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Originally published by Jenny Leung. Last updated by Beverly Ngai.
With the advent of the digital age, emails and text have become an essential part of our everyday lives, but that doesn’t mean traditional stationery will be falling out of fashion anytime soon. The personalised and endearing touch of a handwritten note or card simply cannot be replicated by a keyboard—and sometimes, it’s just more practical to jot things down by pen and paper! Whether you’re penning letters to loved ones or making entries in your journals, here are the best stationery shops in Hong Kong to stock up on fun desk essentials.
The ultimate one-stop-shop carrying all manners of affordable stationery and art-related supplies, CN Square is a dream world for calligraphers, painters, and craft enthusiasts alike. You can expect to find anything from your standard pens, stamps, and planners, to niche, field-specific goods like moulding clay and decorative artificial grass. They operate two locations across Hong Kong, with their flagship store in Yau Ma Tei boasting a whopping five floors and over 20,000 different items!
Open only on the weekends, this down-to-earth stationery shop in Sham Shui Po may appear like nothing more than a hole-in-the-wall, but you’d be surprised by the astonishing selection of high-quality fountain pens, writing ink, planners, and trinkets on offer. Most of their products are sourced from Japan, but there is also a smattering of intentional and even home-grown brands available. Differing from your usual small local stationery shop, Siugreat has a clean and tidy layout conducive to comfortable perusing!
Siugreat, Room 504, 5/F, Wing Yip Commercial Building, 65–71 Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po
The only thing better than whiling time away browsing through colourful pens, washi tape, and stickers is doing so with a cup of coffee in hand! Near the storefront of this quiet stationery-shop-cum-café is a bar table where visitors can enjoy coffee and brunch. Step inside and you’ll find a retro set-up of wooden shelves lined with unique and quirky stationery. Toolss’ selection skews on the smaller side, but all products are carefully curated by the owner and sought out from all corners of the globe, covering rare brands that are hard to find anywhere else in the city!
Toolss, Fook Tin Building, Shop 2, 38 Wai Lun Street, Shek Kip Mei | (+852) 3954 5135
There is no messing about when it comes to Muji. If keeping things to a minimum is what you’re after, their simple and straightforward stationery is the perfect solution amongst what’s available in Hong Kong. Best of all, their price tags are incredibly wallet-friendly. Even if you do go overboard with all the must-have items, you can always keep things organised with mini desk drawers that will keep every loose paper clip in place. Now your messy little monkeys won’t have any excuse not to clean up!
Next-level stationery in Hong Kong? We’re talking about stationery that is made with intention. The Tree Stationery & Co puts a lot of thought into their products, designing and crafting personalised stationery and gift items that the team curates personally. For them, a notebook and pen aren’t just things you pick up and go with; they are tools for visualising thoughts and knowledge. The idea is also to find balance and serenity amidst the busyness of Hong Kong. How inspiring!
The Tree Stationery & Co, 2/F, 10 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2598 4328
With a wide range of uniquely themed journals and notebooks, Kikki.K has got all your scribbling needs covered. From gratitude journals to year-round planners, this Swedish stationery brand is dedicated to helping you and your little ones develop organisational habits in style. Keeping abreast with the latest design trends, they’re always churning out seasonal collections of gorgeous stationery and gifts. We’re not saying you have to splurge on their adorably designed items, but we know we will.
In 2012, Taiwanese book giant Eslite established its first overseas store in Causeway Bay. Now they have three other branches in Tsim Sha Tsui, Taikoo, and Olympian City, and it’s any book lover’s heaven. Not only do they have a large collection of books of all different genres, but they also have floors dedicated to stationery, handicrafts, and even accessories! For anyone looking for that Taiwanese flair in detailed handiwork in their stationery, this is the place to be.
While modern technology continues to dominate our world, it might be tough trying to convince your kids that nothing beats a good old-fashioned handwritten letter, or that putting pen to paper is the way to go when it comes to journaling. Perhaps Journalize can help with that. Conveniently located near Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, this is a small and independent shop that has a variety of rare stationery products imported from all over the world, with a large focus on handwriting tools and materials. Their items are usually sold at a much lower price than at other chain stores in Hong Kong too, so it’s definitely one to check out.
Journalize, 6A Moreton Terrace, Causeway Bay | (+852) 3565 6455
This arts and crafts haven has everything from ceramics materials to all the shades of green you’ll ever need. Even if you are spoilt for choice, their extra helpful staff are always happy to guide you through any questions you may have about getting a school project done, or simply stocking up on crafts essentials. They even host art exhibitions featuring local artists from time to time, so if you have yourself a little Picasso in the making, Artland is surely one not to be missed.
Artland, 3/F, Lockhart Centre, 301–307 Lockhart Road, Wanchai | (+852) 2511 4845
Usually found next to City’super, Log-on is your dose of intense Japanese kawaii-ness. Inside, you will find yourself standing in the midst of Lego day planners, Pac-Man staplers, or even erasers disguised as a plate of sushi! While your children run around gawking at fish-like pencil cases, parents can enjoy strolling through aisles of strangely innovative tech and gadgets, as well as the latest beauty products from Japan.
While The Commercial Press focuses more on putting books up on shelves, they still have a large collection of stationery that will meet your basic needs. With over 25 branches dotted all around Hong Kong, it is the perfect place to get your shopping done while you’re out and about. The range and variety of stationery available vary depending on the size of the branch, so head on over to their flagship store in Causeway Bay and you are bound to find what you’re looking for. Plus, their Kiddyland store, completely dedicated to children’s books, toys, and activities, is just across the street!
Bold and funky, Smiggle will have you falling in love with their brightly coloured backpacks and quirky cartoon characters in a second. Equipped with everything from a scented silicone pencil case to plush hamburger notepads, your kids will never again have a dull day at school!
Covering the hottest new eats, the best places to play, offbeat takes on local culture, and so much more, Localiiz is every Hongkonger’s destination for how to live a well-rounded life in our vibrant city. Why the strange spelling? Well, Localiiz is designed to be your “local eyes”—and for that, you need two i’s.
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