Best cafes to work from in Hong Kong #2

I have discovered a few cafes that are excellent to work from since my last post and I cannot wait to share. I have no intention to push for content though, hence the delay of this post. I have also uploaded the wifi speed information onto workfrom and updated the foursquare list. It would appear that NomadList has incorporated the workfrom data into their site too.

11. Open door + courtyard cafe

120 Connaught Road West, Sai Wan
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 8pm
Friday: 8am – 5pm
Saturday-Sunday: 9am – 5pm
www.facebook.com/opendoorcafehk

Getting to opendoor is much easier now that Sai Ying Pun MTR station has came into service. Don’t be fooled by the narrow door front, open door is actually very spacious, they have about 30 well-spaced apart seats for optimal privacy and good amounts of power outlets . I have came across people having business meetings in their muralled courtyard too so the work culture is rich here. On top of that, they are probably the only cafe in Hong Kong that has gluten free pastas and breads available (for an additional $15). Opendoor is one of the many cafes that doubles as an art gallery, so definitely try to spare a minute to appreciate their displays.

12. Why 50

27 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan
Monday – Sunday: 7:30am – 7:30pm
www.facebook.com/Why50hk/

Why50 claims to sell the best coffee in Sheung Wan! And I second that for they have got a shiny Slayer machine and a talented barista/co-founder. Apart from great coffee, they also offer french herbal teas, homemade cookies (served with milk) and even gluten-free cake! The staffs were cheerful and friendly, and good vibes filled the air. They have quite a few power outlets on the wall for charging too. The only complaint I have was that their speakers’ bass is a little too strong. Great playlists though.

 

13. Little Break Coffee & Kitchen

104 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan
Tuesday – Friday: 11am – 9pm
Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 6pm
Closed on Mondays
www.facebook.com/littlebreakcoffeeandkitchen/

Little break is owned by two young university graduates and they surely follow the trends and likings amongst our generation. This small shop can accommodate around 30 people and is located just around the corner from the Cupping Room in Sheung Wan, you will recognise them by their colourful storefront. It is rarely full here but the space is closed so the noise level can build up when it gets crowded. I would love to try their entire food menu, but my pick has got to be the homemade cake and specialty coffee deal for $48!  P.S. The picture above is their flagship store in Lai Chi Kok, don’t forget to check them out too!

14. Peace Square

146-146A Tung Lo Wan Road, Tai Hang
Monday – Sunday: 8am – 12am
www.facebook.com/peacesquare/

Tai Hang is a food hotspot that is home to dozens of diverse, independent restaurants. I’m really delighted to have stumbled upon this cosy wifi cafe within the area. Peace Square has an extensive food menu and plenty of dessert choices, so it can get busy during meal times. Peace Square is a Christian-influenced cafe as far as I can tell by their decorations, and they also put their faith into action by sponsoring kids through World Vision with their income. There is a minimum order of one drink/food per person (with no price limit), but really, who wouldn’t want to try their rose latte?

15. Veygo Coffee

24 Swatow Street, Wan Chai
Monday – Friday: 8am – 9pm
Saturday: 9am – 9pm
Sunday: 9am – 7pm
www.facebook.com/veygocoffee/

As their kiwi logo suggests, Veygo is a New Zealand style cafe that aims to make you feel at home. Their Sheung Wan shop just closed down so only the Wan Chai shop is left. There is no flashy store front, and the all brown furnishing a little too modest, but the excellence of their food and service requires no embellishment. Veygo puts a lot of effort in their food and presentation, especially their latte art, the barista tried to draw my face last time! I would complain that their tables are small and placed too closely together, but considering they are never that busy, Veygo remains one that I would always feel welcomed to visit.

16. Jam 相惜

7-11 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai
Monday: 12pm – 7pm
Tuesday – Friday: 12pm – 9pm
Saturday – Sunday: 10:30am – 8pm
www.facebook.com/Jam.I.See.You/

Jam is a gallery-cum-cafe located in the heart of Wan Chai, they also rent their venue for concerts and events for free occasionally. Jam seeks to be a platform where like-minded people meet and share creative works and experiences. Similar to Empress Cafe across the road, Jam is opened till late and always have seats to offer past lunch hours. Their coffees come in cute aluminium mugs and has great flavour. Their tables are a little small for two 13″ laptops but they do have 4 seats at the bar table by the entrance.

17. Common Ground

19 Shing Wong Street
Monday, Wednesday – Sunday: 11am – 7pm
Closed on Tuesdays
www.facebook.com/pages/Common-Ground/125581330942271

Common Ground is not an unfamiliar name to us cafe dwellers. Not only is Common Ground famous for their coffee, they are also popular as a location for photoshoots because of the laid back and hipster atmosphere along those steps from Soho to Caine Road. Every corner of the shop is tactfully decorated to create an earthy, rustic feel. The fashion accessories created by the owners themselves also adds an authentic touch to the cafe. The outdoor terrace is a favourite spot to chill for many, you will find couples reading novels, entrepreneurs working on their balance sheets, the strong sense of community spirit has definitely convinced people to return. I could not think of anything short of Common Ground except their high popularity, they can be very busy on weekends but weekdays are generally fine.

18. Madera Café

23 Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, Shau Kei Wan
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 7pm
Friday – Sunday: 8am – 9:30pm
www.maderacafe.com.hk

Despite its location at the base of luxury apartment Le Riviera, Madera is actually just as down to earth and welcoming as its neighbours on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East. The warm decór in Madera accompanied by soothing background music and ample natural light creates a pleasant environment to work at. The stepped lounge seating is an unusual implementation that would please those who like to sit with their shoes off or perhaps with their legs crossed. Food at Madera is worth mentioning because they cooperate with many local companies like Happy Cow and Moonzen. Interesting fact: The abundance of sesame and cinnamon on their menu is due to Madera’s owner’s roots as a spice trader back in the 1930s.

19. My Little Coffee: Coffeehouse & Roasters

G/F Habour Crystal Centre, 100 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Monday – Sunday: 10:30am – 8:30pm
www.facebook.com/My-Little-Coffee-coffeehouse-roasters-370830866441743/

My Little Coffee started off as a bean importer and have an existing community presence in the coffee scene. They have received a lot of press attention recently as they are offering KONO drip coffee exclusively in Hong Kong. All of their food are homemade and often created from specially sourced ingredients like Fukuoka strawberries and Tasmanian cherries. Little Coffee is not exactly spacious, but they did fit in a communal table and a secluded corner with sofa chairs, offering about 25 seats indoors. I would say it is best to avoid meal times and weekends although it is not impossible to secure a seat.

20. Blue Place Cafe

93-95 Belcher Street, Kennedy Town
Monday – Sunday: 10am – 9pm
www.facebook.com/blueplacehk

Blue Place is disguised as sportswear shop on the outside, but their cafe is actually through the shop and up on the second floor. In heavy contrast to the shop front, the cafe is filled with rustic and nature elements. The greatest thing about Blue Place is that it is very spacious and quiet, you could stay undisturbed here all day. They also have a food menu catering mainly pastas and sandwiches and reviews have been good. However, one fatal drawback of this place is their router does not seem to be compatible with OS X devices, so if you are working on a Macbook, you might have trouble connecting to their wifi (It works fine on iOS).

Near Misses

Cafe Deadend – Busy even on weekdays, could be okay at off peak times

La Station – Lovely place with great coffee but very limited seats available

C.O.O. bakery and cafe – It was more like a restaurant with cutlery laid out on the table and wifi was not functional

Coffee Roastery Lab – Spacious on second floor but wifi does not work

Allegretto – Wifi times out every hour and was very slow

Teakha – Nice neighbourhood but too busy

 

Is your favourite café on the list? Let me know!