The street market must be wet and noisy, right? Then this revitalized Central Street Market will definitely surprise you! The Central Street Market has undergone redevelopment since October 2017 and finally reopened this month. After revitalization, the market has been completely transformed, with over 70 different types of merchants moving in, covering everything from street snacks to specialty restaurants, local brands to trendy shops, and lifestyle goods. In addition, there is a 1,000 square meter green leisure space inside the building, as well as community performance and activity spaces, where various art exhibitions, performances, and other cultural activities can be held, transforming the once abandoned market into a new community hotspot concept of “Playground for All”!
The overall decoration of the space tends towards a minimalist style. As soon as you enter the door, you will see the ceiling adorned with common red lanterns seen in the market. There are also many green plants hanging indoors. Whether taking photos of the overall architecture outdoors or a corner indoors, it is not difficult to find a good spot to check in!
Central Market has been in operation since 1939, with a modern streamlined appearance. It was once the largest and most advanced market in Hong Kong before World War II, and is now classified as a Grade III historical building. What we see today is the fourth generation of the building, with a history of 82 years. The building features simple horizontal lines, with a design focused on practical functionality. It has four floors and can accommodate 255 stalls. In March 2003, most of Central Market officially ceased operations, leaving only the second floor 24-hour passageway and Central Walk shopping arcade. The current exterior of the market is simple and white, with a spacious interior that departs from the narrow environment of traditional markets.
To preserve the architectural features of the street market, there have not been major changes in structure, but the usage has been extended to include lifestyle and leisure purposes. The new concept of “borderless space” design provides over 100 retail and dining options, with a variety of store types including dining, beauty, Central food street, and fashion clothing stores. In terms of dining, many unique restaurants or cafes have already set up shop in the market, with a food court and Chef’s Market on the ground floor, and many other unique dining options on other levels, such as “Under the Banyan Tree” selling local Hong Kong-made local Gin, “Fruit Talk” natural food store, local craft beer “Malt”, as well as Singaporean cuisine “Polo”, Japanese restaurant “Ikki”, “Izakaya”, and cafes and pastry shops like Nina Patisserie for casual dining.
The building also has green recreational spaces, as well as community performance and activity spaces, to host various art exhibitions, performances, and other cultural activities, integrating elements of food, shopping, work, leisure, and cultural education. The venue regularly organizes guided tours, exhibitions, and workshops, becoming the newest leisure hub in the Hong Kong Island area. Recent events include a retrospective exhibition of Central Street Markets, as well as photography, mini flower card making, handmade rubber stamp, and cloth bag painting workshops, offering a rich and exciting array of activities. Additionally, cleverly utilizing the existing ground floor to connect the main staircase creates an activity space, shaping a semi-open community performance space equipped with a motion sensing system that can project the audience onto a large LED screen for interactive experiences.
The former street market has transformed into a gathering place for dining, lifestyle, cultural activities. You may visit and experience the enjoyment of eating, drinking, and playing in a Grade III historical building!
Learn more: Central Market
