Tai Hang, meaning ‘big pit’, takes its name from the big pit that formed in the area in between its neighbouring mountains. Synonymous with the spirited Dragon Dance Festival during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the neighbourhood is rich with cultural heritage with no shortage of hip cafes and cool stores. Many of them have come and gone in this cool neighbourhood, so who are the newcomers and who has stood the test of time? Here are the best spots to know.
EAT & DRINK
Shun Hing (順興茶餐廳)
It’s hard to find a milk tea spot that rivals Shun Hing. This cha caan teng serves silky Hong Kong-style milk tea that masterfully balances sweetness and a rich tea blend. However, the food is just as amazing. Its pineapple bun sandwiches a thick slab of butter and scrambled eggs, while its char siu (roasted pork) egg rice is fluffy and satiating. For breakfast, opt for the cart noodles, which allow you to pick your toppings and even switch out the usual noodle base for cheung fun (rice noodle roll).
5 Ormsby Street, Tai Hang
Plumcot
Look no further than Plumcot for the best caneles in town. Seasoned pastry chefs and husband-and-wife duo Camille and Dominique trained at Michelin-starred institutions in Paris before opening this artisanal bakery in 2017. Besides breads and pastries, the bakery also serves housemade artisanal ice cream with flavours ranging from blue cheese to vanilla and pecan.
10A Sun Chun Street, Tai Hang; @plumcot.co
Chin Jor Fan Tong
Photo: @tomo_taihang and @chinjorfantong via Instagram
This retro-style noodle joint is a cult classic for those who know. For the adventurous (and masochistic), turn up the heat and numbness with their customisable noodles, while the shredded chicken tossed noodle is a refreshing pick for hot summer days. Don’t skip on their drunken wings which have been soaked in Shaoxing wine and garnished with goji berries.
39 Sun Chun Street, Tai Hang; @chinjorfantong
Winston’s Coffee
The vibes are immaculate at this neighbourhood coffee shop and cocktail bar. Besides its black and white interiors, the scenes of happy customers spilling out of the shop is what makes this place iconic. During the day, you’ll find visitors sitting on the benches outside with a kindle on their lap, while the night gathers groups of friends soaking in the friendly atmosphere with a pint in hand.
4 King St, Tai Hang; @winstonscoffee
Midnight Bread Club
One of Tai Hang’s newest haunts has been luring visitors into the neighbourhood with its plump sourdough bagels and wafting scent of delectable treats. Every month, the sun-soaked bakery releases seasonal bagel flavours, adding to their selection of roll cakes, breads, sandwiches and drinks. Be sure to check their calendar before you visit as some days are only for pickups of online orders.
22 King St, Tai Hang; @midnight.bread.club
Cookie Vission
Known for their big and thick cookies, Cookie Vission has been a permanent fixture in Tai Hang since 2020. Peep through the windows and you’ll see cookies of creative flavour combinations lined up next to plump doughnuts and golden pookies (cookies wrapped in puff pastry). Popular picks include the matcha macadamia cookie and the tiramisu cookie cup.
Shop D, 6 Wun Sha St, Tai Hang; @cookievission
SHOP, SEE & DO
Lin Fa Kung
Lin Fa Kung, meaning Temple of Lotus in Chinese, is a historical landmark constructed in 1863 during the Qing Dynasty. Many worshippers pay tribute to the deity Guanyin here because of her title as the “Buddhist of Goddess of Mercy”. The temple’s architecture is unique because of its half-octagonal-shaped front hall and its connection to the main hall without an internal courtyard in between— the conventional style of two-hall Chinese temples. Ceramic figurines are ornamented around the ridge, while the front hall roof is double-eaves-tended.
Lily St, Causeway Bay
The Shophouse
A ‘shophouse’, more commonly referred to as ‘tong lau’ in Hong Kong, is a type of tenement building prevalent in the late 19th century to the 1960s. Housed within this pre-WWII Grade III heritage building now is a cultural hub for exhibitions and special happenings. Works by contemporary artists are often showcased in the historic space, ranging from paintings, and sculptures to mixed media and video artworks, inspiring fresh conversations on artistic expression.
4 Second Lane, Tai Hang, Hong Kong; @theshophousehongkong
Kanamono Hardware Store
sleek tool caddies, padlocks, lamps, measuring tape and a whole array of other tools, each with more variation to choose from than you’ve ever fathomed. Besides sourcing items from Japan and around the world, Kanamono also designs their own products, bringing their unique design visions to life.
30 Wun Sha Street, Tai Hang; @kanamonohk
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre
Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images for Hong Kong Tourism Board
The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre is a revitalised historic building spotlighting the Fire Dragon Dance. The auspicious and fiery dance has been performed in Tai Hang for over 145 years, dating back to the Mid-Autumn Festival in 1880. Besides learning about the dance’s origins, visitors can also learn about the traditional craftsmanship behind the creation of the dragon and the history of Tai Hang.
12 School Street, Tai Hang; @thfdhc
Editor
Karrie LamCredit
Lead Image: @littletaihang via Instagram
