Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get our top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
Header image courtesy of @coff__coffeeshop (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.
Goof, a newcomer to Jordan’s Ferry Point neighbourhood, has only been around for a couple of weeks, but has already made an impression on the café-hopping crowd thanks to its simple and clean design, photogenic drinks and snacks, and pet-friendly policy. Besides standard espresso drinks, Goof also offers a honeycomb macchiato ($50), a few ‘ccinos (matcha, hojicha, and apple; starting from $42), and chocolate (starting from $46), which comes with a jumbo-sized marshmallow to dunk in the drink.
When it comes to food, the duo cheese honey garlic panini ($78) and roasted cheesy corn ribs ($78) are sure to satisfy any hunger pangs, while those with a sweet tooth must try the signature tiramisu croffle pop ($58)—which comes loaded with cocoa-dusted cream and a little pipette of coffee—and the lemon curd pound cake ($48), which has a molten lemon curd centre.
Goof, G/F, Man King Building, 32 Man Wui Street, Jordan
Named after the Japanese concept of simple, understated beauty, Shibui is a new two-storey yōshoku-ya in Kowloon City. You can spot it from afar by the charming and vaguely provincial façade, which features a domed red-and-white awning, sunshine yellow walls, and wooden accents, while a combination of dark woods, stained glass windows, and retro props—including a wall-mounted model train set running along the perimeter of the entryway—adds a cosy, vintage feel to the interiors.
In keeping with the yōshoku theme, the menu features classic Western-Japanese fusion dishes like omurice ($88), korokke ($68; secret menu item), and curry rice ($158), as well as sweet treats like egg pudding ($48), coffee jelly with ice cream ($48), and a trendy caramelised banana croffle with sea salt ice cream ($68).
A number of refreshing and creative fizzy drinks are also available, such as the Aoi sora ($58), an orange-and-lemon soda topped with yuzu ice cream, and the Kyoto grape and yoghurt soda ($48). Upstairs, you’ll find a pop-up shop featuring curated homewares from At Home Journey, including the vintage-inspired crockery used in the café, as well as other bits and bobs like wire baskets and linen tablecloths. Do note that reservations are required—click here to book a slot.
Shibui, 22, Hau Wong Road, Kowloon City
We’re calling it—the next big trend in cafés is craft chocolate. Following the opening of Chokohood in Tai Hang, the next cool chocolate-focused café is Half & Half in Sai Ying Pun, which specialises in single-origin chocolate and single-origin coffee. All the chocolate is locally roasted by Slok Chocolate, a bean-to-bar brand based in Hong Kong, while the coffee is sourced from local roasters Hushush Coffee.
Besides deliciously rich drinks like the creamy chocolate shot (an intense cup of pure Indian cacao) and single-origin chocolate—which come in a variety of percentages and origins—there are also cocoa-spiked drinks like the lemonade and chocolate combo (a “choconade”) and light, fruity cacao husk tea ($60), which should satisfy even those who aren’t huge chocolate fans.
Nibbles are provided by Heijau Patisserie and include two elaborate dacquoise pastries ($68)—the chocolate- and caramelised nut-flavoured “Kennedier than Kennedy Town” and a unique “1009 n a Bit of Olive Oil” flavour made with olive oil lemon curd, paprika meringue, and pickled lemon. For the ultimate comfort snack, try the banana bread ($58), which is served warm with homemade chocolate butter made from pure Ecuadorian cacao.
Half & Half, 20 Pok Fu Lam Road, Sai Ying Pun
Have your croffle and eat it too at Coff, a brand-new café in the artsy Starstreet Precinct specialising in both coffee and croffles. Despite being barely bigger than a takeaway—seating is restricted to one small counter and a bench—Coff has a surprisingly extensive menu, with plenty of drinks (including hand-drip coffee), croffles, baked goods, and homemade ice cream on offer.
The mocha ($48) made with Valrhona chocolate is always a good shout, especially when complemented with a slice of cake or pie ($48), or a scoop of ice cream (starting from $38). From the four flavours of ice cream currently available, the mascarpone has been the obvious crowd-pleaser, especially when enjoyed on the tiramisu croffle or as part of an affogato.
Coff, Shop K, G/F, 2E Star Street, Admiralty | (+852) 9663 1350
Following the closure of its Lai Chi Kok store, Owls Coffee has reopened under the name “Hidden Figures” in Sheung Wan, with a monochromatic look peppered with cartoon character motifs. Owls’ regulars will be pleased to hear that many of the signature dishes have carried over to its new location, including the croffles (starting from $28), sriracha hot dog ($68), bacon & egg pancakes ($98), and “cloudy” egg toasts.
Fun new additions include the mini Belgian pancakes ($88) with fresh fruit and ice cream and chocolate tonic ($58), a glass of orange-garnished tonic water with chocolate sauce on the side that you can add as much—or as little—of. If you’re not a fan of sweets, the mala BBQ pork lotus leaf buns ($108), which come in pillowy soft baos, are thoroughly satisfying bites. Not only is Hidden Figures pet-friendly, but the building it’s in even has a public podium on the sixth floor, so you can pop up after your coffee break to enjoy views of the harbour.
Hidden Figures, Shop 1 & 2, G/F, Connaught Marina, 48 Connaught Road West, Sheung Wan | (+852) 9738 1922
While croffles may be the dessert of the moment, we still have plenty of love for fluffy soufflé pancakes—and Tera may just be our new favourite spot for these jiggly, cloudlike treats. Another new addition to Jordan’s budding café scene, Tera is decorated in calming shades of biscuit and wheat, with a wooden feature wall that brings to mind exposed brick or Japanese geta shoes, and paper lanterns casting a warm glow over the minimalist space.
Although Tera does offer coffee, the main attraction here is the varied and creative selection of desserts, from the homemade lemon tart with apple compote, yuzu confit, and lemon curd, to the freshly baked madeleines with lemon curd, and mango coconut pandan parfait ($68) with chia pudding and fresh coconut jelly. The signature soufflé pancakes (starting from $128) come in a host of flavours, including banana speculoos, vanilla strawberry, blueberry lemon, hojicha hazelnut, and yuzu matcha, though availability is limited—so come early if you have your heart set on a specific flavour!
Tera, G/F, 273 Temple Street, Jordan
Like its original shop in Yau Ma Tei, this spacious new branch of Not Just Coffee in Sai Ying Pun has a desert-inspired look—cactuses, gravel-lined seating areas, and tree stumps abound, while wicker furniture and crocheted cushions give everything an eclectic vintage aesthetic.
Like the décor, the food is something of a mish-mash, with Asian-Western fusion dishes like fig and dragon fruit toast with ice cream ($88) and lobster bisque Inaniwa udon ($128). The latter comes as a bowl of noodles buried in a medley of leafy greens, avocado slices, cherry tomatoes, prawns, seaweed, and bonito, with a teapot of hot lobster bisque on the side which you pour into the bowl and mix yourself to ensure that everything is piping hot. For extra cosiness, sip on a warm latte ($38) or hot chocolate ($35).
Not Just Coffee, Shop 1, Art Lane, 8 Chung Ching Street, Sai Ying Pun
Annette is an editor and copywriter with a lifetime of experience in hunting out the most interesting, odd, and delightful things about her beloved home city. Having written extensively about everything from food and culture to fashion, music, and hospitality, she considers her speciality to be Hong Kong itself. In her free time, you can find Annette trying out new dumpling recipes or playing Big Two at her favourite local bars with a cocktail in hand.
Top