If you’ve got two and a half hours to spare or simply want to wander around Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row, then check out these 10 places that we found interesting:
1. MAN MO DIMSUM RESTAURANT - 40 Upper Lascar Row From its opening in 2014, Man Mo Dim Sum has continued to offer a true blend of Western and Asian flavours and styles in the food they serve. There are plenty of contemporary and fusion dim sum restaurants scattered across Hong Kong. However, Man Mo Dim Sum takes this merge of East and West up a few notches compared to the others by combining Asian cooking methods and authentic European ingredients in their dim sum. Shout out to all our fellow foodies, you’ll definitely find this place unique and engaging. The bold and out there flavours will definitely give you something to discuss and think about. If you’re visiting Hong Kong and have had your fair share of traditional dim sum then Man Mo Dim Sum is worth a visit. You’ll experience dim sum like never before; playful and eccentric. We visited Man Mo Dim Sum for lunch and tried the following:
● Mushroom dumplings
● Truffle brie dumplings
● Sea bass dumplings
● Foie Gras Xiao Long Bao
● Crispy lemongrass shrimp wonton
We couldn't help ourselves and had to try their desserts as well; the nutella ball, the HK egg lemon tart and the crème brulee. The foie gras Xiao Long Bao and the crème brulee were our favourites. The foie gras Xiao Long Bao was rich and packed with flavour, while the crème brulee tasted extremely fresh, had a delightful after taste and had the perfect balance between creaminess and sweetness. We loved their portions, as you’re able to choose between either 2 or 3 pieces of dim sum. Additionally, the intervals between each dish served were commendable. Unlike most dim sum places where everything comes very quickly and all at once, Man Mo Dim Sum served each dish one after the other, allowing us to properly taste their distinctive flavours and fully enjoy the experience. The restaurant’s atmosphere radiated a fun, uplifting and relaxing vibe! They also have a restaurant located in Bordeaux.
2. SELECT 18 - 14 Tung Street More vintage than antique, Select 18 is a time machine back to the 60s and through to the 90s/early 2000s. What makes Select 18 stand out for us is that it is super random which means you’ll never know what hidden treasures you’ll come across. The shop sells various things such as; vinyl records, costume pieces and jewellery, old tea sets, retro telephones and vintage toys, to name a few. Although a lot of the stuff is quirky Hong Kong memorabilia, there is stuff of old Americana, making Select 18 appealing for all ages. For teens, their things are fascinating novelties. For others, it's a trip down memory lane, bringing back childhood memories!
3. RAPHA STORE & COFFEE SHOP - 56 Sai Street Founded by Simon Mottram in 2004, Rapha produces luxury and high quality cycling clothing. What first got our attention was the coffee shop with its big windows and bright and open feel. Only upon closer inspection, did we realise it was part of a store (the Rapha store is located below the coffee shop). Not being cyclers ourselves, we still found this coffee shop attractive with its special combination of cycling and coffee - what a concept! Having explored their shop and cafe, we learnt that Rapha have ‘clubhouses’ located all over the world, from Copenhagen and Mallorca to Osaka and Seoul. Apart from purchasing their clothing and coffee, these ‘clubhouses’ act as a community for cyclists to congregate and catch up on races of the season. However, non-cyclists can also drop by to enjoy some good coffee and learn more about the art and sport of cycling.
4. THE CALLIGRAPHY MAN - located on Circular Pathway Find this little stall just at the end of Upper Lascar Row (go down the steps leading to Circular Pathway). Run by a few old locals, this stall is both historical and true to Hong Kong as it is one of the few places to still exist, which provides traditional Chinese calligraphy.
Despite the calligraphy industry fading out, many Hong Kong people still seek traditional calligraphy services to get names or blessings written out for luck or decorative purposes. This is especially common during the Chinese New Year. For tourists, it makes a great souvenir!
5. MAN MO TEMPLE - 124-126 Hollywood Road Built in 1847, Man Mo Temple is graded as a Grade I historical building in Hong Kong and rightly so. Apart from the temple’s impressive craftsmanship, the temple is incredibly atmospheric. Upon entering, you will be greeted by darkness and heavy smoke from the many incense coils burning from above. Accompanying the smell of incense and lingering smoke, the bright red and gold colours of the temple creates a mysterious aura. Man Mo Temple was built in honour of the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo). It is worshiped by locals for prosperity not just in examinations but also for prosperous health, luck and relations. Besides a place of worship, Man Mo Temple used to be a place for settling local disputes.
6. HANG LUNG ARTS ANTIQUE - 24 Upper Lascar Row Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row are filled with various antique and vintage stores, so sometimes it can be difficult to decide which one to visit. But, Hang Lung Arts Antique is instantly noticeable with its vast collection of human figures and statues. The store displays statues of Mao Zedong, girls and boys of the Communist Youth League of China and the like.
7. LIANG YI MUSEUM - 181-199 Hollywood Road The entrance to Liang Yi Museum can be easily missed, but do not let this discourage you from visiting one of Hong Kong’s most exquisite museums. Liang Yi Museum is a private, multi-storey museum with exhibitions running approximately twice a year. This month we had the opportunity to see their current exhibition, “Beneath The Surface: Chinese Inlay; Japanese Maki-E and European Cloisonné Enamel”. Showcasing an abundance of well-curated Chinese and Japanese furniture as well as European vanities, the exhibition acknowledges the most quintessential and laborious decorative techniques in history. Each artefact on display either relates to the Chinese method of inlay, also known as ‘baibaoqian’, meaning ‘hundred-treasures inlay’ or the Japanese use of lacquer and gold powder, or the European technique of cloisonné. The variety and presentation of the furniture and vanities was impressive. It was also very cool to be able to touch and feel the pieces as it added a great dimension to the experience and allowed us to better understand each decorative technique. You are also allowed to take pictures! Note that you must call or email to book before visiting the museum and that there is a $200 entrance fee. The fee includes a one hour guided tour in English, Cantonese or Mandarin. The guide was very knowledgeable and explained each exhibited piece in great detail.
8. DANDY’S ORGANIC CAFE - 32 Upper Lascar Row The food at Dandy’s Organic Cafe is 100% gluten free, chemical free and hormone free. However, it doesn't just stop there. Along wit
h their foods containing no refined sugar, customers have the option to choose dairy free, nut free, vegetarian, vegan, low carb or low GI meals, making the experience at Dandy very personal. Serving both Western and Asian foods, Dandy also has a huge array of herbal teas, coffees, pressed juices and desserts to choose from! The wide selection of foods and flavours available is what makes Dandy special to us. Most organic and health focused restaurants in Hong Kong only offer limited foods, such as; the classic salads and nourish bowls but at Dandy you’ll find burgers, curries, stir-frys, noodle soups and what they call “semi-evil” snacks. Of course, they are all still made with organic ingredients and can be tailored to your dietary needs. We popped over and tried the ‘vegan warm salad’, which included steamed veggies, roasted kumara, beetroot, pumpkin, quinoa, a selection of seeds and a hazelnut and almond pesto dressing. The food looked and tasted very fresh. You can tell that the raw ingredients are well sought after and the food is cooked on the spot. We also tried their detox juices, which were really refreshing as well. Overall, the food at Dandy makes you feel good and is a breather from the heavy and rich foods you normally find in Hong Kong’s dining scene. The ambience is relaxing and homely. Dandy’s Organic Cafe is especially perfect for the upcoming hot summer days as you can cool down and refuel with a satisfying, light and nutritious meal. The food is also very reasonably priced as normally organic and health focused restaurants in Hong Kong can be quite expensive.
9. HALFWAY COFFEE - 26 Upper Lascar Row
Halfway Coffee has three locations in Hong Kong, two in Sheung Wan and one in Kowloon. We paid a visit to the one on Upper Lascar Row to try their much-hyped coffee and we were not disappointed! Firstly the cafe is very Instagram worthy. Nestled in between the many antique shops along Upper Lascar Row and Hollywood Road, Halfway Coffee keeps in theme with their interior and use of traditional Hong Kong cups and saucers. The cafe’s interior is a mix of old and new, with contemporary furniture and old Hong Kong keepsakes. Every corner of Halfway Coffee is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. We tried the black sugar iced latte, the matcha iced latte and the hot rose latte. Both the iced lattes were not too sweet and the black sugar tasted authentic but the hot rose latte was unfortunately, on the sweeter side. However, the rose flavour was prominent and the latte was not bitter, striking a nice balance between a fruity and nutty taste. We noticed the attention of detail in how Halfway Coffee served their drinks as our lattes were decorated with rose petals and dark chocolate powder. Halfway Coffee is one of those cafes where you can sit there for hours. The service is good and you do not feel rushed or pressured to leave after a certain amount of time. Its tranquillity, slow paced and neighbourhood feel makes it the perfect place to wind down and leave the usual bustle of Hong Kong.
10. Frantzen’s Kitchen Owned by world-renowned chef, Björn Frantzén, Frantzén’s Kitchen is a small casual fine dining restaurant located in the trendy neighbourhood of Sheung Wan. From its interior to its food, Frantzén’s Kitchen successfully creates an atmosphere that is relaxed yet sophisticated. The contemporary Nordic restaurant offers innovative dishes and uses refined ingredients but its chilled vibe and friendly staff saves it from being pretentious. Mainly open for dinner (Tuesday-Saturday), Frantzén’s Kitchen does serve lunch, but only on Fridays and Saturdays. If you choose to go for dinner, you can choose to go a la carte or with their 8 course tasting menu. For lunch, choose between their 3 course, 6 course or “Sharing is Caring” set menu (only available for a party of 2) which includes 7 dishes and 2 of their signature truffle french toast.
A popular restaurant, we managed to get a booking for lunch and decided to go for their “Sharing is Caring” set menu. To start, we were served some sourdough bread and brown butter. Although the bread was not theirs, the brown butter is a specialty of Frantzén’s Kitchen. The brown butter is made by caramelising butter and then adding it to 50% temporized butter when it reaches 40 degrees. For us, the standout dishes were the french toast, the poached chicken and the liquorice creme brulee. The french toast, served with aged balsamic glaze and accompanied by a small cup of truffle tea was outstanding. The truffle was not too earthy so even if you’re not a truffle person, trust us when we say you’ll enjoy this. The truffle tea was delicious and complemented the toast’s mushroom flavours. As for the chicken, the meat was extremely tender and we were told by the head chef that the chicken is poached in milk infused with hay. The raspberry and liquorice creme brulee surprised us as we didn’t think the combination of tarragon, raspberry and liquorice could work so well but it did! Do not let the small looking portions at Frantzén’s Kitchen fool you. Their small and light dishes actually leave you very satisfied and allow you to dodge the post-meal bloat, win-win! Frantzén’s Kitchen is definitely worth a visit, but note that they are easily fully booked so call in advance!
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