Cover Halfway Coffee's iconic china cups (Photo: @conyjapjapjap)

There’s no shortage of lovely, independent-owned coffee shops and cafés popping up around the city, from Hong Kong island to the New Territories

Hong Kong’s diverse neighbourhoods and quirky streets have been the fertile breeding grounds for a talented young generation eager to open up their own little slice of cafe life. Within the last ten years, the quality of coffee has increased exponentially with serious attention being paid to provenance and execution, and a lot of care being put into the food offerings—great news for those of us who love cafe hopping. Combine that with spaces that have an alluring aesthetic and you have a winning formula for independent businesses that thrum with energy. Here are just some of the new cafes that we’ve been noticing on our feeds—why not pay these a visit the next time you need a caffeine fix—and an impressive shot to prove you were there?

See also: Here Are The Cafes With The Best Coffee In Hong Kong

1. Bone Studio

A residential stretch of Bonham Road seems an unlikely spot for a zen Japanese-style cafe, and that’s what makes finding this hidden gem all the sweeter. With high ceilings, the tiny space doesn’t feel so cramped, and the light woods lend it a distinct airy expression. They call themselves a coffee and design studio, and you can browse trinkets (woven baskets, ceramics, jewellery) as well as enjoy cakes (Hokkaido creme crepe cake with tangerine, for example) and savouries such as omelette croissants. Japanese hand-drip coffee is recommended here.

Bone Studio, Shop 2B, 38 Bonham Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong

2. Press The Button

Sham Shui Po’s Midway Shop is one of our favourite little treasure troves for discovering one-of-a-kind objects and design products curated by the co-founders, and they’ve recently soft-opened a small coffee stand next door. They highlight brews made from Kyoto-based Circus Coffee, one of their long-time favourites, as well as beans from local roaster Craft Coffee Company. Their motto is just as sweet as their whole philosophy: “simply a touch of happiness”.

Press The Button, G/F, 132A Ki Lung Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

3. Halfway Coffee

If you’ve ever been to a branch of Halfway Coffee in Sheung Wan, you’ll immediately recognise the rustic aesthetic that has become their calling card, one that always retains the character of their surroundings. As their motto goes, you’ll find “a cup of excellently crafted coffee with remembrance of old Hong Kong”. For their third branch on Soy Street in Mongkok, the team have left remnants of the previous shop’s identity front and centre, most notably the old shop sign written in iconic red calligraphy that hangs at the back of the cafe; the windows still have old styrofoam signs taped up too, with prices for fruits like pomelo and cantaloupe written on top.

Halfway Coffee, 6 Soy Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong

4. Coffee Of The Day

This minimalist coffee shop is pared down to the basics, with its sugar cube stools, brushed concrete floors and artfully positioned plum tree (singular) and asymmetric mirror. Apart from coffee, they also make delicious thirst-quenching drinks such as grapefruit soda, lemonade, and cold brew hojicha.

Coffee Of The Day, Shop B, G/F, 172-174 Tai Nan Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

5. Hushush

This beloved independent coffee roaster and ice cream specialist is a Sai Kung favourite—and it has recently upgraded to a larger premises with a lovely awning. The team have been hard at work churning out new flavours, including one incorporating Highland Park 12 Years Viking whisky, which may be the perfect cold treat to have in an affogato.

Hushush, On Fu Building, G/F, 33 Ko, Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung, Hong Kong

6. Pause It

Starting off as a small cafe in Mongkok, Pause It has fast-forwarded to a large, attractive premises on the island side. The spacious cafe follows a similar look to the original, with plenty of natural light, dried flowers and soothing artworks for a calming effect. The A-class latte art (check out their unicorns, swans and fat kittens) are also another reason why the cafe is popular with the Instagram set.

Pause It, Shop 18, G/F AIA Tower, 183 Electric Road, Tin Hau, Hong Kong

7. Momentum

Perched on the rooftop of the Aura on Pennington, Momentum is a stylish nook with an industrial look and feel—think grey concrete, skinny steel stools and glowing neon. You may recognise the style from their original cafe on Peel Street. Breakfast bagels, silky flat whites, yoghurt bowls and even sake (the space also doubles as a yakitori restaurant) are on the menu, if you can’t decide between your vices.

Momentum, 22/F, Aura on Pennington, 66 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

8. Accro

One of Hong Kong’s original coffee roasters and a brand known for their syphon coffee, Accro has recently moved into a new space that looks bold and brutalist on the outside with its tiny windows and concrete walls, but warm and inviting inside—the interiors echo the mood of a traditional Japanese kissaten, with dark woods and delicate china cups displayed behind the bar, along with a classic Fuji Royal coffee grinder. Come for an inky brew and a feeling of nostalgia.

Accro, Shop D, G/F, Kam Shing Building, 162 Yuen Long On Ning Road, Yuen Long, Hong Kong

9. Detour

The original branch on First Street has its fans, and the newest location on Queen's Road Central is also worth a detour. Sunny breakfasts and lovely fruit cakes are the classic cafe draws, and we also love the old-school bentwood chairs and pie-and-mash shop tiled exteriors. The floor to ceiling windows offer the perfect vantage point to view life floating by on Bonham Strand.

Detour, 35-37 First Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Detour, G/F, 379 Queen's Road Central, Sheung Wan

10. Blue Bottle Coffee

The latest hyped-up coffee shop to open in Hong Kong has its look down pat. Designed by the same firm that envisioned all branches of Blue Bottle Coffee in Japan, the first branch in Hong Kong is an eye-catching two-level job that invites you in from across the road. Try their hot, made-to-order waffles and the signature New Orleans cold brew coffee for a real hit.

Blue Bottle Coffee, G/F & 1/F, 38 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong

11. Sonne CAD

New coffee studio Sonne CAD, located in Tai Hang, aims to educate drinkers on single origin coffee. Located in a cute two-storey shophouse, the cafe features upstairs seating in addition to the ground floor coffee brewing lab. Beautiful minimalism is on show, which is reflected in the seriousness with which they brew their coffee. Speak to the baristas about your preferred brewing method and sample an array of beans that feature extensive tasting notes and background information. 

Sonne CAD, 16 Sun Chun Street, Tai Hang, Hong Kong

12. Joint

Joint was previously located on a quiet street in Kennedy Town, serving since 2018, but they've recently uprooted from the original neighbourhood to larger premises in Wan Chai. The new Wood Road cafe is nearly double the size, meaning more space to enjoy their expertly pulled espresso drinks. Looking for something different? They have a honey Americano and also a refreshing cold brew with tonic for hotter days.

Joint, 8 Wood Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

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