as well as Purr’Licious, an exclusive space offering cat snacks, toys, and eco-friendly products. 

Around 40 dining establishments are set to make Airside their new home – whether it's Asian delicacies, international cuisine, specialty bakeries, al fresco dining, trendy cafes, overseas eateries, or local bites, you'll find it all here.

Photograph: Cara Hung

Highlights include Cafe Deco Group's modern Japanese teahouse Nana's green tea, where the match-obsessed will be able to enjoy delicious tea-based drinks and desserts made from premium matcha powder; all-day dining restaurant Airside Cafe and its in-house boutique cake shop Airside Pâtisserie; a trendy standing sushi bar Uogashi Nihonichi; and the third Hong Kong outlet of Japan’s fried steak cutlet specialist Kyoto Katsugyu.

Photograph: Cara Hung

Other restaurants include the Western steakhouse Chef's Cuts, Korean barbecue joint Yuk Mi Jeong Dam, Japanese curry Omurice specialist Kometaki, boutique coffee shop Ideaology, and many more. Airside also has a spacious food court, Foodmuse, with a total of 11 eateries to choose from.

Aside from shopping and munching, visitors to Airside can also rest their tired feet at the new MCL Airside Cinema, which spans over 30,000sq ft and offers seven theatres accommodating up to 900 moviegoers. The cinema features a Dolby Atmos sound system and the Luxe: A RealD Experience, showcasing a 19m x 9m RealD Ultimate Screen that will elevate viewing experiences for both 2D and 3D films. 

Photograph: Jenny Leung

For something with more excitement, head to Airside's large-scale indoor surfing centre that spans over 10,000sq ft. The centre also has a restaurant and welcomes water sports enthusiasts to enjoy surfing year-round.

To give visitors a more diverse experience, Airside has dedicated over 10,000sq ft of space to art and culture. Exhibitions and programmes will be regularly held within the mall – including the 3,000sq ft Gate 33 Gallery – carefully curated by Airside's expert team. There are also commissioned artworks dotted around complex, each uniquely inspired by the essence of the Airside.

Photograph: Jenny Leung

Notable art pieces include a large-scale Lion Rock painting by emerging artist Wong Chun Hei; an interactive installation using traditional lion head imagery by artist Huan Du; a vibrant animated artwork depicting the past and present of the Kai Tak district by illustrator Onion Peterman; and a series of photographic works from renowned names such as Tugo Cheng, Poon Chi Hung, and the late John Fung.

In addition, Airside boasts nearly 18,000sq ft of serene outdoor areas featuring an elevated garden, open-air theatre, an urban farm, ample green spaces, as well as pet-friendly areas. Airside is also equipped with environmentally friendly facilities, including a waste sorting management system, an intelligent bicycle parking system, a district cooling system, and up to 850 electric vehicle charging parking spaces.