Header photo courtesy of @will_tm (via Instagram)
Originally published by Amanda Sheppard. Last updated by Annette Chan.
Just west of the banks and sky-high shopping malls of Central, you’ll find the hipster haven of Sheung Wan. Once a sleepy area filled with hoi mei (海味; dried seafood) shops and antique dealers, Sheung Wan has experienced a renaissance over the last decade or so, with countless restaurants, cafés, and boutiques popping up across the district. The rapid gentrification of Sheung Wan, combined with its historical and cultural landmarks, has made for a unique combination of old and new; third-wave cafés now rub shoulders with traditional Chinese medicine shops, and you can go from flashy LGBTQ nightclubs to ancient temples in a mere matter of steps.
Given the sheer concentration of incredible things to do, see, eat, and drink in Sheung Wan—and our familiarity with the district that Localiiz calls home—it would be a fool’s errand to try and jot down absolutely everything worth checking out. Still, we’ve done our best to give an overview of the most iconic highlights Sheung Wan has to offer, as well as some under-the-radar gems and cool new finds.