Things to do in Wan Chai: food, drinks, shops & things to do

When most people picture Taiwanese food, beef noodle soup, braised pork rice, or crispy cutlets usually come to mind. 1963 Treee goes a good bit deeper, serving up authentic fare made with ingredients you’d normally have to fly to Taiwan to find. The space itself does plenty of heavy lifting, too: floral wallpapers, wooden furniture, retro cameras, and a cabinet of antique printing blocks combine to make the place feel like an exceptionally stylish 1960s home. Since it’s regularly hired out for magazine shoots, movies, and music videos, opening hours can vary – check their Instagram (@1963Treee) before heading over.

We love heading to Grand Hyatt Steakhouse for special occasions. Fancy but not garish, the venue is dimly lit, furnished with dark wood, leather banquettes, and heavy drapery – almost reminding you of a classic Hollywood movie set. The menu is simple, just straight-up, stripped-down, classic American steakhouse cuisine. Head chef Marc Benkoe and his team ensure that every steak is prepared to perfection. The restaurant sources only top-of-the-range beef and other meats from around the world, including crossbreed Australian Wagyu and premium Hanwoo cuts such as ribeye and striploin. Sides like truffle mac and cheese are a must, and the wine list covers all bases with over 600 bottles of international vintages.

Not into fancy F&B offerings? Head to Kam Fung Cafe for a slice of old Hong Kong. This place is one of the few remaining old-school cha chan tengs where they still serve cold milk tea the traditional way – without ice. Located on Spring Garden Lane, Kam Fung’s satay beef instant noodles and chicken pie are popular, but the dish that keeps this place continually packed is its warm pineapple bun served with a thick slab of cold butter. Be sure to order it if you visit.

Bangkok’s cult boat noodle restaurant ThongSmith brings its signature eight-hour broth to Wan Chai, served with premium ingredients like Australian Wagyu ribeye and Kurobuta pork. The menu stays faithful to the original, with options ranging from the ThongSmith signature boat noodles with Wagyu round to Hong Kong exclusives like Karn’s fried rice, a peppery childhood favourite from co-founder and cuisine director Karn Kittivech, and Chalee’s Chicken ‘Ko Lae’, a Southern Thai-style charred chicken thigh marinated in coconut and curry. Save room for nostalgic desserts like Ka-Nom-Tuay, sun-dried banana fritters, and Pung Sung-Kaya, a soft steamed bread dessert with pandan or Thai milk tea custard dipping sauce.

Named after its founder, who’s been repeatedly featured on the 50 Top Pizza’s world artisan pizza chains list, this Italian restaurant serves Nuvola pizzas, Capuano’s inventive take on timeless Neapolitan pizzas that result in an exceptionally light and airy crust. Its menu features all kinds of classic pies, but the signatures to try here are the award-winning Provola E Peppe – topped with smoked provolone, hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes, mixed peppers, roasted cherry tomatoes, basil, and extra-virgin olive oil – and the Abbraccio e Mamma, an indulgent pizza with a ricotta-stuffed crust, traditional meatballs, melted Grana Padano cheese, and buffalo mozzarella on top. Most importantly, Vincenzo Capuano’s pizzas are served with a pair of golden scissors, so customers can divvy up their slices without ruining the pizzas’ fluffy air pockets.

A staple in Wan Chai’s dining scene, Keung Kee started as a humble pushcart back in 1951 and is now run by its third generation – earning consistent nods of approval and Michelin recommendations along the way. The non-negotiable order here is the glutinous rice with preserved Chinese sausage and duck liver sausage, and with one mouthful, you’ll understand why. Insisting on doing the work himself, the owner starts his work at 7am every morning, from soaking and steaming the rice to pan-frying the preserved sausages. Then, by the time the shop opens at noon, he pulls out a large plate of fragrant glutinous rice from the steamer and pours their special recipe soy sauce over it. The result is wonderfully fragrant, with flavourful preserved sausages that add a meaty richness and soft smokiness to the rice. Grab a bowl alongside classic curry fish balls, radish and pig skin, or traditional sweet soups, and consider lunch sorted.

Helmed by Vietnam-native and long-time Hong Kong resident Kiki Phung, Banh Mi Nem sources ingredients like pate, pork floss, and cold cuts straight from Vietnam. Phung learned the ropes at one of Ho Chi Minh’s most popular baguette stores, and brought the recipe back to local bakeries to ensure their baked loaves will always have that all-important crispy crust and airy centre. The classic cold cut sandwich loaded with house liver pate and char siu is the obvious starting point, while the braised tofu sandwich with mushroom pate offers an equally delicious alternative for vegetarians. Round it off with a bowl of cold vermicelli topped with fried spring rolls and wash it all down with a Vietnamese coffee or jasmine pandan tea.

Kumamoto’s popular tsukemen (dipping ramen) restaurant, Tsukemen Gyorai, has opened its first international branch in Hong Kong. They’re best known for their balanced, rich, yet refreshing broth, a unique feat in the ramen industry. The tsukemen broth starts with 50kg of pork bones, pig trotters, ribs, chicken bones, and chicken feet – all of which get crushed to release flavours during the cooking process. After the stock has boiled for a day, the chefs add a rich fish essence – made from sardines, mackerel, anchovies, and bonito – along with homemade spicy miso, onions, garlic paste, and ginger to balance the richness of the bone broth. Aside from its tonkotsu and fish ramen, diners at Tsukemen Gyorai can slurp up the restaurant’s signature curry tsukemen, or the mega spicy version if you like your food fiery hot.

This contemporary brasserie along Ship Street brings traditional home-style dining to an elevated, Art Nouveau space, with a menu that arguably highlights the crème de la crème of French cuisine: comforting dishes designed to feed the soul. 

Led by executive chef Cédric Tsia, previously of three-Michelin-starred Amber and one-Michelin-starred Louise, Chouchou’s menu is a celebration of authentic French flavours sans pretentious flair. Highlights include the Canard à l’Orange, a whole roasted dry-aged duck glazed with orange and spices, and the Traditional Tourte Française, a rustic dish with black truffle, comté, Parisian ham, and potatoes encased in golden puff pastry.

Since opening their brick-and-mortar store in Sai Ying Pun, Soft Thunder has earned a solid following with their delicious range of artisanal bakes. This Wan Chai location is the bakery’s first cafe space, offering classic viennoiserie like cinnamon rolls, giant palmier cookies, and egg tarts. They also have branch-exclusive items like creme caramel danish, pistachio croissant, a pistachio-flavoured unicorn puff, and more. On the coffee front, they’ve partnered with local roaster brand Roast Work to craft a bespoke house blend with nutty, cocoa, and hazelnut notes, specifically tailored to cut through sweet pastries, along with a fruitier option for lighter tastes.

Helmed by young pastry chef Cyrus Yan, Oh! My Bread churns out various pastries and breads on a daily basis. Sink your teeth into delightful creations like sesame pain au Suisse, almond croissants, or indulgent desserts such as dark chocolate tart with caramelised nuts or yuzu curd tarts. As for savoury options, Oh! My Bread also whips up freshly made sandwiches like smoked salmon ciabatta and smoked chicken focaccia, as well as a small selection of Taiwanese-style noodles and side dishes.

Step into Dirty Laundry, a hidden cocktail bar tucked behind a fake laundromat along Lockhart Road. This pink neon-lit bar is cosy and rustic, with cocktails that draw inspiration from local culture. Put down an order for signature drinks like ‘Wan Chai Dreams’, ‘Dizzy Cloud’, or ‘Floral Perfume’, a refreshing blend of rose water and cucumber-infused gin.

Mizunara: The Library is a true whisky haven. Named after a unique Japanese oak used in its home country for maturing whisky, Mizunara offers bespoke cocktails and a diverse collection of over 600 whiskies from Japanese, Scottish, American, and Irish distilleries. Knowledgeable bartenders can guide you to rare finds or shake up a creative cocktail to suit your taste. If you’re new to the whisky game, we recommend ordering one of their tasting flights to discover your preference.

With over 35 years as a historic institution of Hong Kong’s live music scene, The Wanch is back with a vengeance to bring the rock 'n' roll energy to Wan Chai. At a stone’s throw from their previous location, The Wanch has transformed from a live-music venue holding 20 in an intimate squeeze into a fully upgraded gastropub with a 183sq ft stage fully kitted out with high-quality audio, visual, and lighting equipment for live performances. Expect to dig into new menu items like classic fish and chips, roast chicken, fillet steak and The Wanch’s signature loaded nachos. No gastropub experience would be complete without a pint, and local legends Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery have stepped in as the venue’s official craft beer partner. Enjoy a curated selection of their craft ales on tap, or order from The Wanch's range of cocktails instead.

The St. Regis Bar is all about sophistication. Its 14 signature cocktails take inspiration from New York’s subway and Hong Kong’s tramline, both of which opened in the same year as the first St. Regis Hotel in New York. A must-try is the Canto Mary 2.0, the bar’s rendition of a classic Bloody Mary, which features dried tangerine peel, soy sauce, and a five-spice mix. The plush setting and live jazz set a relaxed, upscale tone, ideal for a chill evening or a pre-dinner drink.

Tai Lung Fung is a laidback cocktail bar located off the beaten track near the Blue House. Marked by a beaming red neon sign, the bar is a love letter to old Hong Kong, with vintage toys and antique items decorating the space. The drinks menu offers a selection of signature cocktails with a local twist, various beers, and affordable wines, all of which pair great with Tai Lung Fung’s selection of Hong Kong-style snacks like fried siu mai and fish balls.

Head to Wan Chai Stadium if you’re looking to catch a sports game over hearty food and endless pints. The place is decked out in sports memorabilia like a signed Liverpool shirt and even a Formula One race car replica that hangs from the ceiling. The energy can get a little crazy sometimes if there’s a big game on, but with several TV screens dotted around the venue broadcasting footie games, rugby matches, or Formula One races, you’ll have an unobstructed view no matter where you’re sitting. 

Le Quinze Vins is a staple for wine lovers, featuring an overwhelming list of French labels as well as traditional cheese and cold cut platters, steak frites, and other wine-heightened nibbles. As far as cosy, authentic wine bars go, LQV knocks it out of the park, and there’s little to fault. 

A quaint, friendly spot at the less fancy end of Ship Street, the drinking at Thaiwan often spills out onto the cul-de-sac outside. The bar offers up a surprisingly decent range of beers and Asian bar snacks that are none too shabby.

The Grand Hyatt’s Champagne Bar is an intimate lounge that pays homage to the Art Deco era. Featuring a lavish interior and a vast collection of boutique Champagnes, it’s perfect for special occasions and romantic first dates. The bar also crafts original Champagne cocktails using fresh ingredients and homemade liqueurs inspired by the hotel’s restaurants. One of our favourite things about the bar is its Champagne Spritz Hour, where you can concoct your own spritz with Champagne from their list and pair it with your choice of homemade liqueur.

The Blue House on Stone Nullah Lane is a colourful slice of old Hong Kong. Built in 1922 in classic Lingnan style, it stands as a UNESCO-recognised piece of architecture, having earned the 2017 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Excellence for Cultural Heritage Conservation. To learn more about its history and local community, visit Hong Kong House of Stories, a unique gallery space dedicated to recording and preserving the city’s cultural heritage.

Once the home to Wan Chai’s famous ‘Wedding Card Street’, Lee Tung Avenue is a 200-metre-long strip of shops, cafes, and restaurants. While it’s much smaller in comparison to other glitzy shopping malls, there’s a decent range of options in skincare, makeup, fashion, and lifestyle products. While you’re there, be sure to check out Gong Fu Teahouse, a traditional teahouse founded in 1961, specialising in preserving the art of tea culture and pure-quality tea leaves. During big seasonal holidays like Mid-Autumn Festival, Christmas, and Chinese New Year, the tree-lined street is also known for its festive decorations and events, making it a lively spot year-round.

HarbourChill is a relaxed waterfront spot with killer views of Victoria Harbour. Rent a pedal boat at the Water Sports and Recreation Precinct for a fun paddle with the city skyline as your backdrop. It’s a great way to enjoy the water and take a break from the urban bustle of Wan Chai.

Pak Tai is the largest temple on Hong Kong Island. This impressive grade-one historical building, which was built in 1863 by local residents, is nestled between high-rises on Lung On Street. A good stop for some peaceful self-reflection before you hit up some of the other attractions in the area.

The Hong Kong Arts Centre on Harbour Road is a creative hub for art lovers. It hosts exhibitions, film screenings, and live performances, putting a strong focus on local and international rising talents. The building is easy to navigate with a spiral staircase connecting to each floor, and there’s always something fresh to check out. Visit the art shop before you leave to pick up some unique items designed by local artists and brands.

Hopewell Mall is a retail hub with shopping, dining, and entertainment options all under one roof. It’s home to a handful of flagship stores like Hong Kong’s largest Nitori for home goods, family-friendly spots including The Wonderful World of Whimsy, Kiztopia, and Toys “R” Us, plus a gourmet supermarket.

You’ll also find a blend of local and international brands for fashion, electronics, and household essentials, alongside a food court dishing out quick bites. The mall also has a 60,000-sq-ft landscaped park to offer visitors a serene escape while connecting to areas like the Starstreet precinct and Lee Tung Avenue.

If you’re after digital retail therapy, Wan Chai Computer Centre has everything you could imagine. Located just outside Exit A4 is this temple to cables, laptops, cameras, monitors, headphones, video games and adaptors for devices you didn’t know you needed yet. The range is excellent and the prices fair. Still, if you’re after more of a bargain and willing to walk a little further, 188 Shopping Centre on Wan Chai Road is an excellent spot for secondhand electronics that compares favourably to anything in Sham Shui Po.

Comprising of 10 pre-war Grade II historic buildings built in the 1910s, 7 Mallory Street, or M7, opened in 2013 as one of the city’s many revitalisation projects, highlighting local culture and community. There are a number of exhibition areas that regularly showcase works by local artists, alongside a small handful of shops and eateries, including a vintage toy shop, cha chaan teng, and the Museum of Hong Kong Literature.