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Insider’s tips

Kung Lee Herbal Tea Shop
Kung Lee Herbal Tea Shop

Chinese herbal teas are believed to have many health benefits which include preventing illnesses and minimising the body's dampness, an element from traditional Chinese medicine. You can try many herbal teas at Kung Lee, such as five flowers tea, which is great for clearing internal dampness and detoxification; sesame tea, which is said to improve digestion; and grosvenori tea, which helps remedy lung congestion and coughs.

Insider’s tips

Lan Fong Yuen
Lan Fong Yuen

How to make silk stocking milk tea

Lan Fong Yuen was one of the first spots in Hong Kong to serve silk stocking milk tea. The name stems from the stocking-resembling sack cloth bags, which are used to repeatedly filter the tea to make it smoother. If you are interested in making your very own cup of silk stocking milk tea, just follow these simple steps:

  1. Place a mix of different black tea leaves inside a cloth bag strainer
  2. Bring to boil on small to medium heat
  3. Once the tea is bubbling, strain it into a pot and repeat the process at least four to five times (this is an important step as it exposes the tea to more oxygen, resulting in a fresher taste)
  4. Add evaporated milk into your cup
  5. Pour in the tea and serve

Interesting stories

Lan Fong Yuen
Lan Fong Yuen
Lan Fong Yuen

Lan Fong Yuen — Living through the ages of Old Town Central

From Chow Yun-Fat to Eason Chan, Lan Fong Yuen has welcomed some of Hong Kong’s biggest stars to its humble little shop on Gage Street. An undeniable landmark of the city, Lan Fong Yuen has been serving up silk stocking milk tea since 1952, attracting locals and tourists alike as the birthplace of this iconic local beverage.

Despite its popularity, business wasn’t always easy for Lan Fong Yuen. “Drinking milk tea was not common back in the day,” explains Lam Chun-jung, the eldest son of Lan Fong Yuen founder Lam Muk-ho. “For the same amount of money a milk tea costs, people would rather spend it on more filling options like fishball noodles or beef congee.” Lan Fong Yuen’s iconic green stall even had to relocate several times along Gage Street. Funnily enough, Lam shares that it all worked out in the end as the stall shifted up along the road to sit right outside their living space, which later turned into its eatery. Since then, the green stall has been stationed at its current location to this very day.

Then came the golden era for Lan Fong Yuen. As Hong Kong’s economy picked up in the 1980s to 1990s, folks had more disposable income to spend on things like milk tea. The business began to turn around as Lan Fong Yuen’s persistence in making quality milk tea started to attract crowds. Lam recalls that back when the neighbourhood was mostly filled with residential buildings, the majority of their customers used to be local residents or policemen from the old Central Police Station (now Tai Kwun) who would stop by for a tea break. “Most of our customers are now blue-collar workers and tourists from all over the world,” Lam proudly says. “We still have many long-time patrons who have been coming here for decades, some of them don’t even live in this area anymore!”

A true institution of Old Town Central, Lan Fong Yuen’s emphasis on tradition and authenticity is what’s keeping them alive. With a proud glimmer in his eyes, Lam says that they won’t try to compete with all the fancy menus or dishes out there. He believes that if they can continue to make quality milk tea and truly put their hearts into what they do, people will keep coming back.

Tasting Hong Kong in Old Town Central

Time Out Hong Kong
  • Written by Time Out Hong Kong
Tasting Hong Kong

A true food paradise, Old Town Central is a melting pot of flavours with something to sate all tastes. If you’re looking for an authentic taste of Hong Kong, there’s plenty here that fits the bill, from traditional dim sum to baked treats sold at shops that have stood the test of time. Of course, the culinary landscape here is also influenced by Hong Kong’s status as a multicultural, trend-setting metropolis, and you’ll find plenty of Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as cutting-edge fusion cuisine and cocktail bars that rank among the best in the world.


Traditional Chinese flavours

Luk Yu Teahouse

Luk Yu Teahouse

Established in 1933, this three-storey restaurant boasts plenty of old-world charm, especially with its historical design juxtaposed with traditional Chinese furnishings. Luk Yu Teahouse Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info is also one of the best spots in town for an authentic dim sum meal, served with a wide variety of expertly brewed teas. The restaurant also offers larger dishes for dinner, such as sweet and sour pork and roasted crispy chicken.

Lan Fong Yuen

Lan Fong Yuen

If you want a cup of authentic Hong Kong-style milk tea, Lan Fong Yuen Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info is the place to go. The popular beverage was influenced by British culture but is made with evaporated milk and sugar. At Lan Fong Yuen, be sure to try the famous silk ‘stocking milk tea’ which is passed through a fine mesh to give it a particularly smooth texture. While Lan Fong Yuen’s original street stall still stands on Gage Street, its restaurant tucked behind serves up dishes such as chicken noodles with scallion oil. 

Sing Heung Yuen

Sing Heung Yuen

Housed in a wide alleyway, this dai pai dong (open-air food stall) may not look particularly fancy but it’s perpetually packed with customers who come from all corners of the city for the signature tomato noodle soup and crispy buns with lemon and honey. Cheap, cheerful and immensely comforting, the food is so popular that even local celebrities have been spotted eating here. Drop by for an afternoon bite after browsing nearby attractions such as Pak Tsz Lane Park and PMQ.

Tai Cheong

Tai Cheong

Fancy a piping hot, silky and irresistibly aromatic egg tart? Grab one from Tai Cheong Bakery Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info . With more than 60 years of history, this time-tested shop used to be a favourite of Hong Kong’s last colonial ruled governor, Chris Patten. Although the bakery now has branches all across the city, the original location on Lyndhurst Terrace remains the most iconic.

Kung Lee Herbal Tea Shop

Kung Lee Herbal Tea Shop

Founded in the 1940s, Kung Lee Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info is still loved and frequented by many locals. The store retains many of its old-school features, including its wooden fixtures, ceramic tiles and ceiling fans. On the menu, the sugarcane juice is the bestseller. Peeled and steamed using traditional methods, the sugarcane is pressed with an antique juicer to produce a refreshingly sweet beverage that supposedly boasts a host of health benefits. Also, don’t miss the sugarcane pudding and various herbal teas.

Audio guide
Chan Yee Jai

Chan Yee Jai 

Want to bring a traditional Hong Kong-style snack back home? Then be sure to visit Chan Yee Jai . Founded in 1927, the store offers a wide variety of traditional Chinese confections, including almond biscuits, haw flakes, preserved lemon and plum, bird’s nest cakes, sesame cakes and more.


Modern delights

Duddell's

Duddell’s

This Michelin-starred restaurant brings together fine art and fine dining. Boasting a spacious terrace and elegant interiors, Duddell’s Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info offers modern takes on traditional Cantonese cuisine with signatures such as honey-glazed barbequed pork and stir-fried Boston lobster with Maotai. Guests can also enjoy exquisite dim sum as well as innovative, Asian-inspired cocktails.

H Code

H Code

Located near the top of Pottinger Street, H Code Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info is a meeting and networking space set in the heart of Central. Its rich and diverse food offerings make it a fantastic hangout. Indulge your palate at fine dining restaurants like Bo Innovation and Clarence; enjoy the casual and chillaxing atmosphere at Sonia Coffee and NOJO Ramen x Izakaya; and refresh with a tipple at standout drinking spots such as The Diplomat and Bar De Luxe.

LPM Restaurant & Bar

LPM Restaurant & Bar Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info

This popular Niçoise restaurant has locations all over the world, including in London, Miami, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Like the flagship location in London, the Hong Kong branch serves delicious, French-Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on quality ingredients and authentic flavours. Signature dishes include escargots, whole roasted chicken stuffed with foie gras and, of course, the salad Niçoise.

Fukuro

Fukuro Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info

This modern izakaya serves delicious sharing plates in a fun and boisterous environment. Signature dishes include jet-fresh raw seafood, crisp tempura items and various tasty morsels cooked on the robata grill. In true izakaya fashion, the tipples of choice include quality highballs and premium sakes.


World-class bars

Foxglove

Foxglove

Decked out in glamourous, 1950s-style fashion, this elegant watering hole has the added fun of being hidden behind the mock exterior of an umbrella shop. Foxglove Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info focuses on creative takes on classic cocktails, including the Foxglove Martini made with sake, soju, kumquat liqueur and pomelo tincture. Aside from sipping on these carefully crafted libations, you can also enjoy live music performances on most nights. Insider’s tip: this hidden bar also boasts its own hidden bar in the form of Frank’s Library — a speakeasy that focuses on premium drinks.

Room 309

Room 309

Opened by Hong Kong’s leading mixologist, Antonio Lai, Room 309 Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info is a discreet bar hidden within The Pottinger hotel off the steps of Pottinger Street. Guests must request for a key card from its sister bar, The Envoy, before they are granted access. Once inside, you’ll find an intimate space that plays on one’s imagination with features such as an invisible menu and expertly crafted cocktails that are crystal clear in appearance.

The Old Man

The Old Man

The Old Man is one of the finest places for a drink in the whole of Hong Kong. There’s impeccable attention to detail here, as demonstrated by the L-shaped bar, which has a cooling strip running down the middle to keep drinks chilled. Expect excellent and elegant cocktails — many of which take inspiration from the words and stories of esteemed American novelist, Ernest Hemingway.

The Iron Fairies

The Iron Fairies

With sumptuous interiors by renowned designer Ashley Sutton, The Iron Fairies Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info feels like it belongs in the pages of a fairy tale. The most stunning features here are the 10,000 butterflies that dangle elegantly from the ceiling, as well as the miniature, iron-wrought fairy figures that adorn the tables. It’s a wonderfully whimsical place to enjoy exquisite craft cocktails and comfort food such as mini grilled cheese sandwiches and handcrafted burgers.

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Information in this article is subject to change without advance notice. Please contact the relevant product or service providers for enquiries.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board disclaims any liability as to the quality or fitness for purpose of third party products and services; and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, adequacy or reliability of any information contained herein.


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