Wellcome is a Hong Kong chain of supermarkets that can be found all over the country. I saw their…read moresignage multiple times but didn't really know what it was until I stepped foot one afternoon to purchase some soft drinks. I asked one of my travel mates where to go as our hotel didn't have a convenience store and she advised me to come here. Staying at the City Garden Hotel, this Wellcome location came in very handy as it's just across the street. It's a little tricky as the store is inside from the outside entrance - - they share the entrance with another business. When glancing through this relatively small supermarket, they carry many food items, including raw ingredients. I was surprised they do carry some imported products from other countries on their shelves. It was fun checking out what the locals consume as I did notice some products that I grew up with, such as Cadbury, Horlicks and Ovaltine. Personally, I did find Wellcome to be cramped with many items on display with narrow aisles. I primarily came here for drinks and snacks so it met my needs. Octopus cards (prepaid smart cards) can be used during check out so it was very convenient. Traveling from country to country it was difficult at times with their currency system. When I obtained my Octopus card at 7-11,, I used it there. In addition to 7-11 stores, I could ride the MRT, bus and also use my Octopus card at Wellcome. If I were a resident of Hong Kong, Wellcome can be too small of a supermarket with limited selections. But if I lived in one of the many apartment buildings nearby, Wellcome is sufficient with grocery shopping without traveling far. Being such a small store, the number of staff is minimal with just 2 or 3 employees. My cashier wasn't number savvy as I was trying to use up all balance on my Octopus card. I informed her in Cantonese I was about to leave the country and would be paying the difference with HK dollars. She told me I didn't have enough on the card and therefore couldn't do my sale. Clearly I had purchased more with snacks to take home and consume on the plane. I had to repeat myself and this time the lightbulb went on and informed me the balance due after scanning my Octopus card. Overall, a great find near my hotel, as this store has a larger selection than what you find at a 7-11 or average convenience store.

For a true homesick brit, this M& S store does provide you with some level of comfort in the form…read moreof food from home. To be honest this place doesn't break any new boundaries nor presents anything that is ground breaking; its still the good old M&S store with their food items. You could find that with any other M&S store. The only difference is that this place does only that- it sells food and nothing else, which to be me is great because it does without the boring parts (I haven't bought a suit from M&S at least). Someone must have told the M&S people about this particular vacant site because they could not have chosen a better location to set up a food shop. With the bridge from the North Wanchai office towers going towards Queens Road East, this is the perfect place to stop by and grab something whether you are walking back home or taking the MTR. Moreover, there's a gym upstairs (was) which also caters for some people who go to the gym after work. The food is the standard fare and exactly as I want it- Shepherds Pie, Yorkshire Pudding and bourbon chocolate biscuits. yes its 30 degrees out there but I don't care, I miss the rain and the greyness so the closest I can get is with some proper grub. There is also a huge selection of frozen food items ranging from pies to pizzas so there's something for everyone. A small wine selection is also there and I am happy to report that its not as poor as I thought it would be. Never thought i'd say this but good on ya, M&S!

It's funny, I have an image of quality and tasty food for M&S and a really poor one for their…read moreclothes. I used to live in the UK and, honestly, even though I liked it, I barely bought anything there unless it was really especial, like some cheeses that I couldn't find in Sainsbury's. But I must admit that I was happy to see M&S here in Hong Kong. And this branch is right downstairs from my gym so I walk past every other day. I can't recall the number of times I've been inside checking something out and haven't bought anything. It's just not worth it, it's SO EXPENSIVE! Just as an example, a little 150 gr. bag of nuts is around 45HKD...come on! And that applies to pretty much anything. If you like ready made 'English' food (sounds appealing huh?) you may like it as that's what they are really good at. You pay a higher price for the convenience but it's good. Two good things about his place: cheese and wine. The cheese selection is not greater than any other supermarket and around the same price, but you can find a couple of odd cheeses there, different from the range at other stores. And I'm a fan of their wines. I found a great one there, that a friend recommended to me, it's a Spanish garnacha grape wine called La Sabrosita. It's a thick red wine priced at less than 100HKD and I love it. For such a small store, the space taken by wines and the selection they have is really impressive. Okay, their chocolates are okay too (I only care for dark ones though). They only have a couple but it's great to find different brands from the main supermarket chains. And this applies to every other item in their store.

Great location in Central Hong Kong…read more One thing I appreciate about SB is its consistency. No matter where you are in the world each location offers pretty much the same menu and this one is no different. Pumpkin spice latte made with almond or soy milk is my favorite this time of year. The flavor topped with spice warms my heart. Years ago I frequented SB several times a week but at today's prices I'm lucky if I can afford it once a month. It is a luxury to splurge $6 to $7 for a coffee drink :(

Just Green is a small deli on Lamma Island, located on Yung Shue Wan Main Road, which believe it or…read morenot is on the road from Yung Shue Wan ferry. It's beyond the turn off on to the family trail, but before you get to the temple. It's basically one of a small chain, the other stores in Wan Chai, Soho, and Disco Bay, selling healthy whole foods, such as qinoa, fenugreek (nope, I have no idea what this is either), kettle chips, organic pasta, Quorn, and icecreams. It's actually a reasonably priced shop, given the products are premium and imported like Quorn, and also have to come beyond "main" HK and onto an outlying island. Produce sells at a similar price to the regular shops in HK. The best bit of this store (which is only at this store and not the HK ones) is the "pseudo" cafe at the rear. It's not a coffee shop, not by a far stretch. It is more like a small seating area where you can have snacks and drinks bought in store. They even have serve yourself teas, which is essentially a cup, a teabag and a kettle, and that you make up for yourself. Remember to make purchases before you enjoy. Beyond the seating area is a small pleasantly decorated terrace overlooking the sea. On a hot day, I like to come for the real fruit lollies and hang out at the back of the shop. It's kinda pleasant to look at the sea, whilst in the AC eating ice lollies. Reminds me of Brighton Beach.

The organic and fair trade specialty store amid expanding all over Hong Kong. The location in Lamma…read moreIsland sits next to the vegetarian cafe Bookworm. The bakery session is at the entrance that homemade baguette, sunflower bread loaf, whole wheat bread, croissant...Easily can you tell the hand crafted pastry that are not cut automatically. And the best part for me is some gluten-free options. Man, my eyes just sparkled when I saw the 'GF' label. Then the personal health care products which are mostly imported from Europe and the States. Handmade soaps, fair-trade shampoo and now the overwhelming 100% natural coconut oil. I found my German brand xxx shampoo and conditioner which I used to have in Amsterdam. Surprise. And for clean-eating people, the muesli, granola and nuts shelves are heavens. They have house label nuts and cranberries etc., packed in bags and last for a short period which still keeps the freshness. Their wine selection is from Albert Heijn from the Netherlands when I saw the back label. Haha. No wonder some familiar brands merged into my eye level. Organic beer available here. It would be brilliant if they gonna add on the Australian Goat beer ale. Walk further, they have a real cafe that serve soul food. With the terrace facing the Lamma pier, chewing some carrot cake and sip organic Chandoney from South Africa can make a perfect weekend.

Bo-good! I had Gong Cha and TP Tea and were disappointed. I…read morethought those two were just bo-so. My milk tea came out fast and the flavor wasn't watered down or too sweet.

Comebuy can be found all over HK for that quick bubble tea or juice drink. I got their mango juice…read morewith jelly drink, pretty sweet but the jellies are always nice and chewy. This Comebuy is right at the end of the red light district in Wanchai, so after a drink or two you can "Comebuy" and grab some bubble tea.

Tai Cheong Bakery is known for having some of the best egg tarts in Hong Kong, however I was not…read moreblown away by the egg tarts at this location. Overall, I had a decent egg tart and since not eating it right away may have affected my dining experience, I'd be willing to give Tai Cheong Bakery another go. MY ORDER x2 Soft Crust Egg Tart SOFT CRUST EGG TART: ($10HKD = $1.27 USD) The crust was well done- soft, firm and not dry or too crumbly. It was not my favorite crust however as I was expecting and would have preferred a firmer and sweeter crust akin to a fruit tart's crust. The custard was beautifully set, not watery and tasted sweet and deliciously eggy. ENVIRONMENT: Classic bakery set-up that is clean and well-lit. Looks slightly dated and has no area to dine-in. TIPS: - They bake fresh tarts based on how much inventory they have left making it difficult to time when fresh tarts will be made ready

Do I love coffee? Yes I do. Coffee can get really pricy…read more I guess the average cost is 30 - 50 for a latte. 50HKD for a latte is considered a PLURGE for me! Anyway, Pacific Coffee is a better alternative to Starbucks on any day. It's not the best, and there's nothing super unique or special about the coffee but it does do the job when I need the extra kick for the day. This location does not have a big food selection, so don't come in here really hungry. It's best for snacks and light meals. The sandwiches are pricy for what they give you. Frankly, I always try to avoid their food as it's never filling. This Pacific Coffee is located in Repulse Bay so the surroundings are fancy and is very relaxing if you want to sit outside under the umbrellas. Because of the minimal crowd, it is general peaceful. Enjoy all the way to the last drop!