The 33 best cafes and coffee shops to visit in Kowloon

This boutique cafe is located in the heart of Yau Ma Tei on Temple Street. Named after tea made from the dried skin of coffee cherries, this cafe has a raw industrial atmosphere with its large grey cement exterior walls, along with wooden benches made by local workshop HK TimberBank. Casara's house blend, which consists of Brazilian, Colombian, and Indonesian coffee beans,has a balanced taste as well as notes of dark chocolate. The cafe also offers various hand drip coffees but you're more than welcome to ask Casara's baristas for recommendations. When it comes to their food items, Cascara offers homemade bagels and toasts, which can be topped with Parma ham and cheese, avocado, or avocado and smoked salmon. As for desserts, the cafe offers pastries like dark chocolate mousse cake, black forest cake, and lemon tarts. 

Kyoto-based specialty cafe Kurasu opened their first location in Tsim Sha Tsui. Meaning ‘to live’ in Japanese, Kurasu is eager to share Kyoto’s coffee culture with their customers in Hong Kong and the rest of the world. Each week, the cafe imports roasted coffee beans from their flagship store in Kyoto to ensure the best quality of coffee is served to their customers, and to recreate the same flavours from their flagship location. To further enhance the coffee experience, Kurasu allows customers to choose if they would like their coffees hand-dripped or cold-brewed. Pair your brew with Hong Kong exclusive pastries like caramel pudding with vanilla ice cream, hojicha Basque cheesecake, or crème brûlée puff.

Popular Incheon-based cafe, Sips;;lban, opened its first location at Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui. This Korean cafe is well known for their cakes and bingsu (Korean shaved ice), but their menu also offers a variety of savoury dishes. Be sure to try the tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) with octopus in Korean rose sauce, which has the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, along with bouncy and tender rice cakes and whole baby octopuses. As for desserts, try Sips;;Ilban’s signature sweet corn cake, which comes with a variety of toppings like cookie crumbles, corn flavoured sauce, and roasted corn. Alternatively, the Earl Grey croffle comes with a smooth Earl Grey infused pudding, ice cream, Earl Grey flavoured sauce, and mochi, making for a very filling dessert

Sitting inside an old local shopping arcade built in the 80s, Hap Coffee is a relaxing cafe designed for city dwellers who need a break from their daily grind. Welcoming the neighbourhood with an open coffee bar and gallery in a bright and stylish space, the cafe offers an array of baked goods such as cookies, affogatos, croffles with ice cream, and heartier dishes ranging from all-day-breakfast to pasta and salad to spicy Korean noodles. On the drinks menu are classic brews like latte, flat white, americano, and Espresso; along with a selection of other non-coffee items including teas, and fresh juices. 

Taking its name from the Latin word 'create', the newly opened cafe Creo by Brentwood in Kowloon Bay promotes sustainability and spotlights products from local suppliers. The wood-themed cafe offers Instagrammable treats, and artisan coffee served in wooden coasters – made by HK Timberbank – cups, mugs, and tableware made by boutique ceramics studio Lai Chan Kee. You'll even find a handprint mural in the venue made by artist Zoie Lam, also known as Zlism. 

Expect freshly brewed coffee using beans from local specialty roaster Redback Coffee, bread and pastries from local bakeries Miam and Alive Eatery by Alive Food, which specialises in artisanal fermented food. Those looking for light meals can order an acai bowl, avocado, egg sourdough toast, and pesto pasta. Signature desserts exclusively available at the Kowloon Bay will include crystal strawberry cake roll, torched corn rare cheesecake, and Ovaltine lava tart with marshmallow oasis.

Just when you thought Sham Shui Po couldn't possibly make space for yet another cafe, Fonji Cafe opens with a moody, vintage aesthetic much like a kissaten, a Japanese-style tearoom. Light bites and cakes are served here, and we give extra points for all the cat-themed decor dotted all around the space! If you decide to visit, or even just to take a pic by the shopfront, be prepared to wait in line.

Bringing together elements of old and new in the hipster neighbourhood of Sham Shui Po, Whatever Coffee is a multi-purpose cafe that aims to change up your ordinary coffee experience through fun and exciting exhibitions every month. In the past, the cafe has showcased creative works by local art and design company No Paper Studio, renowned calligraphy master Au Yeung Cheong, and even Hong Kong's famous Plumber King himself.

Yukkuri is a far cry from your usual Instagram-driven coffee joints in Hong Kong. From its vintage oak front door – salvaged from an old French village – to the collection of fascinating antiques neatly displayed on wooden tables and shelves, walking into Yukkuri feels as though you’re stepping into a museum. There are old books from the Edo period, a kerosene lamp from the Taishō period, handmade tableware by Japanese ceramist Tatsuma Segawa, and many more handicrafts and antiques gathered under one roof. Must-try items at Yukkuri include the Yukkuri red bean toast, which uses Japanese red beans and a light and sweet brioche cream bun. For drinks, try the iced hojicha black sesame latte or the iced genmai matcha latte.

Set inside a laidback industrial space, you will want to leave your 9 to 5 stress behind for this one. In a city where space is rare, Out Of Office feels exceptionally roomy thanks to the high ceilings and abundance of natural light from the vast open front. For a lazy weekend brunch, order the classic shakshuka and baked Dutch pancake served in a sizzling skillet — plus the deep-fried ice cream if you’re feeling extra indulgent. The house blend here is a mix of Brazilian, Ethiopian, and Yunnan java; while the 'Orange is the new black' iced black coffee is infused with orange and passionfruit for a refreshing citrus take.

If you've ever been to Halfway Coffee in Sheung Wan, then walking into their Mong Kok store will immediately remind you of the cafe's signature old-meets-new aesthetic – distressed concrete walls with industrial art, a display of dangling plants, minimalist light wooden tables, and a hodgepodge of mismatched stools. The place emanates a lot of old charm, and in no way is this more pronounced than in the vintage porcelain cups used for their drinks. Even their takeaway paper cups come with porcelain prints.

Located on the ground floor of an 80-year-old pre-war tenement building on Nam Kok Road, Nan Kok took over the place of a time-honoured hardware store. The shop's rustic interior features a blended design of the building's old fixtures, like the old Tonghua iron gate and wooden pavilion, combined with a modern minimalist earthy decor. The cafe offers products with influences from neighbouring shops. Expect white sauces made with beancurd from decades-old Yee Heung Bean Product Company and Thai products like coconut milk, coconut ice cream, and other house blend espresso with Thai flavours. 

A must-visit for whisky buffs. This cool new cafe in Prince Edward turns into a whisky den at night. Enjoy hand drip coffee brews or a double ristretto – highly concentrated espresso coffee – in the morning and sip on drams of whisky once the bar opens at night. The whisky bar is run by online liquor retailer Malt Cask, so expect over a hundred bottles of independently bottled whiskies (That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Duncan Taylor, Douglas Laing, and many more) limited-edition releases, and brands that will tickle any whisky enthusiast. The cafe-slash-bar doesn't provide much food on the menu aside from the regular homemade mystery cake that changes depending on what is available for the day.  

Paying tribute to old Hong Kong, Cofflow brings the past to the present through exquisite coffee and old-school aesthetics. Occupying what was once a fabric retailer, the shop has kept the former space's original ceramic tiles by the stairs and added elements such as a vintage steel shop gate, black and white floor tiles, and dark wooden fixtures to match. Sip on their signature raw honey latte, made using honey sourced from local bee farm Hong Kong Raw Honey, or try their classic blend of locally roasted beans sourced from Guatemala and Ethiopia. Beautiful photographs of different iconic locations in Hong Kong can also be found by the staircase as well as on the upper floor.

If you're all about rustic, industrial designs, Dozy is the place to be. Though the venue is relatively small, its high ceiling and open space setting will definitely have you fooled. There is also adequate space, along with different varieties of botanicals between each seat, for customers to enjoy as much privacy as possible – so feel free to strike your best pose against the greenery. The cafe currently serves up coffee with a nutty blend and a strong, smoky flavour, as well as small treats such as cakes and sandwiches.

Situated on the roof of 618 Shanghai Street, Poach is a spacious cafe that has a comfortable environment, with outdoor seats and natural lighting as an option. Most people go for the Poach Bento set, a Japanese style set meal featuring a bowl of soup and three side dishes. If you have a sweet tooth, consider the earl grey pancakes, and perhaps a cup of coffee to go with it.

Sitting quietly along Fuk Wing Street in Cheung Sha Wan, this aptly named cafe is a standout from its quiet residential surroundings. There are a number of popular items on the menu, but our favourites by far are the crab roe squid ink linguini and charcoal beef burger with fried avocado wedges. Remember to save room for dessert though, as the house espresso blend affogato pudding and glutinous rice waffle with homemade ice lolly are insanely drool-worthy (and Instagrammable). Apart from amazing food, Contrast is also an exhibition space where the owner hopes to showcase and host different exhibitions and events over time.

This small coffee house is not easy to find, but it’s definitely worth mapping out. With a focus on sustainability, the coffee makers would travel across the world to visit farmers and producers in order to ensure the quality of their coffee. Make sure to try their Honeycomb signature blend or one of their single-origin beans from Ethiopia, Bolivia, Panama, or Brazil. They also bake a pretty mean scone too!

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.

Situated in the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hooman By The Sea is a pet-friendly cafe where you can enjoy an incredible sea view while feasting on hot dogs punnily named after different pooches, like the poodle, corgi, and Chihuahua. Pets can freely roam around in and out of the cafe. An evening out with your furry friend along with coffee and a sunset view? Sounds like a plan.

Find freshly roasted beans, coffee tools, light meals, and fragrant single-origin coffees at this quaint yet spacious coffee house. Not only do they regularly roast their own coffee beans, but they also have pour-overs, ice drip, and cold brew options alongside alternative kinds of milk such as oat milk and soymilk. You can take some time off and enjoy a nice bagel in their outdoor seating area too.

Hidden away inside JCCAC in Shek Kip Mei, Café Golden is a hipster heaven. You can enjoy a cuppa surrounded by an eclectic collection of antiques, vintage décor, and furnishings. The coffee selection is not too shabby either, offering customers everything from hand drip and espresso of all kinds to siphon brews and innovative brews like the Fujisan Oat milk.

Injecting new energy into the historic neighbourhood around Kowloon City, this cosy nook offers a great array of well-brewed java including the signature house blend, a mix of Brazilian and Costa Rican beans (the origin of their beans are seasonal, and they usually roast their own beans). Rings also does great cheese milk-covered drinks, a smashing all-day breakfast and that hipster favourite, avocado toast. 

Loop Kulture is an eco-friendly cafe with a focus on sustainability and upcycling culture. Joining the forever-expanding cafe scene in Sham Shui Po, Loop Kulture occupies a two-storey space decked out in wooden furnishing and a vast array of greenhouse plants. The cafe mainly serves specialty coffee and healthy light meals, but you can also get your hands on unpackaged food products which encourage customers to bring their own containers (paper bags can be provided otherwise). By providing a place for relaxation and rejuvenation, the owner of Loop Kulture hopes that the space can drive awareness of environmental conservation to visitors and help them build a new conscious and sustainable lifestyle.

Created by the same people behind cult coffee bar Omotesando Koffee, Tokyo's coffee bean specialists Koffee Mameya aims to elevate coffee culture in Hong Kong with a focus on the world's finest coffee beans and roasters. Offering an exceptional range that is roasted to differing degrees, including the finest geisha coffee beans (one of the most exclusive coffees in the world from Panama), along with other rare micro-lot coffees, coffee lovers can taste anywhere from 15 to 20 curated coffees from around the world, before purchasing the beans they want to take home.

HeySoNuts has been one of To Kwa Wan’s best-loved eateries thanks to its speciality coffee, Western cuisine, and contemporary French desserts. Due to the popularity of HeySoNuts, the masterminds behind it have also set up the retro WoZi Cafe in San Po Kong that's also well worth a visit.

A Stanley Kubrick-inspired cafe neighbouring local arthouse cinema Broadway Cinemathèque, here is where you can find a multilingual selection of books and magazines with topics ranging from the history of cinema to Russian folk tales. A popular meeting spot for bookworms and cinephiles alike, this is the ideal spot to relax and lose yourself between the pages.

From their colourful drinks and mirror tables to the bare concrete walls and minimal aesthetic, Milk Bar is practically made for Instagram. ‘Croffles’, a combination of a croissant and waffle, is the name of the game here with a selection of sweet and savoury options. A handful of special Milk Bar drinks are also available.

Studio Caffeine takes their coffee very seriously in which they stock beans from roasters all over the world from Sweden and Berlin to Helsinki and San Francisco. The coffee here isn’t just a one-word order. After picking your single-origin coffee, you can also choose between three brewing methods: pourover, syphon, and ice drip. We recommend going for the pourover as Studio Caffeine’s recipe has previously won awards. Drop by on weekdays, as you can get a free drink alongside your meal. A tea lover as well? Studio Caffeine’s premium Chinese teas come in a DIY tea-press with a range of health benefits.   

Opened in the 1930s, Tai Wo Tang was once a famous traditional Chinese medicine shop. The space has now been converted into a cafe and casual eatery, with most of the original furnishings and decor – including its iconic gold signage – still intact. Located on the ground floor of a tong lau, the cafe flaunts an old-school apothecary aesthetic, complete with shelves of glass jars, wooden medicine cabinets, and a rickety ceiling fan.

Head here for the Tai Wo Tang latte, signature vitality tea, as well as their innovative takes on local bites such as the Tai Wo Tang pineapple bun with foie gras, churros with Ovaltine ice cream, and Chicken and Egg, a combination of eggettes, fried chicken, and ginger syrup.

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. 

Until Coffee takes on a true minimal aesthetic by giving you white-on-white action from the walls to the floors and everything in between (their menus are transparent!). Though not the most ideal place for clumsy drinkers, Until Coffee allows coffee connoisseurs to enjoy their sips with no distractions and focus purely on what’s in the cup. The cafe only seats around six people and, with the recent hype on Instagram about this place, it gets packed quite quickly. So, if you’re keen on paying a visit, we recommend going there early in the day.

Must-try: Hand-whisked iced matcha latte

A visit to Fullcup, or “breath” in Cantonese, will bring you back in time to Hong Kong in the 70s and 80s. The cafe has taken over the space previously occupied by Pak Kung Cafe, a local bing sutt founded in the 1950s, and kept parts of the original interior intact. A true retro-inspired oasis, this place is filled with eclectic knick-knacks from the past such as a red colonial postbox, stained glass windows, and antique toys from the owner’s own archive. Try the signature Japanese-style set combos featuring grilled Kinjo beef from Ishigaki; mochi waffles with chenpi (sun-dried tangerine peel) and mixed berries ice cream; and the special coffee drinks named after the different planets, such as the Venus Rose Latte and Mars Dirty Coffee.

This Yau Ma Tei cafe is – just like its name suggests – not just about coffee. The food menu boasts a stellar lineup of Japanese and western cuisine, as well as a selection of coffee from multiple origins including Brazil, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Indonesia. As for the interiors, it’s your standard recipe for an aesthetically pleasing joint – bare concrete, wooden fixtures, botanicals, the whole lot. Fair warning, we recommend heading to the cafe early in the day as a queue tends to build up as soon as it hits noon.