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The West Kowloon Cultural District has become a favourite family hang-out spot for us at Sassy Mama. Here’s everything we love, from restaurants to kids activities, transport tips and more.
Once known as the barren land right by Elements, the West Kowloon Cultural District has now become a go-to weekend kids’ activity for many families in Hong Kong. Whether it’s tenting out and having a picnic facing the Victoria Harbour, taking the bikes and scooters out, treating our pooch at a pet-friendly restaurant, museum hopping or even planning a family-friendly staycation nearby, West Kowloon covers all the bases for the family. As regular goers to the West Kowloon Cultural District, here’s our insider guide to where to eat, things to do with kids, transportation tips and more.
Jump To:
Restaurants At West Kowloon
Things To Do At West Kowloon
Getting To West Kowloon
Read More: Tsim Sha Tsui – The Ultimate Neighbourhood Guide For Families In Hong Kong
Restaurants At West Kowloon – Where to eat with kids
Café Bohème West Kowloon
Who can resist some gooey, cheesy pizza or tiramisu? Café Bohème is a casual restaurant that’s often our pit-stop after the kids have burned off from either running around or cycling around the West Kowloon Art Park (and talk about convenient location). The little ones can go for the Mini Carbonara or the Mini Margarita Pizza, made just in the right portions.
Café Bohème, Shop GF-06, G/F, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 6089 7522, www.facebook.com/cafebohemehk
Hooman by the sea
Usually taken over by adorable doggos and their owners, this pet-friendly eatery offers a variety of hotdogs (named after dog breeds and we’re not sure how to feel about this), all-day breakfast, refreshing drinks, and sweet and savoury snacks, including treats for your pets.
Hooman by the sea, Shop GF-07, G/F, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 6749 0777, www.thehoomangroup.com
Read More: Dog-Friendly Restaurants In Hong Kong – Where To Eat With Your Pets
Crepes & Bakes
Another stop for sweet treats at West Kowloon (trust us, we don’t have an agenda here!). Located inside the Palace Museum, Crepes & Bakes has more savoury crepes than sweet ones. Have your pick from confit duck leg, ham and cheese, smoked salmon and more, unless of course your kids can’t help but go for the Nutella one!
Crepes & Bakes, Museum Cafe 3, LG/F, Hong Kong Palace Museum, 8 Museum Drive, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 5125 9296, www.facebook.com/crepesandbakeshk
Curator Creative Café at M+
We love the excitement of the kids (and ourselves in all honesty!) when we get to create our own Insta-worthy works of tea and coffee art with its latte printing machine (you can upload any photo and have it on your drink). For light bites, you can grab wraps, siu mai, fishballs and more.
Curator Creative Café at M+, B1/F, M+, 38 Museum Drive, West Kowloon Cultural District, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 6999 2008, www.mplus.org.hk/curator-creative-cafe
Mango Tree
If you’re looking for a fuss-free dinner or lunch with an affordable price-range, look at Mango Tree for all your Thai favourites. The restaurant also serves up a photogenic afternoon tea set.
Mango Tree, Shop 2032-33, 2/F, Metal Zone, ELEMENTS, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2668 4884, www.mangotree.com.hk
Read More: Afternoon Tea In Hong Kong — Hotels And Restaurants With High Tea
District 8
Offering dining-in and alfresco seating, District 8 may be better suited for older kids and families that love a good steak. If you ask us, we think their weekend brunch and weekday lunch deals are a steal!
District 8, Shop R009, R/F, Civic Square, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2537 7555, www.district8.com.hk
Food Trucks At West Kowloon Art Park
West Kowloon Art Park recently introduced its food trucks and they’ve been a major hit! Conveniently located right by the park’s entrance, grab your favourite Hong Kong street snacks, hamburgers from The Butcher’s Club, baos and more.
Things To Do At West Kowloon – Kids’ activities and family-friendly fun
Sky100 Observation Deck
Anyone that’s visiting Hong Kong or living here needs to see the marvellous view from the Ritz Carlton or Sky100! We particularly love catching the golden hour but it’s honestly just as beautiful anytime of day, but make sure you visit when the weather is clear! See ticketing information here.
Sky100, 100/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.sky100.com.hk
Picnic Out At West Kowloon Art Park
Hands down one of our favourite picnic spots in Hong Kong – but also undoubtedly one of the most crowded – lay your picnic mats or bring your tents (great for some shade) at the West Kowloon Art Park. Our afternoon is spent reading a book we’ve been putting off as the kids cycle around or walk the dogs.
Read More: Picnics In Hong Kong — The Best Picnic Spots For The Family
Go Cycling At West Kowloon Art Park
A lot of families specially go to West Kowloon to get their kids on their bikes – you can either bring your own or rent one at the Art Park for $30 per hour or a family bike for $120 per hour. Find out more about the SmartBike rental here.
Ice-Skating At Elements
It’s not often you come across an ice-skating rink in Hong Kong, so when you do, seize the opportunity! Parents accompanying junior skaters can enter the back-of-house area free of charge to watch or assist their children.
The Rink, G001, G/F, Fire, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2196 8016, www.elementshk.com/the-rink-ice-rink
Read More: Ice Skating In Hong Kong — Ice Hockey And Skating Rinks
Go Museum Hopping
The neighbourhood started buzzing with visitors after the much anticipated opening of the M+ museum and the Palace Museum. Explore contemporary art and priceless treasures from the Forbidden City in Beijing. We think both museums are great for kids to learn more about Chinese culture and history.
M+ Museum, 38 Museum Drive, West Kowloon Cultural District, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.mplus.org.hk
Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), West Kowloon Cultural District, Yau Ma Tei, West Kowloon Nursery Park, West Kowloon, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.hkpm.org.hk
Read More: The Best Museums In Hong Kong To Visit With Kids
Plan A Luxurious Staycation
Treat the kids and yourself to a luxe stay at the Ritz Carlton (check their staycation offers for the latest family-friendly deals) or if the Papas and Mamas are looking for a romantic night out, we definitely recommend booking a staycation at W Hong Kong (maybe book yourselves a couple’s spa while you’re at it!).
The Ritz-Carlton, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2263 2263, www.ritzcarlton.com
W Hotel, 1 Austin Road, West Kowloon Station, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 3717 2222, www.marriott.com/hkgwh-w-hong-kong
Read More: Staycation Packages — Hong Kong Staycations For Families
Getting To The West Kowloon Cultural District
One of the most asked questions is perhaps, how do you get to West Kowloon?
By MTR: Get off at Kowloon Station Exit E4 or E5, and then walk along Nga Cheung road and cross the footbridge into the West Kowloon Cultural District. You can also follow signposting when getting off at Austin Station.
By bus: There are a number of buses that are just a 5-minute walk away, by alighting at either Austin Road West or the toll plaza. You can also take minibus routes 26D and 74D that stops right at the entrance of West Kowloon Art Park. For the full list of bus routes, check here.
By car: There are multiple parking spaces across the West Kowloon Cultural District, find more details here.
Through Elements: We’ve been there, aimlessly walking around Elements to try and figure how to get to West Kowloon Art Park. The footbridge next to Mango Tree is by far the easiest way through Elements.
Read More: Kids’ Activities – Things To Do With Kids In Hong Kong
