Watsons is celebrating its 185th anniversary with a new Heritage Store in Yau Ma Tei, and it is very much designed for the camera roll. Located on Nathan Road, the branch looks back to the brand’s early dispensary roots while giving the space a playful, lifestyle-led update.
Officially opened on June 30, the store takes cues from old-style Hong Kong pharmacies, with Watsons’ signature green palette, vintage-inspired signage and interiors that nod to traditional medicine shops.
3 Retro Photo Corners
Inside, the store features three main photo corners built around old Hong Kong pharmacy charm. The Traditional Medicine Cabinet recreates a classic dispensary setting with a vintage wooden cabinet, giving the space a stronger heritage feel.
The Retro Vanity Corner adds a softer lifestyle touch, with a round mirror, wooden dressing table and warm lighting made for portrait-style shots.
There is also a Vintage Bathroom-Themed Zone, where retro tiles and curved architectural details turn everyday personal care references into a playful backdrop.
Free Retro Newspaper Photo Booth
Shoppers can also create their own “front-page headline” at a free retro newspaper photo booth with any purchase. After taking a portrait, visitors can print a personalised newspaper-style keepsake on the spot.
The opening comes as Hong Kong’s old-school nostalgia trend keeps growing, from Wellcome turning two more stores retro and transforming its Yau Ma Tei branch into a 1950s–1970s-themed supermarket, to Ngong Ping 360’s first night cable car rides featuring retro design.
Image credits: Watsons Hong Kong