A skip and a hop away from Wat Mangkon Kamalawat temple (a Chinese temple that’s always packed with worshippers praying for good luck) lies an alley that’s home to a small cafe hoping to inject a bit of coolness to the old Chinatown quarter.
Tucked inside a refurbished shop house, Jing Jing outshines its neighbors with the look of a modern Hong Kong eatery—it’s trendy black facade is the perfect background for red, neon-lit Chinese characters that spell out the café’s name (pronounced “jing jing” in Teochew, and “zhen zhen” in Mandarin).
The first floor features a coffee-slash-ice cream bar and a compact seating area, while the more spacious second floor boasts cool photogenic elements that should lure in Instagram-loving millennials.
The focus here is on the ice cream made by owner Chutinat Thasananuphan. Popular flavors include lime soda sorbet, strawberry sorbet and blueberry yoghurt (B50 per scoop), but it’s the booze-infused frozen treats (B80 per scoop) that make headlines. Offerings like Gin & Tonic, Kahlua Peanut Butter and Rum Raisin give the adults an excuse to imbibe a bit of alcohol during the day.
Outside of the frozen treats, there’s espresso-based coffee, as well as special caffeinated treats like espresso served with tonic (B80) and espresso injected with pistachio liqueur (B120). Those looking to fill up their bellies with serious eats can indulge in hearty breakfast dishes like waffles and pancakes (starts from B60).