Hong Kong Cray !!! Cafe Hopping in Sheung Wan

Cafe hopping in Hong Kong has been on my to-do list for quite awhile. In this city, where concrete and dense crowds dominate the landscape, quiet cafes hidden away aren’t exactly what one would expect to find. Whether you’re looking for peace of mind or a nice kick of caffeine, or both, Sheung Wan has the answer(s) for you in the form of tiny, hipster coffee shops. These types of cafes have been popping up all over Hong Kong in recent years, countering the city’s hustle and bustle and proving that, yes, you can relax and do nothing in Hong Kong!

What is it about Sheung Wan that attracts so many cafes? Is it the many streets snaking upwards, embedded with nooks and crannies? The mix of old school Hong Kong and chic, modern architecture? The cross between Eastern and Western cultures? Or its climbing reputation as the city’s favorite hipster neighborhood?

Whatever the reason, I finally set out to do a little cafe hopping in Sheung Wan. What’s wonderful about this neighborhood is that all these coffee shops are within a 5-minute walk from each other. On the way to each cafe, you can also stop by independent clothing stores, galleries, floral shops and other miscellaneous cool places to take a break… or enjoy some air conditioning.

STOP #1: The Cupping Room

We gotta start the morning with some hearty breakfast — without indulging ourselves. We split an Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon ($108 HKD or approximately $14 USD) and a cappuccino with skim milk ($40 HKD or approximately $5 USD). Eggs Benedict is my absolute favorite brunch food because what’s not to love about bread soaked with runny yolks covered in creamy hollandaise sauce?! The Cupping Room’s interpretation is slightly different from what I’m accustomed to in the U.S. — thick cut sourdough was used instead of English muffins, and the hollandaise sauce was thicker and piled high. Splitting open the super runny yolk was, so, so, so satisfying. The cappuccino was spot on as well — I loved the milkiness that balanced out the acidity without removing the bitter aromas. Only several minutes walk from Sheung Wan MTR stop, the Cupping Room is a convenient spot to hit up for a quick coffee or brunch, but not exactly an ideal place to sit and lounge as the background music and chatter from surrounding tables could get a little loud.

Address: Shop LG, The Centre Mark, 287-299 Queen’s Road Central (Entrance on Cleverly Street), Sheung Wan
p: 2799 3798
h: Mon-Fri: 08:00-17:00 Sat-Sun: 09:00-18:00

STOP #2: Cafe Deadend

Situated at the end of Po Hing Fong street, Cafe Deadend is almost out of place in this city. Simple, white decor in a tiny space that sits no more than 20 people, this is where you can come in with a laptop, plug in your earphones and disconnect. The Spiced Apple Tart ($85 HKD or approximately $11 USD), offered only after 12:30 PM, was a show-stopper — just look at it! The tart was flaky, the apple slices warm and with the perfect amount of cinnamon. Along with the garnishes, everything came together as pure bliss in my mouth. The Iced Chocolate (HKD $55 or approximately $7 USD) was rich and satisfying as well, and would probably be even creamier if we had opted for whipped cream! The boutique bakery next door, Po’s Atelier, is the counterpart of Cafe Deadend, baking and serving fresh bread and pastries every day.

Address: G/F, 72 Po Hing Fong, Sheung Wan
p: 6716 7005
h: Tue-Sun: 09:30-18:00, Closed on Monday

STOP #3: teakha 茶。家

By this point, we weren’t sure if we could fit in anything solid… so we turned to something iced and refreshing! We stopped by teakha for an Iced Genmaicha ($42 HKD or approximately $5 USD) — nothing too complicated, but the tea aroma was unbeatable, and the ice cooled off the brutal Hong Kong summer heat. Teakha is known for their selection of fresh brewed teas and lattes. This was my second visit, and I loved what I got the first time I came here. I recommend their Green Tea Cheesecake, Thai Iced Tea, Masala Chai Latte, and any of the scones that come with a drink for $10 HKD or a bit more than $1 USD. The cafe is sectioned off into three small seating areas — a more boisterous space near the cashier, a separate room with a large table, and an upstairs lounge for more privacy.

Address: Shop B, 18 Tai Ping Shan Road, Sheung Wan
p: 2858 9185
h: Mon-Fri: 11:00-19:00 Sat-Sun: 09:00-20:00

STOP #4: LOF10

Last stop! I was shooting for five cafes… but our legs couldn’t support us any longer, and our bellies had reached their limits. We still managed to wolf down some Bacon Wrapped in Cherry Tomatoes ($38 HKD or approximately $5 USD) and a Hazelnut Latte ($68 HKD or approximately $9 USD). I wasn’t exactly wowed by the cherry tomatoes and wish there was a more pronounced hazelnut flavor to the latte. Nonetheless, this was the last stop to rest our feets and get lost in our phones. #guilty. Out of all the cafes, LOF10 was the most tranquil, its rustic, gray entrance masks a perfectly unassuming space to do some work, relax or catch up with a friend.

Address: Flat B, 1 U Lam Terrace, Sheung Wan
p: 2540 2210
h: Mon-Sun: 10:00-19:00

Check out HangryNat for more recommendations from Natalie!