Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get our top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
Header image courtesy of Bite by Bite
Hong Kong is bursting with coffee shops, and new openings are appearing left and right. Holding its own against neighbouring rivals South Korea and Japan when it comes to coffee and cafés, our city definitely has its own eclectic roster to boast about. After all, who doesn’t need their daily dose of caffeine or thirst-quenching drink to start the day? Join us as we round up the latest cafés and coffee shops popping up in the city.
The Fringe Vault, located in the same historic building as the Fringe Club, was once used to store ice, milk, and dairy products. Now, it’s been transformed into a café and multi-purpose art space for pop-up stores and events! Start your day here with breakfast, have lunch here, or drop by for a cup of coffee. The menu is simple, featuring fuss-free sandwiches, salads, and pastries. Bite into the ciabatta filled with smoked cheese, caramelised peppers, and spinach, or the pita, made of lamb and pork kofta. For the drinks, you can choose from a selection of coffee, tea, and other special bevvies.
The Vault Café, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central | (+852) 2521 7254
Amongst the rows of quaint cafés in Mong Kok’s Pak Po Street, it’s easy to miss Bite by Bite as it blends perfectly into the surroundings, but the two-storey space is well worth a visit. Aiming to be a “third living space” for diners outside of their homes, workplaces, or schools, Bite by Bite takes inspiration from the nostalgia of Hong Kong’s parks and playgrounds in addition to a large selection of local snacks and desserts. You’ll appreciate the colourful fixtures and decorations based on tube slides, chequered walls drawn from monkey bars, tables and chairs based on roundabouts, and more!
On the menu, the Make and Match DIY section allows you to create your own sweet treats like the egg waffles ($88), uniquely presented on a painting palette. The different types of “paint” are actually homemade sauces like lemon curd, salted caramel, and mala chocolate. For the snacks, we recommend the masala curry fishball with roti ($58), combining both the Indian naan and the Chinese fishball in one snack. For the drinks, don’t miss the Ma-Matcha ($52), made with plant-based oat milk and other vegetarian-friendly ingredients.
Bite by Bite, Shop 4, G/F, Ngai Hing Mansion, 22 Pak Po Street, Mong Kok
Coffeeholics will love the selection of well-brewed coffee and great music at A Basic Coffee Production. Its interiors give off a vintage vibe, thanks to the array of vinyl records stacked next to the entrance as well as retro artworks lining the wall. When it comes to the food, be sure to try the pink egg Benedict ($138) or the classic carbonara ($138) for a whole flavour adventure, and finish off with a warming cup of Costa Rica Americano ($45).
A Basic Coffee Production, 3 Ming Yan Lane, On Hing Mansion, Wan Chai
Located in Sai Ying Pun, Tropica is a neighbourhood ceramics and botanical café launched in partnership with Tung Yao Workshop. One thing we love about this place is that all the tableware items are handmade in the café! Expect to see a range of beautiful ceramics and plants across the space. All the rage here is the pasta menu, featuring tomato king prawn pasta and carbonara. The drinks menu is also expansive but the lattes are worth a try.
Tropica, 3 Chui Kwong Street, Sai Ying Pun
Who says you can’t find a homey and cosy cafe in the middle of Central? Enter As Usual Café, a relaxing, pet-friendly refuge in the bustling CBD area. You can never go wrong with the selection of comfort foods like fried chicken with honey sauce and Liege waffles ($108) or beef bourguignon with focaccia or rice ($168). Finally, go for the pineapple fresh mint soda for something refreshing to finish off your meal with.
As Usual Café, Shop 2D, Welley Building 97, Wellington Street, Central | (+852) 2757 9878
Pet-friendly café Chill Pill in Mong Kok is all about good food, good drinks, and having a good time! Offering American and Japanese comfort food, it aims to provide a relaxing space for diners. Here, you can find classics like pancakes, burgers, and fries, as well as mac and cheese. If you’re hungry for more, you can always opt for the Matchy Combo (starting from $118), which gets you one type of carbs, two types of meat, and two types of vegetables with an egg. Gulp all that down with a cup of peanut butter latte ($50)!
Chill Pill, G/F, Kadak Building, 167A Sai Yi Street, Mong Kok
Café Hermosa is a beach- and surfing-inspired café in Fortress Hill—you can just tell from the on-brand décor lining the shop, from the surfboard right by the entrance to the guitar, bicycle, and various other memorabilia and trinkets peppered across the space. While the menu is simple, highlights include the salmon avocado bagel ($48) and the hojicha cheesecake ($40) while the house-made lemonade quenches your thirst! Feel free to bring your pets, as the spacious outdoor dining area is pet-friendly.
Cafe Hermosa, 6 Whitfield Road, Fortress Hill
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city but don’t want to go too far, 61E Coffee in Lai Chi Kok is the place to be. Describing itself as a “hiding place,” this café feels like a home away from home with its wooden seats, brick-designed walls, and ceiling plants. It sure looks like the perfect hideout! For the menu, expect a selection of pasta, although the tomato and camembert sourdough is winning over people’s taste buds.
61E Coffee, Unit 5, G/F, Global Gateway Tower, 63 Wing Hong Street
Jianne is introverted by nature but adventurous by heart. This Hong Kong-born-and-raised Filipino, who also spent time in Japan, prides herself on being a fangirl. On days when she’s not writing or travelling, you can find her visiting art exhibitions, looking for the best new places to eat in town, or simply trying to learn another language.
Top