This small but centrally located neighbourhood on Hong Kong island is filled with old school charm and local life. This guide to Sheung Wan Hong Kong is filled with tried & tested gems after having called Sheung Wan our home for nearly 10 months!
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Getting here - breakdown
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong is centrally located on the north side of Hong Kong Island. It has its own MTR station and is also easily reachable by taxi, tram (locally known as the ding ding) and by bus.
You can also walk here if you're staying in the neighbourhoods of Sai Ying Pun or Central, which makes it a great base if you want to reach the nightlife in Central but not stay "right" in the chaos.
It's also quite hilly, which results in multiple "levels" within the neighbourhood itself. The first level is close to the MTR and is well known by locals for its main retail shops selling old Chinese dried seafood goods. As you go up & increase in elevation, you reach more laid back shops, cafes and vibes, ultimately ending up on a no car street drinking coffee with the trees in the breeze.
What to do
Here are some of the highlights you can do when visiting the neighbourhood of Sheung Wan, Hong Kong:
Visit Man Mo Temple. An old traditional temple, nestled right in the middle of tall residential buildings is somewhat spectacular to look at.
Get lost in the wounding streets "on level one" and visit local shops selling dried seafood goods. Dried seafood isn't something commonly found in the west, so all the interesting colours, smells and textures are quite the sight!
Sit & have coffee at one of the multiple cafes and take in the vibe. Although Sheung Wan Hong Kong is boasting with good quality coffee cafes, our favourite has to be Halfway coffee, purely for it's quite location. Make sure you sit outside & take in local life!
Hollywood road park. If you're after some greenery in the city, this park is great for getting away from the hustle & bustle. We used to grab some food and come sit here for lunch hour and couldn't recommend it enough.
Shop at PMQ. This is a super unique shopping complex focused on local art & design located in an industrial style complex.
Have an early weekend brunch on Tai Ping Shan St. This street is at the very top of Sheung Wan Hong Kong and is perfect to visit for an early brunch on the weekend. Sit outside & take in the peace and quiet!
Where to stay in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
If you're visiting, this neighbourhood is a great base to explore the rest of the city. Here are some accommodation options:
$$$ For the refined luxury lover with a view of the city - Hotel One96
$$ Quality, views and a great price - Hotel 99 Bonham
$ Nothing fancy, but reliable & super budget friendly - ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung
Where to eat & drink
After calling the neighbourhood of Sheung Wan, Hong Kong our home for nearly 10 months, these were our top eateries that we kept coming back to:
Meanwhile coffee - a Japanese style coffee house, their unique drinks and cozy cafe vibe are perfect for those rainy days
Dragon State Kitchen & Restaurant - whether we'd like to admit it or not, the budget friendly BBQ Pork on rice with the ginger and scallion on top was on our weekly roster!
Katsudo - a local fav this HK style cafe serves classics like HK style french toast and great breakfast sets
Bedu - perfect for a fancier lunch or dinner this middle eastern restaurant has a semi-open kitchen so you can watch all the action
For Kee Restaurant - another local HK style cafe, they had the best HK french toast we've tasted!
Hei Bat Fong - great quick lunch or dinner spot, they specialise in Shanghai style noodle soups & dumplings.
For more great food options around the city that are budget friendly, refer to my "Best food in Hong Kong on a budget" guide here.
