Inspiration

We all have rituals. Things that we do everyday that we don’t need to think about. Things that have become a natural extension of ourselves, that we come to do almost mindlessly. One of those things for me is journaling. At the end of the day, the last thing I do before I go to sleep is reflect and catch up on what is coming in the day ahead. The second thing I do almost everyday (and the first thing I do each morning) is have a cup of coffee usually denoted by these cute coffee stickers by Mossery Co. For all the love I give to coffee on Script + Sea, I realized that I’ve never shared my favorite coffee joints in Hong Kong so without further ado, here are my top 5 coffee shops. These ratings are not in any particular order and are based on quality of coffee, ambiance, access to free wifi (since I often do work at cafes) and service. 

1. Fineprint - 14 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun

Photo courtesy of Fineprint

This is my default go-to for many reasons. I really like their coffee (flat white with oat milk is my usual but always in a to-go cup so it stays hot). Their service is great. They have good wifi and they never make you feel weird about staying for hours while nursing one cup. And, yes, being basic like I am, I love their regular avocado toast as much as I love denoting this meal in my journal with these cute avo toast stickers. Their freshly made sourdough, with the perfectly sliced avocado, lemon wedge and just the right amount of sea salt flakes brings me a lot of joy. So yes, I will pay the $85 to have this small indulgence in my life. Music ranges from 80’s - 90’s which is kind of my vibe right now. 

2. NOC Roastery - 321 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun

Photo courtesy of Time Out

I started going to NOC Roastery when it first opened. Waaaay before it became cool. When you could go at 10 am and still get a table to yourself. When there weren’t lines of people waiting for you to quickly eat your food and leave. I used to spend hours here, especially when we were just setting up Script + Sea and I needed a place to work that was outside of my home. Since the pandemic has started, they have put 2 hour time limits on every table and it’s gotten way too noisy for me to really be able to focus. That being said, I still really LOVE the Iced Matcha (with regular milk, not oat milk) and I have to say that their avocado toast is on par with being one of my favorites in the city. They use this spice on the top which is delicious (still not sure what it is) and they include a lemon wedge while their bread is a bit more thin. Overall, a very satisfying meal. My other favorite is their Buddha Bowl. It’s healthy and filling. 

3. Winston’s - Shop 4, G/F Rich Court, 213 Queen's Road West, Sai Ying Pun 

Photo of courtesy of Time Out 

I don’t really come to Winston’s to work but more as a place for a chill coffee (actually, I also LOVE their Iced Chai) and happy hour drinks. It draws the hipster crowd. The music is good, the crowd is not bad and the service is generally enthusiastic. I don’t necessarily rate the food but the ambiance is enjoyable. I love hanging out here and just writing my thoughts. The stickers that I've been using the most to theme these type of moments are by a small Taiwanese brand called Dimanche. Their print-on sticker sticker sheets have so many different drinks that I find myself looking for opportunities to use them. 

4. Ethos - ​​G/F, 93, 97, 99 Hill Road, Sai Wan, Hong Kong

Photo courtesy of Ethos

One of my favorite things about this cafe is the light. It makes the whole space feel relaxed, light and airy. I love sitting by the window and having a coffee while watching the people pass by. The neighborhood it’s located in is relatively quiet so it feels like a very peaceful place to work. To be really honest, I love this space for the space itself. The quality of the coffee to me is secondary in this case because I feel really happy when I’m here. It’s just a nice place to sit, read or write. The other thing that is a plus, is that they have a sister store right next door that sells lifestyle products but quirky brands you may not find elsewhere. Double win! 

5. Detour - G/F, Shop A, 35-37 First Street, Sai Ying Pun

Photo courtesy of The Loop HK

I really like Detour because it’s low key. It doesn’t feel as rammed as the other places and it’s easier to focus for the most part when I’m working. The coffee is good and the service is nice and I like that they have this outdoor table that you can get to yourself and work for ages. They also have a decent avocado toast (seeing a theme here? Ha!). Music can be eclectic which I find I quite enjoy. They also give you free wifi so it’s all good in the hood. 

Have you ever been to any of these? Agree with my reviews? Share your favorites with us!