Stores, Malls or Markets in Hong Kong

Goods of Desire is a homewares, furniture and clothing retailer stocking modern designs that compliment the vibrant culture of Hong Kong. Traditional items are given a 21st century makeover making them more cutting edge and funky. Think stainless steel chopsticks for example.

G.O.D (pronounced gee-oh-dee) does stock clothing but it is the homewares and furniture that draws your attention. The store reminds me of an Asian IKEA in some ways. It's a good place to look for a more unusual gift or a contempory version of a traditional item.

There are eight stores located throughout Hong Kong. I have only been to the one in the Leighton Centre - Causeway Bay.

There are also stores at the Silvercord Shopping Centre in Tsim Sha Tsi, The Galleria at the Peak, Hollywood Road in Central, Stanley Plaza in Stanley, Sai Kung, Ap Lei Chau and Shek Kip Mei. There is an outlet store at Cyberport on the Southern side of Hong Kong Island.

What to buy: Stylish home accessories and trinkets.

You can view an online catalogue at http://www.god.com.hk/catalogue

What to pay: Prices are equivalent to IKEA for example.

If you like antiques to buy or just admire there are a few stylish and reputable antique shops on Hollywood Road and also along "Cat Street" (Upper Lascar Row). Clustered mid way between the Sheung Wan end and the Mid Levels Escalator these showrooms stock a large selection of traditional Chinese lacquered furniture and porcelain including Ming and Tang Dynasty pieces.

If your budget does not stretch that far there are also trinket shops selling much smaller items such as mahjong sets and scaled down versions of terracotta horses and warriors. Obviously the cheaper the item the cheaper the quality so dont expect to find anything authentic. You can also buy newly minted "old"coins.

Along with antique shops there are some art galleries to browse through making this a pleasant area to stroll and window shop during the day preferably. Continue your stroll through Sheung Wan if possible as the old streets of this area are quite facinating. (see my Sheung Wan review)

What to buy: Porcelain vases.

What to pay: Unlimited amounts. Large items can be shipped to your home subject to quarantine and customs laws. These would need to be insured especially fragile items.

If you like to shop at iconic French label Louis Vuitton then you will be spoilt for choice in Hong Kong.

The flagship store is located at 5 Canton Road Tsim Sha Tsui. Here you will find four levels of LV monogrammed luxury. This store is the largest Louis Vuitton outside Paris and sits comfortably in a street well known for its high concentration of designer shops.

Other smaller stores are located at:

The Landmark Shopping Centre in Central -
G/F Shop 7 - 17 Landmark Atrium Central Hong Kong Island

Pacific Place Shopping Central in Admiralty -
Level 3 & Level 4 Pacific Place 88 Queensway Hong Kong Island

Elements Shopping Centre in West Tsim Sha Tsui -
Shop 2048 - 2055 Level 2 1 Austin Road (access from Kowloon Station)

The Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay -
Shop G01 and G10 33 Hysan Avenue.

DFS Chinachem in East Tsim Sha Tsui -
UG1 77 Mody Road TST

Aside from the flagship store the most recognised LV store in my opinion is in the Peninsula Hotel Shopping Arcade.

Opening and closing times vary between stores.

What to buy: Handbags and Sunglasses:
And I dont mean the styles you can find at every market in Hong Kong.

What to pay: $$$

With millions of potential customers its no surprise that every designer brand you can name has a store in Hong Kong. Many have "Flagship" stores in a central location and a few others in urban shopping centres.

Hong Kong Island has a high concentration of designer brands and the majority can be found at the prestigious Landmark building in the heart of the Central district. I've been to every major shopping mall in Hong Kong and The Landmark shopping centre, probably the largest in Central is also the most upmarket in my opinion. Sadly I'm only a window shopper but its fun to watch the rich and famous spend their money.

The Armani store is the largest in Asia. Other brands represented include Balenciaga, Burberry, Celine, Chanel, De Beers, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zega, Escadea, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik, Max Mara, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co, Tommy Hilfiger and Vivienne Tam.

Iconic Italian brand Gucci have recently opened their flagship store at the adjacent Landmark Mandarin Oriental hotel on Queens Road. The 1000 square meter store is on two levels and stocks everything "Gucci". Harvey Nichols also have a store located here offering a large range of luxury items spread over five floors. (In late 2011 Harvey Nichols opened a flagship store in nearby Admiralty at Pacific Place)

What to buy: Special occasion one-off designer items.

NOTE: Opening hours are shorter than other shopping centres 11am to around 7 or 8pm. Probably best to check closing times with specific store.

What to pay: Lots and lots and lots and lots of $$$

Li Yuen Street East and West are two market streets in Central. The alleyway markets run parallel to each other between Des Voeux Road and Queens Road. Locals refer to them as "The Lanes".

Stalls stock inexpensive ready to wear garments and a medium size selection of beautiful fabrics including silk and assorted drapery. There are also the usual handbag stalls as well as hair accessories, costume jewellery and childrens clothes. There is a very reasonably priced luggage shop (not sure which street though) should you need to buy an extra suitcase to take home.

The Li Yuen Street Markets are open daily from 10am to 7pm and while most markets in Hong Kong stock the same items, Li Yuen East and West have a few different stalls. Worth wandering through in my opinion.

What to buy: Usual market items including ladies and childrens clothes, jewellery, handbags, silk scarves and pashminas, luggage, wigs and hair accessories.

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For as long as I can remember my wife has been on the hunt for a Red PAnda stuffed animal. She has searched high and low every zoo and animal park we have ever visited with no luck...until Hong Kong. We had some time to kill before the flight and wanted to check out the shops before heading the the club.

In one of the souvenir shops my wife found a display of several stuffed Red Pandas. Needless to say she was thrilled... We wound up buying her a panda as well as her newphew and our friend back at home ahd to get one too. So three pandas later we left the shop very satisfied.

What to pay: The Red Pandas were $200 Hong Kong Dollars which is equivelent to $25 USD.

As soon as my wife spotted the Disney store; reality didn't exist. My wife got the same glazed over look of happiness that being in Disney World brings out in her and off she was in the store. Now that she has a nephew she has her own litle Mouseketeer in training...and she is ready to get him started with his Disney life.

The store had everything you'd find in any Disney store throughout the world: clothing, toys, hats and varous Disney themed merchandise. After my wife had successfully navigated every inch of the store she emerged with shopping bag full of gifts for her nephew at home. It was amazing; this was the first time ever she left without buying a single item for herself....Wow!

I thought of buying chocolates in one of the supermarkets in Tsim Sha Tsui rather to buy in the Duty Free. So, off I went to the supermarket, making my research if chocolates here would be cheaper than buying in Duty Free. I ended up buying lots and lots of Cadbury chocolate packs, M&Ms and even junk foods, because they’re so cheap! Each pack of Cadbury chocolates costs HK$14 only! Amazing right! Haha! When I got back in the Philippines, I found the same Cadbury chocolates in one of the supermarkets in the city and the costs are a bit higher like about HK$22.

Cash or credit card payments are acceptable in Supermarkets. One thing also I have to mention is when buying stuffs in supermarkets, you must bring your own bag or you’ll be asked to purchase a plastic bag for the items you purchased. The plastic bag costs less than HK$1 and it’s not advisable to use a plastic bag. The supermarket staffs will look at you like you’ve done something very offensive. Well, I just disregarded that since I honestly DON’T know.

What to buy: Chocolates, cookies, junk foods

What to pay: HK$50-100, depends on the stuffs you want to purchase