Recommended Independent Coffee Shops in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's independent coffee shops are renowned for their unique cultural atmosphere and specialty coffee. Below is a carefully selected must-visit list for you:

1. Halfway Coffee

• Location: No. 12 Dong Street, Sheung Wan / No. 6 Shoyu Street, Mong Kok
• Features: Known for its retro style, it uses traditional Chinese tea cups for coffee, blending nostalgia with creativity. Try their hand-drip coffee and Hong Kong-style pineapple bun.
• Suitable for: Travelers who enjoy retro atmospheres and seek cultural experiences.

2. Tai Wo Tang

• Location: No. 24 Ya Chuen Wong Road, Kowloon City
• Features: Renovated from a century-old Chinese medicine shop, preserving old-style medicine cabinets and signs, featuring creative coffee and Western light meals. The signature "Yuan Yang Coffee" is worth trying.
• Suitable for: Tourists interested in historical buildings and cross-disciplinary designs.

3. NOC Coffee Co.

• Location: Multiple branches in Central, Causeway Bay, Sai Wan Ho, etc.
• Features: Minimalist industrial design, focusing on specialty coffee beans and healthy light food, offering professional Flat White and cold brew coffee.
• Advantage: Many branches, suitable for tourists with tight schedules.

4. Lof10

• Location: No. 18 Cha Koon Upper Street, Sheung Wan
• Features: A community coffee shop hidden in a small alley, specializing in Japanese hand-drip coffee and homemade desserts, small but cozy space.
• Tip: Avoid peak hours on weekends, ideal for quiet reading or working.

5. Alchemist Café (The Shepherd Boy Coffee·Tea·Wine Bar)

• Location: Branches in Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, etc.
• Features: A travel-themed coffee shop combining global-flavored coffee and creative dishes, often hosting art exhibitions and book clubs.

Recommended Independent Bookstores in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's independent bookstores are a paradise for literary enthusiasts. Here are some selected recommendations:

1. Eslite Bookstore

• Location: Floors 9-10, Hysan Place, Causeway Bay
• Features: Although from Taiwan, the Hong Kong branch integrates local culture, books covering Chinese and English literature, art, and design, with attached coffee areas and cultural salons.

2. Flow Books

• Location: No. 39 Hollywood Road, Central
• Features: Specializes in second-hand English books, particularly strong in literature, philosophy, and art, affordable prices, supports book exchanges.

3. ACO

• Location: No. 365 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
• Features: Combines bookstore, café, and art space, focuses on local independent publications and social issue books, regularly hosts lectures.

4. Books & Co.

• Location: No. 10 Pok Tao Street, Mid-levels
• Features: Hidden in a residential area, this European retro bookstore offers second-hand English books and hand-drip coffee, perfect for a quiet afternoon.

5. Kubrick

• Location: No. 3 Chung Fong Street, Yau Ma Tei
• Features: A theme bookstore combining movies and books, mainly selling art, movie, and culture books, adjacent to Broadway Cinema, ideal for cinephiles.

Practical Tips

1. Payment Methods: Most coffee shops and bookstores accept cash, Octopus, Alipay/WeChat Pay; some small shops only accept cash.
2. Business Hours: Independent stores usually open after 11:00 AM, check Google Maps or official websites in advance.
3. Transportation Suggestions: Central, Sheung Wan, Sham Shui Po are concentrated areas for independent shops, accessible via Island Line or by walking exploration.
4. Language Communication: Staff generally speak English, some bookstores offer English book guidance services.