Asia's Most Exclusive Residential Streets

Wondering where to find the most luxury houses in Asia? Here are the most exclusive streets and neighbourhoods in major Asian cities

Hong Kong has long been known as one of the most expensive cities in the world, with a notoriously sky-high housing market and properties in exclusive neighbourhoods such as The Peak and Mid-Levels selling for record-breaking price tags. In fact, Hong Kong’s Mount Nicholson Road has been officially recognised as the second most expensive street in the world, coming in only after 57th Street in New York.

And prices in the city––and across Asia as a whole––are not set to decline anytime soon, with property expert Knight Frank finding that prime prices in key global cities are rising at their fastest rate since 2017. From Hong Kong to Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore and more, we’re letting you know the most exclusive addresses in Asia.

1. Mount Nicholson Road, Hong Kong

General view of Mount Nicholson at 8 Mount Nicholson at the Peak. 20NOV17 SCMP / Sam Tsang

 (Photo by Sam Tsang/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)

Above View of 8 Mount Nicholson, Hong Kong. (Photo: Getty Images)

In April 2021, Knight Frank published a report stating that Hong Kong is the most expensive city to rent a prime property, detailing that prime rents in Hong Kong averaged US$6.7 million per square foot at the end of 2020. It’s no secret that the rents in Hong Kong have been amongst the highest in the world for years, but that’s only a drop in the water compared to the cost of buying a house.

In February of this year, a house on Borrett Road, Mid-Levels broke records, selling for an eye-watering US$59 million. Despite this sale, Mount Nicholson Road––found atop The Peak––is still considered the most expensive street in Hong Kong. These findings were detailed in Knight Frank’s 2020 report, which stated that 35 homes sold for over US$25 million in the past five years. According to the report, although Mount Nicholson placed second, it actually has the highest average price tag globally, at a jaw-dropping US$81.8m.

Other exclusive locations:
Mount Kellett Road, Conduit Road, Pollock’s Path, Peak Road, Severn Road

2. Altamount Road, Mumbai

MUMBAI, INDIA - JUNE 6, 2011: Mukesh Ambani's house, Antilla Building on Altamount Road. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Above Mukesh Ambani's house, Antilla Building on Altamount Road. (Photo: Anshuman Poyrekar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Altamount Road is an ultra-exclusive residential area in Mumbai, also known as India's "billionaire's row". The road was crowned the 10th most expensive street in the world and features the home of India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani. His home is valued at over US$1 billion and known as the costliest house in the world. He's just one of many high profile individuals who call this street home.

Situated on the Cumbala hills, the highest point of South Mumbai, the tree-lined road is home to some of the most iconic and historic buildings in the city, along with high rise developments and luxury residential complexes.

Other exclusive locations:
Malabar Hill, Cuffe Parade, Juhu

3. Nassim Road, Singapore

The exclusive area of Nassim Road in Singapore made headlines earlier this year, when the wife of a Singapore tech founder paid $128.8 million Singapore dollars (about US$96 million), for a house. The house in question was a Good Class Bungalow (GCB), known as one of Singapore’s most prestigious and expensive properties.

Historically, the prices of GCBs in Singapore can range anywhere from slightly over S$15 million to S$100 million. However, on average, prices of GCBs tend to fetch about S$30 million or more. GCB’s are only found in a handful of districts, with Nassim Road regarded as one of the top destinations for the properties. Dubbed the “crème de la crème” of Singapore’s residential address, Nassim Road is also known as the embassy row due to the numerous numbers of embassies setting there. The Embassy of Japan, Embassy of The Republic of Philippines and the Embassy of the Russian Federation are all located along Nassim Road.

The recent sale on Nassim Road broke Singapore's previous price-per-square-foot record, which was set in 2019 when the vacuum billionaire James Dyson paid SG$50 million for a home on a 15,101-square-foot lot on the nearby Cluny Road.

Other exclusive locations:
Belmont Park, Cluny Park, Holland Park, Ridley Park, White House Park

4. Ratchadamri Road, Bangkok

BANGKOK, THAILAND - APRIL 03: Ratchadamri Road is seen almost empty amid Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak on April 03, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand's Health Ministry recorded a total of 1,978 infections, 19 death and 581 recovered since the beginning of the outbreak. (Photo by Guillaume Payen/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Above Ratchadamri Road, Bangkok (Photo: Getty Images)

Ratchadamri Road, also spelt Rajdamri, is located in the heart of Bangkok, situated close by to the city’s main shopping district, as well as the green open spaces of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and Lumphini Park, making its eponymous neighbourhood one of the top prime real estate locations in Bangkok.

Along with being home to a large concentration of luxury hotels, including The St. Regis Bangkok and the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, the area boasts the most expensive condominium prices in Bangkok.

Other exclusive locations:
Wireless Road

5. Hannam-dong, Seoul

Hannam-dong, an exclusive neighbourhood located in Seoul’s Yongsan-gu district is found in the south of the city. Though many famous faces have traditionally lived in Seoul’s Gangnam district, in recent years, celebrities and executives have been moving to the three well known residential areas in the neighbourhood, namely UN Village, The Hill, and Richensia Apartments.

High profile individuals who live in Hannam-dong include Lee Myeong-hee, sister of Samsung’s late chairman Lee Kun-Hee––who owns the most expensive house in Korea––along with members of superstar group BTS, who reside in Hannam-dong’s exclusive Hannam The Hill apartment complex.

Other exclusive locations:
Seongbuk-dong, Cheongdam-dong

6. Menteng district, Jakarta

Indonesia, Jakarta, Financial District, Ritz Carlton Pacific Place, Eighth club

Above Menteng district, Jakarta (Photo: Getty Images)

Jakarta was named the 20th most expensive city in the world in Julius Baer's 2021 Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report, with some of the most exclusive houses found in the neighbourhood of Menteng.

Though situated in the centre of the city, the affluent area is considered one of oldest and most prestigious in the city, offering some respite from the congested city streets. While no one street stands out, the entire district attracts the rich and powerful for its proximity to the CBD and embassies and the large homes and mansions from the Dutch colonial era.

Other exclusive locations:
Pondok Indah

7. Shirokane, Tokyo

Shirokane is located in the southwestern part of Minato, Tokyo and is one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Japan. The district of Minato as a whole is known to be one of Tokyo’s most affluent areas, but Shirokane stands out for the large amount of undeveloped green space which has been incorporated into the area.

Prestigious restaurants and boutiques can be found dotted along the elegant and tree-lined ‘Platinum Street’––Shirokane translates to platinum in English––with the main residential areas found around Shirokanedai Station, where Megro Dori Street and Gaien-Nishi Dori (Platinum) Street meet. Platinum Street is surrounded by a quiet and luxurious residential area, with many luxurious condominiums also found along Meguro Dori Street.

Other exclusive locations:
Azabu, Akasaka

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