Moving to the 852?
Congratulations for making the big move to Hong Kong! We may be biased, but the 852 is one of the best places to live and raise a family. We’ve compiled an A – Z guide to help with your transition to the city that never sleeps. Check out our list of some of the best places to help you get sorted and on your way to being a true Hong Konger! Sassy Mama welcomes you!
A is for Angelibebe: bringing Asia premium kids fashion that keeps the whole family happy! They pride themselves in offering the best quality in a classic, contemporary and chic way. With children’s apparel for all lucky littles up to the age of 14, their outfits have us wishing they came in our sizes! Your young fashionista will love stepping out in the latest Hollywood celebrity kids wear brands – plus there’s an incredible range of traditional styles to pair with all the contemporary flair. Their mission is simple: to help time-strapped, stylish parents find exactly what they need to dress-up their bubs (in the most convenient way – YAY!).
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Bumps to Babes is a one-stop shopping experience, with everything you need for your growing little one under one roof! From nursery furniture to infant formula, and pushchairs to swimwear, they’ve got you covered, mama! With exclusive maternity, new baby and children’s ranges from around the world, they hold children’s furniture and thousands of toys from leading brands (at competitive prices!). To top it all off, their five locations are scattered over Hong Kong and New Territories, meaning that a quick trip is never too far away…
There’s nothing quite like the scent of clean laundry – and it’s even better when it gets dropped to your door, crinkle-free, just before you have to rush out for an event! With 36 shops and a whole fleet of service vans, Clean Living is one of Hong Kong’s largest clothing service providers. They offer professional dry-cleaning and laundry, uniform cleaning, suede and leather cleaning, fur cleaning, and seasonal clothing storage. They even clean household carpets, remove stains, and alter clothes. Everything you need to keep your items in top form!
Let’s face it, mamas: Hong Kong homes aren’t known for having great kitchens. Pair that with handling a group of very hungry, picky tummies, and it’s no surprise that cooking is the last thing you want to be doing. That’s why we are huge fans of Deliveroo, a service that delivers all our favourite food to our door at the click of a button. With a whole range of Hong Kong restaurants to chose from, Deliveroo is definitely one of our go-to websites and apps.
Did someone say “Spa Day”? Today, spas are all about the wellness of mind, body and spirit. Essential Spa is a unique relaxation spa that provides a temporary escape from the city stress. They offer a full range of spa services, including facial treatments, massages, hydrobaths, slimming treatments and nail services. There’s only one question left: where do we sign up?
Whether you’re completely new to the idea of having a helper, or you’ve had domestic help before, this agency will definitely come in handy! The Fair Employment Agency is a non-profit social enterprise working to align the relationship between domestic workers and their employers. If you’re looking for a super trustworthy resource, then make sure to also check out HelpWise, a personal HR department for all helper-related topics. With advice on hiring, training, and day-to-day relationship management, these experts make sure everything is good to go.
“Hello Hong Kong” also means “hello heat” and “hello humidity”, which means that even the tamest of hair needs maintaining. This iconic British brand is the favourite for stylists, celebrities, and mamas alike! Standing for “good hair day”, you can completely count on these experts to work wonders on your mane. Need more convincing? Their ghd platinum® styler works to produce ultimate results without compromising the health of your hair. Using Tri- Zone® technology to maintain a safer heat, everything from root to tip is left stylish and healthy. Good hair day? Yes, please!
With the fast pace of the city encouraging eating out so often, Guilt Free Food (GFF) is definitely a modern mama’s friend. They deliver real food made with trusted ingredients (meaning all the goodness without preservatives, additives, and other nasties) especially to elevate your snack time. If you’re looking for more than snacking, many customers even have the complete box as their lunch! The company is on a mission to provide great tasting (portion-controlled) treats that nourish your body, and still keep those taste buds happy (hooray!). With snack boxes sold for $79, and special subscription plans on offer, you can get snacks delivered directly to your office or home.
Indigo Living is a reliable go-to spot to find classical or modern home pieces. As one of Hong Kong’s leading, award-winning destinations for fashionable furnishings and home accessories, there are seven Indigo Living stores, and five Indigo Kid Stores around Hong Kong. Though certain prices can be on the higher side, they always prove to be investment items – so they’re completely worth it! Plus, the dedicated children’s range offers an extensive selection of child-friendly furniture (from accessories and gifts to storage units and necessities). So whether you’re looking for baby-safe bed linen, or the plushest cushions and beanbags, this is the place to look, mamas!
Click here to check out other home décor stores in Hong Kong
Online grocery shopping is a life saviour for busy on-the-go parents! Take it from fellow mamas: Jousun is a one-stop, personal online grocer with same-day delivery is an absolute dream. You can shop by aisle or store, and they offer everything from organic, artisanal, local and brand name food items to personal care and household essentials. We love that you can choose from organic premium or market-fresh produce on a daily basis!
Kapok began their story as a little lifestyle shop located on a quiet backstreet of our city. With the mission to present a variety of international products, they kept their focus on quality and creativity, and they’ve now expanded to 13 stores, each with a different theme and curated product selections! They take every opportunity to create cool collaborations and cross over into photography, art, design and food. From shoes and accessories to casual clothes, eyewear, bags and wallets, this is a shop you won’t find anywhere other than Hong Kong.
Head on over to The Pulse in Repulse Bay for creative down time with the little ones. Besides selling their signature contemporary ceramic homeware, Loveramics in The Pulse offers workshops where you and your kiddos can enjoy a fun and creative afternoon painting and customising your own ceramic pieces! Fill your new home with some hand painted ceramic pieces made by your littles.
Maison Wasabi’s stylish and clean furniture is mostly made of renewable bamboo in their workshop in China – and it’s absolutely stunning. Though they don’t have a tangible shop, the furniture and accessories offered are fantastic and modern (and their website is easy to use – yippee!). Most of their items can be customised in size and colour, and the wood species that are used are certified under the FSC system. If you’re looking for a statement feature, we adore the range of funky bookcases. Extra bonus? Returns are free!
Having a food intolerance in Hong Kong can mean missioning from one store to the next, so head on over to NutriAlley and shop by specific dietary requirements – with gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free categories, with product prices often more reasonable than the supermarket! Spend $500 for free delivery within 2-3 days.
Located in the hip and happening area of Sheung Wan, this gentrified neighbourhood houses the chic and modern Ovolo Serviced Apartments. For families still deciding on where to live, Ovolo will give a sense of calm as your home base as you explore and visit flats with your realtor! With all inclusive services and flexible leasing arrangements you can transition into your new home at ease.
Private i Hair Garden is a salon just for the kiddos from the hair experts at Private i. Your little ones will just love sitting atop the whimsical pig character seats and enjoy a slew of different movies and TV entertainment at PiG Kids! All designed to make the cut as fun and stress-free as possible. It costs $350 for a cut.
Getting an opportunity to try new restaurants and cuisines is what we love best about Hong Kong! With so many new places popping up all the time, Quandoo has an extensive list where you can browse different restos while booking a table through them as well! This has made date night so much easier for all mamas and papas out there who need some much needed quality time together after the big move.
Rent-A-Mum has a long history in HK and today is owned and operated by Shirley Robinson, a qualified nurse and English teacher, who bought the company back in the 80’s. They offer a comprehensive range of services ranging from full-time nannies, to maternity nurses, to ad hoc daytime childcare and babysitting. They also offer temporary live-ins (ideal for parents who wish to go overseas without the bambinos) and “mother’s helpers” perfect for those who have just arrived in HK and need an extra hand until a helper can be processed.
A life saver for new and old families in Hong Kong, SpotHelp is an on demand personal concierge service that will assist you in getting any job done. Whether it’s transporting your new furniture, planning a dinner party or even finding a handy man to help hang your framed art onto your walls. SpotHelp is there, well… to help you out! Whatever you need, no matter how big or small the task, text them, task them and trust them.
Timothy Oulton’s classic British styled furniture and homewares will be sure to bring your newly rented or bought flat to “home” status. Fans of the British brand’s leather chairs, union jack ottomans and salvage wood dining tables can now indulge their love of the brand over three floors in the heart of Wan Chai or along their other boutique on Gough Street in Soho. One of our favourite picks? The flags in shadow boxes.
You’ve probably heard of Uber or have used it back in your home country plenty of times. Well, guess what? They’re here in Hong Kong too! Whether you need a moving van, a taxi, a sedan or even a Tesla, Uber is here for you helping you and your fam get a ride around your new city and home in a matter of minutes.
An oldie but a goodie! Vickies has been around for a number of years allowing us ladies with the bigger foot to enjoy stylish shoes and comfort at a price we can afford. Perfect for work or a jaunt around town, there are styles for everyone. Custom made shoes take approximately six weeks. However, if you find a style you like in the shop they do carry stock so you can buy there and then.
Looking for a place to have your tiny tykes burn some energy? Or wondering where to buy a birthday present for your kiddo’s new friend? Look no further than Wise-Kids. With several locations all over town, they have a huge selection of fabulous educational toys… need we say more? They also have large indoor playrooms for kids out in Cyberport and Causeway Bay, offering fun weekly activities like kite making, face painting and puppet shows, and their playrooms make great birthday party venues.
Giving a whole new spin (groan!) to run-of-the-mill fitness classes, XYZ offers glow in the dark spin sessions. It’s so important to keep fit during this new transitional time and XYZ will have you covered! The XYZ Studio in Central is completely different from any other cycling studio or gym, it feels more like a nightclub with a DJ system that could put any Wyndham Street hotspot to shame. There are several different spinning classes available at XYZ, all set to music, including beginner level (First Mission) to special early morning classes (Dream Awake, complete with low lighting and soft beats to ease you into the day ahead), high-energy evening classes (Joy Ride) and their signature class, Born to Move!
Whether you’re attending your company’s welcome dinner or a formal gala event, or having casual cocktails or a night out in town meting new friends are scheduled, Hong Kong’s first online designer dress rental Yeechoo.com has got you covered! Simply select one of the many gorgeous designer dresses they have available at a fraction of its original price. It can be rented for four days and be delivered straight to your doorstep. Quick, easy, and with no extra hassle, it is definitely every girl’s dream come true!
Looking to get your new flat decorated? Get some fabulous home-ware at the reasonably priced decor sister store of Spanish fashion giant, Zara. You can expect bed linen, cushions, tableware and other soft furnishings every bit as stylish, chic and reasonably priced as Zara’s clothes themselves. You’ll be feeling right at home in no time!