COMMUNITY

Have Your Say – Namrata Mashru

Author/ Being Neighbourly
22 August 2024

Namrata Mashru is an extroverted Indian banker and cat lover who also happens to be a vegan and a gym-goer. She is a member of Buy Nothing, Sai Ying Pun.

How long have you lived in Sai Ying Pun?

I have lived in Island Crest for three years and elsewhere in Sai Ying Pun for another two years. I work in Central, so, for me, having close proximity to commute to home is a must. Besides this, I lived in Sheung Wan for four years too.

Can you see yourself living anywhere else?

I’d probably move away for more space and less cost, but this is a tough cookie with wanting to live close to Central. Otherwise, I love where I live.

Why did you move here?

I’ve always liked the vibe of Sai Ying Pun and my building ticks all the boxes (balcony, facilities, pet friendly, close to public transport and easy taxi hails, and so forth).

What’s so great about your home/neighbourhood?

It’s close enough to Central but not noisy or too rushed. It’s convenient in terms of getting any household items, groceries, and so on. There are nice people in the neighbourhood and it’s an easy place to stroll and discover more of Hong Kong from.

Best places to eat breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner?

Sorry — I use deliveroo A LOT and order in from outside neighborhoods for these meals.

Fine print is my closest and best option for most coffee/drink/meal choices. Catch is also good, though I don’t go often for lack of good wines and vegan food.

When I arrived in HK I was vegetarian, I guess it was a mix of more and less access because at the time vegan was unheard of or quite tough to find restaurants for.

Mana on Wellington Street provided about half my meals every week (sometimes twice in a day)!

I miss Tsui Wah, the local-style fast food place, which gave me my Hong Kong milk tea late night/early morning snack on many a weekend.

When I went vegan after seeing the dairy and egg supply was supporting cow/beef and chicken farming, it was at the time of many vegan spots opening in 2016. Most have closed down now (Pop Vegan, Confusion Kitchen, Grassroots Pantry, Ma Seeds of Life, even the Rotisserie, which had vegan meal choices on the side), but many newbies have opened and other places have added vegan/ plant based options.

Best other hangouts?

Fingerprint and Detour coffee.

Two bars at the junction of Eastern Street and First Street. LN Coffee on Second Street and Pondi are two other favourite places to get a meal or drink.