J Senses

J Senses is right in the heart of Wan Chai, across Southorn Playground. I always saw the bright signs advertising it and wondered what exactly it was about. It’s a complex of buildings that groups together bars, restaurants, shops and historical buildings in a project that claims to blend historical heritage, culture and modernity.
The historical side is represented by two buildings: ‘the Pawn’ in Johnston Road and 18, Ship Street. The former is where the famous bar with the same name is located, which used to be a block of four pre-​war Chinese style houses, preserved in its essence throughout history and where a pawn shop was actually located (read my review about it). 18, Ship Street is a tenement house built in the 30s and it’s considered a Grade II Historical Building. It was initially built in timber but later rebuilt in concrete. Both constructions are listed as Tong Laus, and part of the p Johnston Road redevelopment project.
Modernity is brought by shops like Tommy Bahama and Tang Tang Tang Tang, and restaurants of every kind of cuisine: Thai (Koh Thai), Spanish tapas (22 Ships), Chinese Sichuan (House of Sichuan), Italian (Pizza Express), among others. The atmosphere is definitely cool and lively in this part of Ship Street.
Even though all those business are part of the same development, location wise J Senses is spread across different buildings and, at first sight, they don’t look as a whole thing. But actually it’s what this project is all about, a blend of old and new, in one of the trendiest areas in the Island, nestled in the middle of Wan Chai.