Sheung Wan: The Ultimate Guide

Some may say Bar Leone is in Central, but we think its location on Bridges Street leans more into Sheung Wan. Either way, this cosy Italian-themed bar founded by award-winning mixologist Lorenzo Antinori keeps things simple with its laid-back and minimal approach to cocktails. It is currently sitting pretty as the second best bar in the world, so queues for Bar Leone start early. Don’t miss out on their filthy martini, delectable mortadella focaccia, and famous smoked olives.

The little sister to Hong Kong’s famous Bar Leone, Montana is the brainchild of Lorenzo Antinori and Simone Caporale (who founded Barcelona’s acclaimed Sips). Montana takes inspiration from the golden age of Cuba, where the pours were long, the beats fluid, and the atmosphere alive. Come here for fantastically well-balanced drinks like daiquiris that follow the very original Cuban recipe, though our favourite has got to be the Café Havana, their take on an espresso martini topped with banana cream.

Founded by cocktail bar veteran Jay Khan, Coa is a Mexican-inspired bar that specialises in all things agave and its often misunderstood spirit products like mezcal, tequila, raicilla, bacanora, and more. There’s nothing like a tequila cocktail to mentally transport you to South America, and Coa’s 41-page agave menu will definitely do that. It has also long been on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, and additionally topped the Asia’s 50 Best Bar rankings for three years in a row since 2021.

Sitting right across the road from Coa, Whisky & Words is a narrow, high-ceilinged space that makes sampling whiskies accessible instead of pretentious. There’s not a hint of leather, dark wood, or jazz muzak to be found here – just balanced cocktails, a library-themed interior, and a lo-fi hip-hop playlist that lends to its chill vibe.

Bianco & Rosso is the first house of vermouth in Hong Kong. On the menu, expect a wide selection of vermouths, fortified wines, spritz, amaro, and bitters, and a cocktail menu with vermouth highballs, spritzers, and seasonal cocktails. Indulge in refreshing drinks and dishes with European flavours crafted by head chef Ban Chee Min (formerly of La Petite Maison Dubai and Miami).  

This friendly wine den brings cheer to an otherwise uninspired corner of Hollywood Road. You’ll often see customers spilling out onto the public seating area outside due to the bar’s intimate size, but we rather think this is the best way to enjoy a glass or two of Corks’ selection of French wines. Most of their bottles are from independent, family-owned local wineries, so indulging basically means you’re doing your part to support small businesses.

This charming Scandinavian café offers a delightful all-day menu, featuring small-batch cakes and expertly brewed coffee. Must-try items here include the classic cinnamon and cardamom bun, as well as the indulgent breakfast plate with authentically Nordic accoutrements like Jarlsberg cheese and homemade lingonberry jam. As evening falls, Veneer transforms into a casual wine bar and offers a curated selection of natural wines. Pair your glasses with small plates like savoury goat’s cheese cheesecake or dates wrapped in prosciutto, and you’ve got a perfect combo to end the day with.

Best known for serving their coffee in vintage Hong Kong porcelain cups – their takeaway paper cups also features the porcelain patterns – Halfway Coffee is a small coffee joint appropriately tucked away near all the antique shops in Upper Lascar Row. They have all the classic coffee options and a wide selection of tea, but we’d also recommend trying the Okinawa black sugar milk for something a little different. Even if not for the coffee, the Instagram shot is well-worth the trip. 

This Korean-style cafe from the people behind Busan Night, Jeonpo Meat Shop, and Pecorino has recently taken over a two-storey shopfront on Queen’s Road West. The industrial vibes of the space are softened by intentional, retro decor such as sky-blue tiles outside the front, mismatched furniture pieces that look like they were plucked from vintage stores, and quirky but well-designed silverware. We love their Kactus Coffee, which only comes iced and topped with a slightly salty hand-whipped cream.

There are several branches of this popular cafe across Hong Kong, but their Hollywood Road location is our favourite, with a 7,000sq ft space housing an in-house bakery kitchen, roastery room, and outdoor seatings that can accommodate pets. Satisfy your caffeine fix with their signature brews, dig in to their freshly baked offerings, and pet some dogs that are always hanging out with their owners here. 

Upper Lascar Row is a quaint outdoor street market, also known as Cat Street, which is popular for its enticing antique shopping. It has more than 100 years of history and the shops here sell everything from delicate porcelain, Buddha sculptures, Maoist memorabilia, Ming dynasty ceramic horsemen, to old movie posters. 

Random yet full of surprises, Select 18 is one of Hong Kong’s best vintage dens, where you can sift through a range of olde tyme knick-knacks, furniture, and jewellery. If you’re lucky, you may even come across some thrifty designer finds. With its carefully selected assortment of clothing and shoes, you never know what you might find here.

A hidden gem for bibliophiles, Mount Zero Books offers a tranquil and cosy space for bookworms to dive into their favourite books or discover a new one. The shop specialises in local and Taiwanese titles with a small selection of English books available, and frequently hosts events so have a look on their socials to see what’s happening.

Learn about the art of brewing and drinking tea at tea specialist Yuan Yuan Tang, which specialises in aged Pu’er tea and stocks aged teas ranging from 25, 40, and even up to 70 years old. For a deeper dive, join their tea workshops that can host two to 10 people. Along with various kinds of tea, they also sell ceramics and tea-making accessories. 

Be sure to pop into Goose’ Chocolate, a café decorated with mid-century retro vibes. Like its name suggests, Goose’ Chocolate specialises in delightful creations such as single-origin puddings, mousse, and hot chocolate, all of which feature Tanzanian cocoa that’s roasted in-house. Not a chocoholic? Don’t worry – they’ve also got savoury dishes like their Goose’ breakfast to keep you satisfied.

With a striking orange storefront and a Moroccan-style design, it’s hard to miss this eye-catching store on the quiet corner of Tung Street and Tai Ping Shan. Nelles Gemmes showcases a variety of crystals, stones, and accessories, including incense sticks and sage smudge sticks. Crystal collectors can buy all kinds of healing stones and crystals like quartz, amethyst, citrine, pyrite, amazonite, and more, in various shapes and sizes.  

Located close to the many antique stores that dot Hollywood Road and Cat Street, the Man Mo Temple is a declared national monument and is said to have been built between 1847 and 1862 by wealthy Chinese merchants. A place of worship dedicated primarily to Man Cheong (god of literature) and Mo Tai (god of martial arts), the temple compound offers a heavily clouded atmosphere that’s a world away from the bustle of Hong Kong racing past outside. 

One of the oldest structures in Sheung Wan and a Hong Kong landmark, the iconic red-brick Western Market was renovated in 1991 and revamped into a shopping complex. It used to house stores for fabrics, textiles, and arts and craft products, though the venue is now closed for refurbishment. That doesn’t mean you can’t stop by to admire the Edwardian-style architecture though – it’s one of the last remaining in Hong Kong. 

A four-storey private museum on Hollywood Road, Liang Yi Museum is all about design, craftsmanship, and heritage. Home to impressive collections of Chinese antique furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as a premier collection of historic pieces that tell the bygone era of Europe, this is the place where you’ll find ornate relics and niche acquisitions of items like Japanese tobacco pipes from the 17th century to rare Persian art and ceramics. 

This park on the top of Possession Street marks the spot where the British navy first set foot in Hong Kong and planted a Union Jack declaring our city as a colony. Nestled in between residential buildings, it’s now a public park with traditional Chinese architecture such as a gateway with bright red pillars and green tiles, moon gates, a pagoda surrounded by a pond that’s home to a frankly astounding number of turtles.

There are plenty of murals, graffiti, and street art dotted around Sheung Wan, so keep an eye out for pops of colour that jump out for a flashy surprise every now and again. The area of Tai Ping Shan contains the most pieces in a small area, but there are also lots to find along Hollywood Road – just peek down the side roads as you make your way along.

Here’s our full guide to some of the best street art in Hong Kong.

Ibis is a big-name budget option in hotels – think the Holiday Inn of Hong Kong. That said, this hotel does provide modern rooms with en-suite bathrooms, located only an eight-minute walk from exit C of Sheung Wan MTR station.

The Sheung Wan by Ovolo features rooms with free WiFi, private and shared room options, a 24-hour gym, co-working space, and a Mexican tapas eatery and bar, Te Quiero Mucho. Air-conditioned private guestrooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels and Apple TV. The hotel is just a three-minute walk from Sheung Wan MTR station, a flight of stairs away from the buzzy Gough Street, and under 10 minutes away from the bar area of Soho. 

This boutique property features a warm and natural palette, along with textured hues and a modern but chic style. The hotel facilities include a fitness centre and mini theatre, while all guest rooms offer air-conditioning, free WiFi, a minibar, a personal safe, and a flat-screen TV. 

Sitting on the boundary of Central and Sheung Wan, Sleeep is a capsule hotel that offers sleeping pods in a functional yet well-designed space. They originally created these pods for office workers to catch a snooze during the day, but have since expanded their offerings to include longer stays for travellers too. 

You may already know the best things to see, do, eat, and drink in Sheung Wan, but do you also know these interesting facts?

Where to get quality cuppa in this vibrant district

Explore this cool historical street in Sheung Wan dotted with old and new eateries, trendy cafes, and independent shops