You don’t need to hop on a ferry or head for the hills to find fresh(ish) air, open space and healthy eats. Believe it or not, Western District has family-friendly fun in spades. Whether you’re looking to burn off excess energy, refuel the fam with healthy eats or stock up on healthy food for you and the kids, Kennedy Town and Sai Ying Pun has it all – and it’s right on the blue MTR line, too.
Eat
1 New Kennedy Town eatery Butcher & Baker Cafe takes the family-friendly formula that Castelo Concepts has deployed to great success and elevates it to the next level, with cool add-ons including a kids’ play area and free Wednesday yoga classes. The airy 2,000-square-foot space packs in a restaurant, florist and – yes – a butcher and baker (candlestick maker as yet unconfirmed) and is set to become the default hangout for babyccino-fuelled toddler play dates, casual weekend brunches and K-Town families alike.
On Fat Building, 57-59 Cadogan St., Kennedy Town, 2591-0328, casteloconcepts.com.
2 Opendoor Café & Courtyard offers families who stop by for a snack that rarest of commodities – outside space. With room for strollers, unsteady toddlers and even pets, this is the ideal place for a pit stop after a day at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park. If you’re dairy-free, grab your latte with almond milk while the small fry refresh with a smoothie – add chia or hemp seeds or gut-friendly kefir for a sneaky health boost. Dad-friendly handmade burgers can be washed down with local craft beer if your hide-and-seek session has been particularly gruelling.
G/F, 120 Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun, 3460-3880, opendoorcafe.hk.
Shop
3.It may not be on the same scale, but Just Green is probably the closest thing Hong Kong has to a WholeFoods. With two locations in Western district, Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town, you’ll find a huge range of organic, free-range and fairly traded food, home care and beauty products. Just Green sources products responsibly to minimise environmental impact and prioritises small and handmade brands. It also stocks Happy Cow low-GI vegan ice cream for a sweet but healthier treat.
66 Catchick St., Kennedy Town, 2325-9997; 24 High St., Sai Ying Pun, 2559-0550, justgreen.com.hk.
4 Delivered straight from New Zealand twice a week, The Fresh Grower stocks fruit and veg grown in mineral-rich organic soil, resulting in nutrient-dense produce that packs phenomenal flavour. Although there’s a delivery option, you’ll want to hit the store in person; there’s up to 20 percent off every Monday and Thursday if you shop in store.
41A Belcher’s St., Kennedy Town, 2872-0801.freshgrower.com.hk.
5 Offering a carefully curated selection of products and friendly, knowledgeable service, Cabinet Organic is your go-to if there are food allergies in your family. Products are searchable online by their dairy- gluten- wheat- or yeast-free status and vegans also have their own category. Stock up on store cupboard staples and any purchase over $300 can be delivered to your door free of charge (with the exclusion of the usual far-flung regions).
27 High St., Sai Ying Pun, 2799-9317, cabinetorganic.com.
Play
6 Offering panoramic views of the harbour, plenty of room to roam and a lawn to lounge on (yes, you can walk on the grass!), Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park is an easy escape from the concrete jungle. The park’s sculptures and water features are interesting enough, but the large circular grassy area is where it’s at, particularly at the weekend when families kick their shoes off and congregate on this rare green space. The park also boasts a large and well-maintained playground, with climbing frames, slides and wobbly bridges for young adventurers.
16 Eastern St., (main entrance from Connaught Road West), Sai Ying Pun, lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/sysmp.
7 If it’s pouring down in K-Town, head over to soft play nirvana/kiddy zoo FunZone at the Westwood mall and let them run themselves ragged while you chill out in the parents’ area. With 10,000 square feet of space to climb, bounce, run, jump and tunnel, this is a full workout for small people with energy to burn. A dedicated toddler area separates the little ones from the rampaging masses, and there’s a café and WiFi if you want to zone out for ten minutes. We won’t tell.
Shop 121, Level 1, The Westwood, 8 Belcher’s St., Kennedy Town, 2258-9558, funzone.com.hk/kennedy-town.
8 Alternatively, get those wellies on and get splashing in puddles along the little-known Pik Shan Path, which runs a total of seven kilometres between Pokfulam and Kotewall Road. This peaceful trail is great for young kids who long to roam free and its gentle slopes won’t tax tiny legs too much. It’s just as nice to wander on a sunny day – the overhanging greenery keep things shady and junior entomologists will find plenty of exciting bug-hunting opportunities.
Pik Shan Path, off Pokfulam Road (near Queen Mary Hospital), Pok Fu Lam.
9 If those once-little legs are now longer than yours, keep on past the Pik Shan Path signpost and head all the way up to The Peak. You’ll pass by Pokfulam reservoir (itself a lovely family stroll), before the path rises steeply up through thick woodland towards the disused Pinewood Battery – a worthy diversion that’s also a great break point for a picnic. Continue your climb and you’ll eventually emerge at Lugard Road where you can congratulate yourselves for having made it all the way up to the very roof of Hong Kong.