Sheung Wan

Sheung Wan sits just west of Central, with steep lanes, older tenement buildings and a growing number of small, chef-led restaurants. Upper Station Street and the lanes around it have become a compact pocket for French cooking and wine.

Racines on Upper Station Street holds one Michelin star for a focused tasting menu that combines French technique with Cantonese influences. Nissa la Bella, on the same street, is a Nice-inspired bistro and wine bar from the Pastis group, serving Riviera dishes and bistro classics all day. Bouillon Bistro Parisien on Pound Lane cooks French classics from organic, traceable produce with a long natural-leaning wine list. Babette, on the Central–Sheung Wan border, serves sharing plates such as yellow chicken with Koshihikari rice and beef tartare toast.

Book Racines ahead. The bistros take walk-ins more readily on weeknights. Sheung Wan MTR station is close to Babette, and the lanes uphill are steep, so comfortable shoes help. Prices range from upscale bistro meals to a full tasting menu.