The best cafes and coffee shops to visit in Sheung Wan

Barista Jam is one of Jervois Street's cafe veterans – so you know they've got their coffee game down. Donning a sleek, black and grey industrial design, the two-storey venue also has a mini-museum upstairs where a collection of coffee-brewing tools, such as Japanese siphon, French press, hand grinder, AeroPress, and Moka pots are on display. Settle down and pair your brew with the cafe's signature avocado chicken sandwich, we promise you won't regret it.

Brewed has a large food menu that features breakfast and lunch options, desserts and pastries, as well as light bites. We recommend trying the black truffle farfalle with portobello mushrooms, Wagyu beef cheeseburger, or the tiger prawn tagliatelle. 

On the coffee front, their house blend is a combination of beans from Papua New Guinea and Uganda. Its rich and nutty aroma makes it a match made in heaven with any milk coffee. Those who prefer hand-brewed coffee can chat to their baristas, who are more than happy to recommend an assortment of beans from different regions for you to try.

Independent coffee chain Free D Coffee has opened its first location in Hong Kong Island, just a stone's throw away from Sheung Wan's MTR station. Drop by this takeaway joint on your way to work to grab one of their signature beverages, like coconut coffee with nata de coco bits, espresso tonic with cucumber and mint, and tofu pudding coffee.

This bright orange and white addition to Tai Ping Shan Street is hard to miss. A grab-and-go coffee joint with only a couple of seats inside the store, Espresso Remedy aims to provide, well, a remedy for anyone and everyone who drops by. Not only does the coffee shop offer single-origin coffee and cold brew teas, but there are also snacks available such as cookies, chicken wings, fries, and more. 

Named after the Japanese word for the five senses, Gokan Lounge is a cosy cafe that sources coffee beans from around the world to offer a myriad of coffee items, as well as Japanese teas, sakes, and specialty cocktails. You'll also find Japanese desserts on their menu, such as homemade dango and puddings. Gokan Lounge frequently holds coffee workshops and hosts guest bartenders at their venue, follow them on their Instagram to stay tuned to all their happenings. 

On your next visit to Tai Ping Shan Street, be sure to pop into Goose’ Chocolate, a cafe decorated with mid-century retro vibes. Like its name suggests, Goose’ Chocolate specialises in delightful creations such as single origin puddings, mousse, and hot chocolate, all of which feature Tanzanian cocoa that’s roasted in-house. Not a chocoholic? Don’t worry – they’ve also got savoury dishes like their Goose’ breakfast to keep you satisfied.

Gwee Coffee & More is quite possibly one of our favourite hangout spots in Sheung Wan. Hidden away along Tai Ping Shan Street, the cafe offers an excellent range of java and tea, but their cakes and seasonal drinks – which are as Instagrammable as they are delicious – are what attract the crowds. This cafe also shares a space with Tsukimi Bakery, which churns out delectable baked goods like cakes, tarts, bread rolls, and bagels that can be enjoyed alongside some quality brews.
 

This unassuming Sheung Wan cafe is easy to miss if you don't keep an eye out. Sitting quietly amongst dried seafood stores and other local old shops, Hara Kako breathes industrial-chic, with stripped walls, exposed pipes, and bare concrete giving the ground floor space an effortless style. Meanwhile, its first floor has a whole different vibe, where artworks, books, vinyl, and wooden furnishing fill up a cosy, dimly-lit space. You can easily spend a few hours of your day here sipping on some fine brews and enjoying bites such as their homemade brownies, cheesecakes, and bagels. 

Best known for serving its coffee in vintage porcelain cups – the takeaway paper cups also feature porcelain patterns – Halfway Coffee is a small joint tucked away near the antique shops along Upper Lascar Row. You can find all the classic coffee options here as well as a wide selection of teas. We recommend trying the Okinawa black sugar milk for something a little different. If not for the coffee, the Instagram ops should make this a worthy trip.

Hjem, pronounced yem, means 'home' in Norwegian and is a Nordic cafe in Sheung Wan near Man Mo Temple. The cafe offers everything from Nordic cuisine and healthy drinks to coffee and cocktails. The food is curated by Scandinavian chef, Jaakko Sorsa, and offers some Nordic favourites such as Smørrebrød, which are open-faced sandwiches, warm dishes including (step aside Ikea) meatballs, sweet dishes, cheese plates and smoked Nordic seafood. Hjem also plans to hold workshops and collaborations with local independent businesses in their modern space that seems to exude that hygge life.

Indigo Coffee is a great location for whiling away slow afternoons with your pooch. This pet-friendly spot serves bagel sandwiches with customisable fillings and various hot and cold coffees and teas, including their signature iced tiramisu latte and iced earl grey tea jelly latte. 

Kaffeine sits on Jervois Street, an area where the coffee competition is possibly one of the most intense in the city. What helps Kaffeine stand out from the pack is not only its quality coffee, but also its excellent fresh food – the internet-famous Grandma Scones are sold here. Customers scramble for the seats by the window, which is a great spot for people-watching.

Located on Hillier Street, Meanwhile Coffee offers two types of house blends – nutty or fruity flavour – in which the beans are roasted in Taiwan. In addition to serving up a variety of Italian coffee, the shop also makes specialty drinks such as infusion teas, hot or cold French chocolate and more. And if you're feeling peckish, Meanwhile also offers generous portions of dishes such as pasta and salads, sandwiches, all-day breakfast, and more.

Mixo is a cafe-yakitori bar located in the micro-neighbourhood of Tai Ping Shan. Along with pour-over coffee and an all-day brunch menu, they serve cocktails and draft beers. Catch their daily happy hour from 2pm to 10pm, and take advantage of their discounted cocktails on offer, including Aperol spritz, gimlet, Tom Collins, Martini, and G&T, priced at $68 a glass.

With an all-white façade and a bright yellow door, Mrs. H’s Coffee House isn’t hard to spot on Hollywood Road. This British-inspired cafe offers artisanal coffees and scrumptious pastries like butter croissants, pain au chocolat, ham and cheese lattices, and their holy chocolate chip cookie. This quaint cafe also presents a hidden speakeasy called The Holywell’s, located behind their venue. Customers can enjoy a selection of mains, digestifs, and dessert cocktails and mocktails, all of which are inspired by classic British dishes. 

Soul Fresh offers a myriad of drinks that range from coffees or hot and iced teas to refreshing smoothies. Their quaint space provides intimate seating indoors and outdoors. Sit down for fresh brews and pair your drinks with freshly baked French bread and dairy-free chiffon cakes, including their signature fluffy pandan cake.

Situated in the relatively tranquil neighbourhood of Po Hing Fong is this unassuming cafe. Minimalism is the trade here, in both coffee and decor – think concrete walls and clean wooden furnishings. You’ll find the usual suspects here, like your flat white and cappuccino, but also green tea lattes and shaken teas if you’re looking for something less intense. There are also daily cakes, doughnuts, and pastries to pick from to go with your coffee.

Ztoryhome combines a book store, exhibition area, and cafe under one roof. Customers can sit on the outdoor benches or stretch their legs while dining on the cafe's wooden platform seating area. This cafe provides savoury dishes like chilled soba with Okinawan Mozuku seaweed or duck leg noodles in a tangerine peel-infused broth; as well as a select range of sweets like white peach and rose jelly. Aside from serving quality coffees, Ztoryhome also provides customers with plenty of flavourful teas with health benefits such as detoxing or slimming.