By Localiiz
27 September 2022
Copyright © 2022 LOCALIIZ | All rights reserved
Check out Humans of Hong Kong, our newest video series focused on telling Hong Kong stories!
Copyright © 2022 LOCALIIZ | All rights reserved
Check out Humans of Hong Kong, our newest video series focused on telling Hong Kong stories!
Header image courtesy of @misscloud852 (Instagram)
Hong Kong is a small city compared to the rest of the world but there are a plethora of exciting new things to do to keep us entertained in such a compact space. Hongkongers are fast-paced people and a cuppa (or two, or three) is something most of us need almost every day, so new boutique cafés are constantly opening up to cater to our caffeine addiction. We’ve been exploring across the city, walking through alleyways, and keeping an ear to the ground to discover the 10 latest café openings in Hong Kong. Let’s get us some coffee!
We found The Coffeeology in Causeway Bay just one day before our latest café round-up went live, so rest assured that this brand-new opening is piping hot and fresh out of the oven! This cosy café has made a home for itself on Yiu Wa Street, a locale predominantly occupied by pubs and bars, and The Coffeeology stands out of the crowd by presenting memorable coffee and small bites. For their soft-opening phase, you can choose between nutty or fruity flavours for their coffee beans, but they also have signature creations on offer, such as the Sober, which is a nitro coffee blended with textures of wine.
The Coffeeology, G/F, 12 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2898 8805
It’s not often that you see a vegan coffee shop in Hong Kong. Vego Coffee in Tsim Sha Tsui opened their doors last week to offer pleasantly surprising vegan breakfast, pasta, pizza, waffles, and dessert dishes. One of their prettiest cakes is a white-coloured Durian Cake ($30), sure to evoke polarising reactions from guests, and they even have a plant-based Peking Duck Pizza ($80) on the menu!
This hole-in-the-wall café is just big enough to admit 10 people, though they do have a special table that can be extended from their shopfront windowpane so if the weather permits for a perfect spot to sit and relax.
Vego Coffee, Shop 7B, G/F, Garden Mansion, 154–156 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 6808 3768
One of our favourite neighbourhoods is Shek Tong Tsui, a little pocket between Sai Ying Pun and Hong Kong University—because there are always new cafés popping up around here! 14 South Lane opened roughly two weeks ago and took their name from their address (not very creative, but hey, it works). Immerse yourself the rustic aesthetic of dried flower decorations and wooden furniture and delight in the organic ingredients used and funky beverages on offer, such as the Broccoli Latte ($52) and the signature Sweet Potato Coconut Pancakes ($98), a medley of candied bananas, raspberry peanut butter, and toasted coconut—a heavenly combination of flavours.
14 South Lane, G/F, 14 South Lane, Shek Tong Tsui | (+852) 5744 8390
Many of you may already be familiar with Omotesando Koffee and their chic and minimalistic atmosphere, and now we have news of a third branch in Hong Kong! Launched two weeks ago in trendy K11 MUSEA, this new location is smaller compared to their Wan Chai branches, but the drinks and menu items remain the same. Though it is on the pricey side of caffeine, we like to treat ourselves to the Iced Cappuccino ($57), easily one of the best in the city.
Koffee Mameya & Omotesando Koffee, Shop B217 & B219, B2/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852)
Housed in a former florist’s shop space that pays homage to old Hong Kong, So.High Coffee Bar uses beautiful old china cups to serve their coffees, and if you factor in the swinging wooden ceiling fan, it really brings about a sense of nostalgia. We would recommend trying the Viennese Iced Coffee ($65) that comes with a generous portion of whipped cream with just the right amount of sweetness, and if you manage to get your hands on one of the straw fans as a photo prop, you will look like you walked right out of the 1980s!
So.High Coffee Bar, G/F, 49 High Street, Sai Ying Pun | (+852) 2612 1711
North Point seems like an unlikely place to go for a café visit, but one look at Artistry Brewing Company’s storefront will be enough to persuade you to make the trip there! Artistry Brewing Company is covered in potted plants and fresh flowers, with modern light fixtures and minimalistic furniture to make every corner of the café a photogenic spot!
Take your pick from an all-day dining menu, a selection of craft beers, and, of course, an extensive coffee list with details of every coffee bean on offer. If you are lucky, you might even see the owner herself arranging flowers in the outdoor seating area!
Artistry Brewing Company, G/F, Tung Fat Building, 43A Kam Ping Street, North Point | (+852) 3619 7013
Missing the minimalistic aesthetic of Japanese cafés? We may still be restrained by global travel bans, but a trip down to Sap San Po 89 is in the cards. White-washed walls, coloured glass lampshades, delicate wooden furniture, and a smattering of tatami mats give this hidden gem a chic and artsy vibe, and they even hand-draw the menus to add a personal touch.
Sap San Po 89 is all about Japanese desserts, and out of all of their creations, the most popular item is their French Toast ($72). At first glance, you might mistake it for a savoury egg omelette commonly found in Japanese set meals, but it’s actually a unique rendition of French Toast that has been marinated in an egg mixture for 24 hours to create an explosion of flavour!
Sap San Po 89, G/F, 2 Wong Chuk Street, Sham Shui Po
It’s not often that you can describe a café as a poetic space, but it definitely applies to Café Wander. This coffee shop is entranced by the idea of history and space, so the owners decided to source second-hand furniture from libraries to play with the idea of objects holding past ideas of space and time while coexisting in a different moment of time.
For an even bigger twist, the pour-over coffees are served in sake bottles and two cups, one hot and one cold. The baristas like to play with the textures and flavours of coffee at different temperatures, which is similar to how some types of sakes can also be served. Take a sip of their coffees and enjoy the reading of poetry that the café periodically plays in the background.
Café Wander, G/F, 8 Anchor Street, Tai Kok Tsui
Black and white is a classic aesthetic that you can never go wrong with, and Contrast offers this in abundance in Cheung Sha Wan. The first thing you see when you walk into the café is the long coffee bar and a floor covered in alternating black and white tiles, as well as a small photography exhibition gracing on their walls. True to their name, a divergent colour palette can also be found on their food and drinks menus, and we would suggest ordering the Charcoal Waffle with Homemade Ice Lolly ($80), which comes with four pieces of fluffy black waffles and a homemade milk-flavoured ice lolly for the perfect contrast.
Contrast, G/F, Easey Building, 512–518 Fuk Wing Street, Cheung Sha Wan | (+852) 2337 7220
Unless you work or live in Kwun Tong, it’s not often that you will find yourself in the area, but that is exactly what Paths Koffee & Rest Stop uses as their motto: Why not try taking the path less travelled? This aesthetic café is located inside an industrial building in Kwun Tong—where else?—with ample space for custom decoration and bringing out the rustic aesthetic that is quite unique to the neighbourhood. We would recommend starting off with a Mocha ($36) for a rich taste of their house blend, which is served with a few select pieces of coffee bean-shaped chocolates to really elevate the rich flavours!
Paths Koffee & Rest Stop, Shop 3, 3/F, Sing Win Factory Building, 15–17 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong | (+852) 3705 8425
Having lived in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London sure is a fun fact whenever people try to guess Ching’s accent. She loves switching between all these language channels and her “mother tongue” is just determined by how many drinks she’s had for the night! She loves movies, travelling, and exploring cities, from hidden alleys to gourmet dining, so feel free to hit her up if you need any suggestions for dinner!
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