5 Best Places to Shop in Chinatown

Get your fill of beautiful home decor, musical instruments and delicious baking at these must-visit businesses in Chinatown

Chinatown isn’t just a great neighbourhood to pick up fresh produce and tasty take-out; there are also plenty of wonderful little shops tucked away carrying swoon-worthy lifestyle items for excellent prices. Grab a bubble tea and take a wander through these five shops you’ve got to stop at.

Golden Music Shop

Photo by kait Kucy

A great selection of musical instruments awaits you at Golden Music.

Where else can you buy gorgeous musical instruments right in the downtown core? Pop into Golden Music, a newer shop to the area, where you will find ice cream coloured Fender guitars (starting at $79) and acoustic stringed instruments of all kinds. They also offer rentals so you can try out the whole garage band thing before you commit whole-heartedly.

Golden Music Shop, 103, 233 Centre St. S.W., 587-955-9229, goldenmusicshop.com

Hing Wah Imports

photo by kait kucy

These pastel notebooks will inspire you to get creative.

Hing Wah Imports is one of the busiest shops on Centre Street; packed with people visiting the in-store post office or picking up a beautiful teapot, this little shop is full of gems. Looking to furnish your kitchen cabinets on a budget? Hing Wah’s endless shelves of beautiful blue and white dishes will bring a sophisticated elegance to your next dinner party. The best part? They range in price from $1 to $6 each.

Browsing through their stationary and art supply selection will find you these retro pastel notebooks that are too cute to pass up. At only $3 for all four colours, your exquisite note-taking will be taken to the next level.

Hing Wah Imports, 312 Centre St. S.E., 403-264-1542

Quickly Premium Bubble Tea

photo by kait kucy

One of the most recent players on the local bubble-tea scene, Quickly is quickly becoming a favourite.

One of the best things about Chinatown is that there is seriously good bubble tea on every block. Stop into Quickly, a newly opened Bubble Tea shop just on the edge of the Centre Street Bridge for their Mango Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls. Quickly’s modern-retro diner decor is the perfect place for a meeting of the minds as you slurp pearls.

Quickly Premium Bubble Tea, 10, 110 2 Ave. S.E., 403-719-6084

The New Gallery

photo by Kait kucy

This artist-run gallery will make you think you’re in New York City – but, rest assured, you’re in Calgary’s vibrant Chinatown.

One of Calgary’s only artist-run galleries has set up shop amongst the herbal remedy shops and dim sum restaurants. The New Gallery’s hip location is a great spot to visit pre or post lunch in Chinatown. While you can’t actually buy any of the art on display, you can however purchase TNG publications and become a member of the gallery by donating an annual fee ($10 to $500) which offers you plenty of sweet discounts around town.

The New Gallery, 208 Centre St. S.E., 403-233-2399, thenewgallery.org

St. Laurent Cake House

photo by Kait kucy

One look at the buttery goodness of St. Laurent Cake House will have your mouth watering.

And lastly, as you head on your way, stop into the delicious-smelling St. Laurent Cake House for insanely good baked goods like steamed pork buns ($1.30) and coconut pineapple cakes ($1.50). The perfect way to cater a brunch or your next house party, you can’t beat the taste or the price of these finely made pastries.

St. Laurent Cake House, 303 Centre St. S.W., 403-262-1168

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