NOC Coffee Co is a cafe in Hong Kong that has branches with minimalist aesthetics, seeming like a calming sanctuary in the middle of busy cities. 

These branches are one of NOC’s biggest strengths. The company runs multiple locations all over Hong Kong, with their primary venue in Sai Ying Pun. 

We appreciate the ambience and look inside these cafes, as their use of sleek wood, white, and chrome decor makes them look modern and trendy without sacrificing the relaxing ambience. 

On our visit, it wasn’t too crowded. However, one of the people we talked to said they were regularly visiting NOC, and told us that it was common for the cafe to get packed, especially during rush hour.

Another thing we like about NOC is the actual coffee. The company uses in-house roasted coffee beans, making their coffee taste fresh and consistent whichever branch you visit. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NOC COFFEE CO. (@noccoffeeco)

The cafe’s food is also delicious. Still, they are served in smaller portions, which is slightly disappointing.

Regardless of the serving size, we appreciate NOC’s menu as it caters to many diets. With the cafe’s diverse menu, vegans and meat lovers can enjoy themselves without worry.

To get more insight, we talked to other customers and they praised NOC primarily for the taste of their coffee. They said they also enjoyed the food but found its taste to be inconsistent.

NINETYs is a company that operates many cafes in Hong Kong, with its very first store opening in Wan Chai in 2018. Since then, the company has opened a total of seven locations.

The company says they are inspired by Australian cafe culture, which celebrates diversity. As such, they try to embody it in their menu and their service.

One of the things we noticed immediately about the food NINETYs serves is its portion size. Albeit on the more expensive side, the meals and drinks they serve are delicious, filling, and fresh.

We also appreciate the diversity of their menu. Their brunch board alone, for example, allows you to choose among dozens of sides and pastries, offering you a lot of customisation to fit your tastes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by N I N E T Y s 🇭🇰 (@ninetyscoffee)

The coffee tasted great too. Aside from letting you choose your drink type like other cafes, NINETYs also allows you to choose which kind of coffee beans you would like to have on your coffee.

In addition, each NINETYs location offers a different menu, which is a plus.

During our visit, we talked to the cafe’s patrons to get more insight, and they praised NINETYs for its friendly, attentive staff, modern and relaxing ambience,  and high-quality coffee. 

However, most of them did lament the prices. Even if they said that the food and coffee’s quality and quantity made up for it, it’s worth noting, as it means you can’t easily order smaller morsels if that’s what you want. 

Winstons Coffee is a bar and cafe in Hong Kong that offers affordable food and drinks.

One of the things we like about Winstons is its highly diverse menu. It has a decent selection of food and drinks that you can purchase a la carte or as a combo with your coffee.

Winstons’ coffee is delicious and fresh. None of us could complain about our drinks after tasting them.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WINSTONS COFFEE (@winstonscoffee)

When night time comes, the cafe also becomes a bar that offers more snacks and drinks, which is great if you’re passing by on your way home after a long day.

Aside from the menu, we also like the cafe itself. It is small and comfortable, with plenty of outdoor seating. 

On our visit, the ambience, decor, and music combined made us feel as if we were somewhere else instead of in the middle of a busy city.

However, due to the size of the branches, it can get quite crowded quickly, which may give you a bad experience if you’re looking for somewhere peaceful to stay in for a long time.

Another thing we appreciate about Winstons is that they open early. The cafe opens at 7:00 AM daily and 2:00 AM on Fridays, which allows you to get your daily delicious and inexpensive shot of caffeine.

% Arabica is a cafe in Hong Kong that started in Japan in 2014. Due to its popularity, it now has branches all around Asia, with its Hong Kong location opening in 2017.

One of the things we like about % Arabica is its coffee. All of the coffee on their menu tastes fresh and delicious, as they are roasted in-house. 

According to regulars we interviewed, all of the coffee served by % Arabica tastes consistently good even on repeated visits. Many also praised the cafe for having good cold beverages, even if the menu items are expensive.

One of our favourites is the Spanish latte since it had the right amount of sweetness and smoothness to it. Other drinks were flavourful too, but not to the point of being overpowering.

One of the customers we talked to praised the cafe’s matcha latte, which they said tasted consistent and delicious without the leaves tasting too strong. We agreed after trying it.

However, you might get disappointed during your visit if you’re looking for snacks, as % Arabica only serves beverages. 

Please embed:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by % ΔRΔBICΔ Hong Kong (@arabica.hk)

We also appreciate the cafe’s venue, one of which is close to the entrance of IFC Mall. The cafe is extremely clean and chill, with a modern, minimalist vibe. 

Still, it’s a small cafe so you can expect long queues and a packed outlet on every visit, especially during rush hours.

It’s a good thing that they have over a dozen locations scattered throughout Hong Kong, as the others may not get as crowded.

Nevertheless, we got impressive service from the talented and friendly baristas that worked as fast and efficiently as they could to give everyone their orders.

Fineprint is a wine shop and cafe that opens earlier than other coffee shops in Hong Kong. Opening at 6:00 AM, the shop can help you get a headstart in the morning, which we like.

One of the things we enjoy about Fineprint is the venue itself. The cafe is accessible and has a 12-hour-long operation, which allows you to visit whenever convenient.

In addition, Fineprint also serves delicious coffee and a wide range of freshly made sweets and pastries, such as homemade toast and chocolate muffins, which are perfect for a quick breakfast. 

The coffee served in Fineprint is rich and velvety, and consistently delicious according to the regulars we talked to. Since the cafe also roasts its own coffee beans, you could taste the freshness in each cup you order.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FINEPRINT (@fineprint.hk)

However, it is worth noting that the cafe is small, so it can feel cramped at times. Still, it does not take away from the relaxing and calm ambience that the place offers.

We had the chance to talk to other Fineprint customers, and they praised the cafe’s friendly staff, the food they found to be consistently excellent, and the cleanliness of the venue.

Some of the people we interviewed also said that they liked the fact that Fineprint sells coffee beans, which allowed them to bring their favourite coffee home. 

Pedestrian Coffee is another cafe we love and can’t get enough of!

They’re a concept store that opened in 2021. This is a place which they hope to become an avenue for people to meet and become inspired.

Along with this hope, they provide coffee for those who pass by.

This cafe is a small coffee shop in Causeway Bay. They have limited seats, just about 5-6 but is a stylish place that has a great vibe for chilling.

Most of their menu includes black and white coffee, as well as teas. They have some food items, such as bagels which we think are delicious.

We think their coffee is good and they even have the cutest latte art!

We like the service here and their baristas are very friendly.

Do note that they’re closed on Tuesdays and they have limited operating hours compared to other cafes.

All in all, we love this place and it’s a place we think you’ll come back to if you get to try it!