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Header image courtesy of @chokohood (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.
The first of two new trendy cafés to open not just in the same district, but the same building, Nobis is a chic coffee shop selling artisanal coffees, French pastries, and a short but sweet selection of alcoholic drinks. Decorated in a sleek grey and silver palette with a cutwork façade that’s reminiscent of traditional Hong Kong-style folding metal shutters, Nobis cuts a striking figure on the corner of Tai Nan Street and Boundary Street.
Inside, a comprehensive coffee menu awaits, with your standard espresso-based drinks as well as specialist pour-overs—the espresso tonic ($45) is perfect for balmy days, and you can’t ever go wrong with a flat white ($40). Those with a sweet tooth are well-catered to here, with the delicious Lotus Biscoff affogato ($60) and delicate French pastries from Frenchie Toquée—take your pick from light vanilla choux ($35), rich chocolate tigré ($30), buttery madeleines ($20), and more.
Nobis, Nam Fung Mansion, 10G Boundary Street, Sham Shui Po
Building off their reputation as one of the most stylish florists in town, The Floristry has opened a beautiful new two-storey space on Gough Street in Noho. On the ground floor, you’ll find a café and shop, where you can explore the signature flower jars as well as The Floristry’s newly launched homeware range—expect bundles of palo santo, hand-blended room sprays, and gorgeous candles and tableware.
The coffee bar serves The Floristry’s own house blend of coffee, with black coffee starting from $28, while white coffees—your standard flat white, latte, and cappuccino—are an affordable $35. Venture upstairs to find an immersive installation space called the Meadow Room, with Instagrammable photo spots as well as a counter bar overlooking the street below. Like the floral collections, everything else at The Floristry—the Meadow Room installation, coffee blend, and homeware—is seasonal, so there is always something new and beautiful to explore!
The Floristry, 18 Gough Street, Central
You’ve heard of single-origin coffee—but how about single-origin chocolate? Located along a quiet stretch of Tung Lo Wan Road, this cacao-centric café announces itself with a blush-terracotta façade and signage designed to resemble a chocolate bar, while warm wood fixtures, large cocoa pods, and banana leaf plants give the interiors a cosy, tropical feel.
Drinks made with the star ingredient include the single-origin drinking chocolate (starting from $45) which range in origin and cocoa content, as well as the cacao tea (starting from $62), chocolate tea latte ($65) and cacao fruit sodas ($60). Non-chocolate items are available in both the food and drink menus, with the banana bread ($48) and madeleines ($22) proving popular. For an education in the art of chocolate, try the tasting flight ($128) which takes you “from cacao to chocolate,” or check their Instagram for details on their chocolate tasting workshops.
Chokohood, Shop E 90, 96 Tung Lo Wan Road, Tai Hang | (+852) 9190 5992
Literally around the corner from Nobis, you’ll find another newly opened café, the pet-friendly Buff. Inspired by their love for Thailand, couple Jeff and Natalie infused the space with an airy, laidback vibe, complete with cane stools, blond woods, and tropical foliage. The Thai inspiration continues on the menu with Thai tea (starting from $54), boat noodles ($98), and more. Coffee-wise, the beans come from local roasters Coffee Obsession, which are used for both filter and espresso-based coffees. For a light bite, check out the prawn & cheese toast with prawn crackers ($108) or the various cakes and tarts on the weekend dessert menu.
Buff, Nam Fung Mansion, 5A Maple Street, Sham Shui Po
For a supremely affordable cup of joe that’s ready in a flash, check out Sheung Wan’s newest coffee shop—its bright yellow and red shopfront on Des Voeux Road Central is practically impossible to miss. Unlike most of the cafés opening in Hong Kong these days, Flash isn’t independent—or indeed, a locally founded chain. With branches in the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, this grab-and-go coffee brand is poised to become the next big regional coffee brand, with a handy app that allows you to order your drinks ahead of time (or just get them delivered).
The wide-ranging menu is made entirely with light-roasted Arabica beans, which can be enjoyed in everything from the affordable drinks on the essentials menu—where lattes start from $25—to the more elaborate drinks. Flash signatures include the quirky-sounding avo latte (starting from $36), while the Hong Kong signatures menu comprises cha chaan teng-inspired creations like the Flash yuenyeung, red bean iced latte, Ovaltine latte, and peanut butter condensed milk latte (all starting from $36).
Flash Coffee, Shop 5, Golden Centre, 188 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan
No, this has nothing to do with the American home exercise brand—Hong Kong’s Peloton is a pet-friendly café and store in Tuen Mun named after the term for a group of cyclists. Besides a menu of coffee and Western fare, the space is also home to a cycling and camping supply store, with specialist drag-reducing clothes, ergonomic water bottles, and toolboxes lining its walls.
Park your ride at the spacious bike rack out front before perching on a bike seat stool or camping chair and gazing out on the mountain view. Replenish your energy with dishes like the mussels in Champagne cream sauce ($88), prawn & crabmeat pasta ($98), or all-day breakfast ($128) and wash it all down with a refreshing drink like the dirty coconut ($50) or iced hazelnut chocolate ($42) before riding off into the sunset.
Peloton, Shop 14, Regency Bay, 23 Hoi Wong Road, Tuen Mun
Named after the Korean term for “hurry up,” this new Sham Shui Po café can be spotted by its striking glass-bricked façade and neon sign stating “good times roll.” Inside, a futuristic silver aesthetic awaits, with photo spots like an arched infinity mirror and pulsating LED displays. The menu, which was designed by Holy Cannoli’s Marco Livoti, features Korean-inspired bites like braised Wagyu cheek kimchi sourdough ($98), Korean-style fried chicken (starting from $88), beef tartare yukhoe toast ($158), and kimchi pancakes ($58).
For drinks, you can’t go wrong with a dirty ($40) or flat white ($45), but caffeine-free drinks like the pear soda go down a treat, too. During the soft opening period, customers can bring their own alcohol without incurring a corkage fee, but Ppalli Ppalli plans to serve plenty of craft Korean alcohol, from straight soju and makgeolli to cocktails.
Ppalli Ppalli, 230 Tai Nan Street, Sham Shui Po | (+852) 2982 8219
Located in an alley off the main road, this bright and cheery takeaway is a hidden gem in Shau Kei Wan. Despite the limited space, Hahahappy boasts a respectable range of drinks and snacks, with a soon-to-be-expanded coffee menu and an excellent range of homemade baked goods. During the soft opening period, the shop is only offering cold drip coffee and espresso-based drinks made with beans from the Dominican Republic and Brazil, though the proprietors have plans to introduce hand-drip coffee. For a little moment of bliss, pair the Americano ($38) with either the scallion scones or a slice of Basque burnt cheesecake.
Hahahappy, Shop G3, Golden Mansion, 42–52 Shau Kei Wan Main Street East
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.
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