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Me & My Backpack

Me & My Backpack

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Coffee Shops & Afternoon Tea in Hong Kong

May 14, 2014 in Asia, China, Destinations

When my family & I are in HK, we find ourselves stopping for coffee and dessert every chance we get.  Every time we travel to HK, there’s bound to be a new list of coffee shops and restaurants to try out.  Here’s a list of cafés we tried during the 4 days I was there:

Coffee Academics :  My family & I met up for an afternoon snack at this trendy café (38 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, 852.2156.0313), which is run by the same group as Caffé Habitu.  We were in desperate need of some good coffee.  With high ceilings and exposed brick, the place had a very urban loft feel, so I was excited.  Unfortunately, the drinks did not impress & the service was even worse.  The servers were extremely slow and couldn’t keep any of the orders straight.  It’s a shame because the place itself looked very trendy and I really wanted to like it.

Café Gray :  Very swanky place & the ideal spot for a fancy night out (8 Queensway, Level 49, The Upper House).  Great view of HK skyline, yummy drinks, and quiet enough to enjoy great conversation. 

Flat White @ Cafe Corridor

Café Corridor :  Literally down a corridor, this little café has a cozy hipster vibe.  My family & I enjoyed their breakfast & coffees.  It is a nice place for a break in the hectic Times Square area (26A Russell St, Causeway Bay).  Their flat white was pretty good, and so were the sandwiches and full breakfasts that we ordered.  If I had more time, I would have gone back to curl up with a good book.

 

 

Le Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon :  Nice place to rest up after some serious shopping at IFC.  They serve high tea sets and other snacks/food, along with a long list of drinks.  I ordered their chocolate croissant and it didn’t quite live up to Paris standards.  Despite that, it’s still a good choice for afternoon tea.

Pomme : Saving the best for last (11-13 Luard Road, Wan Chai, 852.2527.9933) 😉  In full disclosure, the owner/head pastry chef, Tracy Chow, is also my cousin.  However, don’t let that discount the fact that she is a very talented pastry chef.  Having received her diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, she also trained in France and Japan before she opened up her own french-inspired café in Wan Chai.  And ever since then, my family and I have spent most of our afternoons in HK trying everything on the menu.  My personal favourites are the chestnut cake & the hazelnut chocolate tart.  This is a great little place to catch up with an old friend, or to just catch up on some reading.

Latte & Hazelnut Chocolate Tart @ Pomme

Latte & Hazelnut Chocolate Tart @ Pomme

Special Easter Cupcake @  Pomme

Special Easter Cupcake @ Pomme

 

Tags: Cafe, Cake, coffee, Hong Kong, Pastry, Tea
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4 Days in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

April 10, 2014 in Asia, China, Destinations

As a part of our 3-week trip to Asia, Kevin and I made a stop in Hong Kong to visit family before continuing to Vietnam.  With its population density being one of the highest in the world, Hong Kong can be quite overwhelming for first-time visitors.  The lifestyle there is very different from what we’re used to in North America – everything is faster & fancier.  As much as I normally travel on a fairly tight budget, I let myself loose here and splurge.

Hotel: We stayed at Butterfly on Morrison.  It’s a modern boutique-style hotel right in Causeway Bay (8-10min walk from Causeway Bay MTR).  At just over $150/night, I felt it was pretty reasonable for the location as well as the quality.  The room itself was comfy enough.  Our only issue was that someone left one of the windows open throughout our entire stay.  We had no idea why we were violently woken up by the sound of traffic every morning, and our room was super humid (even with air conditioning).  We only realized this just before we were checking out!

The minute I land in HK international, I notice myself adapting and falling into step with the locals; walking at double my normal speed.  But don’t let that deter you.  I just spent 4 days chilling out at various cafés throughout the city.  There are ways to escape the chaos, & I choose to do it over some caffeine and sugar  🙂

Shopping :  One of the questions I get asked a lot by friends/acquaintances is where to shop in HK.  This topic warrants an entire post, but here is a quick reference guide to shopping in Causeway Bay.

  1. Island Beverley – Independent designers, unique finds – 1 Great George St, Causeway Bay MTR Exit D, across from SOGO 
  2. Apple Mall – Designer clothing at a fraction of the cost (Note:  if you are lucky enough to find a great piece, you will notice that the designer labels are cut) – B/F, 15 Hysan Ave, Causeway Bay MTR Exit A 
  3. Laforet Excelsior Plaza – A younger & cheaper version of Island Beverley – 24-26 East Point Rd, Causeway Bay MTR Exit D, very close to SOGO & Island Beverley
  4. WTC more – 280 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay MTR Exit D1
  5. SOGO Department Store – A fun place to visit with many floors, each one categorized; My favourite is the grocery store on the lower level – 555 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Direct MTR access
  6. Times Square – Another must-visit, with a mix of high-end and mid-end shops – 1 Matheson St, Causeway Bay, Direct MTR access
  7. Lee Gardens – High-end designer shops – 33 Hysan Ave, Causeway Bay MTR Exit F

Tags: Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Hotel, Malls, Shopping
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