Is now the best time in decades for Hong Kong F&B operators to buy their own premises?

By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law

AJ Halkes
January 14, 2026
11:07 am

Is now the best time in decades for Hong Kong F&B operators to buy their own premises? This means stability, freedom from rent increases and has made people rich before; so why not do it now?

For years, ground-floor retail or low-floor commercial space for F&B was very expensive and scarce; that’s no longer the case. Not since the early days of Lan Kwai Fong in the 90s and just before the Staunton and Elgin Street boom has commercial property looked this affordable relative to market potential.

The LKF group under Alan Zeeman combined F&B operations with owned real estate, and a handful of (now wealthy) bold entrepreneurs followed that path. Today, with older landlords cashing out, bank financing still tight, and sale prices depressed in specific pockets, buying your own shop makes very good sense.

The same logic applies to customer-facing businesses with personal clientele, such as vets, doctors, dentists, or long-term speciality retailers, who can lock in a location effectively now, forever, while prices remain low.

Central office rents are edging up for the first time in three and a half years, but there is still a window as Wyndham Street, and beyond, are filling up with new Korean restaurants, bakeries, and revived concepts are snapping up the remaining spaces; so perhaps it is even a bit too late?

Smart operators are always pouring millions into fit-out and rent that disappears forever, but could (should?) include a property deposit as part of the capital raise. Investors would own/receive a dual asset, the business upside combined with real estate, that now has fairly predictable long-term value.

It may be the best time in decades to follow in the footsteps of giants like Marks & Spencer, IKEA, and Hong Kong’s own billionaires, by owning the square feet beneath your business. Because even if your concept struggles, the real estate is unlikely to.

No time like today to stop renting your future and start owning it.

If you need specific input regarding a strategic Hong Kong challenge or related legal matters in the HKSAR, you can always DM me and check out my profile at https://www.ajhalkes.com

HongKongRealEstate FandB CommercialProperty LanKwaiFong HongKongFNB BuyDontRent RetailInvestment hashtagHongKongBusiness Entrepreneurship PropertyInvestment LKF AlanZeeman FnBInvestment BuyingRealEstate

Is now the best time in decades for Hong Kong F&B operators to buy their own premises?

By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law

The government has imposed standards on protective netting around occupied residential properties

When water is basically free and all F&B outlets have a filtration system – why charge?

Suffering long term COVID effects is very real for some businesses

Hire the right influencers, create the right buzz, and it seems you can now sell almost anything

So Hong Kong is lucky, here comes Luckin Coffee

Not near the mid-levels HK escalator, you’ll struggle running a business in HK (SoHo)

AJ Halkes appointed to the eBRAM Panel of Mediators in HK

Geronimo in Lan Kwai Fong is closing

Hong Kong has many quirky food and coffee spots for tourists and locals

Early bird gets the bun at the Sing Fat Bakery in Kam Tin

Is now the best time in decades for Hong Kong F&B operators to buy their own premises

Bad reviews do not mean bad business

AI already is “way better” than junior human lawyers in many areas

Privacy matters a lot if you run bars, restaurants, fitness venues, shops and clubs

Kam Tin once in a decade Jiao Festival organised by the indigenous Tang clan of Kam Tin

People just don’t care enough about bicycles in HK!