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Header image courtesy of @aimei.hk (via Instagram)
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.
Filling the gaping hole left in our hearts by the closure of Teakha, a brand-new café has made a home for itself in the quaint Tai Ping Shan address. Hö-ah is named after the Cantonese colloquial phrase “好啊,” used to express affirmation and elation—and the unadulterated elation you will feel as you settle into the cosy, cottage-like atmosphere and bask in the warm sunlight that shines through the French windows.
On the menu is a scrumptious selection of sandwiches and cakes, along with coffee and tea. Health-conscious folks will delight in the organic tofu and avocado sourdough toast ($98) while dessert fiends will love the limited house-made tiramisu ($58).
Hö-ah, G/F, 18B Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan
Nowhere else employs juxtaposition quite as spectacularly as Miluna, a café-alehouse hybrid that has newly landed in Tsim Sha Tsui. Still in its soft opening phase, Miluna has already garnered plenty of buzz thanks in part to its striking interior design, an unabashed cornucopia of Instagram fodder. Its showpiece giant moon installation is given even more elegance by its contrast with the Neoclassical columns and décor pieces, regal tufted banquettes, and emerald green walls.
Once you have taken a round of obligatory photos, treat yourself to an exciting culinary journey of innovative fusion dishes, such as the linguine with kimchi and sliced pork belly ($92), conchiglioni with black truffle and portobello mushroom ($92), and deep-fried chicken with Korean spicy dip or honey mustard ($68).
Save some room in your stomach for the signature croffles ($68) as well, which come in flavours like Oreo cookies, chocolate banana, and mango.
Miluna Café & Ale House, 3/F, Tak Shing Alliance Building, 115 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3591 9064
Styled in a clean and inviting palette of cream and light green, and matched with pleasing geometric patterns and arches, Zenwich turns your idea of a sandwich shop on its head, transforming the no-frills, grab-and-go fare into a zen and relaxing experience.
Its namesake offering is made with buttery brioche and pressed on a waffle iron for an extra special crispy touch. Fillings range from classic roasted veggies ($68) and popular truffle mushroom and cheese ($78) to gourmet combinations like teriyaki pork ($78) and wine-braised oxtail ($88). Make a meal out of the sandwich by pairing it with a hearty soup or a refreshing espresso tonic ($48).
Zenwich, 14A Gordon Road, Tin Hau
Venture past Milligram Coffee’s unassuming black curtained entrance along the alleys of Kau U Fong and find yourself welcomed into a refreshing oasis inspired by traditional Japanese-style gardens. Its moody, dark wooden interior and Taishō period-influenced décor synergise beautifully with the potted leafy foliage and pebbled plant beds, exuding an atmosphere of unparalleled calm and serenity.
Milligram Coffee’s drinks menu covers your standard espresso-based coffees as well as popular café beverages like espresso tonic ($65) and matcha latte ($55). Food offerings are currently limited to miso carbonara and an all-day breakfast.
Milligram Coffee, Shop A, 175–178 Wellington Street, Central (Entrance on Kau U Fong)
Nestled in a local shopping centre just a stone’s throw away from Baptist University, Hap Coffee is a welcome addition to Kowloon Tong’s rather barren café landscape. Little more than a hole in the wall, the minimalist, off-white interiors and cheerful ambience make it easy for visitors to turn their mid-day coffee break into a moment of pure bliss.
Wind down with a coffee, tea, or fresh, cold-pressed juice alongside the made-to-order croffles ($40). Need to fill an empty stomach? Hap also serves up a solid breakfast and lunch menu, with options including carbonara ($88) and crab meat toast ($98).
Hap Coffee, Shop 9 and 16, G/F, Franki Centre, 320 Junction Road, Kowloon Tong
Garden at Mei Ho is a brand-new themed café that is breathing new life and vibrancy into Mei Ho House, a former public housing estate in Shek Kip Mei which has been transformed into a youth hostel and museum. Paying homage to the building’s historic significance as one of Hong Kong’s first public housing estates, the inside of Garden at Mei Ho is like a time capsule frozen in the 1960s, showcasing a traditional bing sutt-style layout and old vinyl records hanging on the walls.
Step outside to the outdoor dining area, however, and you are transported to a gorgeous camping scene, complete with leafy plants, portable folding chairs, and a giant sun shade sail. In addition to fresh brews by local coffee roaster Ideology, you can dig into an array of creative Southeast Asian-inspired dishes like Thai tom yum waffles with soft-shell crab ($128), salted egg yolk carbonara ($82), and the must-try pandan loaf cake with coconut ice cream ($58).
Garden at Mei Ho, G/F, YHA Mei House Youth Hostel, Block 41, Shek Kip Mei Estate, 70 Berwick Street, Sham Shui Po
Following in the footsteps of its original sister branch By The Tray, By The O has become an instant hit amongst Yuen Long’s café hoppers. Taking design notes from its successful sibling, the café is decked out in woodgrain and geometric patterns, which add just the perfect amount of warmth to the industrial foundations of the space, creating a cosy and effortlessly chic environment.
Atmosophere aside, By The O is no slouch either when it comes to the quality of its food and drinks. Tuck into A Big Breakfast ($128), a scrumptious all-day breakfast platter coming with croffles, truffle scrambled eggs, cheesy roasted tomatoes, smoked salmon, portobello mushrooms, and more, or sip on the photo-worthy tiramisu coffee ($60) topped with mascarpone cheese and a ladyfinger biscuit.
By The O, Shop 2, Ho Shun King Building, 3 Fung Yau Street, Yuen Long
An amalgamation of textured concrete walls, sleek matte tables, and contemporary lighting makes In Depth’s decidedly monochromatic palette of grey tones anything but boring. Add on the spacious roof terrace area elegantly fitted with cushy sofas and sunshades, this new Central café will appeal to those with an eye for modern minimalist design as well as a taste for coffee, cocktail, and shisha.
Choose from a palate-bracing menu of speciality beverages like matcha dirty ($65) and the Slightly Twisted espresso tonic. While In Depth currently does not serve main dishes, your drink will surely go down well with the double espresso tiramisu ($58).
In Depth, 3/F, Somptueux Central, 52 Wellington Street, Central
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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