Best cafes for remote work in Ho Chi Minh City
May 28, 2024
Afternoon pedestrians in front of a “Ding Ding” tram in Sheung Wan.
Hong Kong is one of the best cities in the world to enjoy a busy, cosmopolitan lifestyle. Whether you’re on Hong Kong island or the Kowloon mainland, you’ll see dense populations of buildings, people, and commercial activity. As for The New Territories (the 3rd main part of Hong Kong), you’ll find more parks, wetlands, and mountains.
As a digital nomad, I am always looking for the best cafes to do remote work. Hong Kong, given its fast-paced and commercially-oriented culture, may not have many cafes that you can sit in for lengthy stretches of the day. There are plenty of these types of cafes in Vietnam and South Korea.
Fear not, cafes in Hong Kong are still remote work friendly. Especially in districts like Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan and Tsim Sha Tsui, you will find independent, artisan cafes that have charisma and community. They are better for shorter bursts of digital nomad work. Just as you take your last sip of that iced coffee, shut your laptop and go out to enjoy all the other activities the vibrant city has to offer.
If you’d like more recommendations for Hong Kong, message me on Instagram. Alternatively, we can book a meeting.
Cafe and bar list
Pause It (Mong Kok)
Shop G11, 17 Nelson St, Mong Kok
This was the cafe I spent the most time in during my February-March trip in Hong Kong. Pause It is light-filled and great for both coffee and food. I loved their risottos and tea selection, and felt hungry seeing other tables enjoying artisan burgers and pastas.
See the Google Map link to “Pause It” in Mong Kok here. It’s next to The Forest shopping centre in the busy shopping district of Mong Kok.
NOC Coffee Co (Sai Ying Pun)
Branches around Hong Kong
Nicknamed the Apple Store of cafes, NOC Coffee Co exudes confidence and style in their branding. They have coffee shops on Hong Kong island and Kowloon, including in the areas of Tsuen Wan, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tseung Kwan O, and even as far as Yuen Long.
I visited the NOC (which stands for Not Only Coffee) in the trendy district of Sai Ying Pun. The ambience is great for a couple of hours of remote work, after which I started to feel a bit guilty for not ordering anything extra. The menu is pricey but it makes sense considering the premium quality.
See the Google Map link to the “NOC Coffee” venue in Sai Ying Pun here.
Terrible Baby (Eaton HK hotel, Jordan)
4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Rd, Jordan
In contrast to the suggestion of its name, Terrible Baby is quite fantastic. Housed in Eaton HK, a landmark hotel in Kowloon, this bar serves food, drinks and DJ-powered music. At night time, you can also order shisha.
The two times I visited during early afternoons, Terrible Baby had a relaxed vibe. Under its soaring columns and striking interior design, I ordered a tea and eased through a few hours of work. The surrounding is lovely, with plush seating inside as well as in the outdoor area.
See the Google Map link to “Terrible Baby” in Eaton HK hotel (Jordan) here.
BUFF (Sham Shui Po)
Sham Shui Po, Maple St, 5A號界限街10H號地下地下及
BUFF is perfect in a cafe-hop itinerary. You wouldn’t spend hours in it, but it’s charming and cozy for a catch-up with a friend. There are basque cheesecakes and a food menu with items including pasta, waffles and curries. It’s also in the historic district of Sham Shui Po, where you can see shopping plazas and restaurants reminiscent of old-style Hong Kong.
See the Google Map link to “BUFF” (Sham Shui Po) here.
Harakako (Sheung Wan)
Shop B, Hollywood Centre, 77-91 Queen’s Rd W, Sheung Wan
There is a downstairs and upstairs area for Harakako. Upstairs, you can get comfortable reading a book while sitting down in a unique, home-style setting. Downstairs, the industrial decor and wooden finishes add a familiar, personable touch.
Visit with a friend, order a cheesecake & two coffees, and perch on a bench. The vibe, in likeness to the neighbourhood of Sheung Wan, is charming and bohemian.
See the Google Map link “Harakako” (Sheung Wan) here.
Happy Kitchen Cafe & Bar by German Pool (Causeway Bay)
Shops G, 1/F, Fashion Walk, 9 Kingston St, Causeway Bay
I assume the reason for this cafe’s existence is to provide a space for shoppers to rest. German Pool is an international home appliance brand and its department store is in Fashion Walk, a shopping centre in Causeway Bay. Happy Kitchen Cafe & Bar is nestled in a corner of German Pool’s first floor.
The ambience at Happy Kitchen Cafe & Bar is peaceful! Only one other table was occupied for the few hours that I was there. I ordered a tea and cruised through a few hours of remote work. Food and desserts are also available, with a menu highlight being Hainanese Chicken Rice.
See the Google Map link to “Happy Kitchen Cafe & Bar” here.
Ho Lan Jeng (Central)
Central, Wyndham St, 29號HK 香港島 2nd FloorLKF29
The literal translation of this restaurant’s name into Cantonese may make a native speaker giggle as it involves swear words. Basically, it means “bloody delicious” or “very very good”. After trying Ho Lan Jeng’s 24-hr Slow Cooked Iberico Char Siu, I would agree that this restaurant is indeed, “Ho Lan Jeng”.
I’m also a fan of their craft beer options, of which there are local and international varieties. Ho Lan Jeng is very Hong Kong in its style of decor, and levels it up with playfulness and neon fun.
If you’re planning on having a night out in Lan Kwai Fong, this industrial-chic establishment couldn’t be better located.
See the Google Map link here.
Tell Camellia (Central)
H-Code, LG Shop 2, 45 pottinger street, Tung, On Wo Ln, Central
Tucked away discreetly in an alleyway on the edge of SOHO and Lan Kwai Fong, Tell Camellia is an elegant yet approachable bar. Founded by Nepalese mixologist Gagan Gurung, Tell Camellia was featured in Asia’s Top 50 bars.
Expect to try a different style of beverage at Tell Camellia, go out of your comfort zone and ask for a recommendation from their staff! The cocktails use botanicals and are tea-based. A particular one that stood out is Bees & Flower – its recipe includes chamomile flower and bee pollen!
See the Google Map link here.
Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong, Central
There is no other area like Lan Kwai Fong. If you want to drink and party until dawn breaks, this dense criss-cross of sloping streets in Hong Kong’s Central district is where the action happens.
D’Aguilar St is where tourists usually go. Bars and restaurants line both sides of the street, while clubs can be found inside buildings. D’Aguilar St is an orientation to the nightlife in Lan Kwai Fong.
If you walk further up, the scene becomes more sophisticated and perfect for bar-hopping. You’ll find gastro pubs for craft beer lovers, and chic diners for wine-sipping, romantic nights. The Globe and Quinary are two local favourites.
I love the area around SOHO (near Mid-Levels escalators) for its international crowd. You can easily grab a drink from a bar like Le Tambour – and enjoy it while mingling with expats outside. The vibe is more conversational and less of the “party party” energy in D’Aguilar St.
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