Following the closure of their original shop in the Omotesando avenue of Tokyo, the cult coffee bar will be moving to Hong Kong
If you needed confirmation that Wan Chai is now Hong Kong’s coffee central, look no further. In early 2016, Tokyo’s much beloved Omotesando Koffee will be officially opening in the Wan Chai district, and Hong Kong Tatler is the first to reveal that the coffee bar will be located in the newly opened Lee Tung Avenue, the long awaited Sino Land and Hopewell Holdings property project located between Amoy Street and Spring Garden Lane, where Lee Tung Street used to reside. The residential complex will have plenty of F&B operations, and the first international branch of Omotesando Koffee will be housed in these quarters.
Eiichi Kunimoto, the owner of the tiny but successful operation (which also spawned a sibling venue, Toranomon Koffee, last year) announced earlier in December his intentions to shutter the space in Omotesando after five years. The coffee bar’s last day will be December 30, 2015, and Kunimoto will be relocating to Hong Kong in the new year.
“Omotesando Koffee started as a pop-up shop for only one year at the beginning,” he wrote, in an open letter to fans on the café’s website. “However, due to the aging of house and its renovation, it is with heavy hearts that we have to let you know to close the shop and sincerely apologize for this sudden dining_news.”
The coffee bar is known for their espresso and distinctive cube-shaped baked custards (“kashi”), and minimalistic aesthetic.
While coffee fans in Tokyo may be weeping, we, on the other hand, are thrilled to hear that the brand is making its move to Hong Kong. It’s not yet clear whether the coffee bar will keep the original name or adopt a new one to reflect its new home. It will join other stellar coffee bars in the area, including The Cupping Room, Coco Espresso, and Manson’s Lot.
Stay tuned as we bring you more updates as we receive them.
Photos courtesy of Omotesando Koffee