Star Street District Shopping Tour, Wan Chai

Stylish, elegant and pricey, Pacific Place delivers as one of Hong Kong's most exclusive shopping venues for the well-heeled Hong Kong shopper. Locals and visitor go here for their fix of the world's most exclusive brands.

In Asia, malls are king, and in Hong Kong few shopping malls can rival Pacific Place for its sheer size and number of luxury stores.

Pacific Place is a not only a mall but a complex of office towers, hotels and residences.

The newest addition, Three Pacific Place, located at 1 Queen's Road East, is a perfect way to enter the Star Street district.

The four-level mall is home to more than 130 shops, two major department stores, hotels and serviced apartments.

The shops are a mix of high-end Western and Asia brands including Hong Kong Seibu, Lane Crawford, A|X Armani Exchange, Ted Baker, Chinese Arts & Crafts, Dolce & Gabbana, Joyce, Vivienne Tam, Zadig & Voltaire.

Spend some time in the mall and then follow the signs and exit through Pacific Place Three, up the escalators and out the glass doors.

With it's own metro stop, it is easy to reach from Central or Kowloon.
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Subway
Admiralty MTR Station

From Pacific Place Three, make a right onto Wing Fung Street. Just a few feet up the side street, you will find Epoch. This artsy coffeehouse is a great place to pick up a cuppa or take a short break after the mall.

Epoch has a bohemian vibe, with small couches and tables in a bilevel open-air cafe. Order at the counter and the helpful, hipster staff will bring your food to you.

There is a magazine and CD corner, where you can buy and listen to the CDs, and local art on the walls. They play great music, as you might expect from a place with its own in-house DJ.

Epoch also has inexpensive paninis, quick lunch items, desserts and salads. Wi-Fi is available.
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12-14 Wing Fung St.
Wanchai
852-2811-2140

Cross the street to this small boutique run by the brother and sister team of Kay and Jing Wong; it gets rave reviews with the local press.

The store sells a mix of its own designs and five other small labels from Japan and England. The clothes are fairly flamboyant, with big flowers, funky wool necklaces and big chunky hand-made accessories. They are very much in line with the underground vibe of Tokyo chic.

The store is also a gathering spot for workshops on playing guitar, creating a pin-hole photograph and making crafts.
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21 Wing Fung St.
Wanchai
852-2817-6313

Walk up and across the street, then climb the narrow stairs to this art space and you will find an unexpected treat.

Conceived by the French clothing brand Agnes b., the gallery exhibits an array of international art--from photography and painting to sculptures, installation art and videos--and showcases local artists.

The space allows you to experience interactive art installations by walking through and around the pieces, experiencing the art in a unique way.
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1/F, 18 Wing Fung St.
Wan Chai
852-2869-5505
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Hours
Monday-Saturday 11:30am-8pm
Closed Sundays, public holidays

Make a right and you are on Star Street.

Browse up and down this famous street for lots of fun boutiques, eateries and shopping. Pop in at Spa L'Occitane, where you can buy many of the body and bath products featured on the spa's menu; see Japanese clothing store 45R; stroll past the beautifully designed Chez Patrick Deli; and look in on Scandinavian designer Vein.

This relaxed street is best for browsing. Lots of new stores are always popping up, so let your inner explorer roam.

Halfway down Star Street, you can take an optional browse down one of the lanes. Take a left on Sun Street to see some of the old Chinese houses and cafes. You might find some locals eating, especially at lunchtime. You will also pass the narrow Moon Street on your right.

Explore and enjoy walking around this quiet, relaxed, distinct Chinese neighborhood turned shopping district.

As you continue down to the end of Star Street, it will dead end onto St. Francis Street. Turn left onto St. Francis, walk downhill about a block onto St. Francis Yard, another quiet lane. You can't miss it.

Here you will find British-based Monocle Shop, a luxury goods store. Monocle is best known for its culture magazine founded by well-known journalist Tyler Brulé and for its brand of cool design products. It has been recently expanding in Asia and it's office in the back.

Here you can buy bound notebooks, issues of the magazine, jewelry, clothing, tote bags and briefcases.

Fun facts: You can see the magazine staff working while you shop.

When you are done, retrace your steps to St. Francis Street, walk down the hill and turn left onto the main road, Queen's Road East. Walk a few blocks to Luen Fat Street, a narrow side side and make a left there.

When you hit the massive Johnston Road, make a right onto it and you will see a large shop with a glass facade.
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Bo Fung Mansion
1-4 St. Francis Yard
852-2804-2323
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Hours
Monday-Friday 11am-7pm
Saturday Noon-8pm
Sunday Noon-6pm

One of the standout stores, this contemporary Asian furniture and home goods store is on the cutting edge of modern Asian design.

OVO Studio is part of the OVO chain and has a large variety of home goods to choose from. It sells rugs, sofas, beds, lamps, desks, tables, chairs and a variety of other furnishings. Be forewarned, the quality is high and so are the prices.

When you are done, check out its sister store, OVOlogue, which sells more traditional Chinese art, furniture and lamps in the historic Chinese style "tong lau" building from 1888.

This is one of the historic colonial, pre-war tenement buildings with an amazing façade verandah.

It mixes East and West with a covered pedestrian arcade formed by balconies and columns, French windows and a high-ceiling roof supported by wooden beams as well as traditional Chinese arches.

OVOlogue restaurant is located in what was one of the oldest pawn shops, Woo Cheong Pawn Shop, which has been well preserved. If you are interested in authentic Chinese food, this is a great option.

You can order dim sum, sweet and sour dishes, the tasting menu, but it is the old-style Chinese decor that is not to be missed.

Option #2: An equally good experience is going next door to the Pawn. Good for both its food and the amazing architecture and views from its outdoor porch.
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OVO Studio
60 Johnston Rd.
Wanchai
852-2529-6060

OVOlogue
66 Johnston Rd.
Wanchai
852-2527-6088
Hours
Monday-Saturday 11:30am-8:30pm
Sunday, public holidays 11:30am-8pm

OVOlogue restaurant hours:
Monday-Friday 11:30-3:00pm, 6:30-11:30pm
Saturday-Sunday 11:30am-4:30pm, 6:30-11:30pm

The Pawn is a great gastropub housed in the historic former Woo Cheong Pawn Shop, a four-story building dating back to the late 1800s. OVologue is on the ground floor and the Pawn is on the upper three levels. Today it is a colonial-chic gastropub and lounge with a fantastic atmosphere. The entrance is a hard to find, just a small door with a steep stairway up to the first floor.

Built with wood from China's Shenzhen shipyards and reproductions of Chinese grill gates, the building has been renovated but still has the look and feel of a time past. The spacious outdoor verandas have chaise lounges and ceiling fans, and the roof garden has great views of the city. Outside you can see the tram passing by.

Go here for British comfort food items like fish and chips or steak and kidney pudding, great ales and beer or get regular Western fare. Each floor has a different vibe and different food, so take a look at the menu.
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60 Johnston Rd.
Wan Chai
852-2866-3444
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Hours
Monday-Saturday Noon-3pm, 6pm-12am
Sunday 11am-3pm, 6-11pm