7 The Pawn
Yet another Hong Kong institution, the iconic, beige-washed block of pre-war residential buildings lining Johnston Road in Wan Chai is fondly known as The Pawn, a historical site dating back to around 1888. What is now a bar and restaurant serving up contemporary Western delicacies and handcrafted cocktails used to be a traditional Hong Kong pawnshop, boasting an eclectic melting pot of Chinese and Western architectural features—hence its recognisable nickname.
The Pawn was built in a contiguous, elongated layout, with French windows and verandahs facing tram-lined Johnston Road. In 1966, the Yu clan purchased one portion of the block and inscribed the Chinese name of The Hong Kong Yu Clansmen Association on the top verandah façade. Its next-door neighbour, the Woo Cheong Pawn Shop, originally owned by the Lo family—well-known local pawnshop traders for over a century—is what gave this revitalised building its current name.
Historically, the shophouses did not have toilets or appropriate bathroom plumbing and the “nightsoil” from the pail latrine was collected by government scavengers at night. What a delightful fun fact to think about as you indulge in delicious food and drinks while being drawn in by the building’s nostalgic and precious architecture!
The Pawn, 60–66 Johnston Road, Wan Chai