Sheung Wan Upper
- by
- Angela Ho
Upper Sheung Wan (up the hill) is the area containing Po Hing Fong and Tai Ping Shan Street extending into Bridges Street. This area has been nicknamed Poho and it’s THE hip area of Hong Kong Island. Sheung Wan was one of the earliest areas of Hong Kong to be settled by the British in the 1840s and became a working-class enclave for much of the 20th century. From about 2011 the little car repair shops and printing stores along Tai Ping Shan Street began to give way to a cool coffee shop here and there. Gentrification happened quickly. Poho is now home to independent boutiques, trendy eateries, street art and the government supported creative hub PMQ. Tai Ping Shan literally means “Peace Hill” and it’s apt. The low-rise buildings, Blake Garden and big old trees give the area a quiet calm which stands in stark contrast to busy Central next door. This is a lovely area to chill out and investigate the creative talents (artistic and culinary) of Hong Kong.
HK Walls
Stars & Tart
Open Quote
teakha
Little Bao
Yardbird
Goods Of Desire (G.O.D.)
Select 18
Café Deadend
Po's Atelier
Three Temples
Mana! Cafe
Inbetween
squarestreet
Wing Lee Street
Barber shop
Heritage Tea House
Sohofama
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Mana! Cafe
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No hipster neighborhood is whole without a conscientious eatery of organic vegetarian fare. In Poho, Mana! Cafe is it. Located in a leafy quiet area accessible only by foot, its next door neighbor is a yoga studio creating an enclave of wholesome goodness. Wraps served flat, like a pizza, dominate the menu. Try the excellent coffee and juices too. If you're looking for some chill time there are books to read and electrical outlets to plug in your laptop so you can take advantage of the wifi. This cafe is part of a trio of Mana outlets co-founded by Bobsy - a champion of the environmental and organic movement in Hong Kong for the last 20 years.