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Header image courtesy of NOC
Most people say that the world is obsessed with Australian coffee culture, but Hong Kong comfortably holds its own with a roster of outstanding cafés. Small as the city may be, our neighbourhoods are brimming with boutique coffee shops, and new openings are popping up across Hong Kong every week. Join us as we follow the irresistible waft of freshly ground coffee beans to the latest and greatest café and coffee shop openings in Hong Kong.
Forget flipping through old magazines while you wait for your turn at the parlour—this beauty-salon-slash-café hybrid offers so much more to keep you entertained. Spanning two storeys, TH33 operates a spacious coffee bar and lifestyle retail space on the ground floor, and a full-service salon upstairs. It serves all your favourite coffee drinks, from espresso beverages (starting from $42) and cold brew ($60) to pour-overs (starting from $80) alongside a selection of bagels, scones, and other light bites. Whether or not you stay for a haircut, don’t leave without taking a browse through the curated assortment of haircare products, candles, coffee beans, and other eclectic finds to spruce up your home!
TH33, G/F & 1/F, 29 Chik Shun Street, Tai Wai
Matcha lovers are in for a real treat as beloved local matcha brand Matchali opens up its flagship store in Wan Chai. Marked by an extensive use of light wood panelling with splashes of green and turquoise, the space feels compact and cosy. Not to mention, the bamboo-lined, pet-friendly outdoor courtyard makes for an uber-zen respite from the district’s urban bustle.
Besides a dazzling menu of 30-plus matcha and tea drinks, including the red bean matcha latte ($55) and mango matcha latte ($60), the flagship store also serves Japanese rice and noodles, sourdough toasts, healthy bowls, and desserts. Dig into the ochazuke salmon rice bowl ($135) followed by a vegan matcha soft serve ($48) made with oat milk.
Matchali, 5 Moon Street, Wan Chai
Washed in a brilliant shade of sunset coral, with palm plants and eye-pleasing terrazzo flooring greeting you at the front entrance, Melrose Coffee positively screams California bliss. As you escape the lively streets of Soho and pop into this dreamy café, it’s easy to imagine yourself enjoying a holiday on Sunset Strip or soaking up the sun in La La Land.
Befitting its inspiration from LA cafés, the menu is populated with everything from avocado toast ($108) and superfood green bowl ($78) to royal potato rösti ($128) and even croffle churros ($68). Savour brunch over a fizz ruby cold brew ($60) or the speciality apple tea cap ($50), an apple-flavoured tea with a creamy milk topping.
Melrose Coffee, 46 Elgin Street, Soho, Central
Leave behind the bustling frenzy of the Central and Western District and escape into this blissful Moroccan-themed oasis in North Point, where warm, blush-hued walls meet carved horseshoe arches and patchwork designs. Its theme extends to the outdoor patio, offering the option of an enchanting alfresco dining experience. Dig into hearty mains like lobster salad burger with new potato wedges ($88) and carbonara linguine with onsen egg ($88) or grab a friend and share a plate of strawberry croffles with vanilla ice cream ($88). Don’t forget to complete the meal with a refreshing iced rose latte ($44).
Enthusiasm Café, Shop 1A, Tanner Court, 60 Tanner Road, North Point
Seaside town Sai Kung is already a great place for relaxing, and it just got even better with the opening of a new Okinawa-style spa-café-bar hybrid. Spanning three floors and painted in a warm terracotta colour palette, Baku is your one-stop haven for rest and rejuvenation.
For the ultimate pampering session, opt for the Baku signature full-day spa ($2,372), which includes a body soak, foot massage, rose scrub, and oil massage, as well as a light tea set. No time for a full-blown spa break? Feel free to drop by just for the cakes and inventive coffee drinks, like the wasabi cappuccino ($58) and yuzu and osmanthus latte ($58).
Baku, G1-2, Pak Sha Wan Street, Sai Kung
Early mornings got you feeling like a zombie? Nothing that a stop to this charming little caffeine nook cannot fix! Zombie’s striking midnight-blue façade instantly sets it apart from the trappings of the Jordan neighbourhood, but it’s the robust menu of speciality coffee that seals the deal. Besides a fruity Ethiopian house blend, Zombie also offers a range of single-origin options from Colombia, Kenya, and Guatemala. Pair the invigorating elixir with an avocado crab meat toast or homemade tiramisu ($55) for the perfect pick-me-up.
Zombie, Shop 1, 9–13 Kwun Chung Street, Jordan
En route to Tung Wan Beach in Cheung Chau, make a pit stop at this rustic café to fill your stomach and camera roll. Set to be the worst-kept secret on the island, Nutshell has garnered a fair bit of social media hype thanks to its Instagram-worthy design inspired by the Japanese aesthetic appreciation of nature and a menu of homemade baked goods.
Come on weekends for the exclusive toast set ($88), featuring homemade shokupan served with three different spreads—strawberry butter, cinnamon apple, and caramelised onions. While you won’t find coffee here, Nutshell does offer a bevy of well-made tea drinks like the matcha au lait ($58), hojicha tonic ($58), and hibiscus peppermint tea ($48)
Nutshell, G/F, 156 San Hing Back Street, Cheung Chau
Beloved homegrown roastery NOC has made its presence felt across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and now it has finally made its way to the New Territories with a brand-new outlet in café haven Tsuen Wan. Putting a fresh spin on its iconic all-white aesthetic, the new branch invites you to unwind in an airy (and sustainably designed) Japanese dry garden, brought to life by intricate wooden lattice, gravel-lined pathways, and bamboo plants.
Expect in-house roasted Arabica brews and your favourite NOC brunch offerings, along with a handful of new menu additions like the fruity avocado purée bowl, porcini mushroom risotto, and vegan bechamel quesadilla. Chocolate lovers would not want to miss out on the new single-origin chocolate drink made with 68 percent Nyangbo dark ground chocolate.
NOC, Shop 128–130, Tsuen Wan Plaza, 4–30 Tai Pa Street, Tsuen Wan
A wanderer, chronic overthinker, and baking enthusiast, Beverly spent much of her childhood in the United States before moving to Hong Kong at age 11 and making the sparkling city her home. In her natural habitat, she can be found baking up a storm in her kitchen, journalling at a café, or scrolling through OpenRice deciding on her next meal.
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