Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [104]
COSMOS BOOKS
Map Books
2866 1677; Basement & 1st fl, 30 Johnston Rd, Wan Chai; 6, 6A or 6X
This chain-store branch has a good selection of China-related books in the basement. Upstairs are English-language books (nonfiction is strong) plus one of Hong Kong’s best stationery departments. Enter the Wan Chai store from Lun Fat St and the Tsimsy branch from Granville Rd.
SONJIA Map Clothing, Homewares
2529 6223; 2 Sun St, Wan Chai; 9.30am-7.30pm Mon-Sat; MTR Admiralty (exit F)
Sumptuous, romantic womenswear creations from this Anglo-Korean Hong Kong designer in silk, velvet and fine cotton, much of it hand-finished with embroidery, plus vintage jewellery and a few international labels, such as Lagerfeld. The adjoining store stocks a select bunch of elegant homewares to suit every taste.
45R JEANS
Map Clothing & Accessories
2175 5545; 7 Star Street; MTR Admiralty (exit F)
Can jeans be desirable enough to be worth thousands of Hong Kong dollars? Only you can decide, but there’s no doubt the finishing flourishes and high-end fabric and dyeing give them that ‘one-off’ look. They fit well, too.
KENT & CURWEN
Map Clothing & Accessories
2840 0023; Shop 372, 3rd fl, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; MTR Admiralty, exit F
Distinguished suits, dress shirts, ties, cuff-links and casual tops for the gentleman who’d rather look to the manor born than arriviste broker.
PACIFIC CUSTOM TAILORS
Map Clothing & Accessories
2845 5377; Shop 110, 1st fl, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; MTR Admiralty (exit C1)
This is one of our favourite bespoke tailors in Hong Kong. It’ll make or copy anything; turnaround on most items is two or three days, including two fittings. Count on about $4000 for a suit.
VIVIENNE TAM
Map Clothing & Accessories
2918 0238; www.viviennetam.com; Shop 209, 2nd fl, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; MTR Admiralty (exit F)
This enduring brand from New York–based designer Tam, who was trained in Hong Kong, sells eminently wearable, feminine but also streetwise women’s foundation pieces, light gossamer dresses and slinky tops, plus a range of accessories.
WAN CHAI COMPUTER CENTRE
Map Computers
1st fl, Southorn Centre, 130-138 Hennessy Rd, Wan Chai; closed Sun; MTR Wan Chai (exit B2)
This place, on the northern edge of Southorn Playground, is a cut above Hong Kong’s computer emporiums. The prices on pretty much everything digital are generally keener than the local chain stores.
CHINESE ARTS & CRAFTS
Map Department Store
2523 3933; Shop 220, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; MTR Admiralty (exit F)
Mainland-owned CAC is probably the best place in Hong Kong to buy quality bric-a-brac and other Chinese trinkets; it’s positively an Aladdin’s cave of souvenirs. On Hong Kong Island there are also branches in Central ( Map; 2901 0338; Ground fl, Asia Standard Tower, 59 Queen’s Rd Central) and Tsim Sha Tsui ( Map; 2735 4061; 1st fl, Star House, 3 Salisbury Rd), and there’s also a huge one in Wan Chai ( Map; 2827 6667; Lower Block, China Resources Bldg, 26 Harbour Rd).
DESIGN GALLERY
Map Gifts & Souvenirs
2584 4146; Level 1, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai; 18
Supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, this shop showcases local design in the form of jewellery, toys, ornaments and gadgets. It’s a chaotic but often rewarding gaggle of goodies. A great place to find present-buying inspiration. There’s also a branch in the check-in hall at the airport ( 2261 2524; TEO7, Level 7).
HONG KONG RECORDS
Map Music
2845 7088; Shop 252, 2nd fl, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; MTR Admiralty, exit F
This local outfit has a good selection of Cantonese and international sounds, including traditional Chinese, jazz, classical and contemporary music. There’s also a good range of DVDs and VCDs of both Chinese films and Western movies with Chinese subtitles. There’s also a Kowloon Tong branch (