15 cafes worth the trip across Hong Kong, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Hong Kong guides.
NOC Roastery ★ 4.5 · Hong Kong
sai-ying-pun · 321 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
NOC Roastery on Des Voeux Road West in Sai Ying Pun is NOC Coffee Co.'s flagship roasting cafe, with a long bench seat, an all day brunch menu and the visible Loring roaster at the back wall.
Tip: Sit at the long bench during the off peak 14:00 lull; the espresso single origins rotate every two weeks.
Lan Fong Yuen ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
central · 2 Gage Street, Central, Hong Kong
Lan Fong Yuen on Gage Street invented Hong Kong's silk stocking milk tea in 1952, brewing with Ceylon leaves through a fabric sleeve and serving it across a counter on Gage Street.
Tip: Order takeaway from the side hatch if the dine in line is more than 20 deep; closed Sundays.
Sing Heung Yuen ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
central · 2 Mee Lun Street, Central, Hong Kong
Sing Heung Yuen on Mee Lun Street is one of Hong Kong's last surviving dai pai dong, opened in 1957 and known for tomato beef macaroni and crispy condensed milk toast.
Tip: Saturday morning is the calmest window; weekday lunch lines run 40 minutes. Closed Sundays.
The Cupping Room ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
sheung-wan · Shop LG/F, 299 Queen's Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
The Cupping Room on Queen's Road Central in Sheung Wan is Hong Kong's most established independent specialty coffee operation, with carefully made filter and a brunch menu attached.
Tip: Order the V60 single origin off the chalkboard; the roastery on Po Hing Fong serves the latest seasonal lot.
% Arabica (Star Ferry) ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
tsim-sha-tsui · Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
% Arabica at the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry pier is the Kyoto coffee brand's harbour facing kiosk, plating the Kyoto Latte at a 17 square metre window onto the Victoria Harbour ferry deck.
Tip: The window is the photo shot; order the Kyoto Latte to go and ride the Star Ferry while it cools.
Winstons Coffee ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
sai-ying-pun · 213 Queen's Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Winstons Coffee on Queen's Road West in Sai Ying Pun is the British founded specialty shop reputed for one of Hong Kong's finest flat whites, opened in 2016 with a brunch menu and bar program.
Tip: Order a flat white plus the bacon and egg roll; afternoons turn into a small wine bar after 17:00.
Knockbox Coffee Company ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
mong-kok · 23 Hak Po Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Knockbox in Mong Kok is a roaster cafe from a two time Hong Kong Barista Champion, with weekly roasts from Panama, Ethiopia and Colombia poured across a long Kowloon counter since 2011.
Tip: The Stanley Street outpost in Central is quieter; the Mong Kok original is the bean nerd room.
The Cupping Room (Tai Kwun) ★ 4.4 · Hong Kong
central · 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
The Cupping Room inside Tai Kwun's heritage compound on Hollywood Road is the specialty roaster's flagship cafe, with single origin pour overs and the espresso bar in a former police canteen.
Tip: After your coffee, walk the heritage compound; the entry to Tai Kwun is right outside the cafe door.
Australia Dairy Company ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
yau-ma-tei · 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong
Australia Dairy Company on Parkes Street in Jordan opened in 1970 and is the city's most famous cha chaan teng for steamed milk pudding, scrambled eggs and the speed of its service.
Tip: Order at the door, sit fast, eat faster; staff turn tables in 12 minutes. Closed Thursdays.
Capital Cafe ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
wan-chai · 6 Heard Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Capital Cafe on Heard Street in Wan Chai opened in 2010 and runs a Cantopop themed cha chaan teng known for scrambled eggs that rival the Australia Dairy Co. counter.
Tip: The truffle scrambled eggs are a fan favourite; the standard scrambled is the better pick.
NOC Coffee Co. ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
sai-ying-pun · 321 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
NOC Coffee Co. on Gough Street in Central is a white walled flagship from a Hong Kong roaster that brews carefully selected Arabica with an in house roastery in Sai Ying Pun.
Tip: Ask for the espresso flight; the roastery in Sai Ying Pun is the bigger cafe if you want food.
Kam Wah Cafe ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
mong-kok · 45-47 Bute Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Kam Wah Cafe on Bute Street in Mong Kok has been baking pineapple buns since 1973 and is said to sell roughly 5,000 a day, served warm with a thick cold pat of butter.
Tip: Two pineapple buns are easier than one; the cha chaan teng menu beyond the buns is honest cha chaan teng.
Sei Yik Cha Chaan Teng ★ 4.3 · Hong Kong
stanley · 2 Stanley Market Road, Stanley, Hong Kong
Sei Yik in Stanley is a tiny seafront cha chaan teng plating French toast and stuffed pineapple bun on a strip of metal counter behind the market, with a queue out to the Stanley waterfront.
Tip: The peanut butter French toast is the order; takeaway and eat it on the seafront promenade.
Mido Cafe ★ 4.2 · Hong Kong
yau-ma-tei · 63 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
Mido Cafe on Temple Street is a 1950 cha chaan teng with original wood booths and a tiled mezzanine that has featured in films from Days of Being Wild to Suzie Wong.
Tip: Climb to the upstairs window seat for the Temple Street view; baked pork chop on rice is the order.
Tsui Wah Restaurant ★ 4.0 · Hong Kong
central · UG/F, Silver Fortune Plaza, 1 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tsui Wah's Wellington Street flagship reopened in 2025 after a five year hiatus, returning the cha chaan teng chain's local classics like soup noodles and Hainanese chicken to Central.
Tip: Order the crispy bun with condensed milk; no longer 24 hours after the relaunch, daily 07:00 to 22:00.