GBA Lifestyle News
A lot of people are saying print is dead — but the love for ink and paper in Hong Kong is still strong. If you’re looking for alternative bookstores to shop from or just hang out at, check out our list below.
A hidden gem in Sai Ying Pun, Books & Co. also doubles as a cafe where you can sit back and relax with your favorite read and a slice of cake. Mostly featuring secondhand books, it is a place worth staying for the afternoon just browsing and reading.
10 Park Road, Mid Levels, 2559-5199.
An independent publisher as well as book store, Book B is a little slice of heaven hidden in Sham Shui Po. Nestled inside Common Room & Co., itself being a gallery and cafe, Book B is where you will find a collection of handpicked books from interesting artists and photographers from independent publishers all over the globe.
G/F, 198 Tai Nan Street, Sham Shui Po, 2865-6880.
Hidden inside Yau Ma Tei’s Broadway Cinema, Kubrick is a bookstore and cafe hybrid that stocks mainly magazines and books in the art, design, and cultural realm both in English and Chinese, as well as a selection of lifestyle goods. You’ll also find posters and original soundtracks stocked — perfect for any film fanatic.
Shop H2, Prosperous Garden, 3 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei, 2384-8929.
If you’re looking for a gift that can be treasured through the years, why not opt for a rare book? As one of the biggest collectors and stores for such gems, Lok Man offers hard-to-find first editions, illustrated tales and the likes spanning decades and genres.
G/F, 6 Chancery Lane, Central, 2868-1056.
Among the many local bookstores hidden above busy streets in Mong Kok, Luck Win is probably one of the most beloved. Stocking independent and popular Chinese titles from Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong, spanning politics, literature, philosophy and even cookery, this spot is one that is well known by local students and bookworms alike. You’ll also find translated titles from international authors here.
3/F, 62 Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong Kok, 2390-3723.
There’s no shortage of love for anime in Hong Kong, and Manga Shop is the one-stop shop you can head to for a taste of this popular Japanese culture. Apart from new and classic anime comics translated into Chinese, you can also find collectibles, figurines and toys aplenty in its two-story store.
Shop A, 740 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, 2385-1781.
One of the few places that stocks American comics, you’ll find an updated arsenal of comics from the likes of Marvel and DC, with new issues arriving weekly. Doubling also as a destination for collectibles, this is a must for any comics fanatic.
B8, Basement, Causeway Bay Shopping Centre, 15-23, Sugar Street, Causeway Bay, 2895-1162.
One of the longest standing English bookstores, Swindon is a treasure trove of reads spanning travel, art, literature, politics and beyond. Come here for your dose of coffee table books and niche magazines too.
13-15 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2366-8001.
Hong Kong’s latest independent English book store, its uniqueness lies in its selection of vintage paperbacks and first editions, as well as comics, sheet music and classics that should be on your reading list. Recently re-located to San Po Kong, it’s a great destination for some gift shopping for yourself or loved ones.
Unit 2705, 9 Pat Tat Street, Well Tech Centre, San Po Kong, 3705-0251.
