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Commonly referring to the area found “above” Sheung Wan, Poho is essentially the streets of Po Hing Fong and Tai Ping Shan, along with the surrounding area. It is a scatter of cafés and petite boutiques, each with a unique charm that separates the neighbourhood from the rest of Sheung Wan. If you’re still not quite sure where Poho is and would like to explore it for yourself, keep reading to see what we like to do in the area!
Established in 2014, Schragels is where to go for a taste of authentic New York-style bagels in Hong Kong and Macau. Despite their successful wholesale and delivery bagels, nothing beats the freshly baked bagels that come out of their production kitchen in Sheung Wan every morning that you can pack with fillings of your choice. Our editors’ favourites include the SchTurkey Bagel ($90), with honey and pecan schmear, turkey, and sliced apple, or the Loxy Lady Bagel ($90) with scallion schmear, smoked salmon, capers, and red onion for an authentic taste of New York!
Schragels, 17 Po Yan Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 9730 6727
Nordic cuisine is not so commonly found in Hong Kong, but tucked away in the corner of Tai Ping Shan is Frantzen’s Kitchen, here to satisfy your Nordic cravings with a touch of Asian influence. Their signature French Toast ($125), made with a generous portion of shaved truffle and served with Balsamic vinegar, aged cheese, and truffle tea is something we like to start the meal with every time. For a full modern Nordic experience, we would definitely opt for the tasting menu that includes exclusive dishes you can’t find in the à la carte menu, with novel ingredients like arctic char (arguably the better cousin of salmon), plenty of root vegetables, and Scandinavian plating techniques.
Frantzen’s Kitchen, 11 Upper Station Street, Tai Ping Shan, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2559 8508
We love the rich flavours of Spanish Iberico ham, so this Spanish ham shop is a slice of heaven for us. Reserva Iberica has a variety of Spanish hams, including our favourite Bellota Ham, as well as Spanish cheeses, sardines, and wines. There’s a small area outside of the shop for you to indulge in a ham and cheese board of your own choice along with a glass of wine or sangria, though we would probably still buy and take everything home!
Reserva Iberica, Shop C, G/F, 15 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2111 0066
Crit Room is one of the new additions to Poho and it accredits itself as a creative place “for opinions and ideas” and “knowledge for art, wine, and food.” The sleek, minimalistic décor of the Italian restaurant is designed by Hong Kong architect Barrie Ho, with mirrored walls to enlarge the space and small tables of two for an intimate evening. Their homemade Squid Ink Taglierini Pasta ($208) is a must-try, as well as anything that has Sicilian red prawns for a burst of flavour!
Crit Room, Shop C, G/F, 30 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2366 9608
Located in Poho, the patisserie shop is a one-stop-shop for chocolate, baking ingredients, dessert-making utensils, desserts to take home, as well as pastry classes. Pastry Chef Jeffery Koo used to work in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and established a reputation for creating artistic desserts. He teaches celebrities how to make desserts on television, and now offers classes in his dessert shop for anyone to sign up. Here’s a perfect little place to pick up a cake for the next birthday bash!
Patisserie Jeffery Koo, G/F, 22 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 5335 0301
A tea specialist, Teakha serves authentic tea and tea desserts to loyal tea fanatics like ourselves. They also serve homemade baked goods such as creative flavours of chiffon cake, scones, and more. For more filling options, they also have avocado tostadas, pancakes and yoghurt and granola. We are such a fan of their hot chocolates and their special menu changes every so often to keep us all entertained!
Teakha, Shop B, 18 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2858 9185
A coffee shop brimming with Hong Kong culture, Lof 10 is the perfect example of how modern style blends with the local culture. Their logo is shaped like an old neon-lit sign and it is also engraved on their retro sliding metal door at the entrance. The laid-back venue offers a range of flavoured coffees that can also double as an aesthetic Instagram post, such as the Flat White ($58) or the swirling matcha in the Green Tea Latte ($58)!
Lof 10, Flat B, 1 U Lam Terrace, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2540 2210
Poho is a neighbourhood with its unique character, and Oldish is the perfect old-fashion designed cafe to show that. Filled with retro furniture, antiques, and old movie posters, you instantly get a warm and cosy feeling just by sitting down. They offer a mix of Asian and Italian flavours on their menu with a range of breakfast in skillets and omelettes for the perfect brunch.
Oldish, G/F, 53 Tung Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2697 3313
Green Ginkgo Tea is Hong Kong’s first hand-brew tea bar, with premium tea sourced from Japan and China that can surprise even a tea lover. Each pot of tea is brewed by their tea baristas using carefully adjusted techniques according to the types of tea and even the weather conditions. You can interact with tea baristas to understand more about tea and let baristas understand your preferences as you to drink to enrich yourself in the knowledge of tea, whether it is the Premium Awarded Uji Matcha ($128) or the Jasmine Phoenix Oolong ($158), you never know what may surprise you!
Green Ginkgo Tea, 1 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan
Many of you may already know of Cupping Room due to the many locations they have all over the city, but the Cupping Room Roastery in Poho gives us extra peace and quiet. Their speciality coffees are perfect for a quick catch up with friends, out-of-office meetings, and solo work sessions. They also have a range of savoury options to keep your stomachs from grumbling!
The Cupping Room Roastery, Shop 8, Silver Jubilee Mansion, 62–72 Po Hong Fong, Sheung Wan | (+852) 3705 0208
Hidden in the top parts of Poho, you can find over 280 types of international crafts beers at Craftissimo. Their shop lets you choose to either take the beers home with you or enjoy them in the small outdoor area just outside the shop. They also have regular tap-takeovers from craft breweries and beer launches such as Magpie Brewing, Birra del Borgo, and Saigon Sour, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Craftissimo, Tai Ping Building, Shop D, G/F, Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan
A luxury boutique florist hidden in Poho, Forest by K creates art pieces with their flower arrangements. They offer bespoke bouquets, flower arrangments for your home or for events, as well as wedding flower arrangements. The flowers are more on the expensive side, with bouquets starting from $1,500 but for the aesthetic they provide, we say it’s well worth it. Be sure to get in touch with the florist at least three to four days in advance to give them ample time to prepare!
Forest by K, 40 Tung Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2877 0989
Focusing on the Scandinavian aesthetic, Squarestreet is a modern accessory store that offers contemporary timepieces and other jewellery pieces. From minimalistic wristwatches to geometric earrings, they have something for everyone. Part of the shop is also a Swedish cafe called KAFFE, serving coffee roasted weekly in Sweden and pastries made by a Swedish baker.
Squarestreet, G/F, 15 Square Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2362 1086
This chic eyewear store is all about aesthetics; from their storefront lamp to the store interior to every piece of eyewear, Khromis is aiming to stand out from the crowd. The brand focuses on using natural acetate and metal materials for their eyewear, paired with unique designs to help elevate your look of the day. If you’re looking to update your frames with something chic and modern, browse through the collection at Khromis.
Khromis, 1 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2772 2373
Château Zoobeetle is the only store to offer the entire collection of leather goods from ZOOBEETLE Paris, but they also curated a selection of music, cosmetics, books, and clothes for a full shopping experience. In between shopping, you can also visit their wine bar for a glass and snack on a plate of French cheese and charcuterie!
Château Zoobeetle, 38 Sai Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2559 8555
Parfumerie Trésor offers a range of creative and unique fragrances that can’t be found anywhere else, with stocks from London, Paris, Switzerland and more. The lesser-known brands available in store are perfect if you’re looking for any one-of-a-kind fragrance to show off your individuality, and this perfume shop with their knowledgable staff is the place to be.
Parfumerie Trésor, G/F, 18 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2711 5922
Tung Yao Ceramics hosts workshops at different levels for ceramics and pottery-making, which can make a fun weekend activity with friends and family. For beginners, you can try at their trial classes whereas those of you with experience can go for something more advanced. They also have ready-made bowls, vases, and other homeware in store for sale if you are just walking past!
Tung Yao Ceramics, 4 Po Yan Street, Sheung Wan
A quiet bookstore in one of the alleyways of Poho, Mount Zero is a bookstore-cum-café that sells the owner’s hand-curated collection of books. Located next to a local fast-food restaurant, take care to avoid visiting during lunch hours as the area around will be packed with office workers taking their lunches. Otherwise, it is a quiet and serene space with a public reading room on the second floor.
Mount Zero, Shop C, 6 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan
Blue Lotus Gallery is an independent art gallery that has presented some of the biggest and most influential art exhibitions in Hong Kong. Located in the quiet neighbourhood of Poho, it is one of the many art galleries where you can find books and prints of the old and new Hong Kong shown through the eyes of seasoned photographers as well as emerging contemporary artists.
Blue Lotus Gallery, G/F, 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan | (+852) 5590 3229
Having lived in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London sure is a fun fact whenever people try to guess Ching’s accent. She loves switching between all these language channels and her ‘mother tongue’ is just determined by how many drinks she’s had for the night! She loves movies, travelling, and exploring cities, from hidden alleys to gourmet dining, so feel free to hit her up if you need any suggestions for dinner!
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