Causeway Bay, located in the northern part of Hong Kong Island, is one of the city’s most bustling neighbourhoods, with a reputation as both a shopper’s and diner’s paradise.
After a few hours spent pounding the pavement and negotiating the crowds of Causeway Bay, a café pit stop is often much needed to rest your weary bones and take stock – along with a jolt of java and bite to eat at the ready. Check out Foodie’s guide to our favourite cafés in Causeway Bay, both invigorating and more peaceful.
The best cafés in Causeway Bay
1. Artista Perfetto
Artista Perfetto has been thriving in Causeway Bay since its debut in 2018, but it was actually founded in Taipei way back in 2012. This cosy corner café is definitely on the petite side, but its top-notch baristas and warm ambience make it stand out from the pack. The menu here is simple, straightforward, and priced reasonably, from the black coffee (HKD35) to the matcha latte (HKD45). The latte art here is pretty incredible too.
Artista Perfetto, Shop 2, G/F, 3A Sharp Street West, Causeway Bay
2. Layback Cafe & Bar
Layback’s stylish decor, with shelves displaying quirky vinyl covers a major design feature, is mirrored in the café’s Instagrammable drinks and plates. Dishes crafted with crabmeat are the go-tos here, the mentaiko soft-shell crab linguine (HKD158) and soft-shell crab avocado burger (HKD168) in particular. To drink, the banana bread matcha (HKD58) is a winner, whilst for dessert, it’s all about the pistachio Basque cheesecake (HKD78), ticking off two trends in one go.
Layback Cafe & Bar, Shop 1702–03, 17/F, Bartlock Centre, 3 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, 9275 8618, book here
3. The Alchemist Cafe
In addition to its Causeway Bay outpost, The Alchemist Cafe has achieved great success across Hong Kong, boasting a total of 12 locations across the city. The chain’s design is clean and comfy and the food and drinks consistent in quality and priced affordably. Come with a date or pal at the weekend and order from the holidays lunch menu, served till a leisurely 5:30PM. The healthy and hearty English brunch (HKD128) and vegetarian brunch (HKD128) plates are recommended.
The Alchemist Cafe, Shop 17, G/F, Fashion Walk, 11–19 Great George Street, Causeway Bay, 2950 9535
4. 18 Grams
The Causeway Bay branch of premium coffee roastery 18 Grams is the brand’s original, with each coffee bean utilised here ground to order. Its Cannon Street café is tiny, so we recommend going when it opens at 8AM to find a seat in which to savour the immaculate double espresso (HKD32) alongside a darn good bagel sandwich. Shout-out to 18 Grams for giving out free upgrades for plant-based milk alternatives.
18 Grams, Shop C, G/F, Hoi To Court, 15 Cannon Street, Causeway Bay, 9454 0353
5. RUSSELL
Located within spitting distance of Times Square, Causeway Bay café stalwart Cafe Corridor – in business since 2001 – was thankfully given a new lease of life when it was rebranded as RUSSELL in 2023. You’ll have to negotiate a narrow corridor to get to this café gem that is charming in its own chaotic way. The outdoor seating area is our preferred space in which to enjoy RUSSELL’s classic flat white (HKD42) or more off-piste tiramisu latte (HKD63).
RUSSELL, G/F, 26A Russell Street, Causeway Bay, 2892 2927
6. Mercury Recalls by Lost Stars
Mercury Recalls is an offshoot of former live music bar and restaurant Lost Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, continuing the hip vinyl-inspired theme at this Causeway Bay café and bar extension. This chilled spot offers a superb range of daytime drinks, from mocktails, to Mindful Sparks sparkling tea, to fresh juice blends. The weekday lunch and brunch set (from HKD88) is the way to go on the food front, inclusive of a green salad, soup of the day, and drink. The smoked salmon egg Benedict (HKD138) and deep-fried pork tenderloin burger (HKD108) are two of the most popular main course choices.
Mercury Recalls by Lost Stars, Shop A & C, G/F, Fairview Mansion, 51 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, 2416 7503, WhatsApp 6752 4389, book here
7. Urban Coffee Roaster
Urban Coffee Roaster, in business for over a decade, has four (soon to be five) cool cafés across Hong Kong, and the Fashion Walk shop is no exception. At the brand’s cosy Causeway Bay outlet, you can always count on a well-made cup of coffee, and the food menus are fresh, varied, and flavourful. This is a particularly good option for vegan and vegetarian café-goers, with the menus highlighting plant-based recommendations, from the uber-healthy vegan wholesome bowl (HKD118) with bean curd, quinoa, sweetcorn, cherry tomato, avocado, mushroom, and pumpkin to our all-time favourite comfort-food combo of grilled cheese sourdough with tomato bisque (HKD108).
Urban Coffee Roaster, Shop D, G/F, Fashion Walk, 9 Kingston Street, Causeway Bay, 3594 6569
8. Beyond Coffee & Bar
As its name suggests, Beyond Coffee is much more than a café offering quality cups of joe; it exists as a space for artists to display and sell their creations, with art exhibitions and cultural and charity events hosted regularly at this coffee shop run by an ex-tech bro with a knack for good customer service. The all-day breakfast (from HKD88) plates are delightful, as are the cafe’s unique signature coffee and tea drinks, such as the Earl Grey latte (HKD58) and plum sparkling coffee (HKD58).
Beyond Coffee & Bar, Shop 1, G/F, Redana Centre, 25 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, 6370 9328
9. The Berlin Service
You’ll feel like you’ve instantly travelled from Seoul to Hong Kong once you catch a glimpse of The Berlin Service, a hot-to-trot Korean-inspired newcomer to Causeway Bay. Its eye-catching interior design is industrial meets homey and is crying out for social media exposure. The doughnut-shaped, extra-foamy Berlin coffee (HKD58), aka donutccino, and iced Vienna coffee (HKD55), both rich and creamy, are coffee specials here, complemented by a range of light sweet and savoury bites.
The Berlin Service, Shop 5, G/F & 1/F, 51 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay
