18 Hidden coffee shops and quiet cafés in Hong Kong

Located on the 15th floor of an unassuming commercial building in Wong Chuk Hang, this exotic café brings a piece of African culture to Hong Kong. From its hut-like bar area to the decor and furnishing, Africa Coffee & Tea (ACT) will transport you to the jungles of Africa in no time. The café also prides itself on serving premium single origin coffee and tea in an ethical manner. We recommend trying the Rolex (no, not the watch) – a Ugandan snack comprising a rolled-up chapati filled with scrambled egg, veggies, and other delicious goodies.

Despite their tongue-in-cheek name, there’s nothing bad to be found in this retro joint that’s a cosy café by day and moonlights as a cocktail bar when night falls. The entrance is marked by large Chinese characters proclaiming a now-defunct fruit store, a deliberate nod to its history. Slide open the door, however, and you’re instantly transported into a 1970s office – if your office happened to feature a disco ball and a vintage television, that is. If you’re visiting before dark, the frothy Shakerato is a brilliantly smooth way to get your espresso fix. Once the sun sets, the agenda shifts to their ‘Hong Kong Classics’ cocktail list, where it’s well worth trying The Nin’s, a unique highball mixed with Pei Pa Koa.

Though the coffee shop may be small and narrow, their java and baristas are the real deal. Black Cherry has all the usual suspects: latte, cappuccino, americano, as well as dirty and affogato. Those with a sweet tooth will be delighted by their selection of muffins and homemade cakes. The highlight though? Black Cherry is the perfect spot to grab that early morning coffee before most of the other shops in Aberdeen open.

Tucked away in a shopping mall in Tsuen Wan, Browny Cafe is a small but cosy coffee shop with a semi-outdoor space attached. The café serves coffee, but also sells coffee beans and bags from Ethiopia and Guatemala, among others. They also offer lovely homemade cakes, which are a favourite among locals and guests from nearby neighbourhoods.

CoHee – which is how you would pronounce coffee in Japanese – is tucked away among the alleys and village houses in Kam Tin, injecting a little Japanese culture and minimalism in an otherwise local area in Hong Kong. Serving hand-brewed coffee in Japanese pottery and a selection of buns, cakes, and pastries, Cohee welcomes patrons to find their zen and embrace the Japanese way of living at the café. 

Channelling the mood of a modern Japanese kissaten, Gokan takes its name from the Japanese word for the five senses, aiming to soothe them through a mix of coffee, tea, and alcohol. The lineup of specialty beans is extensive, with the baristas regularly sourcing rare international varieties and collaborating with guest platforms. If you like your caffeine with a side of booze, the menu features creative coffee-cocktail hybrids like a Manhattan-style Irish coffee, a mezcal-based espresso martini, and an espresso piña colada, alongside handcrafted drinks made with Japanese whisky and gin. To soak it all up, they also turn out a pretty tasty selection of homemade egg rolls and custard puddings.

A small four-seater coffee shop in Jordan, Good Day Coffee serves up a selection of light bites and beverages. Their egg salad buns and cucumber soda coffee are the crowd-pleasers, but you can also chat to the owner who would happily recommend different dishes to you according to your taste and preference.

This neighbourhood spot in Sai Ying Pun has an industrial-style interior with a casual air to it. Hashtag’s founder and owner, Blackjack, is a former World Latte Art Championship runner-up, so you’re bound to get intricate and Instagrammable designs whenever you order a hot latte. In addition to a range of coffees and specialty drinks, Hashtag’s menu also has light dishes like bagels, croissants, wraps, cakes, as well as a choose-your-own option where you can assemble your favourite bread, spread, and toppings into a full meal, complete with a drink and dessert.

True to its name, this low-profile spot skips the flashy photo-ops in favour of a minimalist setup. The menu is intentionally simple, focusing primarily on artisanal coffee rather than bowing to the crowd with trendy drinks or dishes – a testament to the owner’s confidence in his craft. What makes this place truly special is their coffee training program designed to help disadvantaged groups, including students with special needs and marginalised youth. The café also has a range of eco-friendly products such as reusable straws and cups as well as a variety of coffee beans for sale.

Kactus Koffee is a raw but stylish cafe that offers great coffee with small bites to eat. With cactus plants, wooden benches, and pink fold-up tables spilling out onto the street, as well as artsy posters decorating the walls, it’s not hard to see why Kactus Koffee is so popular with the Instagram crowd. 

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Local café On The Hill Coffee Bar has recently opened a new location within Tai Kwun’s E Hall, which used to be part of the former Victoria Prison. The café operates out of a former jail cell, and customers are free to grab a seat nearby or wander around the cell block and admire the architecture. Aside from providing a range of standard coffees, On The Hill Coffee Bar also offers Thai Dirty, a combination of espresso with milk and condensed milk – making for a sweet and aromatic creation. 

This one is for the serious coffee drinkers. Taking up the space of a two-storey pre-war tenement building, Sonne CAD serves up locally roasted, single-origin coffee from Indonesia, Uganda, Guatemala, and more (their menu regularly rotates). Take a seat by the bar table and chat with the barista about what best suits your palate, or head upstairs to enjoy a quiet afternoon of people-watching.

Perched on a quiet corner of Tai Ping Shan Street, Soul Fresh is run by a former painter who traded her brushes for a baking apron, serving up daily fresh bakes that include pillowy pandan chiffon cakes and Vietnamese Banh Mi stuffed with chicken or Vietnamese sausage, homemade pâté, and pickled veggies. Keep in mind that the coffee here uses oat milk only, perfect for those with dairy sensitivities or lactose intolerance.

Combining a café and Thai massage parlour into one, Relax B&M provides a coffee experience unlike any other. While the establishment has several dining areas throughout the standalone building, the second floor is a massage parlour where you can enjoy a range of wellness treatments such as whole body Thai massages or gua sha therapy. Once you’re done with your soothing massage, grab a seat on their patio or enjoy the gorgeous view of Plover Cove from their rooftop while you indulge in their delectable food and drinks.

If you need somewhere peaceful and quiet to stretch your legs while you’re in Causeway Bay, drop into Russell Coffee & Roastery. Taking over the previous location of Cafe Corridor, a popular hidden café, Russell Coffee & Roastery is a continuation of its predecessor and churns out quality coffee and teas from their quaint venue. Here, you can also enjoy a range of bites that span from sweet and savoury pancakes, yoghurt bowls, and all-day breakfast plates, to their regularly-changing desserts.

Jeju-style café Tamora stands out from the crowd not only for its appearance but for its location. Nestled within Tai Mei Tuk Village in Tai Po, this three-storey café has a laidback atmosphere with an industrial vibe due to its concrete walls, exposed bricks, and metallic accents. Tamora makes use of their relatively empty interior to allow people to admire their spacious venue, while also allowing them to soak up the sun and admire the beautiful surroundings of Tai Mei Tuk from the cafe’s large windows. Aside from their coffees, Tamora also offers a wide variety of Jeju teas such as matcha lattes or volcanic oolong, as well as a few dessert options like cheesecakes or crispy croffles. 

Nestled on the serene eastern coast of Lantau Island, The Hideout in Mui Wo is a lush quiet space that provides a serene atmosphere, light bites, as well as relaxing activities. Aside from providing food and drinks to enjoy, The Hideout also offers activities like hatha flow yoga, breathwork, and sound bath sessions guided by skilled instructors, not to mention art-jamming sessions. 

Attached to Tree’s flagship eco-friendly furniture store at Horizon Plaza, Tree Cafe is a laidback eatery offering a range of savoury bites (with vegetarian and gluten-free options available) and sweet treats, making it perfect for hungry shoppers to grab a bite after a long day of furniture shopping. Be sure to bag a seat by the window for an unobstructed sea view.