Lamma Island may be a short ferry ride from Hong Kong Island, but it’s a totally different world! The island offers visitors a stark contrast to the skyscrapers and bright lights of the buzzing city. Lamma’s multicultural and laid back vibe attracts numerous visitors, especially over the weekends, who come to dine at its restaurants, hike its trails, enjoy its beaches, and shop. If you ask me, Lamma Island is perhaps the most vivid and enjoyable outlying island in Hong Kong!
Aerial view of Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island
And you can keep coming back here, week after week, and find something new to do and discover!
How to get to Lamma Island
Lamma Island can be reached by ferry to one of its public piers.
- Yung Shue Wan — the main pier in the north of the island that serves most of the villages.
- Sok Kwu Wan — the main pier in the centre of the island.
- Pak Kok Tsuen — a smaller pier near Yung Shue Wan.
- Mo Tat Wan — a smaller pier in the centre of the island.
The Mo Tat Wan kaito pier
The ferries operate from Central or Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island to one of the four piers on Lamma Island.
From Central
- To Yung Shue Wan (takes about 20 minutes and the schedule can be found here)
- To Sok Kwu Wan (takes about 30 minutes and the schedule can be found here)
From Aberdeen
- To Sok Kwu Wan via Mo Tat Wan (takes 25 minutes to Mo Tat Wan and another 10 minutes to Sok Kwu Wan, and the schedule can be found here)
- To Yung Shue Wan via Pak Kok Tsuen (takes 25 minutes to Pak Kok Tsuen and another 15 minutes to Yung Shue Wan, and the schedule can be found here)
Pick a ferry that takes you to the part of the island that you’d like to explore.
The Two Main Piers on Lamma Island
Here’s a bit more detail on the two main sides (piers) of the island — Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.
Yung Shue Wan
Yung Shue Wan is the most populous region of Lamma Island. Most of the other villages are adjoining Yung Shue Wan. Also, the majority of restaurants and shops are located here in the neighbouring villages.
A few of the most popular beaches on the island are located within walking distance from Yung Shue Wan.
Yung Shue Wan Main Street
For first-timers to Lamma Island, we always recommend exploring Yung Shue Wan. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés that serve everything from local seafood to western cuisine. And there are also plenty of unique shops to browse and explore on this side of the island.
Sok Kwu Wan
Aerial perspective of Sok Kwu Wan
Located in the centre of Lamma Island, Sok Kwu Wan is the quieter, more secluded part of the island. Get off the ferry, and you’ll be greeted by a line of local seafood restaurants, which essentially is the main attraction in Sok Kwu Wan.
Sok Kwu Wan feels rawer and less developed than Yung Shue Wan. There are plenty of hikes and trails, along with beautiful sand beaches that can be explored from this side of the island.
Things To Do on Lamma Island
There are plenty of ways to spend your day on Lamma Island, and it usually depends on what you’re in the mood for. Luckily, Lamma has it all!
Staring down south, the view from the Hung Shing Ye Beach
What we recommend is that you pick a side of the island you’d like to explore and build an itinerary around it. We like to start our itinerary by dining at a good restaurant and then heading out to explore one of the hikes, relax on a beach, or do a little shopping.
The Hung Shing Ye Beach in all its glory
So, what are some of our recommendations for restaurants on Lamma Island?
Where to eat on Lamma Island
No matter which pier you get off at, you’ll find an amazing restaurant to eat at easily! So, here’s what you should know about the restaurants at Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.
Restaurants at Yung Shue Wan
If you’re a foodie, make sure you head to Yung Shue Wan where you’ll find the widest variety of restaurants on the island. From vegan restaurants to eateries serving, barbecues and barbecues, and incredible cafĂ©s!
Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island
Here are our favourite restaurants, bars and cafĂ©s on the Yung Shue Wan side. We’ve either eaten here personally or the establishment comes highly recommended.
Terracotta Lamma
G/F, 47 Yung Shue Wan Main St, Lamma Island
Phone: 91767500
Website: https://terracottalamma.com/
Terracotta is the latest addition to the dining options on Yung Shue Wan’s Main Street.
Terracota offers flavourful Mediterranean cuisine
This seaside restaurant offers delicious Mediterranean cuisine, wonderful drinks, and beautiful views. The restaurant is also pet-friendly.
Seaside dining with an amazing atmosphere – Terracotta, Lamma Island
Make sure you try their calamari, cauliflower, and sea bass. And if you have room for dessert, give the olive oil cake a go.
-
- The calamari at Terracotta
-
- The sea bass is a must-try at Terracotta
-
- Delicious olive oil cake at Terracotta
Given its popularity, I highly recommend making a reservation.
Bookworm Cafe (BWC)
79 Yung Shue Wan Main St, Lamma Island
Phone: 2982 4838
A cosy bookshelf-lined café that offers an array of organic vegetarian food, along with sweet treats.
Bookworm Cafe, Yung Shue Wan
Lamma Grill
36 Yung Shue Wan Main St, Lamma Island
Phone: 2982 1447
An American grill restaurant that serves delicious burgers, gigantic wraps, fall-off-the-bone ribs, and hand-cut fries.
Lamma Grill, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island
Dale Candela
23 Main St, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island
Dale Candela is a Spanish restaurant known for its tapas, cocktails, and music.
Dale Candela, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island
As someone who has lived in Spain, and has tried numerous Spanish restaurants in Hong Kong, I would say that Dale Candela comes very close in its authenticity!
All the dishes we tried were delicious and authentic! This restaurant is highly recommended and more so if you can grab a table outside.
-
- Delish croquetas!
-
- Sizzling gambas con alioli
-
- Yummy patatas bravas, my favourite!
-
- Chicken skewers with Moroccan couscous
Hideout
77 Yung Shue Wan Main St, Lamma Island
Phone: 2982 4321
An excellent spot for brunch with many all-day breakfast options.
Hideout Cafe Bar, Yung Shue Wan
Bali Tyche
39 G/F Sha Po Village, Lamma Island
Phone: 5664 6722
A vegetarian café offering a concise menu of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and açai bowls. Several dishes are Indonesian-influenced, including gado gado and mie goreng. The restaurant also offers a falafel burger and a banh mi with marinated tofu, pickles, green chilli, and vegan pate.
Bali Tyche, Sha Po Village
The Beer Shack
10 Sha Po New Village, Lamma Island
Phone: 6537 9046
The first taproom by the award-winning Yardley Brothers Brewery.
The Beer Shack, Sha Po New Village
LaLa mama’s
27 Sha Po Old Village, Lamma Island
Phone: 9759 2553
A very cosy and laid back cafĂ©, that’s slightly off the main road. It serves a range of casual western dishes, including all-day breakfast, pasta, and cakes.
LaLa mama’s, Sha Po Old Village
Banyan Bay Cafe
67 Yung Shue Wan Main St, Lamma Island
Phone: 2982 1150
A western-style café with good breakfast options.
Banyan Bay Cafe, Yung Shue Wan
Restaurants at Sok Kwu Wan
Although Sok Kwu Wan’s main street is filled with restaurants, the variety is mostly limited to local seafood. Don’t get me wrong, when we crave some fish and rice, or crab and noodles, we make sure to head to Sok Kwu Wan!
Sok Kwu Wan is known for its local seafood eateries
What we love and find convenient about Sok Kwu Wan is that all the restaurants are located along the harbour, right next to the ferry pier.
Lamma Rainbow (formerly Rainbow Seafood Restaurant)
G/F, 23-27, First Street, Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island
Phone: 2982 8100
The biggest and most well-recognized seafood restaurant on Lamma Island. The restaurant also offers its patrons free ferry rides to and from Central and TST.
Rainbow, Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island
Genuine Lamma Hilton Fishing Village Restaurant
G/F, Lot 584 DD.10, Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island
Phone: 2982 8220
One of the most highly rated and sought-after seafood restaurants on Lamma Island. The restaurant is not located with the other restaurants in Sok Kwu Wan. Once you exit the ferry pier, turn left and walk for a minute to arrive at the Genuine Lamma Hilton Fishing Village Restaurant.
The restaurant can get extremely busy, so we highly recommend making a reservation, especially over the weekend.
-
- Follow the sign to the Genuine Lamma Hilton Fishing Village Restaurant
-
- The Genuine Lamma Hilton Fishing Village Restaurant
-
- Scallops with vermicelli and garlic
-
- Delicious fried lobster
Wai Kee Seafood Restaurant
3-4 First Street, Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island
Phone: 2982 8135
Our go-to restaurant for local seafood on Lamma Island. It never disappoints us.
Wai Kee Seafood Restaurant, Sok Kwu Wan
LoSo Kitchen
Shop 28, First Street, Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island
The odd restaurant that stands out in the line of seafood eateries. LoSo Kitchen specializes in various international dishes and barbecues that include curry beef brisket, Thai food, and German Herbs Sausages. It’s hard to miss this restaurant as it’s the first one right next to the ferry pier.
LoSo Kitchen, Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island
Restaurants on Mo Tat Wan
Mo Tat Wan has only one restaurant called The Bay. Fortunately, it serves pretty good food and the servings are generous.
-
- The Bay on Mo Tat Wan Beach
-
- The Bay at Mo Tat Wan
-
- Grilled sole at The Bay
The Bay is located on Mo Tat Wan Beach, a few minutes walk from the ferry pier. You can also reach it from Sok Kwu Wan, an easy 25-minute coastal walk.
Shopping on Lamma Island
Lamma also offers some unique and eclectic shops to keep you busy. We often love to shop for trinkets and curios for our house from a couple of the shops on the island.
Trinkets and household items for sale on Lamma Island
As mentioned, all the shops are located at or close to Yung Shue Wan. Apart from household items, some shops sell local handmade beauty products or are local island brands.
Lamma Brand
No.75 Yung Shue Wan Main Street Lamma Island
Lamma Brand is one of my favourite shops on Lamma Island. The shop specializes in locally designed and manufactured streetwear.
Lamma Brand — a must-visit
This local clothing brand store has some amazing and unique t-shirt designs that make you want to buy them all! Not to mention, their shop has an incredible vibe which only gets better once you realize that there is a harbour-facing balcony at the end of the shop where you can chill with a beer!
Inside the Lamma Brand shop
Liz Fry Design
G/F 21 Main Street, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma
Website: https://lizfrydesign.com/
Are you looking for fun, designer, Hong Kong themed souvenirs and gifts? If yes, then look no further than Liz Fry Design.
The Liz Fry store on Lamma Island is a hidden gem
Liz Fry Design offers sustainable and environmentally conscious Hong Kong themed gifts and lifestyle products. Although their products are available in other major retail outlets across the city, we do recommend checking out their shop on Lamma Island (right behind Dale Candela) for a better selection of products.
As you walk along Main Street in Yung Shue Wan, and towards Sha Po Village, you’ll come across numerous other shops selling everything from locally sourced honey to locally made handmade cosmetics, jewellery, plants, and clothes!
-
- Lamma has numerous local brands that sell handmade products
-
- s+clicks Shop in Lamma Island
Beaches on Lamma Island
There are numerous beaches on Lamma Island. And no matter which side of the island you’re on, there are a couple of beaches a short walk away from you.
Also, worth noting is that the island is home to Hong Kong’s only turtle-nesting beach which is located in the south of the island. However, this beach is only open for a few months a year.
-
- The soft sand of Sham Wan Beach, Lamma Island
-
- Hung Shing Ye Beach, Lamma Island
-
- The secluded Shek Pai Wan beach that has the softest sand – Lamma Island
-
- Lo So Shing Beach on Lamma Island
-
- Power Station Beach, Lamma Island
I have a dedicated post on the best beaches on Lamma Island that should serve as a comprehensive guide on this topic.
Hikes & Trails on Lamma Island
Lamma also offers plenty of hikes and trails to enjoy its natural beauty. Here are a few hiking trails on Lamma Island that you can explore.
Lamma Island Family Walk Trail
The hike from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan along the Lamma Island Family Walk Trail essentially connects the two sides of the island and is a great way to explore the vast portion of the island. You can learn more about the Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan hike in this post. If you venture on this hike, don’t forget to stop by the Kamikaze Cave. This cave held strategic importance for Japan’s Hong Kong-based ‘kamikaze team’ during the Second World War. They concealed speedboats here to be deployed on suicide missions against Allied shipping.
The hike from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan is the best way to see both sides of Lamma Island.
View of the power plant from the Lamma Island Family Walk
Ling Kok Shan Hike
The other hike is a circular hike on the south side with much nicer views. However, to make the hike more interesting, diagonally cut across the circular path via Ling Kok Shan. You can learn more about the Sok Kwu Wan Circular Hike in this post.
We made it! Look at that view of Lamma Island below!
Mt Stenhouse Hike
And finally, you can also hike up to Mt Stenhouse, the highest point on Lamma Island. Although this isn’t a maintained trail, there are plenty of neglected paths that run up to the top.
Aerial shot of Lamma Island with Mount Stenhouse in the forefront
Only attempt this hike if you aren’t a beginner and feel confident about hiking in Hong Kong. The views from Mount Stenhouse are simply spectacular! Learn more about the Mt Stenhouse Hike in this post.
Hong Kong Greenhouse Trail — Lamma Island Route
The Hong Kong Greenhouse Trail — Lamma Island Route is an eco-heritage walk through the villages and beaches in the north of the island. The trail is an easy exploratory walk that allows you to discover the natural habitat and history of north Lamma Island.
Soaking in the views from the Hong Kong Greenhouse Trail — Lamma Island Route
The Hong Kong Greenhouse Trail — Lamma Island Route is easy enough to do on a summer’s day and is a great way to build your appetite before you return to Yung Shue Wan.
Staycation on Lamma Island
Lamma Island is also an amazing location to plan your next staycation. With plenty of hotels and B&Bs, you could spend a relaxing weekend away from the madness of Hong Kong.
There are a couple of budget hotels located very close to Yung Shue Wan as you get off the ferry. The Bali Holiday Resort is a great option for those who want to stay right amid all the action.
Bali Holiday Resort, Yung Shue Wan
However, if you’re looking for a peaceful and secluded option that makes you feel like you’re on a holiday, check out Concerto Inn at Hung Shing Ye Beach. The hotel is located right on the beach and is a short walk from all the restaurants and shops.
-
- Enjoying a meal and the view at the Concerto Inn
-
- Concerto Inn at Hung Shing Ye Beach, Lamma Island
Honestly, a weekend on Lamma Island sounds very relaxing!
More ongoing Staycation Offers
Klook.comThe Ultimate Guide To Lamma Island
We hope that you enjoyed our guide to Lamma Island and all the things you can do on the island. Hopefully, this post makes planning your day or weekend trip easier.
A beautiful day to spend at Hung Shing Yeh Beach
As always feel free to leave us a comment below or share this post on the social media channel of your choice.
You might also like
4 Comments
Hello from Lamma.com.hk
Great guides! We especially love the aerial shots!
Just a few factual mistakes, but nothing major, except missing out the 4th regular ferry route on Lamma: Yung Shue Wan-Pak Kok-Aberdeen. As I live in Pak Kok and depend on that route almost daily, I feel left out! ;~}
I’ve featured your very informative and up-to-date guides in our 18-year old daily Lamma-zine, Feb 17. Thank you very much for publishing it!
Hi there!
Thank you so much for the feature, I really appreciate it đŸ™‚
And of course, I really appreciate you fact checking. I’ve added the 4th ferry route, so now nobody feels left out. If anything else is incorrect, please drop me a line and let me know. I’d be more than happy to correct myself.
Hi! Lamma is a great island. And we would like to experience pover night at the beach. Does over night at beach with tents? Allowed in lamma island? It will be a great experience if ever. Thanks.
Great question. I don’t know of any campsites on Lamma Island. I know there’s a YMCA outdoor area with rooms. I personally haven’t seen any campsites on the island.