The best cafes and coffee shops in Sai Ying Pun

Sai Ying Pun is home to several cool cafes, and Ah Jeng's Coffee Club certainly fits the bill. If the bright and colourful orange exterior doesn't grab your attention, then the funny portrait drawings that line the walls will certainly have you chuckling to yourself. This cafe's house blend uses sun-dried and washed Ethiopian and Honduran coffee beans, which provides a citrus-like acidity and white flower notes. As for their signature beverages, Ah Jeng's offers The Salty and Wet, an iced coffee combined with salted kumquat and sea salt. The coffee's rich flavour gets contrasted against the sour and slight saltiness from the kumquat, which makes for an irresistably refreshing combination. 

Instagram-famous bakery Hemma, popular for their Basque burnt cheesecakes, has finally opened their first cafe in Sai Ying Pun. Currently, Hemma sells slices of their cheesecakes in three flavours – vanilla, lemon, and black sesame, as well as their signature peanut butter chocolate creme cookie sandwiches, which are just as decadent. If desserts aren’t your cup of tea, Hemma also has dishes such as the Hemma all day breakfast or handmade pasta dishes like gnocchi as well as aglio e olio with shrimp. Aside from creating their own cold brew and hand dripped coffee, Hemma’s drink menu also has other offerings like hand-whisked matcha and hot chocolate topped with a homemade marshmallow.

Rootdown is nestled within the colourful walls of ArtLane and stands out with its unique exterior. Unlike other cafes in Sai Ying Pun, Rootdown's venue has large wooden panels that are lined up to allow sunlight and wind into the cafe, while keeping the cafe semi-closed off from the street. Rootdown's food offerings span from pastries such as croissants or toasted milk bread with maple brown butter, to savoury bites like nori chips or loaded potato skins topped with sour cream and pancetta. When it comes to beverages Rootdown serves up of plenty of coffee options, smoothies, and blended lattes. But if you care for some tipple, the bar also offers whisky or tequila highballs, wines; and even some of their own cocktails. 

Drop by Fineprint's Sai Ying Pun location to relax in this laid-back cafe. Their menu is full of dishes that feature Fineprint's signature sourdough bread such as of toasties, served with toppings like scrambled eggs or smoked salmon, or even toasted and paired with a spread of your choice. This venue has a few outdoor seats, so you can bring your four-legged friends out with you for a meal; or soak up the sun as you enjoy your meal. Whether you come here to grab a quick bite, or stay the afternoon to sip on coffee and wine;  this no-frills cafe-bar makes for an excellent spot to chill all day.

Sai Ying Pun weclomes April Coffee Lab as it's newest addition to their vibrant cafe scene. If the cafe's brick-red facade doesn't catch your attention, then the large curved window by their entrance definitely will. Aside from letting in plenty of natural sunlight, April's uniquely designed window also allows pedestrians look into the barista station. Customers here can sip on classic coffees, or try one of April's unique beverages like espresso shots poured over fizzy fruit juices. As for food, customers can enjoy light bites like Greek yoghurt fruit cups, cookies, banana bread, as well as savoury bagels with cream cheese or bacon-scallion infused cream cheese. 

Head to Art Lane to find MooJoo, a spacious pet-friendly cafe. You’ll find plenty of animal motifs scattered around their venue, such as a photo wall full of animal snapshots, a large mural with cats and dogs spilling out of a coffee cup, and a paw print decal on their wall. In addition to offering a range of coffee and tea beverages, MooJoo’s menu also offers specialty drinks, including pressed fruit juices like Passionate Shiba Inu ($58) and Spicy Chihuahua ($58).

This neighbourhood spot in Sai Ying Pun has an industrial-style interior and a casual atmosphere. Hashtag's founder and owner, Blackjack, previously competed and won second place in the Coffee Fest Latte Art World Championship in 2014; so you're bound to get intricate and Instagrammable designs whenever you order a hot latte. In addition to the large range of coffees and specialty drinks, Hashtag's menu also has light dishes like salads, croissants, wraps, as well as a choose-your-own-plate option.

If it's name wasn't a dead giveaway, G'Day Cafe is an Australian cafe in Sai Ying Pun that has a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere. Start your day off with their breakfast or brekkie options like the G'Day yoghurt bowl ($98) piled high with seasonal fruits, mixed nuts, and rolled oats; or the G'sanga ($162), a toastie made with pork collar, green apple slices, and eggs. Enjoy casual meals during the day with dishes like chilled octopus with pickled jalapeno ($138), French duck confit with eggs ($188), or G'Day's classic seafood platter ($688).

Additionally, G'Day offers all-you-can-eat menus on every Tuesday and Friday. On Tuesdays, guests can dig into a limitless Aussie BBQ ($268), which offers guests a platter full of ribs, charred wings, sausages, corn on the cob, potato salad, and duck fat fries; whereas on Friday diners are treated to a surf-and-turf feast with the unlimited Australian mussels and striploin steak. 

Sai Ying Pun is no stranger to having plenty of cool cafes in its neighbourhood, and Lattehatist certainly fits the bill. The cafe offers a range of beverages on their menu, and most of their drinks come with Insta-worthy latte art designs that range from cartoon characters to cute animals. If you’ve got a specific design in mind, just ask the barista and he’ll skillfully recreate it onto your drink! Dine inside to enjoy their cosy environment, or sit on their outdoor ledge to watch the trams go by as you sip away. 

Though it’s situated on a steep hill on Western Street, Coffeelin is well worth the climb. The shop is super photogenic, with teal-green as its main colour theme, from the storefront to the takeaway cups to the neon light logo. The coffee menu is rather small but it's all done well. Try the speciality coffee, like hand drip and cold brew. And don’t miss the excellent gelato selection. If you like both coffee and gelato, try the affogato. 

Sleep Well Eat More might be an odd name for a cafe, but their name is a message for their customers, who will sleep soundly after indulging in their food. With a strong emphasis on desserts, Sleep Well Eat More offers sweet treats like their Instagram famous cakes, Basque cheesecakes, and tri-colour taro balls served with a selection of traditional sweet soups. Aside from providing a variety of coffees using single origin Brazilian beans, the cafe also provides tea beverages for you to enjoy with your sweet treats.