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.
Address: 63 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, 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.
Signature drink: Iced lemon tea with tomato instant noodles
Tip: Saturday morning is the calmest window; weekday lunch lines run 40 minutes. Closed Sundays.
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.
Signature drink: Single origin filter coffee
Tip: Order the V60 single origin off the chalkboard; the roastery on Po Hing Fong serves the latest seasonal lot.
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.
Signature drink: Espresso single origin
Tip: Ask for the espresso flight; the roastery in Sai Ying Pun is the bigger cafe if you want food.
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.
Signature drink: Tsui Wah milk tea with crispy bun and condensed milk
Tip: Order the crispy bun with condensed milk; no longer 24 hours after the relaunch, daily 07:00 to 22:00.
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.
Signature drink: Pineapple bun with butter (bo lo yau)
Tip: Two pineapple buns are easier than one; the cha chaan teng menu beyond the buns is honest cha chaan teng.
% 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.
Signature drink: Kyoto Latte and pour over
Tip: The window is the photo shot; order the Kyoto Latte to go and ride the Star Ferry while it cools.
