Wan Chai: Ultimate guide

Wan Chai has a world of cuisine to offer. Take your palate on a trip around Asia and pay a visit to restaurants like Samsen for excellent Thai food, Le Garçon Saigon for Vietnamese fare, 1963 Treee for Taiwanese gourmet, or head up to Danji and dig into hearty Korean dishes. If you're after something a little closer to home, chow down on tasty dim sum at Woo Cheong Tea House or dig into some classic Cantonese fare at Yixin Restaurant - order their popular roasted duck, and choose dishes from their excellent seafood selection.

For those who prefer Western cuisine, settle down at Crust Italian, which offers a taste of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, or head to 22 Ships for a range of traditional yet modern multi-regional tapas dishes.

We also love heading to Pici for fresh, hand-rolled pasta dishes and booking a table at the new contemporary French restaurant Auor for classy fine dining. 

Photograph: Courtesy JaJa

And if you're hoping to also feed your camera, be sure to visit Insta-famous joints such as JaJa, a colourful vegetarian restaurant serving up everything from Asian delights to all the pasta and pizza you need to satisfy your carb cravings; and Bakehouse, the highly popular bakery with all sorts of oven-fresh treats worth drooling over.

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One of our favourite bars in Wan Chai is Mizunara: The Library, a quiet whisky bar hidden above Lockhart Road, serving exquisite cocktails, an extensive whisky list, and attentive service. Fans of Mizunara can also visit the newly opened Western-Japanese restaurant, Maison Meiji, where you'll find handcrafted shochu and awamori cocktails by the team behind Mizunara in the Kuromaru lounge.

Want to drink and enjoy the city view? Head to the new whisky bar Uncle Ming's atop boutique hotel AKI Hong Kong – MGallery.

Photograph: Courtesy The Baker and The Bottleman

For wine lovers, check out The Baker & The Bottleman's wine bar, which offers a well-curated menu by master sommelier Pierre Brunelli (one of only over 200 master sommeliers in the world) with organic and biodynamic wines from sustainable and ethical winegrowers around the world. You can also drop by the cosy Parisian bar LQV Wan Chai - Le Bar & La Cav, the global brand Le Quinze Vins' first wine bar in Asia; it's a perfect haven for discerning drinkers of fine French wine. 

If you're looking for a caffeine fix, Aussie-inspired cafe Ninetys has excellent lattes and Australian-style brunch food by day, and a creative dinner menu along with a selection of wine, sake and craft beers by night.

For more cafe-hopping adventures, browse our list of the best cafes in Wan Chai. 

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Wan Chai Market – one of Hong Kong's best wet markets – is usually frequented by gourmands to shop for the freshest produce – from seafood, meat, and vegetables. For bargain clothing, Spring Garden Lane is your best stop for cheap garments, clothes, and even underwear. Buying toys for the kids? Tai Yuen Street is filled with rows of stores selling toys and party favours. 

If you're after digital retail therapy, Wan Chai Computer Centre has every kind of tech you can imagine – from phones, drones, computers, webcams, and more. And though Wan Chai does not offer many high-end brands like its neighbouring Causeway Bay, you'll find many boutique shops selling the coolest fashion in Starstreet Precinct's quaint neighbourhood. Browse curated clothing, lifestyle products, and homewares at Kapok retail shop or drop by at Hong Kong-based brand Lane Eight for eco-friendly footwear. 

For men's fashion, visit Sarto Lab, an apparel shop by Il Sarto known for its outstanding Shanghai tailoring. Located at St Francis Yard, the store stocks men's accessories and apparel and offers quality bespoke tailoring using top-of-the-line European fabrics. 

A visit to the Blue House cluster is a must for history buffs in Wan Chai. Built in the 1920s, the colourful landmark comprises residential flats, restaurants, a community service centre, and Hong Kong House of Stories, a unique gallery space dedicated to recording and preserving the city’s cultural heritage. After your visit, make your way up Stone Nullah Lane to see the impressive Pak Tai Temple, one of the largest temples on Hong Kong Island built in 1863 by local residents.

For a spot of art and culture, the Hong Kong Arts Centre is an excellent place to start as the venue often has a series of exhibitions, performances, and screenings on show for the public. Culture vultures can also explore further into the Wan Chai neighbourhood to find street art by local and international artists for the HKWalls festival in 2019 (follow this map to discover them all!), or make their way to Foo Tak Building, where a handful of independent bookstores, galleries, handicraft shops, and artist studios reside. 

Photograph: Courtesy Gov HK

Not into art? Then head over to HarbourChill, a themed harbourfront space located next to the Wan Chai Ferry Pier, and rent a pedal boat at the Water Sports and Recreation Precinct (Phase 2) to enjoy paddling within Victoria Harbour. After the excursion, treat yourself to some pampering and visit Plateau Spa at the Grand Hyatt to try the signature hot stone Plateau Massage or the lymphatic drainage Hong Kong Massage.

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There are numerous hotel options in Wan Chai, but you can't go wrong staying at luxurious hotels such as the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong or The St. Regis Hong Kong, where you can enjoy stunning harbour views and fine dining options. 

Photograph: Courtesy The Hair Hong Kong | Zoku

If you're looking for boutique hotels, opt for a stay at The Hari Hong Kong. Located between Causeway Bay and Wan Chai, the hotel offers views of the bustling city and is home to Italian restaurant Lucciola and Zoku, a lounge-style Japanese restaurant with an attached terrace bar that provides an open-air experience. Perfect for date nights. 

And just a short walk from Causeway Bay and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, you'll find the brand new boutique hotel under the MGallery Hotel Collection of Accor Group, Aki Hong Kong – Mgallery. 

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