Hong Kong – Regina Chow

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Travel: Shopping Guide – Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

March 9, 2015 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

Hong Kong is one of my favourite cities for shopping because there are always new, interesting spots worth exploring regardless of the number of times you’ve stepped foot there. On my recent trip to Hong Kong last year with Yitian, we chose to stay in Sheung Wan, home to streets after streets of antiques, curiosities, vintage fashion, independent fashion labels and cafes.

Sheung Wan is like a maze with gems hidden in every nook and cranny, reminiscent of a less commercialized version of Venice. There are new discoveries down every alley, with pleasant surprises at every turn. Aside from shopping, the beautiful street art and wall murals also make excellent photography backdrops. Say hello to more OOTD shots!

In today’s post, shopping will take centerstage and you’ll find out what are some of the interesting knick knacks that can be found in this treasure trove of a precinct.

1. Antiques, Art and Vintage Collectibles

If you love antiques and collectible items, Sheung Wan is the place to be. You will find interesting second-hand Chinese memorabilia and other curiosities at the make-shift street stalls lining Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street).

If you prefer to visit actual art galleries and antique shops, head on to Hollywood Road (Antique Street), where you will be greeted by a variety of paintings, vases, statues, artworks and collectibles (some may be replicas) from a bygone era. If you’re thinking of sprucing up your home decor, be sure to check out these quaint little shops for some quirky finds.

2. Vintage Fashion

Taking the road less traveled has always been one of my mantras in life, and the same goes for my take on fashion. That is one of the reasons why I’ve always found vintage fashion appealing. Checking out vintage stores in Hong Kong may not have been on our cards, but it found its way into our itinerary thanks to some chance encounters.

On our way to breakfast one morning, we came across Select-18. It’s easy to mistake it for a hardware store, but don’t be fooled by its visage. Within the store lies an amazing selection of vintage accessories, bags, collectibles and eyewear.

I especially adore their collection of vintage miniature perfume bottle accessories. If you follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg), you may have seen these gorgeous trinklets which I bought as gifts for my girlfriends (and myself too!).

Select-18

Shop A, G/F, Grandview Garden
18 Bridges Street, Central, Soho

Bang! Bang! 70s is another vintage store that we chanced upon as we walked down Aberdeen Street. Located on the second floor of a non-descript shophouse, you have to ring a bell before the gate opens to reveal a flight of stairs leading up to the store, which offers a wide variety of vintage designer apparel, bags, shoes and the likes.

Bang! Bang! 70s

1/F , 16A Aberdeen Street

3. Independent Fashion Stores

Aberdeen Street is where most of the independent fashion stores are located. We easily spent an entire afternoon just browsing through the multitude of fashion labels and trying on everything that they had to offer.

One of our favourite shops is Mushroom, where you’ll find intricate accessories, homeware and beautiful dried flowers with an unmistakable old-world charm. Stepping into the shop instantly transports you into a magical fairy-tale world where fairies, pixies and unicorns come alive.

I was particularly attracted to their exquisite selection of whimsical accessories inspired by Alice in Wonderland, folk lore and ballerinas. I felt like a child once again.

Mushroom has 3 branches in Hong Kong, namely in Aberdeen Street, New Town Plaza in Shatin and Millenium City 5 in Kwun Tong Road.

Mushroom
G/F, No. 14 Aberdeen Street, Central

A row of multi-label fashion retailers can be found on the opposite side of Aberdeen Street. ABoutique, my new found favourite multi-label retailer introduced by a friend from Hong Kong, is literally just a hop and skip away.

ABoutique stocks an exclusive selection from designers such as Frame Denim, Alice by Temperly, Camilla & Marc, House of Holland, finderskeepers, keepsake the label, among others. These labels may be readily available at e-retailers such as Shopbop, Revolve Clothing and Net-a-porter, but being able to try on these labels at ABoutique makes such a difference.

I eventually walked away with two pairs of skinny jeans from Frame Denim, some of the comfiest jeans I own to date. In fact, they’re so comfortable, you’ll feel like you’re wearing next to nothing. I’m convinced that my wardrobe needs more of these!

ABoutique

G/F, 19 Aberdeen St, Central

Sheung Wan left such a deep impression on me and I would love to share every facet about this amazing place in time to come. If there are other shops in Sheung Wan that you would highly recommend, do let me know!

******

Meanwhile, if you’re planning a trip to Hong Kong, you may find my previous Hong Kong shopping guides useful:

Shopping in Hong Kong: Factory Outlets for Designer Goods

Shopping in Hong Kong

Shopping in Hong Kong: Japanese Fashion Labels

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L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon Hong Kong

February 3, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments

My previous trips to Hong Kong revolved solely around shopping, hence I decided that it was about time to pay a visit to some of Hong Kong’s best restaurants when I was planning for my recent trip in December.

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon was one of the restaurants on my tick list and I made a lunch reservation there immediately after booking my air tickets and accommodation. Yes, that was how eager I was to secure a seat at the highly raved French restaurant which was awarded three Michelin stars by the MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong and Macau for three consecutive years.

Located at Landmark Atrium at Central, the restaurant is easily accessible by MTR and usually fully booked, so do remember to make your reservations early. Reservations can be made through their website here.

The contemporary decor exudes seductive charm while the casual atmosphere and cozy setting at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon was a breath of fresh air and made us feel right at home. We were seated at a circular bar facing the kitchen where we could feast our eyes on all aspects of the food preparation process, a refreshing change from the usual fine dining experience that we were used to.

We truly enjoyed the vast selection of warm breads which went really well with the butter, and as much as we wanted to have seconds, it was best that we reserve our stomachs for the main highlights of our sumptuous lunch.

The lunch menus at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon are customizable and affordably priced at HKD$588 (3-course), HKD$698 (4-course) and HKD$838 (5-course) respectively. Every set comes with an amuse bouche, coffee and tea and mignardises (commonly known as petit four).

Amuse Bouche

For appetizers, we had the L’ceuf De Poule (crispy poached egg on mimolette cheese emulsion with “Iberico” ham) and La Saint-Jacques (pan seared scallops with crunchy endive salad and mango).

The crispy poached egg was an instant hit with us. The individual flavours of the mimolette cheese emulsion, crispy poached egg and Iberico ham meld together seamlessly to create an unexpectedly delicious entree. Bursting with flavours with every bite, this ingenious creation is one of the best entrees we have had.

Appetizer: L’ceuf De Poule (Crispy poached egg on mimolette cheese emulsion with “Iberico” ham)

The pan seared scallops were fresh and succulent. What I liked most about this appetizer was the interesting play of textures in the form of thinly sliced croutons, mangos and greens, which added a delightful crunch to the dish.

Appetizer: La Saint-Jacques (pan seared scallops with crunchy endive salad and mango)

For our mains, we had Le Saumon (semi-cooked Scottish salmon with teriyaki sauce and wasabi flavoured spinach) and Les Spaghettis (Maine lobster spaghetti and coral emulsion).

You could also choose to have Pan-fried maigre with ginger in baby leek bouillon, or pick from their selection of meats, such as L’Agneau (roasted lamb leg with white beans and chorizo), La Volaille (chicken fricasse with Chateau Chalon sauce and mashed potato) and Le Cochon Iberique (roasted Iberico pork “pluma” with broccoli puree and hazelnuts)

Mains: Le Saumon (semi-cooked Scottish salmon with teriyaki sauce and wasabi-flavoured spinach)

The Scottish salmon could have been better marinated to enhance the sweetness of the fish but I loved that it was paired with wasabi-flavoured spinach to give it that extra kick.

I can never say no to lobsters, and the Maine lobster spaghetti and coral emulsion made my heart skip a beat. The spaghetti was cooked al-dante and the Maine lobster was cooked to perfection, leaving the meat juicy and tender, creating a symphony of rich flavours that will certainly tantalize your taste buds. If you’re afraid that the tapas style servings here are inadequate, you should consider ordering this dish.

Mains: Les Spaghettis (Maine lobster spaghetti and coral emulsion)

The mashed potatoes side dish may look ordinary, but taste-wise, it was extraordinary. It was extremely smooth, fluffy and creamy, leaving us wanting more with every bite. I could have this as a snack everyday.

Mashed Potatoes

You could choose to end off the meal with a fine french selection of cheeses or desserts. We chose to go with desserts instead.

Desserts: La Poire (cinnamon pear compote with caramel ice-cream)

The cinnamon pear compote with caramel ice-cream looked like an exquisite work of art but it tasted rather ordinary. In comparison, the classic Mont Blanc blew our minds. I usually try to steer away from heavier desserts such as Mont Blanc but this time, I couldn’t stop after taking my first bite. Absolutely divine.

Desserts: Le Mont-Blanc (classic Mont Blanc with chestnut ice-cream)

To round off our meals, we had a cup of tea each paired with petit four. I particularly loved the light and refreshing taste of the citrus flavoured fruit jellies.

Petit Four

Hailed as the “Chef of the Century”, Joel Robuchon has since clinched a total of 25 Michelin stars across the chain of restaurants he operates in cities such as Paris, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Bangkok and Hong Kong. No other chef in the world has achieved more Michelin stars than he has.

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Hong Kong is definitely a must-try as it is the closest 3 Michelin star Robuchon restaurant to home and probably the most pocket-friendly one to boot.

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Hong Kong

Address:

Shop 315, 334 & 401, Landmark Atrium, Central, Hong Kong

Tel:

(852) 2166 9000

Website:

http://www.robuchon.hk

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Shopping in Hong Kong: Factory Outlets for Designer Goods

September 13, 2013 by Regina Chow No Comments

A lesser known
fact about Hong Kong is that it is also an excellent destination in Asia for
factory outlet shopping. Designer labels can be found in an obscure, unassuming
residential estate at Ap Lei Chau, which is located about 30 minutes
away from Central.

1) Prada & Miu Miu Outlet (Formerly known as Space)

When I first saw the Prada sign as the bus whizzed by, I could hardly believe my eyes. It is situated right in the middle of the heartlands amidst apartment blocks and among the throngs of tourists who flocked here in search of great bargains were residents of the estate going about their daily chores and grocery shopping, seemingly oblivious that their estate has since become a mini tourist attraction of sorts. The dichotomy was so strange and stark, it was actually rather amusing.

That aside, the Prada outlet here looks every bit like its counterparts in the city, except that it houses past season Prada and Miu Miu bags, accessories, clothes and shoes. Sizes are limited and the selection can be a little hit and miss depending on your luck.

Nonetheless, I managed to bag two pretty shoes from Miu Miu at about 50-70% off their original price. You might have seen them on my instagram some time in June and also in my recent outfit posts. 🙂

Address:
2/F Marina Square, East Commercial Block, South Horizons, Ap Lei Chau, Aberdeen, Hong Kong

Directions:
Take a taxi from Central (about 15-20 minutes and costs about HKD$100)

Take Bus 590 from Exchange Square at Central or Bus 590A from Admiralty

Map:

Press the bell when you see these building signs! The journey takes about 30 minutes.

2) Horizon Plaza

Horizon Plaza is yet another inconspicuous building tucked away in Ap Lei Chau, but do not judge a book by its cover. Behind its nondescript facade lies a treasure trove of goodies waiting to be discovered!

Photo Credits: Discoverhongkong.com

Horizon Plaza is home to 28 floors of furniture and luxury goods. Some of the more interesting shops here include:

i) Lane Crawford Fashion Warehouse (25th Floor)
This is great for shoe lovers as you will find heavily discounted Christian Louboutins and Sergio Rossi shoes here.

ii) Bluebell Fashion Warehouse (24th Floor)

If you like Jimmy Choos, you have to make a pit stop here. 😉

iii) Maxmara Fashion Group Warehouse (27th Floor)

Look out for Juicy Couture and Stella McCartney goodies!

Address:

2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong Island

Directions:

Take Bus 590 from Exchange Square in Central. Drop off at South Horizon and walk to Lee Wing
Street.

Map:

If you’re heading to Hong Kong any time soon, you know where to go for the best deals!

Meanwhile, have a great weekend ahead!

For more on Shopping in Hong Kong, you may wish to read my previous blog posts:

1) Shopping in Hong Kong

2) Shopping in Hong Kong: Japanese Fashion Labels

3) Shopping in Sheung Wan – Vintage Fashion, Antiques, Independent Fashion Labels

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Shopping in Hong Kong: Japanese Fashion Labels

September 9, 2013 by Regina Chow No Comments

I wrote a post about shopping in Hong Kong way back in 2011 where I touched on some of my favourite spots for budget shopping, including Argyle Centre, Fa Yuen Street and Ladies Street. Here’s the link if you are interested to read more about it:

Shopping in Hong Kong

While I haven’t been writing very much about Hong Kong, it remains one of my favourite shopping destinations and I have been making a yearly pilgrimage to this vibrant, bustling city.

If you are a regular blog reader, you would probably know that some of my favourite Japanese brands include Liz Lisa, Rosebullet, Dip Drops, Snidel, among others. However, many of these brands, except Rosebullet and Dip Drops, cannot be found in Singapore. Fortunately, the next closest place for us to get hold of these brands is Hong Kong, which was exactly what I did on my recent trip there in June.

If you share my love for Japanese fashion labels, you may wish to keep these two malls in mind when you next visit Hong Kong:

1) Hysan Place

Photo Credits: IloveHongKong.org

Established in 2012, Hysan Place is one of the latest malls along the Causeway Bay shopping strip. It is also home to many Japanese labels, including Nine, Deicy, Collect Point, Snidel and Language.

Nine and Deicy
are popular brands among Japanese celebrities and both in brands
incorporate rock, bohemian and girlish elements in their apparel lines, adding an edgy touch to their designs.

Nine specializes mainly in Japanese streetwear (think Mode Style), while Deicy has a mix of casual and corporate apparel.

If you prefer more feminine styles, then perhaps Snidel and Language would be your cup of tea. In fact, these are my favourite stores in Hysan Place as I have a soft spot for sweet and demure designs.

The prices at these stores generally start from a couple of hundreds (S$200- S$400).

Language has a much higher price point (S$500-S$1000) but quality and workmanship are well assured. It is also possible to snag some good buys during the sale period. Case in point – I purchased a gorgeous flutter sleeve dress at a steep 70% discount!

Address:

500 Hennessy Road (Causeway Bay)

Directions:

Take MTR to Causeway Bay Station, Exit F2

Map:

2) Sogo, Causeway Bay & Tsim Sha Tsui


Photo Credits: Hongkongtripguide.com

It is probably no secret that Sogo carries a wide selection of Japanese labels too. Go up the escalator to the third floor and you’ll find Liz Lisa, Rosebullet, Dip Drops and Lowrys. As Liz Lisa is the only label that cannot be found in Singapore, I’m sure many of you would have guessed that I spent most of my time at their counter. 😉

There was a sale on the spring collection then, and I managed to bag some lovely buys at close to 50% off. In addition, customers who bought 2 or more pieces from the new summer collection were entitled to a 20% discount.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of my Liz Lisa buys (you’ll see the rest in my outfit posts):

Address:

555 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay

12 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Directions:

Sogo, Causeway Bay: Take MTR to Causeway Bay Station, Exit D2, D3 or D4

Sogo, Tsim Sha Tsui: Take MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui Station, Exit J3

Map:

For more on Shopping in Hong Kong, you may wish to read my previous blog posts:

1) Shopping in Hong Kong

2) Shopping in Hong Kong:Factory Outlets for Designer Goods

3) Shopping in Sheung Wan – Vintage Fashion, Antiques, Independent Fashion Labels

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Lazy Weekend Outfit – What I am Wearing Today

April 10, 2011 by Regina Chow 6 Comments

Whenever I feel lazy, which is usually the case on weekends, I’ll throw on a dress because it’s foolproof and you don’t have to go through the hassle of coordinating separates.

As promised, I will be showcasing my bargain buys from Hong Kong for the next couple of weeks.

Yellow dress: H&M

Celine-inspired bag: Argyle Centre – the inspired version is all over Vivi magazine this Spring/Summer. I wanted to buy the original in HK, but strangely enough, the inspired version looked tons better to me.

Mickey Mouse watch: Hong Kong Disneyland store

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Eat, Shop, Eat

April 9, 2011 by Regina Chow No Comments

We all know that Dim Sum and Yum Cha are synonymous in Hong Kong. For the uninitiated, yum cha (literally translated as drinking tea) is a dining concept that incorporates the art of drinking tea in the company of dim sum dishes.

There are several renowned dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong, and according to my Hong Kong-based friends, Maxim’s Palace City Hall is by far the best.

We didn’t manage to yum cha at Maxim’s this time. Instead, we decided to try our luck at Tim Ho Wan, a highly raved dim sum restaurant that is famous for its char siew bo luo bao (barbecued pork pineapple buns). As the restaurant only has 20 seats, patrons usually wait hours for their turn. The long snaking queue in front of the restaurant is a testament of its popularity.

After getting a queue number, we quickly lost our patience as the queue was moving at snail’s pace, if it was even moving at all. Since we would probably have the chance to yum cha another day (which we did!), we eventually gave up waiting and adjourned to a nearby eatery diagonally opposite Tim Ho Wan for local delicacies such as yu dan 鱼蛋 (fishballs) and wanton noodles.

I can’t recall the name of the shop but the food was unbelievably good! I had sumptuous zha jiang mian 炸酱面 (noodles tossed in minced beef sauce) there. Yummy!!

Feeling satisfied after the hearty meal, we took a stroll to the MTR and made our way to Central. The best time for photo-taking is while you’re waiting for the train to arrive. I guess that was why the MTR in Hong Kong made reflective glass doors so that commuters like us can cam-whore while waiting. How very thoughtful. LOL!

The highlight at Central was H&M of course! H&M is coming to the sunny island of Singapore come August 2011, but till that happens, most Singaporeans would typically get their H&M fix from either Hong Kong or Tokyo.

I would imagine that H&M needs no introduction. The fashionable apparel sold at affordable prices is the main reason why girls fall head over heels in love with the brand.

We spent a few hours trawling through 3 storeys of H&M apparel. I even managed to get two pairs of denim shorts from the children’s department for myself! I was wearing one of them in my recent outfit post. 😉

After H&M, Causeway Bay beckoned. Island Beverly at Causeway Bay is very similar to Argyle Centre, except that the prices are much higher. You may find some interesting designs here priced at about S$50-80 onwards. Sometimes, you can find the same items here at Argyle Centre, so I really wouldn’t recommend this mall.

Reyna and I left the mall earlier while Jun, Kaykay, Mavis and Shirley were still shopping because our legs were aching and our stomachs were rumbling. We ended up at agnes b cafe for desserts.

Almost all the agnes b shops in Hong Kong are accompanied by agnes b cafes. The desserts are pretty decent but please do not attempt to try the soup. We ordered a clam chowder soup and gosh, it tasted like fishy water!

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Shopping in Hong Kong

April 7, 2011 by Regina Chow 6 Comments

We’ve been planning an all girls trip for eons and it finally materialized last week! It has been a while since I last went to Hong Kong (probably 2-3 years back?) and I was glad to have the opportunity to rediscover the city.

The main objective of this trip was to scout for bargain buys. I’m sure you girls must be anxious to find out where I bagged most of my purchases. Well, I’ll be sharing more here and in subsequent posts. 😉

I will also be posting up my hauls in my WIWT posts at the end of each week, so do look out for them if you are interested.

Now, here are photos from the first day of my trip.

We woke up on a dark (not bright at all because we were up by 4am!) and early morning to catch our 6am flight to Hong Kong. All of us wore sunnies on the Airport Express because we barely had any make-up on.

Ravenous by the time we arrived at Royal Plaza Hotel, we grabbed a quick meal at Fairwood, a fast food chain that serves pretty average Chinese and Japanese food. Then, it was time to return to the comfort of our hotel to laze around a bit, freshen up and prepare for our shopping escapade!

The hotel is very accessible and is within walking distance to most of the shopping malls/streets in Mongkok. The rooms are ginormous by Hong Kong’s standards and the beds are so comfortable you’ll fall asleep instantly. Believe me, you wouldn’t want to get out of bed unless you are hardcore shopaholics like us.

Our first stop was Fa Yuen Street (花园街）, which is similar to Bugis Village in Singapore. There are so many boutiques and street stalls that resemble the pasar malam stalls that we have here. I bought very cheap Vivi-inspired lace shorts and gyaru-style tops here. What’s my definition of cheap? Like S$10-20 per piece!

We also took a short walk to Argyle Centre (旺角中心）, a must-go mall for all of us. The walkways are very narrow and flanked by a myriad of little shops selling everything from apparel, shoes, bags and accessories at affordable prices. It is almost like a cross between Far East Plaza and Bugis Village.

I bought most of my bags, shoes and clothes from Argyle Centre. Everything here ranges from S$10-30 for clothes and bags. Shoes are generally a little pricier, at about S$40-50 a pair, especially if they’re replicas of designer footwear or of better quality.

One word of caution though, this mall can get terribly crowded after office hours and on weekends. On weekends, you can hardly walk past a shop without being sandwiched between fellow shopaholics. The experience is akin to being trapped on an MRT during peak hour with little ventilation and no way of getting out (just like what happened this morning)!

This mall is a treasure trove and I love everything about it except the crowd, so if you are planning to make a trip there, do go on a weekday to avoid the human traffic. 😉

When night falls, you may want to visit the Ladies Street (女人街）, also located in the Mongkok district. This street used to be lined with boring stalls selling poor quality designer replicas and souvenirs that aren’t worth a dime. It didn’t help that the stall keepers were rude and fond of chasing potential customers away if they appeared uninterested in the products.

The good news is, all that has changed. Now, the wide variety of merchandise here is a huge draw. The stall keepers are also very friendly and eager for customers, so bargain all you can! The Vivi-inspired leopard print fur bag in my previous WIWT post was purchased in Ladies Street when the stall was about to close for the night. After much haggling, I bought it at only about S$20. What a bargain!

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Back in Singapore

April 4, 2011 by Regina Chow No Comments

I was away last week for a short getaway to Hong Kong. I’m back in Singapore now but I need some time to clear my emails and comments, so do bear with me!

I haven’t had time to upload photos from my trip yet, but here’s a little peek at some of my buys. Everything you see here was from Hong Kong. 😉

Knit top: Argyle Centre, Mongkok

Denim shorts: H&M, Central
Leopard print bag: Ladies Street, Mongkok
Miu Miu inspired shoes: Argyle Centre, Mongkok

Travel: Shopping Guide – Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon Hong Kong

Shopping in Hong Kong: Factory Outlets for Designer Goods

Shopping in Hong Kong: Japanese Fashion Labels

Lazy Weekend Outfit – What I am Wearing Today

Eat, Shop, Eat

Shopping in Hong Kong

Back in Singapore

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