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Header image courtesy of @suppahk (via Instagram)
As one of the main shopping districts in Hong Kong (and home to the most expensive commercial rents in the world), Causeway Bay needs no introduction. But there’s much more to this busy neighbourhood than just designer brands and Apple stores—read on for our favourite restaurants, things to do, and independent shops in good ol’ CWB.
Eat typhoon shelter crab the way it was meant to be had—on the water, with a plastic bag for a tablecloth, and surrounded by friends. One of the few restaurants that offers old-school typhoon shelter dining is Shun Kee, a restaurant where the “tables” are small, private sampans moored in the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter.
You can order à la carte, but the set meals provide better value for larger groups and contain all the greatest hits—piquant, garlicky typhoon shelter crab, razor clams with vermicelli, and supreme soy sauce noodles. Reservations are essential—because, you know, they need to pick you up on a boat—and there’s no corkage fee, so bring as much booze as you want.
Shun Kee, Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter | (+852) 8112 0075
Everyone has their favourite hotpot restaurant, but very few da bin lo (打邊爐; hotpot) spots manage to be as photogenic and cosy as Suppa while still serving legitimately good food. This upstairs restaurant on Causeway Bay’s bustling “Ramen Street” is decked out in retro Hong Kong décor and memorabilia, from Leslie Cheung posters to old-school green floor tiles and even a pawnshop-esque neon sign.
The beauty of hotpot is customising everything from the soup base down to the specific cuts of meat, but whatever you do, don’t forget to order the deep-fried bean curd puffs.
Suppa, 2/F, 28 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay | (+852) 3520 4111
We love chirashi-don (ちらし; seasoned rice topped with raw seafood), but all that fresh fish can start to add up after a while. Pop into Doraya for a reasonable but still tasty bowl of the good stuff; if you’re feeling indecisive, the assorted fresh sashimi cube bowl set is a surefire way to cover all your bases.
Doraya, 451–453 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2834 8851
We might be in the middle of a coffee renaissance in Hong Kong, but drinking the good stuff regularly can cost a pretty penny. Enter Le Petit Salon, whose Causeway Bay store recently introduced an “affordable everyday delights” menu to encourage a more “low-cost, high-quality” (平靚正; peng4 leng3 zeng3) approach to the morning brew.
Until 10 am every day, you can get two types of Gaggia coffee, two types of Pu’er tea, yoghurt gelato, Liu Bao tea, and an eight-ounce cup of oat milk for $10 each, while an affogato will set you back $15. After 10 am, everything on the menu goes up by a princely $2—still a steal, in our opinion.
Le Petit Salon, G/F, Apartment O, 5 Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay
Any Hongkonger who grew up around the Causeway Bay area knows that this tiny shop on Leighton Road is the ultimate after-school snack spot. Danish Bakery—which is decidedly not Scandinavian—has been churning out fresh coconut tarts, pineapple buns, and other sweet treats near Hong Kong Stadium since 1958.
What they’re most famous for, however, are their made-to-order savoury snacks—think fryer-fresh fish fillet sandwiches, diminutive hamburgers, and crispy pork cutlet buns. Not a fan of the sweet Hong Kong-style milk bread that comes with them? Go for the famous deep-fried chicken leg—just try not to burn your tongue, because it’s served piping hot.
Danish Bakery, 106 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2576 7353
The minimalist white exterior might scream “fancy coffee shop,” but this chic neon-lit space on Hysan Avenue is actually Top Blade Steak Lab, a steakhouse known for its affordable Wagyu flat iron steaks and unlimited truffle fries.
Served with savoury garlic butter and homemade barbecue sauces, a steak at Top Blade is worth getting the meat sweats for. The classic herbly flat iron steak never lets us down, though if you’re in the mood for a burger, the ultimate burger—which comes with a patty made from a combo of flat iron, chuck, and brisket—always hits the spot.
Top Blade Steak Lab, 2–4 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2657 8210
Learn how to make elaborate chiffon cakes, delicate macarons, and more at Bakebe’s brand-spanking-new Causeway Bay studio. Don’t worry if you’re a baking novice—all the recipes are laid out clearly on tablets provided by Bakebe, and there are plenty of staff on hand to help if you have any questions or crises.
Bakebe, Unit 605, 6/F, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay | (+852) 3793 4998
Gather a friend (or three) and put your wits to the test at Lost Hong Kong, an escape room located just a stone’s throw from Lee Gardens. You can choose different scenarios of varying difficulty levels to escape from, with themes ranging from the Kowloon Walled City to an Italian castle and an island treasure hunt.
Lost HK, 6 Sharp Street East, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2892 2393
Fancy the idea of getting uncomfortably competitive with your friends, but not interested in the more nerve-wracking time crunch aspect of escape rooms? Head on over to Capstone Board Game, where you can hunker down with a good tabletop game and debate the finer points of Magic: The Gathering.
Capstone Board Game, Unit A, 23/F, 438–444 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2577 5388
Annette is an editor and copywriter with a lifetime of experience in hunting out the most interesting, odd, and delightful things about her beloved home city. Having written extensively about everything from food and culture to fashion, music, and hospitality, she considers her speciality to be Hong Kong itself. In her free time, you can find Annette trying out new dumpling recipes or playing Big Two at her favourite local bars with a cocktail in hand.
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