Kennedy Town’s greatest allure is its feeling of secrecy. “Hidden” until the December MTR opening (read: we’re all lazy), this area is the epitome of up-and-coming, blending luxury with industry while maintaining a refreshingly gritty vibe.
This little guide will help you navigate the seaside town with ease: The next station is Kennedy Town, please stand back from the closing doors…
Where to Eat
First thing’s first: food. The restaurant scene is the hottest thing about Kennedy Town at the moment. These few suggestions, ranging from the traditional to the totally new wave, will give a good idea of the variety on offer
Hot Pot Instinct 1/F Kam Ho Court, 144-148 Belcher’s Street, (+852) 3464-0741
This restaurant does hot pot, a Hong Kong winter staple, juust right. With ample choices of broths and add ins, this is the place to create your dream bowl of steam. Also make sure to try the excellent sake.
Once you’ve gone all Indiana Jones and found the “secret” door to this place, you’re in an alternative paradise of eclectic Pinterest-worthy interior, great food, a fancy dress corner and a swing – yep, a swing. A meal at this #onFleek eatery doesn’t come cheap, but once you’re a few cocktails in, wearing the onesie you found in the corner and swinging high above the bar, you’re probably not going to care about the price.
Waffling Beans G/F Shop 9, New Fortune House, 4-8 North Street, (+852) 2855-8890
All day waffles, hand-drip coffee, magnetic alphabet letters and unlimited free wifi? Yes please. You can have your waffles sweet, savoury or skip them all together in favour of another form of classic comfort food. Not even your most fussy eating friend can baulk at this menu.
Comilonas Flat 22, 1/F Yip Cheong Building, 4-16 Hill Road, (+852) 9863-2270
Stuff yourself with fresh, flavourful dishes at this private kitchen specialising in Catalan tapas. You’re also likely to drink far too much wine thanks to the porrón – essentially a fancy funnel.
Where to Drink
While Kennedy Town’s thriving restaurant scene is relatively new, its bars are firmly established. This isn’t LKF, so don’t expect stripper poles. Just good, clean, old-fashioned debauchery.
Jaspa’s G/F 83 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town (+852) 2872-0823
Okay, so it’s a chain, but it’s a good one. This open, airy space is a great place to start your night before things get too wild later. The drinks list isn’t huge, but the prices are great (HKD50 beers and HKD70 cocktails) and the people watching is even better.
Despite also being a part of a chain (Bulldog’s is part of The Doghouse family), this little Australian/English pub has a unique feel, combining bistro-esque al fresco drinking (and dining) with a local bar vibe. Where else can you catch your favourite teams (British and Australian, of course) and get a great view of the water? If sports aren’t your thing, you can at least get excited about the cheap(ish) drinks. All under HKD100.
Half & Half Wine Bar and Restaurant 42 Davis Street, (+852) 2855 0528
This cute corner bar offers 100 expertly-selected half bottles of wine. While they insist it’s for food pairings (they make a great suckling pig) we know the truth; it’s so winos like us can keep our tasting/drinking skills sharp, in the classiest way of course. With wines ranging from HKD85-HKD6,388, we’ll be very impressed if you can’t find something new here!
Where to Shop
K-Town has a lot going for it: great restaurants, fun bars, a beautiful harbour view, but what it doesn’t have is great shopping – unless you’re really into Wellcome. There are a few quality finds though, like:
Sunday’s Grocery Kam Fu Mansion, 66-68 Catchick Street, (+852) 2628-6001
This New York style deli-cum-liquor store right in the centre of town has a solid selection of Japanese whiskies and tequilas at really good prices, plus they let you sample the booze. Boom!
Ethos 93 – 99 Hill Road, (+852) 2833-2127
A brand new lifestyle store and cafe (obviously hybrids are trending these days) Ethos appeals to the inner hipster in each of us. Selling food, home ware and clothing, the brand’s products are unique and constantly changing.
Take a walk around the harbour for great views of Kowloon, some fresh sea air and an eyeful of one of Hong Kong’s only strips of undeveloped waterfront and the Public Cargo Working Area.
When you get bored of fishermen, you can play a quick pickup game on the nearby basketball courts, or do a few laps in the outdoor swimming pool.
Things to See
Right on Belcher’s Street you’ll find the unassuming Lo Pan Temple. Built in 1884, it is the only temple in Hong Kong dedicated to the patron saint of builders and contractors. While it may not be much to look at from the outside, the art collection is impressive.
Not to far from the heart of Kennedy Town is the Hong Kong University Press Bookshop, or the Run Run Shaw Heritage House, which boasts impressive architecture inside and out. Its 1920s classical stone facade gives way to unmistakably modern decor, like perfectly rounded bookshelves designed with 3D modelling software. Fancy!
Finally, end your day with an amble over to the Sai Wan Swimming Shed – built by the Hong Kong government in the 1950s for residents who swam the Sulfur Channel – and break the internet with your gorgeous pictures of the water at sunset. You won’t even need a filter.
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