I go to Wan Chai at least once a week for my language course nearby, however, whenever I have time,…read moreI always wander around and spend time at a café shop. Little did I know that I might stumble upon this gem when I was on my way to the Café Pacific inside Shui On Centre. As I was taking the escalator to the second floor, I could not help but notice on my left was this colourful store that had stuffed animals, school bags, books on display and I was like "That looks cool". And it only got better. Turns out this place is called Bookazine and it has branches everywhere in Hong Kong. As a bookstore, Bookazine of course provides selection of magazines, stationery. However, the best part is that it has CANDY STAND there and the variety of candies there are unbelievable, most are from the States and I immediately acted like a school boy literally in a candy store grabbing all kind of sweet. Apart from that, they always have tote bags, greet cards, etc. On top of that, they also have kids corner (which is really thoughtful as the grownups are reading, the kids can read some children books or choose to relax throwing beanbags there). They mainly sell English books so now you have one more place to go to look for your books except Metro and the other one. On their website you may also order books there and have the delivery or pickup at the store as well. I would say that this is one of the best bookstores I have seen in Hong Kong with its superb service and most importantly, the candy stand... Actually I am quite surprised to have found this place as it is really hidden and I did not see one single customer there when I was there on that day... well, good for me to spend some alone time there then.

Kubrick is well known among hipsters as a place for book browsing, chilling & relaxation. The…read morespaciousness of the venue allows for more than just as a bookstore; it's a haven for studying and working as well. The warm, ambient lighting with gentle ceiling fans creates a comfortable and tasteful atmosphere that adds to the overall experience. For the food, the Blueberry Red Velvet Cake ($48) showcased a deep wine-red color, complemented by a blueberry mousse base and a layer of cream in the middle. The delicate blueberry bits on top served as an attractive garnish. The sweetness level was moderate, but the cream layer was just too heavy and cloyingly sweet.

A beautiful book store with a substantial cafe area. My friends decide to meet here, as it's…read moresemi-self service - you go up to the counter, place your order and they bring it to you, and you are free to stay and chat as long as you like. Perfect for a gathering when people drift in and out at different times. They have lots of outlets by the wall if you need to use your laptop. Dishes are mostly pasta, and drinks is an extensive selection of tea and coffee. Food is okay but not great. As for the books area, I'm impressed with the selection. It's not a big bookstore, but they have books in traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, English and Japanese, arranged by subjects. If you look for books about sushi, you'll find the Japanese titles next to the Chinese ones, and you can decide whether to read Kazuo Ishiguro in English or Chinese. There is a section for German literature, Italian literature, Austrian literature, Polish literature... a level of categorization that surprised me. The cafe/bookshop is downstairs from the cinema, so shortly before or after show times, it can get busy. According to their business card, they have cafes in Beijing and Hangzhou as well.

First floor, all books are entirely in the Chinese language. (Don't judge a book by its cover and…read morebe discouraged if you only speak/read English like me...the upper floors are for you!). Second floor, all the knick knacks that bookstores sell...wrapping paper, notpads, markers, pens, cute novelty stuff, tote bags, etc. Third floor, all books are entirely in the English language. Floors 2 & 3 is where an English speaking girl from the USA finds herself more at home. A good selection of English written books, best sellers, classics, travel guides, etc. We went today seeking a wall map of China (the giant, rolled up kind), which we found, but had to ask a sales person about, for they were not on the sales floor and located in the back store room. We got a great map!

Books. Books. And more books…read more Sometimes when I want to buy books, I would just go online (like the BookDepos*tory, etc) as that is very convenient and often at cheaper price. Yet, when there are books that I cannot wait to put my hands on, I simply have to go to a bookstore and get that right away. Commercial... Popular... Page One... Metro... there are quite a few chained bookstores in Hong Kong. Therefore I was rather surprised to see a new one opening in Hong Kong. At the heart of Mong Kok, { prologue } bookstore is located on the fourth floor inside the renovated The Grand Century Place. { Prologue } Bookstore first started in Singapore in 2009 and it has gained quite a positive reputation. Finally last year it has decided to come to Hong Kong. Its walls are filled with interesting totems and definitely "scream" bookstore right away. The variety of books is rather impressive with the latest English books, graphic novels and magazines. Also they sell nice stationery and gadgets. And the best part is when you are hungry after reading for hours, they have Epilogue Café inside where you can sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee while continuing on turning the pages. I especially love that it is located inside this mall as it is currently undergoing renovation and the number of people here is quite scarce, which provides a perfect environment for everyone to read at a tranquil and relaxing state of mind.

If you are looking for Manga in Japanese, this is an excellent store. I was shopping for my son, so…read morehad no idea where to find anything. Shop owner was super helpful, digging out a couple of additional items from inventory, in addition to what was on the shelf. A lot of the merchandise is gently used, so prices were great. It has a great vibe, buried in the basement of the building, spilling out into the lower concourse. Even if you don't buy anything, it is fun to visit.

A really good used Japanese bookstore located in the basement of a side street not far from Times…read moreSquare. Unlike some used bookstores where things were just piled around, this place is really organized. Their books cover a wide range of genre, not just the more popular topics about movies, anime, and beauty. If you are studying Japanese this is a treasure trove. They also buy back used Japanese books, though not very old ones. I took some old manga and fictions there and were told they don't worth anything. And I was treasuring them all these years. : P

It is never easy to buy gifts for your friends or family, however, if you stumble upon a store that…read morehas such vivid and vibrant colours, I am sure you will not take much time to know what you are going to buy as a present. What I am saying is a store called Prints. I saw this store when I was just wandering around the Elements, for a mall filled with so many shops, this one is rather eye-catching. Normally I am not easily drawn to walk inside a store, but this one certainly caught my eyes that day. Enter and you will find yourself surrounded by all kind of colours, stationary and paper products. They have such bold and creative designs that cannot be found else where. You may also check out their instagram (@printsinternational) to see the latest designs. The best part is that the staff are super nice. They provide professional advice to cater your needs whether you are planning a party looking for invitation cards or simply looking for thank you cards. They will help you customise your cards, so that your gifts can be one of a kind. So worry no more about your choice of present, come here and have a look. It is easier than you think.

The first time I was in this store, I was delighted (I have an unhealthy obsession with stationery…read morestores). Then I realized the assortment. never. changes (well, I am estimating 80-90% of it). It is so stale (and has seemed roughly the same over the past few years!). The plain stationery cards and envelopes are reliable options but the merchandise range becomes extremely tiresome after a few visits (and is on the pricey side - no surprise given the chain's high-profile locations, I supposed).

Hong Kong magazine has written great articles as of late about the small, off the beaten path, cool…read moreneighborhoods around Hong Kong. It was from one of these recent articles that I read about Odd One Out. My husband and I took the Ding Ding from Sheung Wan on a Sunday morning seeking out a cup of coffee to discover an uber cool art gallery that has a tiny cafe attached. It was the perfect way to start our day exploring this great little neighborhood, off the beaten path of Queen's Road in Wan Chai. Odd One Out is an active art gallery featuring lesser known artists producing small batches of lithographs, risprints, etchings, prints, etc. Artists were from Japan, US, Austrailia, China, etc. They also have some handmade greeting cards and small figurines as well. You could walk out with a small lithograph for $300HKD or an etching from the featured artist for $2500HKD. Prices are not out of sync or high for what you would expect to find for a numbered print by a quality artist. During our visit, the work of Kyoko Imazu was installed in their tiny space. The cool thing about this installation is that Kyoko does etchings, which is a craft that goes unappreciated by people outside the art world. It is a painstaking process of etching (scratching with a tool like a needle) a picture on a copper plate. At Odd One Out, Kyoko has a small vintage etching press that is right there in the studio where you can actually see and understand the process of how an artist makes an etching. This small press is unique and super cool. The gallerist (Kylie was her name and she could not have been sweeter or more interested in sharing her knoweldge in an unintimidating way) was saying that Kyoko has hosted some university students showing the the process of etching at Odd One Out. I believe this exhibition is up until November 17, 2015. We had a coffee in the tiny cafe called SFS that is attached. Coffee was a good bean and exactly the neighborhood local variety we were seeking. There is a small house pomerainean named Dim Sum who is there on sight too if you are a dog lover. Everyone we saw in store seemed to know this gentle little dog. He was kind of an added feature accentuating the vibe of Odd One Out. Odd One Out is a great neighborhood gem!

Lovely art gallery at the front and a cafe at the back, combining my love for art and delicious…read morecoffee in one place, es muy excelente! A bit of a trek from the Admiralty Star Street exit, so be sure to allocate 10 mins additional travel time if you are meeting friends there. I ordered a flat white while my friend ordered an Ecuadorian hot chocolate specialty drink. Pleasant environment and outdoor patio to just chill, and even play music (they have a classical guitar on display)! :)

Log-On is a great store to kill time in. They call themselves a lifestyle store with trendy…read moreproducts that includes stationery, gadgets, photography accessories, fashion, travel accessories, beauty and wellness products. Currently there are 13 LOG-ON stores in Hong Kong and this location is conveniently located inside the iSquare building in Tsim Sha Tsui. The store is clean and organized and there are plenty of employees around but do not pressure you to buy. I came into the store to just browse, but walked out with some beauty products that I think are slightly cheaper than what you might find at Sasa. It's a great store to find small gift items and greeting cards, they even offer snacks and drinks from around the world.

Cutest store EVARRR. I'm so sad we don't have one of these in America. There were so many wonderful…read moreand useful things, it was hard to choose what I needed to make room for in my bags. Also, be aware that not all Log-On stores are the same. Like any chain store, some have more loot than others. We went to one and thought it couldn't get any better, then went to another one and were even more wowed. This location was WOW number one. Aside from having things like pens, backpacks, phone cases and cameras, it also has somewhat of a drug store. They even have supplies for work/lunches for adults and children. My friend likened it to a smaller, cuter, better Target. Just GO!