Sassy Mama’s Family-friendly Hidden Coffee Spots!

Grabbing a quick coffee is all very well when there’s just you to think of, but when you’ve got a host of tots, a stroller and a bagful of nappies, a simple coffee gets a little complicated. Not to worry, we’ve sussed out the most mama-lovin’, family-friendly pit stops in Hong Kong to grab a quick brew. We’ve included a few old favourites in this roundup like Oolaa and Classified as well as a plethora of hidden coffee spots that may not be as well-known, but might just become your go-to spot the next time you’re looking to escape the caffeinated crowds! While you might go straight for a cup o’ coffee to perk you up, a cold fresh-pressed apple juice is sure to cool the little ones down. Enjoy, mamas!

Amical
Amical pretty much serves as the dictionary definition of a ‘hidden coffee spot’. Apart from one small over-hanging street sign, this undercover café is perched above street level overlooking Wan Chai’s trendy Star Street Precinct. The coffee here is exceptional. The baristas are highly skilled and passionate about brewing coffee in all its forms. We are huge fans of Amical’s little al-fresco balcony (a perfect urban escape adorned with leafy green pot plants – delightful for tots), but what gets us most excited is their latte art! From cats and bears to little moustachioed faces – it’s worth ordering a milky brew just to see what shapes they pour into it! The kids will absolutely adore it and you can always ask for a fancy face hot chocolate!

Amical, 1/F, 1 Sun Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, 5489 5330, www.amicalcoffee.intimex.hk

Opendoor Café
Despite being located next to an arterial traffic route (one of the last places you’d ever expect to find a decent café), Opendoor Café provides a surprisingly tranquil haven from the chaos outside. Sitting on Connaught Road West, opposite Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park (one of our fave public outdoor areas in this part of town) means it’s the perfect watering hole after a swim or roar around in the park. Everything about Opendoor Café is pleasant: the staff are nice, the beverage selection is good (including a selection of fresh juices) and there is an amazing little courtyard out back for the little ones to roam around in.

Opendoor Café, 120 Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, 3460 3880, www.opendoorcafe.hk

TREE Café
Ah TREE Café, where would we be without TREE, our kiddy haven? With a play area, a no-nasties menu and a nursing room, you will want for nothing. PLUS kiddies get a free baby-cino (how cute?!) and a mini cupcake! We are also huge fans of their “criminally rich” chocolate brownies… Goodbye diet!

TREE Café, 28/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, 2870 1582, www.tree.com.hk/cafe

The Mixing Bowl
Recently opened on Shing Hing Street (a set of steps that links Hollywood Road to Gough Street), The Mixing Bowl doubles as a baking school and café! They are currently running summer classes for junior bakers and it’s not to be missed. Make sure you visit with an appetite and not just for the coffee. Trays of freshly baked goods (all made on-site) line the counter top: loaves of bread, cinnamon rolls, scones, pies and the most insane red velvet cake… no shortage of foodstagram material to say the least. Taking the term ‘fresh’ to a new level, each table has its own toaster to allow you to toast your own bread at your leisure – forget about BYO, these guys are all about TYO! Genius. Beyond the baked goods, the coffee is pretty darn good. Definitely worth popping in for a visit – just the sheer mountain of cakes on the counter top will put a big grin on everyone’s face!

The Mixing Bowl, 5 Shin Hing Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2524 0001, www.themixingbowlhk.com

Classified in Stanley
Sometimes Hong Kong can leave you feeling nothing short of claustrophobic. If you’re feeling a bit hedged in and tired of negotiating prams in tight places, we suggest you make Classified in Stanley your next coffee stop. There’s plenty of room for everyone and with outdoor seating, your little ones can potter about without you having to worry they’re going to crash into waiters/cake stands/anything solid. The staff are super friendly and the kids set menu is a steal at $55. We’re not going to lie, the homemade chicken nuggets look yum and we’re thinking said “coffee” could turn into a full blown feast. Whatever keeps everyone quiet, eh?

Classified, Shop No. G08A, G/F, Stanley Plaza, Stanley, Hong Kong, 2563 3454, www.classifiedfood.com

Café Deco on the Peak
Coffee, a grand view and a pretty great play space for kiddos. There’s also fab changing facilities and plenty of room for manoeuvring strollers. The kids menu comes complete with superfoods so no need to worry about an after tea mad sugar moment. Café Deco must have one of the most varied menus in Hong Kong so there’s something for everyone if you decide to make it a food stop. If you’re off the caffeine, you should probably give their rather fine hot chocolate a try. An excellent pit stop after a hike up to the peak (and we won’t tell if you take a taxi back down).

Café Deco, Level 1 & 2, The Peak Galleria, 118 Peak Road, Hong Kong, 2849 5111, www.cafedecogroup.com

Mansons Lot
Nestled in the labyrinth that is Wan Chai, Mansons Lot could be one of the Hong Kong café scene’s best-kept secrets. With fabulous coffee (specific shout out to their flat whites) and a decent food menu to boot, this quaint hole-in-the-wall is one of our favourite Wan Chai discoveries. If you have time up your sleeve, I recommend settling in to enjoy your brew. The place isn’t huge, however, so might be worth putting this one on your list for the next time you’re running errands while the kids are at school!

Mansons Lot, G/F, 15 Swatow Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, 2362 1899, www.mansonslot.com

Oolaa
If you haven’t made it to Oolaa with the brood yet, then you’re in for a treat. The first remarkable thing about Oolaa is the sheer size of it – with big open doors onto a wide pavement ie. Buggy parking. If you need to get your stroller inside the staff will be happy to help and to store it in there for you. The Oolaa team are super friendly and the big family sized coffee tables make it an easy coffee spot for those with the clan in tow.

Oolaa Restaurant, G/F, Bridges Street, CentreStage, Soho, Hong Kong, 2803 2083, www.casteloconcepts.com/our-venues/oolaa

The Cupping Room
Located directly off Queen’s Road Central along Cleverly Street (discretely below McDonald’s), you will find The Cupping Room. With an extensive beverage menu and a two-time Hong Kong barista champ at the helm, The Cupping Room is all about coffee – serious coffee. The contemporary wooden setting makes for a warm and friendly atmosphere and allows plenty of room to park up and settle in. There are a number of breakfast and lunch options on the menu, however, for us; the coffee here is the main draw card.

The Cupping Room, Shop LG, 299 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, 2799 3398, www.thecuppingroomhk.com

Rabbithole
Sandwiched within a dense row of shops is Rabbithole, a modern café and hub for coffee enthusiasts that prides itself on understanding the science behind pouring the perfect brew… The coffee here is fantastic and is made even better with a great food selection (the Korean BBQ beef sandwich is next level). If you’re keen to sit in, we find the best time to swing by tends to be in the morning as it becomes very busy at lunchtime.

Rabbithole, 3 Landale Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, 2528 0039, www.rabbitholecoffee.com

Unar Coffee
If you’re making a trip on the Star Ferry from TST, swinging by Unar Coffee before boarding is a must. Although this joint isn’t technically ‘hidden’ (they’ve landed a prime location within the ferry terminal), because it only opened recently, stumbling across it was like discovering a real desert mirage (… you know what I mean). Whether you’re in the mood for a heavy-duty caffeine hit or something more fun and flavoursome, Unar Coffee’s grab-and-go bevvy menu covers all the bases. Both the Banana Caffe Mocha and Chocolate Mint Caffe Latte are delicious. Non-coffee drinkers will be pleased to know the tea selection is extensive too.

Unar Coffee, KP41, 1/F, Star Ferry Terminal, Sailsbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2838 5231, www.facebook.com/unarcoffeecompany

Choice Cooperative
Okay this one may not technically be off the radar, but it’s one of our faves and we couldn’t leave it out of our roundup of family-friendly coffee spots! They’ve made a special effort to make this spot a welcome family atmosphere (you are 100% welcome to nurse here if needed!), not to mention they have a fantastic, healthy selection of baked goods that focus on gluten-free and sugar-free goods. While you settle in with a nice cup o’ brew, the kiddies can roam wild in the play area next door!

Choice Cooperative, 7/F, BT Centre, 23 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, 2677 7808, www.facebook.com/choicecooperative