Every year, Time Out scopes out the coolest corners of the world’s greatest cities and lists them in a definitive annual ranking. These are the places where great nightlife, food and drink, culture, art, and independent business thrive next to each other, the areas that immediately give you a ‘good vibe’ and have you planning a return before you’ve even left. Hongkongers can be proud of the fact that one of our own has made it onto the world’s coolest neighbourhood list, and it is Sheung Wan!
Sitting comfortably in the 30th spot worldwide, Sheung Wan is a fascinating neighbourhood that boasts plenty of hip cafés, art galleries, little boutiques, and top-rated bars and restaurants, while still retaining a distinctly Cantonese identity at its very core. This was where the British first set foot onto Hong Kong and planted a Union Jack flag to declare us their colony. This was where the bubonic plague once hit our city the hardest, killing scores but also thereby establishing Hong Kong’s first hospital for the general public. Now, it is a hotspot for stylish cafés, fantastic restaurants both Michelin-starred and down-to-earth, attractive street art, and more than a dose of old Hong Kong nostalgia.
Spend a day or two in Sheung Wan indulging in everything from budget-friendly local fare to Michelin-starred avant-garde Chinese cuisine with a French twist, then walk off the calories by trawling the nooks and crannies for coloural murals and graffiti pieces. You can also go antiquing and poke around in vintage shops, then get a caffeine jolt at any of the terrific coffee shops in the ‘hood. For a dose of history, there’s no better landmark than having a wander through the incense-filled halls of the Man Mo Temple, a Grade I Historic Building and temple dedicated to the gods of literature and martial arts.
Follow our in-depth neighbourhood guide to Sheung Wan to experience the best of this district, and check out some interesting facts about this area that you probably don’t know!
As for which other cities are also among the coolest in the world, we can tell you that the top three honours for 2025 go to Jimbōchō in Tokyo, Borgerhout in Antwerp, and Barra Funda in São Paulo! Check out the full list of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world for your next travel inspiration.
Hear from Sheung Wan locals about their favourite spots:
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