Hong Kong is known to be a melting pot of activities, yet there’s one pastime in particular that locals and visitors alike always gravitate toward: shopping. The big malls like Pacific Place and Times Square definitely give shopaholics a run for their money, yet in such a dense megalopolis with so many shops to choose from, sometimes the hidden gems are exactly that – hidden. To help you cut through the noise and find your go-to place, here are Forbes’ choices for the five best shops for men in Hong Kong.
The Monocle Shop
Through collaboration with other niche brands, Monocle offers one-of-a-kind travel items, apparel and other assorted items in their small shop on Wan Chai’s hip St. Francis Yard. Given that Monocle is a magazine and travel guide first, the shop also sells souvenirs and city-specific memorabilia like their iconic city guides, available for New York City, Hong Kong, Copenhagen and many more. If you’re extra curious, poke your head into the back part of the shop, their Hong Kong editorial team’s office space.
1-4 St. Francis Yard, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, +852 2804 2323, monocle.com
The Armoury
If you’re looking for classic, ready-to-wear menswear, The Armoury is the place to go. The owners’ tastefully-curated collection hails from all around the world, and that global appeal has played a major role in the impeccable reputation that The Armoury holds today. Parisian Gentleman sums up their offering perfectly: “Mark Cho, Alan See and Jake Grantham continue to offer a tastefully curated selection from some of the best brands out there, which include the likes of Ring Jacket, Carmina, St Crispin’s, Orazio Luciano, Drake’s and of course, the Florentine Master Tailor Antonio Liverano featured in the Gianluca Migliarotti movie, I Colori di Antonio.”
Pedder Building Unit 307 (3/F), 12 Pedder Street, Central, +852 2804 6991, www.thearmoury.com
Landmark Central B47, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, +852 2810 4990, www.thearmoury.com
Delstore
Considered underrated by many, Delstore stocks difficult-to-find pieces from timeless brands, and is definitely a must-visit for any guy passing through Hong Kong. South China Morning Post says: “Owned by Hong Kong native Derrick Leung, the two-storey boutique offers stylish yet inconspicuous men’s outfits and accessories that have way more staying power than those slavishly following seasonal trends. A true champion of locally curated style, Delstore is a hidden treasure for Hong Kong’s male style mavens.”
3 Schooner St, Wan Chai, +852 2528 1770, delstore.co
HOLA Classic
For a high-quality yet budget-friendly tailoring, HOLA Classic is the place to go. Thanks to its location in Causeway Bay’s underbelly, So Kon Po, HOLA can offer its modern vintage suits at significantly lower prices than other tailors in Hong Kong (theirs start at $1,980 HKD, which is $255 USD). HOLA also offers quite a selection of eccentric ties and “happy” socks, plus their own line of shoes.
11A Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay, +852 2870 0245, facebook.com/holaclassic.
kapok
Certainly one of the quirkiest lifestyle shops in Hong Kong, kapok specializes in creative and authentic pieces from places like Denmark and France, widely known for the enduring quality of their craftsmanship. With one store next to the Monocle shop on St. Francis Yard and the other around the corner on the tucked-away Sun Street, expect to find a wide array of sweaters, messenger bags, tough-to-find magazines, notebooks, and a lot more. Expect to while away thirty or sixty minutes just browsing, chatting with the knowledgeable staff or jamming to the ever-changing Soundcloud mixes that fill the place with an upbeat, enduring energy.
3 Sun Street, Wan Chai, +852 2520 0114, ka-pok.com
5 St Francis Yard, Wan Chai, +852 2520 0114, ka-pok.com
Of course, if you can’t find what you need at these shops, you can always look online to sites like AliExpress, which stocks a seemingly-endless variety of clothing, shoes and accessories. Amazon also ships to Hong Kong, though for some items you may need to use a package forwarder to get them all the way here.
As Andrew Keith says, “Hong Kong is a city filled with amazing contradictions.” Fortunately, its size and its offering of great shops for men is not one of them. Wherever you choose to go, whether it’s a megamall, a boutique or just online, I hope these five shops open up your eyes to some of Hong Kong’s more unique options.