Brunch City – the best neighbourhoods to live and brunch

Brunch has become so popular as part of our regular weekend activities. It’s no wonder Hong Kong has such an amazing array of brunching options for friends and families to get together. The term Brunch has taken on a life of its own with thoughtful, creative dishes that go beyond just simple sausages and eggs. A whole new culinary style has cropped up with restaurants putting their own spin on food and flavours to attract the ravenous brunch crowd.  

You can go brunching anywhere between 9am and 4pm+. Think how convenient this is for accommodating our very different, social lifestyles. It means that you can be out clubbing till 3 am, go home for a few shut-eye hours and be all set for brunch at 3pm. Can’t make it during brunch hours? There is also always the “classic go-to” all day brunch as well. Some places such as Zuma have recognised the potential of this new eating style and make a very special effort with their fantastically reinvented night-time brunch that starts from 8.30pm on a Saturday. It is an absolute treat to get a bit dressed up and choose from their carefully selected menu.

So, for all those people out there who have Brunch every weekend, this could be a very important consideration when deciding on which neighbourhood to live in, so let’s check out which neighbourhoods offer the best brunch.

Soho

Soho is God's gift to man when it comes to brunch. On Saturday and Sunday, restaurants everywhere offer brunch from bacon and eggs to spicy Thai and dim sum. Try the restaurants on Elgin Street, the rooftop terrace above Stauntons, the classic Oolaa, Wagyu on Wyndham, and 208 Hollywood Rd. With so many choices you can spend a year trying out new places if you don’t have a favourite. This is one of the many reasons why Soho is one of the most popular suburbs for young expats to live in. Everything is at your fingertips from bars and entertainment to fitness centres and foot massages. With the escalator, it is super convenient to get anywhere. There are always great places to buy or rent, from studios to 4-bedroom apartments with balconies, rooftops and swimming pools.

If you are looking for apartments in Soho, our real estate agents at Engel & Volkers will ensure that you will find your dream place. Soho houses have been on the rise due to the wonderful amenities that this place has to offer. 

Sai Ying Pun

This suburb has really taken off in the last few years. Always a little artsy, there are consistently new cafes and restaurants opening to meet the demands of a growing community. Very high on the list of inner suburbs to live in, Sai Ying Pun’s combination of ultra-modern luxury high rise apartments juxtaposing old adjoined house conversions attracts an interesting mix of residents who enjoy having all the conveniences of the inner city on their doorsteps without quite as much city buzz.

High Street has a great and bubbling brunch scene with St Barts, Metropolitain, High Street Grill and Flying Pig Bistro. First, Second, Third and others in the area have a number of brunch options with Locofama, NOC Roastery, La Paloma, Pete’s Place and many more to discover.

Wanchai

The gentrification of Wanchai has been taking shape for a number of years. Thankfully, there is a balance of keeping the clubs and bars open, late night entertainment, and events that Wanchai is most famous for, while adding into the mix, a selection of ultra-modern and sophisticated residential developments that take advantage of wonderful views in the peaceful hillside of the suburb. Using Hennessy Road as an imaginary divider, everything on the north side towards the harbour is mostly retail shops, bars, nightclubs, and some traditional restaurants. On the south side towards the hills are the newer residences such as Star Crest with knockout views out over the harbour and many renovated, older style apartment blocks with nice landscaping and parks on narrow streets. All of these things have lent themselves to create a peaceful and quaint village atmosphere. 

Brunch is a major way of life for the residents and visitors of Wanchai with popular streets such as Star Street with restaurants such as Mason ES, Oolaa, Ted’s Lookout, Elephant Grounds, Giando Italian, Pici, Madam Ching all rated as excellent Brunch hangouts, and there is so many more in the surrounding streets. This convenient neighbourhood is perfect for working executives and professionals who enjoy the inner-city lifestyle. 

Stanley

Wonderful Stanley Village is suited to everyone that enjoys being out of the rat race, living in a beach suburb, having access to all sorts of shops and services, being close to schools, and having a much quieter laid back lifestyle. This crowd is definitely the “out of the city” brunch crowd, made up of families, couples and singles with plenty of Hong Kong residents and visitors also making the journey to be here on weekends. With two gorgeous sandy beaches, and a main walking street complete with a waterfront promenade and boardwalk, it’s a refreshing open spaced suburb with glorious water views, plenty of trees and greenery. This is the place to live if you want a townhouse and privacy, or larger scaled apartments with more room to move. It is about as close to a western-style village as you will find in Hong Kong. People have dogs here, own cars and go to the supermarket on Saturday morning at the Stanley Plaza.

They are also having brunch. Some of the most popular places are Classified, Beef and Liberty, Stan Café Cali-mex at the Plaza, or on Main street and surrounding the waterfront are The Boathouse, Spiaggia, Stanley Cave and Waffleman. With a nice cold glass of Prosecco or Pinot Gris, it’s very easy to turn your brunch into dinner. As you sit out on the terrace or Main street, watching the people passing by, taking in the views over the water and out to sea, with boats in the harbour and ferries coming and going, this is quite likely the best place in the world to spend your brunch hours with good friends or family. Expect to pay a little more to live here and if you work in the city suburbs, the commute takes around 30+ minutes to Central, but it’s so worth it.

Want to live in Soho, Sai Ying Pun, Wan Cai, or Stanley? If you are on the search for Hong Kong property or apartments for sale, luxury homes or mansions, then look no further than Engel & Volkers Hong Kong. Simplify your real estate agent search and get in touch with the best real estate agents in Hong Kong by visiting https://www.hongkongev.com and contacting Engel & Volkers local or international real estate agents.