Tsuen Wan: the ultimate neighbourhood guide

The largest cat café in Hong Kong, The Cats Tearoom houses around 30 kitties, of which numerous are strays. With 1,600 sq ft of space for the cats to prowl around, chow down on a range of Western dishes and delicious dessert as you play with your new feline buddies. Aside from adopting strays, The Cats Tearoom regularly donates to various animal shelters in Hong Kong. A guaranteed good time for cat lovers and for a good cause! 

You don’t have to travel all the way to the Swiss Alps to enjoy the ski chalet experience. Step into this cosy wooden-theme restaurant for a taste of some exceptional Western fare. Highlights from the menu include saffron risotto with slow-cooked Osso Bucco, tuna tataki with salmon roe, and some top-quality Australian steaks. Settle in on the leather armchairs and get cosy with a drink or two.

While the exterior doesn’t exactly scream Michelin-star cuisine, this countryside restaurant is renowned in the neighbourhood. Here you’ll find all the classic dim sum like har gau, sesame rolls and quail egg siu mai, but the stir-fried watercress (it’s seriously fresh) and sweet tofu pudding are the real must tries. Choi Lung is super old school, so it’s all self-service here and be quick to grab what you want. We also suggest going for the upstairs seating to enjoy the natural scenery as you tuck in. 

Using mangoes grown from their own farm on Luzon Island, Philippines, Crown Mango Expert is a mango-themed (obviously) dessert shop located in the heart of Tsuen Wan. And they're certainly experts too. Mango pudding, mango cheese tart, mango mochi, mango sticky rice, mango panna cotta – the list goes on. If you consider yourself a mango fiend, then this is the place for you.

Only months after its flagship store opening in Tsim Sha Tsui, Don Don Donki opened up its second location in Tsuen Wan's OP Mall. Unlike the TST location, the Tsuen Wan location opens only from 9am to 1am, but its 50,000 sq ft space makes it a definite must-visit. Plus, it's always fun to browse through aisle after aisle of kooky Japanese kick-knacks, beauty products, as well as tons of Japanese snacks and food.

A 2,300 sq ft all-inclusive party room in Tsuen Wan with a pastel colour theme, this party venue comes with a plethora of video games including PS4, Nintendo Switch, an arcade machine, karaoke, mahjong and an air hockey table. But the main draw here is their massive ball pit – because grown-ups love them too – and a costume corner (think Super Mario and Sailor Moon). There’s a minimum charge of $88 per person for three hours, which is jaw-droppingly cheap for all that entertainment. 

Despite being tucked away unsuspectingly inside a shopping mall, this dumpling restaurant is well-known and reputable for its sizable dumplings. There’s no shortage of flavours and options to chow on. You have your traditional ingredients such as chive and bak choi as well quirkier but no less delicious choices like cheese, lamb and onion and spicy pork. Served in either in soup and fried, make a full meal with an order of their MSG-free soup. 

They don’t just serve the same old Horlicks and Ovaltines at this cha chaan teng, they serve icy milkshakes as staple drinks. No CCT, though, would ever dream of not having eggs on the menu, and this one is no exception with extraordinarily thick scrambled egg sandwiches – getting your mouth round one will be a hot mess. If eggs aren’t your thing, try the freshly deep-fried wonton served with sweet chili sauce ($60).

Fancy a bake-off? Unfortunately, proper baking equipment can be expensive and not everyone has the space to fit an oven in their homes. Here's where Home Baking Day comes in. It's simple. Upon arrival (be sure to book ahead), choose what dessert or baked goodies you want to make, and you will be given access to all the tools and ingredients needed, along with a tablet with a recipe and detailed instructions to follow. From mirror glaze cakes to doughnuts, decadent cookies to cheese tarts, you can let your creativity run wild – without cleaning up any of the mess!

Sister branch of the historic dim sum restaurant Lin Heung Tea House in Sheung Wan. The menu here is much like the old, with a focus on time-honoured dim sum items such as siu mai with quail’s egg and Malaysian sponge cake.

Craving a homecooked meal? There’s nothing more comforting than a classic Hong Kong-style meat patty. With a name like Meat Pie Gor (literally meaning Meat Pie Brother), it should come as no surprise that this humble yet popular shop specialises in homemade meat patties. You can choose from a wide assortment of flavours, from traditional to more modern spins like lobster, cheese lava and black truffle scallop. 

Originally a cotton mill, this 1960s Tsuen Wan factory building has taken on new lease of life. The Mills is a regular stomping ground for artists, designers, and local talents. Visitors will be able to explore everything from the history and heritage of this revitalised landmark to green textiles products made by upcycling technologies. There are also plenty of eateries including grassroots burger joint Honbo, Tonkotsu Ramen from Tokyo, craft beers by The Ale Project, flower-themed brunch diner at Fleur and many more.

Tucked away in Tsuen Wan, Salami Restaurant maintained its popularity in the last two decades. Despite its name, there is (sadly) no salami available but there are plenty of steak sets for you to choose from. Dinner steak sets such as the Sirloin Steak ($155) even comes with your choice of an ice cream sundae or drink. And did we mention that you can have beer as your set beverage?

A traditional Hakka walled-house now preserved as a cultural-heritage museum in Tsuen Wan, Sam Tung Uk was once the home of the Chan clan, a Hakka clan that migrated to Hong Kong during the mid-18th century. With ivory white walls and coal-grey ceramic tiles, the house stands out among the skyscrapers and hustle and bustle of Tsuen Wan. You can check out 12 of the original houses at the museum, as well as a collection of agricultural tools and everyday objects of Hakka village life that are on permanent display. 

A gorgeously scenic body of water, head up to hills to take in the wide expense of the clear skies and fresh waters of the reservoir. There are several hiking trails near and around the reservoir including The Pineapple Dam – easily recognisable by its ancient city gate – and Tai Mo Shan (Hong Kong’s highest mountain). Fun fact: there are loads of wild monkeys in the area. Don’t let their cute faces fool you, they can get pretty vicious if they know you’re packing food.

Situated in Tsuen Wan’s Lo Wai village, Western Monastery is a Buddist institution with more than 40 years of history. The monastery is designed to replicate the grandeur of a Chinese palace with traditional yellow tiled roofs and flying eaves. Shrouded in between the surrounding mountains, you can truly experience some quiet and tranquility the moment you step into the monastery. The occasional passing monks chanting mantras also adds to the atmosphere.

Nothing screams romance more than dining barefoot on the beach. Helmed by celebrity chef Margaret Xu Yuan, Yin Yang Coastal in Tsuen Wan serves fresh, local and organic produce, including locally caught seafood, all cooked Cantonese-style. Yuan also uses organic produce from her own farm, so you can dine eco-consciously as well as romantically.