When I left Hong Kong to live in the US, Sau Wa Fong was strictly a residential neighbourhood, so I was surprised to see it’s now transformed into a creative hub with boutiques and studios popping up all over the block. Whether you’re after art, home decor or a sweet treat, Sau Wa Fong has something to offer everyone. And with its location being slightly removed from the main Star St area, it makes for a welcome retreat from Hong Kong’s bustling streets.
Tucked away behind the shadows of overhanging trees is the red fronted furniture store Lala Curio. Opened by Laura Cheung, the boutique carries a range of home furnishings with international and historical influences. As I browsed the store, The Cloisonné Tile collection caught my eye – the line of lacquer boxes feature beautiful tiles decorated with patterns inspired by the imperial ware from Emperor Qianlong’s reign. They make great little homes for your jewellery, too.
Right next to Lala Curio, you will find Odd One Out, an art agency, gallery, café, and retail store all under one roof. Odd One Out focuses on displaying pieces by young artists from all over the world. The gallery applies art to everyday items, such as cups, bags and stationery, while also selling screen and woodcut prints. I particularly liked their playful greeting cards, which had a whimsical drawing accompanied by a humorous quip. I bought four of them.
Just a few metres from Lala Curio is Jouer – a patisserie founded by Laura Cheung’s sister, Anne. Enjoy a tasty macaron inside the elegantly decorated shop or sit outside and while away an afternoon people watching.
Architectz Factory is a triple threat; it’s a vintage furniture store bursting with knick-knacks, a book store, and a cafe that offers a different flavour of Enzyme juice (made from fresh fruits) every day. With such an eclectic range of products, you could spend hours browsing the collection, or sit outside on the patio to sip on some Enzyme juice or coffee.
Lala Curio | 32-33 Sau Wa Fong, Wan Chai; tel 2528 5007, lalacurio.com
Odd One Out | 34 Sau Wa Fong, Wan Chai; tel 2529 3955, oddoneout.hk
Jouer | 1 Sau Wa Fong, Wan Chai; tel 2528 6577, jouer.hk
Architectz Factory | 23-30 Sau Wa Fong, Wan Chai; tel 9736 7802, architectzfactory.com
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