Central is the beating heart of business life in Hong Kong. Sometimes we worker bees need a break from the monotony of run-of-the-mill life, and atmospheric cafés often provide the antidote, spots where we can enjoy a top-notch brew alongside a comforting pastry or brunchy plate.
When you’re in need of a café in Central to provide a jolt of java, spend an hour or two whiling away at your laptop, or rest your weary head, these are Foodie’s favourite coffee shops in Hong Kong’s central business district.
The best cafés in Central
Tozzo
We kick off our list with one of the newest cafés to hit Central, Tozzo. This sizeable spot housed within Tai Kwun’s JC Contemporary art gallery is co-founded by acclaimed Italian pastry chef Fabio Bardi, so it’s fitting that gelato (from HKD60) and maritozzo (from HKD40), Rome’s iconic cream-filled brioche bun, are this café’s sweet specialities. The all-day Italian-Japanese plates, such as the chicken and cabbage focaccia sandwich (HKD98) and butter, soy sauce, and mushroom linguine (HKD118), have been developed by chef Agustin Balbi of Michelin-starred Andō. On days when the humidity’s not sky-high, Tozzo’s outdoor terrace can’t be beat.
Tozzo, 2/F, JC Contemporary, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road (enter via Old Bailey Street), Central, WhatsApp 5729 7821
BARCODE
Relocated from Central’s hilly Glenealy, BARCODE today has a much more accessible and roomy location along the escalators. This café concept by Tell Camellia co-founder Gagan Gurung merges coffee, particularly espresso, during the day with signature dessert-inspired cocktails at night, staying open till 2AM on weekends. The food menu is short but sweet; we usually order the spicy chicken sando (HKD110), followed by the tiramisu (HKD110) with its lush runny chocolate centre.
BARCODE, UG/F, Cheung Fai Building, 45 Cochrane Street, Central, 5511 4049
Cookie DPT
You can get a lot more than scrumptious cookies at Cookie DPT’s bright and open Central café. On the sweet side, there’s the likes of salted caramel apple French toast (HKD70) and brownie sundae (HKD70) for a spot of afternoon indulgence, but we’re also huge fans of the chicken avocado sandwich (HKD98) and creamy kimchi pasta (HKD88) for a more savoury lunchtime touch. Cookie DPT serves up an all-day breakfast menu till 4:30PM too; favourites include the buttermilk pancakes (HKD55) and breakfast burrito (HKD68) plump with bacon, egg, cheese, and hash browns.
Cookie DPT, LG/F, FOCO, 48 Cochrane Street, Central
Café 8
We heart The Nesbitt Centre’s social enterprise Café 8 not only for its harbourfront rooftop space with plenty of outdoor seating, but also for its ethos of empowering the learning-disabled and neurodivergent staff, who are as charming as can be. For lunch, we’re partial to any of the savoury pies (HKD80), from Aussie meat, to chicken, to vegetarian curry, whilst come teatime, the afternoon tea set (HKD85) always calls our name, coming with a choice of cake slice (the blueberry cheesecake and toffee banoffee are our go-tos) and tea or coffee.
Café 8, Rooftop, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Pier 8, Central, 3791 2158
Cupping Room
In 2011, Cupping Room began its life as a home-grown coffee roastery with a sole café in Stanley, and it’s since expanded to more than a handful of cafés across Hong Kong. The lively Central branch offers great Hollywood Road people-watching from its first-floor windows and a crowd-pleasing food menu. Cupping Room’s egg Benedict (HKD128) with either smoked salmon, bacon, or sausage is a must, as are any of the pasta dishes, though we’re especially fond of the spicy pulled pork linguine (HKD128) for a bit of heat. The café’s unique French toast pancake (from HKD118) hybrid has also garnered praise.
Cupping Room, 1/F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road, Central, 5523 3988
FINEPRINT (Exchange Square)
FINEPRINT’s OG location is on Central’s Peel Street, but we prefer the vibe of the much more spacious Exchange Square branch. The café’s sourdough selection is perfection, with the avo toast (HKD95) and ricotta toast (HKD95) gilded with blueberries, honey, and thyme the most sought after of the Aussie-style toast lot. The sourdough toasties are a whole other matter altogether, of which the newly introduced mac & cheese (HKD80) rocks our carby world.
FINEPRINT, 1/F, Three Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, 5508 3503
Elephant Grounds
Another beloved independent local coffee chain, Elephant Grounds’ cafés have been going strong since 2013, both in Hong Kong and as far afield as China and the Philippines. Located close to Mid-Levels, the Central shop is chilled and stylish. Popular Elephant Grounds signatures include the B.E.L.T. (HKD100), a moreish milk-bread take on a BLT with the inclusion of a fried egg, and a Japanese-inspired fish fillet sando (HKD110) with wasabi mayo, furikake mayo, and shredded cabbage. There’s a wide range of healthy brekkie and brunch options too, such as a killer morning cereal (HKD65) starring the founders’ homemade granola.
Elephant Grounds, G/F, 73 Caine Road, Central, 2535 7155
Urban Coffee Roaster
Hong Kong brand Urban Coffee Roaster has also been in business for over a decade. The chain is notable for showcasing a range of coffee-infused alcoholic creations, such as the red velvet Irish coffee (HKD118) and soufflé mokka martini (HKD98), in addition to its quality coffee drinks. At the brand’s clean and minimalistic Central branch, the à-la-carte food menu is fresh, varied, and flavourful. The all-up-to-you breakfast (from HKD63) is a quirky DIY option where diners select a minimum of four items from a long list of options. The vegan and vegetarian section is another menu standout that features our all-time favourite comfort-food combo of grilled cheese sourdough with tomato bisque (HKD88).
Urban Coffee Roaster, UG/F & 1/F, C Wisdom Centre, 35 & 37 Hollywood Road, Central, 3568 6049
Filters Lane
Founded in 2012, Filters Lane is a cosy little spot on the Graham Street slope that’s ideal for a quiet tête-à-tête. Interestingly, the café has proved to be extremely popular with Koreans, especially at the weekend. The café’s nutty, smooth latte (HKD44) is impeccable, whilst the oat banana smoothies (HKD68) are non-coffee drinks that we rate here. On the food front, the salad option is our pick, priced at HKD88 for two toppings and HKD98 for three toppings; the base includes seasonal leaves, kale, pomegranate, and olive oil, and yuzu, tahini, and sweet mango chutney are the dressing options that seal the green deal.
Filters Lane, G/F, 34 Graham Street, Central, WhatsApp 6135 9331
Coffeelin
It tends to be the home-grown cafés that appeal the most to us, and that’s definitely also the case with Coffeelin. The café’s vibe channels authentic Milanese coffee culture in both its classic decor and Italian-inspired menus. Coffeelin’s Central branch is tucked away on the first floor of LHT Tower, providing a welcoming respite from the frenzy of Queen’s Road Central below. It’s a lovely spot for a leisurely lunch in particular; the set lunch (from HKD128) comes with soup or salad to start and includes a pasta or risotto main course like tagliatelle with beef ragù or Milanese risotto with roasted pork. For breakfast, go for the Parma ham, ricotta, and pesto crostini (HKD88) with an espresso macchiato (HKD38) chaser.
Coffeelin, Shop 2, 1/F, LHT Tower, 31 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 6896 2191
Blue Bottle Coffee (Lyndhurst Terrace)
There’s another Central outpost of Cali-cool Blue Bottle Coffee over at ifc mall, but the two-storey shop on Lyndhurst Terrace, sat right next to the escalators, is much more roomy and inviting; we normally head to the first floor for the best views. Blue Bottle is known for brewing up freshly roasted coffee sourced from the world’s finest sustainable coffee farms, so you can’t go wrong with any of the café’s espresso drinks (from HKD36) and drip coffee (from HKD52). When it comes to iced coffee, the New Orleans style (HKD50/HKD60) is our choice, a rich and earthy blend of cold-brewed chicory coffee, milk, and organic cane sugar. A crispy and caramelised Liège waffle (HKD48) on the side is de rigueur.
Blue Bottle Coffee, G/F & 1/F, 38 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, 9850 3107
